Thessalonica, Beroea, and Athens
Acts 18:24-28 The Message
24-26 A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story.27-28 When Apollos decided to go on to Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God’s immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah.
For Reflection
These passages show us the need for being open to new ideas. Perhaps more importantly it shows the power of the faithful to mentor others.
I recently had a discussion with a forty something woman who assigned the strength of her twenty year marriage to a group of elderly Christian women in a nursing home. She told a story of Christian mentor-ship where they offered pre-marital instruction that was grounded in the Gospel. They spoke of the Holy Spirit which resides in us all and how she should discover that in her "man" and how she should lead him in discovering the Spirit in her. She spoke of their proscriptions for mutual trust, time spent in Christian fellowship at the dinner table with their children and how to pass on their faith by acting as faithful parents. They spoke about how to foster a lasting loving relationship and a satisfying sexual life. The most important artifacts in a marriage, they instructed, are a kitchen table for family talk and a porch swing with little room for kids where she and her husband could resolve issues and come quietly together.
This is more than homespun advice. This is the essence of the practice of the Way of Jesus Christ. This is what the community of faithful is all about. This is the early church. This is also the mission of the modern church, shepherding in the way of the Lord. Life without end starts and is ensured by Christian mentoring in a God-centered community.
Pray
I recently had a discussion with a forty something woman who assigned the strength of her twenty year marriage to a group of elderly Christian women in a nursing home. She told a story of Christian mentor-ship where they offered pre-marital instruction that was grounded in the Gospel. They spoke of the Holy Spirit which resides in us all and how she should discover that in her "man" and how she should lead him in discovering the Spirit in her. She spoke of their proscriptions for mutual trust, time spent in Christian fellowship at the dinner table with their children and how to pass on their faith by acting as faithful parents. They spoke about how to foster a lasting loving relationship and a satisfying sexual life. The most important artifacts in a marriage, they instructed, are a kitchen table for family talk and a porch swing with little room for kids where she and her husband could resolve issues and come quietly together.
This is more than homespun advice. This is the essence of the practice of the Way of Jesus Christ. This is what the community of faithful is all about. This is the early church. This is also the mission of the modern church, shepherding in the way of the Lord. Life without end starts and is ensured by Christian mentoring in a God-centered community.
Pray
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