Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:24-28

Thesis: The Church needs growing pastors,

working together with gracious people,

filled with Gospel power,

to accomplish God’s mission.

Notes:

Interpreting Acts:

* Acts is descriptive, not didactic

* Acts is transitional, not normative

* From old covenant to new covenant

* From Israel to Church

* From Law to Grace, John 1:17

* From Jewish to Gentile

* From exclusive Israel to inclusive ends of the earth

* From central temple to local church

* From prophets & apostles to pastors & deacons

* From Peter (Acts 1-12) to Paul (Acts 13-28)

* Acts was written by Luke

* The book is organized more thematically than chronologically

* It was always God’s plan to reach all peoples of the earth

* This plan was revealed progressively throughout the history of Israel

* The NT reveals fully what was pictured in the OT

* However–the OT is still important

* The NT is built on the NT

* The NT quotes the OT over 850 times

* Much of the NT is incomprehensible without the OT

* The OT points to Christ

* Christ fulfilled the Law

* The OT was written for our benefit & instruction

* All Scripture is make us wise to salvation–including the OT

* But–we are not to revert to Jewish ceremonial customs

* Colossians 2:16-23

* Galatians 1-6

 

Apollos

* Hellenistic Jew from Alexandria, Egypt

* An eloquent academic

* Kept his connection with Paul

* Was an “OT Believer+”

* Saved by faith in God’s promises of the promised Christ

* He just didn’t know that Jesus was the Christ, or that He had died and was resurrected

 

Priscilla & Aquila

* Tentmakers like Paul

* Likely already Christians when they first met Paul

* Important ministry partners for years

* Amazing disciplers

* Used their home and vocation for ministry

 

Live It Out!

* Embrace identity as a Gentile, New Testament, Church member

* Do not return to Old Testaments shadows that point to Christ

* Thank God for the diversity and unity of the church

* Major on the majors, minor on the minors, and grace in all things

* Embrace the role God has called and equipped you to fulfill in the local church

* God has a plan and a function for each member of the body