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6.30.21 MOC Session #3 Nathan Anderson · HBCWestminster

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  Well, hello. It's good to be with you again. My name is Nathan Anderson. I am the family pastor here at Highland and so glad that we get to spend this time in the Word, studying and seeking to glean the truths that God wants us to understand this evening. We are in week three. As we go through this study, Mock Men of the Church, as we move forward, we will get more and more into the practical.
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  studies in these. The first week was really building the foundation for which we launch from establishing the very basics of what we are as Christian men and what we must be about as Christian men, what we must have to be true of us as men of the church just across the board. In our first week, we met the general characteristics of men of the church. Then last week, Brian gave us a powerful picture of
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  our call to be fellow soldiers, men who lift each other up in the midst of our weaknesses. He showed this as we looked at Timothy and Epaphroditus, two men whom served tirelessly alongside Paul, men whom Paul could call on when he needed them most. Paul spoke of these men very highly, and Brian last week gave us a couple really powerful images of what it means to be a fellow soldier as he shared about
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  himself and his fellow Air Force cadet in basic training, helping each other achieve the end goal as they used their strengths to help the other overcome their weaknesses. Also, Brian gave us a really great picture of how our words and action should match as he played that clip from the Land of the Lost where Will Ferrell's left alone to face a giant T-Rex right after his fellow adventurer just promised to be with him through thick and thin.
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  Showing that it is a call to be a fellow soldier, not just when it's convenient, but must be met with true conviction. We certainly saw how that was true of Epaphroditus, who left nothing in the tank, poured himself out for Paul and the church. For Epaphroditus, the call on his life was not just words, it was conviction, which led to compelling service.
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  Of Christ and his church. As we move into our study for this week. I am incredibly excited for this week's example. This week's topic. This week we are going to look at Aquila and Priscilla. And as we do. Can you please open your Bibles to Acts chapter.
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  Acts chapter 18. As we begin, there is a short clip from the movie Spy Kids, which if you are a parent have most likely seen. And I love the picture it paints of what marriage is. And I believe sets the stage for our study on this couple, which had incredible impact on the early church. I'm going to play that for us now. Marriage submission is so complex that only the most courageous and slightly insane need apply.
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  There's such an amazing series of obstacles one has to navigate to keep marriage together, much less family, that it frightened even her, a hardened and experienced secret agent. But when she saw him standing there with no depth whatsoever, so assured of his decision, so enamored with what they were about to do, she took his hand, looked deep into his eyes, and said the two most dangerous...
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  Most trusting words you can say to anyone. What? She said. Oh, that's so cool. Well, then the problem started. Now, there was always some faction that wanted at least one of them gone. On their own, each agent was a toy. But together, they made tempting targets.
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  I love that opening line. She says, marriage is a mission. That statement is so very true. Marriage is a mission. But what is that mission and how is that mission accomplished? For the answer to this first question, what is the mission? Allow me to share with you from Ephesians 5, verse 32, which says this. This mystery is profound. Am I saying that it refers? I am saying that it refers to Christ.
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  and the church. Paul is writing about love and the marriage relationship in chapter five of Ephesians and says that the mystery of marriage is profound. However, that its ultimate purpose, its mission is to reflect Christ and the church. Guys, the mission, the purpose of our marriage is to reflect the relationship Christ has with his church, with his bride. And what an incredible call this is. What an incredible mission this is. This mission should get us
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  excited. That is our mission. But what about the second question? How is that mission accomplished?
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  That answer, we look to our study tonight and this amazing couple who served alongside the Apostle Paul in the early church, Aquila and Priscilla. As we seek to answer that question, how do we accomplish our mission to reflect Christ and his church? I believe in the lives of Priscilla and Aquila, we will see four things which they, if they are true of us and our marriages, will undoubtedly result in accomplishing.
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  Our mission, those four things are hospitality. We see this in Acts 18 verses 1 through 4 and 1 Corinthians 16, 19. Hard workers, again, Acts 18 verses 1 to 4. Teachers of the word, Acts 18, 24 to 26. And willing to risk for the kingdom, Romans 16 verse 4a.
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  After these things, we will briefly look at the beautiful results which can come when we have marriages which are on mission. The results we will find in Romans chapter 16, verse 4b.
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  So let's look at these four things, these four areas, these four activities of a marriage on mission. First, hospitality. Hospitality. Acts 18.1-4 says this, After this, Paul left Athens, went to Corinth, and he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome, and he went to see them.
