Christian Education and Strengthening Churches

“After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.” –Acts 18:24 (NIV).

In his second missionary journey, Paul had assistants, Silas and Timothy. Enroute, at Corinth, he met up with Aquila and Priscilla, tentmakers, with whom he worked to make a living, for Paul himself knew how to make tents. Then after a year and a half, he left Corinth and went to Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla with him. They remained in Ephesus and Paul traveled on to towns in Galatia and Phrygia, “strengthening the disciples.” Teaching the ways of God to converts is an important aspect of any church’s responsibility. Think of how important Christian education was to Paul. Everywhere he went, he opened up the Scriptures to his hearers. Retracing his steps to churches he had established on an earlier missionary journey was important to Paul.

He wanted to see how the churches fared, he taught him more of the “Jesus Way,” and he encouraged them in the Christian life. And Paul trained others who themselves became effective teachers. His letters to the churches, now part of our Bible, are also filled with instruction and encouragement.

It is noteworthy that Aquila and Priscilla themselves were outstanding as Christian teachers. At Ephesus, they met Apollos of Alexandria who was termed “well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm…accurate in all he taught about Jesus up to a point…but he only went as far as the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24-25). Teachers Aquila and Priscalla “took him into their home” (v. 26) and “instructed him more adequately.” Soon Apollos was able to go out himself, with the blessing and a letter of recommendation from the Ephesian church. He went to the Achaian province, preaching and teaching, and showing many that Jesus is the Christ prophesied in the Scriptures. Christian education, or teaching the new converts, became a way of life in the early church as Luke recorded the progress of the Christian gospel in Acts. Many centuries have passed from that early church record until now. A study of church history reveals that when Christian education was an important goal of the church, churches grew, were strengthened in the faith, and reached out to other places to take the message of Christ. When teaching was not important, the church suffered decline. Thinking of my own Christian life, I am grateful for the influence of dedicated Christian teachers who faithfully instructed in the way of the Lord. Thanks be to God for their influence and example. If God gives you the ability to instruct, teach!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, May 3, 2010

The Lord Reassures Paul in the Night

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” –Acts 18:9 (NIV). (Read Acts 18:1-17).

The message of the Lord Christ was spreading rapidly, thanks to missionary Paul and others. He left Athens where he had spoken convincingly to the philosophers and others at the Areopagus and elsewhere. Paul’s next stop on his second missionary journey was in the city of Corinth. There he met up with Aquila and Priscilla, Christian Jews, who in their business life, were tentmakers like Paul. “He stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:3-4). Soon Silas and Timothy came from Berea and joined up with Paul at Corinth. This team of strong proclaimers was actively witnessing and Paul was preaching the Word in Corinth. But alas, the Jews ‘opposed Paul and became abusive’’ (v. 6). It was then Paul said, ‘From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’ However, God opened the understanding of Titius Justus, already a worshiper of God, and of Crispus, a synagogue ruler in Corinth, and these became Christians. And many more believed. A strong church was born at Corinth.

How often do we need reassurance that what we are doing is indeed within the will of God! Paul needed that word from the Lord, and he received it ‘in the night.’ Whether in a vision or in a dream, the Lord spoke to Paul and told him to remain and continue. He got the firm word from the Lord, ‘I am with you.’ This confirmation brought about Paul’s longest stay at any of the cities in which he preached on his missionary journeys. ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you; and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ What a message to receive in the night! Immediately Paul’s night vision was translated into action. The Jews who opposed him went to the proconsul of the area, Gallio, and brought charges against Paul, bringing him into court.

But Gallio told them, since it was no crime to speak, they must settle their differences using their own (Jewish) law. For a year and a half, Paul continued unhindered to preach the Word in Corinth. In that great metropolitan city, he witnessed to both Jews and Gentiles. His association with Aquila and Priscilla, business people, tentmakers as himself where Paul made his own living while there (a bivoctional pastor!), became a springboard for spreading the word, even in the marketplace. From them we learn a valuable lesson: Our Christian example should go into every walk of our lives, not just on worship days but every day we are to witness and to live for Christ. So may it be!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Sunday, May 2, 2010