Acts 18:23 - 19:40: How to Grow Your Gospel Reach
Pastor Scott Foreman
November 26, 2023
How to Grow Your Gospel Reach
  1. Be Proactive in Your Discipleship
  2. Be Purposeful in Your Pivots
  3. Be Empowered in Your Persistence
"Ephesus was a decisive moment in the missionary history. It was to be a new chapter of the Gentile mission." (Bruce)

- Ephesus was uniquely positioned:
  • Likely 250,000 residents
  • Was the seat of the provincial government
  • Temple of Diana
Be Proactive in Your Discipleship (Acts 18:24, 27-28)

- There was a little-known couple that helped get Apollos where he needed to be: Priscilla and Aquilla.

- Paul is being proactive in his discipleship (19:1-2)

- Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul had to be proactive in their discipleship by sharing with these Ephesians the full gospel story.

- In every instance up to this point in the book of Acts the word "disciple" is used for a genuine believer.

- "In Acts, this is the only case of a 2nd baptism, where Christian baptism follows John's baptism." (Bock)

- "These 12 would be the nucleus of the Ephesian church." (EBC)

- Pivotal moments in Acts:
  • Acts 2: Jewish Pentecost
  • Acts 10: Gentile Pentecost
  • Acts 19: The Gospel moving into Europe/Asia
- Some things Priscilla, Aquila, and Paul could have said about Apollos:
  • "Someone else will surely set this guy straight!"
  • "Discipleship takes time and we've got an entire season of Jerusalem NCIS to watch!"
  • "Stick to your day job."
- We all have to be committed to this process of proactive discipleship.
  • Will you be obedient to God in this area?
  • Who will you deposit your faith into?
Be Purposeful in Your Pivots (Acts 19:8-9a)

- They were "stubborn", which actually means "be hardened to something". The expression appears in the OT regarding Pharaoh and of the people in the wilderness." (Bock).

- Ways FBC made purposeful pivots over the years:
  • Christmas during Covid (digital message to reach thousands of people)
  • Tornado relief in the community
  • Distribution of Safe in the Storm to Ukrainian refugees
Be Empowered in Your Persistence (Acts 19:9-10)

- Daily (v.9)
  • Paul lectured daily from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • "There would have been more people awake in Ephesus at 1:00 a.m. than there would have been at 1:00 p.m!"
  • Paul was likely making tents in the morning and preaching in the afternoon!
- Long-term (v.10)
  • Paul persisted for two years
    • "...all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (19:10)
  • "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
  • "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7)
  • "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." (2 Cor. 4:1)
  • "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Cor. 15:58)
  • "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)
Let's grow in our gospel reach!
  • Be Proactive in Your Discipleship
  • Be Purposeful in Your Pivots
  • Be Empowered in Your Persistence