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  And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked and worked for they were tent makers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade Jews.
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  and Greeks. When we first meet Aquila and Priscilla, we are told that they had come to Corinth from Italy as victims of Roman persecution, not for their Christian faith, but because Aquila was a Jew. The emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome and no doubt Jews deemed it unsafe to remain in any part of Italy. Aquila and Priscilla found their way to Corinth and settled there. So we meet this couple and find out here in Romans chapter, or excuse me,
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  Acts 18, 1 through 4, that they are refugees. They have been sent packing because Claudius commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. So they have been exiled from what very well might have been Priscilla's home. We know that Aquila was a Jew, which is why they had to leave. But Priscilla's...
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  nationality is not mentioned. So we find this couple building a new life in a new place. And yet in the midst of this unexpected hardship, we see them welcoming Paul into their home, even welcoming them into their business. Here, brothers, we should take note that as a recent book was titled, the gospel comes with a house key. Priscilla and Aquila did not allow their undesirable change in circumstances to affect how they would open.
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  and share their home. We see first that hospitality is not a ministry of convenience, but of obedience. Who knows, perhaps they had not even finished unpacking those boxes from the move. The place might have not looked exactly right. They could have said to themselves, this Paul guy is really neat and all, but we just aren't ready for company.
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  Hospitality is not a ministry of convenience but of obedience. That's our first observation on hospitality. Second, we notice that Christian hospitality does not hold back financial help even if it is inconvenient. Look,
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  Aquila and Priscilla were tent makers. They had just come to this town of Corinth. They were just beginning to build their new business, their new customer base. Now this guy, Paul, who also was a tent maker, comes. This could have easily been seen as competition to their own financial well-being. But instead of competing with Paul, they invite him in and they work together. Our second observation in regards to hospitality is that it does not hold back finances.
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  Christian hospitality is willing to help when help is needed, even if it's not completely convenient at that time. So what does a marriage on mission look like? First, it takes on a hospitable atmosphere and priorities. Next, through this power couples example, we see that a marriage on mission is
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  hard working. They are hard workers. We see this again in Acts chapter 18, one through four. I see Priscilla and Aquila displaying this in two key areas. They are hard workers in the physical work set before them. In the time, these tent makers used raw goat and camel hair and would also make them out of leather, sewing and weaving together the fibers into tents, both more permanent ones as well as smaller, more mobile tents. This was a craft, no doubt, but this was not
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  not at the top of the social class. And this was not easy work. This was a very practical trade, much like an electrician today, one which holds great practical appreciation, but does not hold big social impact.
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  They were tent makers, not glamorous and not easy work. Paul later in the book of Acts says this of himself and his work. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by toiling one must...
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  If we take a look at this and the long-term relationship which has spawned from this moment in time when they meet and begin to work together as tent makers, I think, and this is certainly conjecture on my part, but it seems plausible given the results.
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  of the ongoing relationship. I conjecture that Paul was also a hard worker. I think we see that throughout his life so evidently. I believe that Priscilla and Aquila were hard workers and that this kindred spirit and willingness to work hard brought them very close. So much so that when Paul decided it was time to head out on a new missionary journey to Ephesus, they packed up everything and left with him.
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  So Aquila and Priscilla were hard workers in their physical work, but they were also, here we also see that they were hard workers for the church and the gospel. I get this from the fact that they were willing, after only about a year and a half of living and working in Corinth, building their tent, making business and clients, they are willing to pack it all up and move to Ephesus to help Paul plant a church.
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  When they get there, they open up their home to the church and in so doing make the gospel, the church, more important than the comforts this early life can offer. They were willing to work hard. They see what Paul is willing to do for the sake of the church and the gospel and they follow suit. I see this as a powerful example of a couple together making decisions based on a kingdom-minded set of values rather than earthly ones.
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  Which leads us to our next activity on marriage on mission. Teaching the word. Teaching the word. Acts chapter 18 verse 24 to 26 say this.
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  Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, a competent man in the scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he only knew the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
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  Can we just stop for a moment after reading these words and consider what appears to be a great contrast from Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla. They being tent makers and Apollos having all the appearance of a well-spoken and influential man. If you were Priscilla and Aquila, I would think it would be easy to feel inadequate to speak into this man's life. He was, after all, eloquent, competent, well-instructed.
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  fervent and taught accurately all the things, all these things could have, and I think would have been intimidating to many. I would think to many of us, we would feel second class to this man as we watched him go through and teach so accurately many things so confidently. However,
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  This power couple is not intimidated at all. They see this man needs the gospel, needs to understand the impact and truth of a risen Jesus who has conquered the grave. So what do they do? Tells us they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Now, just as an aside, as a pastor, can I just say, if you feel the need to correct one of your pastors, and Lord knows there are
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  Plenty of times I need, and we pastors need it. Brothers, this is the way to do it. They took him aside, did not embarrass him in front of the people, telling everyone that he had gotten it wrong. No, they lovingly and kindly took him aside and explained things to him. Explained things to him. Now, I would say in order to do this,
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  What was needed from this couple, they needed to know and understand the word of God. They needed to have a right understanding in order to see where he was in error and teach him the truth. If they did not understand, if they did not know it, did not know the word of God, how would they have known where Apollos was off base? Now, this method used by Priscilla and Aquila to correct Apollos, I think can be easily
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  understood as to reflect how their relationship functioned. It is hard, I would say this because it is hard to use tools of which you have not used before. Their kind and respectful way of speaking to Apollos is just as useful and beneficial in our marriages. Correcting each other in front of our kids, our friends, our extended families is a surefire way to poke holes in the fabric of our marriages. Aquila and Priscilla.
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  Give a wonderful example of both how we can and should confront leaders, as well as how we can lovingly confront and correct one another in our marriages and even correct one another as brothers in Christ. So this incredible couple had a marriage that was on mission. They were focused on the church, the gospel and the living and the teaching of the word. They were willing to work hard. Now, brothers, being a teacher of the word.
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  does not just mean standing up here and teaching in front of a group. We are always teaching. How we live teaches.
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  others about our values, what we spend our time on teaches others about our values. Every one of you are teachers of the word. Every one of you is called to live out your faith. Every one of you can and should be fulfilling this role in your homes. Being a teacher of the word starts in our homes. It starts in our marriages, starts with our kids.
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  We have to live out our faith in front of our kids and wives, brothers, or we will destroy our relationship with them. The activities of a marriage on mission are hospitality, hardworking, teaching the word, and lastly, willing to risk. We see this in Romans chapter 16. Flip with me, Romans chapter 16 and verse 4a, willing to take risk. Going back to verse 3, Paul says this,
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  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life. Who risked their necks for my life. We saw this last week when Brian taught about being a fellow soldier and how Epaphroditus had left it all out there. He left nothing back from the service of his fellow brothers in the Lord's church. We see here a similar truth spoken of this marriage. They had risked.
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  their necks for Paul. They had risked their necks for the gospel, for the building of the church. And you might ask exactly how did this happen? How did they risk their necks? Well, if you look back, if we look back through the above points, they had risked their well-being. They had risked their financial security. They had risked their own safety as Paul was not a popular dude with leaders in the government. They had risked their home as they hosted the church in their home.
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  In Ephesus, you see a theme here that appears. There was nothing off limits for this couple. They had given it all to the Lord and were willing for whatever he willed to take place. What did they risk? Perhaps a better question might be, what didn't they risk? They put it all in the line for the church, their brother in Christ, Paul, and the early church for which we are.
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  benefiting from even today. Romans 16b goes on and says this, to whom, to whom is Prisca and Aquila, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. The results of this one marriage lived on mission, brothers. Paul says that all the Gentile churches give thanks to them.
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  What can a marriage on mission be used for in the kingdom? My brothers, there are no limits. These two tent makers were foundational in the establishment of the early church among the Gentiles. Now, if you are single, you might have been saying to yourself through tonight, well, I'm not married, so I can't do any of these things, but I have incredibly great news for you. You have even more time to put towards all of the above.
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  So you have even more opportunity to be a man on mission. Brothers, marriage on mission is a beautiful thing. It can have incredible impact for the kingdom. If we would live out these things, if we would be hospitable, if we would hold nothing back of our physical things, if we were willing to work hard.
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  for the gospel. If we were willing to understand and know the word that we can live it and teach it in our lives, and we were willing to take risks for the kingdom, the results would be incredible. May we live out our faith. May we live our marriages on mission, brothers. Let's pray.
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  And God in heaven, we thank you for this time in your word. We give you praise and glory for this example of Priscilla and Aquila. We thank you for calling us to do the same.
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  Men who have marriages on mission, who lead our homes well for your glory, for your namesake, for your church. God, use our relationships, use our marriages to build your kingdom here on earth, that others may come to know you, that you may be glorified in all we say and do. We pray these things in your name. Amen.