This passage tells us about Paul’s ministry in the city of Corinth. It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and was one of the most important commercial centers in the Mediterranean world. It was also famous for its immorality. The temple of Aphrodite employed over 1,000 male and female prostitutes. Corinth, maybe more than any other city Paul had visited, needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is probably why he stayed here for a year and a half.
It is interesting to note that out of a year and a half in Corinth, Luke only dedicated 17 verses to Paul’s ministry there. He could have told us so much, but he chose to limit his story by highlighting three things Paul did to build his ministry. By choosing to show us these things, Luke uses Paul’s actions to present a model for all future churches to conduct their ministry. So, here is a model for our church and individual ministries!
1.) Intentional Teamwork in Ministry (1-5a)
Upon Paul’s arrival in Corinth he was blessed with the acquaintance of Aquila and Pricilla, a Jewish couple who had just been kicked out of Rome along with all of the other Jews. We don’t know if they were already Christians or not, but most scholars believe they were because Paul immediately went to live with them right away. Like Paul, they were “tentmakers”; that is, their trade was making leather goods. They immediately joined forces and became business partners and colleagues in ministry. Paul’s partnership with Aquila and Pricilla allowed him to maximize his time preaching in the synagogue while still being able to earn enough money to provide for his basic needs. Without this new partnership and intentional teamwork, he wouldn’t have been able to preach as often and his overall ministry would have been hindered; their partnership allowed him to preach “every” Sabbath.
We see Paul’s model of intentional teamwork again in verse 5a when Silas and Timothy arrived on the scene from Macedonia. They immediately resumed their roles of doing “behind the scenes” and “follow up” ministry. They were not in the spotlight preaching, but they did all of the other things that were necessary for their ministry to be successful. As a result of their teamwork, Paul was able to “devote himself exclusively” to the task of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If Silas and Timothy hadn’t come along to serve in the ministry, Paul’s preaching wouldn’t have been as effective, fewer people would have heard the gospel, and the whole ministry would have suffered. We have seen this principle of teamwork the whole way through the book of Acts and Luke highlights it for us again here. This text shows us that in Christ’s church, every member is a minister!
It is true! Every member is a minister! We don’t all have the same gifts, talents, abilities, or interests, but we are all called to serve the Lord with the particular abilities he has given us. We don’t all perform the same roles, but there is a role for every one of us to play in the church. Some have the gifts and calling for the more visible roles of preaching, teaching, and leading worship. Others are more suited for the behind the scenes work of cleaning the church, cutting the grass, repairing the building, setting up tables, playing with children, preparing and serving communion, flipping hamburgers, brewing coffee, and so many other things.
A few weeks ago I watched the high school students at MVU put on a wonderful performance of “The Sound of Music.” As I was watching, I couldn’t help but think about all of the work that goes into a production like that. For most of the performance we only see the students who sing and dance in lead and supporting roles, but have you ever thought about the people who do all the behind the scenes work to make the whole show a success. There are people who build the set, make the costumes, apply the make-up, perform the music, print the programs, and sell the tickets. Then there are is the stage crew and director who are literally behind the scenes who perform crucial roles.
The cast and crew all worked together as a team and the production was a wonderful success. It is exactly the same in the church. When every member remembers that they are a minister, the whole ministry is more successful. We should never have the attitude that ministry is only for a few select people or say “That’s what we pay our pastor for!” Ministry is teamwork!
So, what are your gifts and talents? Are you using them for the Lord? Have you joined our cast? If you haven’t, I extend a warm invitation to join the dynamic drama of what God is doing in and through our church. Paul had Silas, Timothy, Aquila, and Pricilla; we all have each other!
2.) Centrality of Gospel Preaching in Ministry (5b-8)
In addition to the importance of teamwork, Luke also highlights the centrality of gospel preaching in Paul’s model of ministry. In verse 5b he uses two terms to make this point explicit. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul “devoted” himself “exclusively” to the task of preaching the gospel. It was the driving force behind everything he did. He testified to the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah who died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. He tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Son of God who offers forgiveness for sin and everlasting life. Without a doubt, gospel preaching was the centerpiece his overall ministry.
As usual, there was a mixed response to Paul’s preaching. In verse 6 Luke tells us that the Jews opposed and abused him. They flat out rejected him and his message, so in a symbolic gesture, he shakes the dust off his clothes in protest to their hard hearts and blasphemous attitudes. He proclaims to them that he fulfilled his responsibility to God by telling them about the Jesus and the way to eternal life, and now they would have to suffer the consequences of their own actions—their “blood would be on their own heads.” He wasn’t going to waste any more of his time kicking a dead horse; instead he would concentrate his evangelistic efforts on the Gentiles.
On the other hand, there were some who responded positively to the gospel message, put their faith in Jesus Christ, and became Christians. Luke mentions two people by name: Tatius Justus, a God-fearer who lived next door to the synagogue, and Crispus, a synagogue ruler who comes to faith with his whole household. These, along with many others in Corinth, were baptized into the faith and formed the first Christian church in that city. Regardless of the response he received, the preaching of the gospel was central in Paul’s model of ministry.
In a recent issue of Glass Window, a contributor recalls that several years ago, The British Weekly published this provocative letter: It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend a great deal of time preparing them. I have been attending church quite regularly for 30 years and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation, I discovered I cannot remember a single sermon. I wonder if a minister’s time might be more profitable spent on something else?
For weeks a storm of editorial responses ensued. . . finally ended by this letter: I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals–mostly my wife’s cooking. Suddenly I have discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet . . . I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago.
Just as gospel preaching was central to Paul’s ministry, it should be the centerpiece of the church’s ministry today. Without the preaching of the gospel, the sinner cannot know that there is forgiveness and the hope of everlasting life. Without the preaching of the gospel, the seeker cannot be introduced to the living God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. Without the preaching of the gospel, the Christian may forget what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and backslide into the old life.
So many churches and Christians today have given up on preaching. They have abandoned the verbal proclamation of God’s word for other forms and methods of ministering to people. Like the letter in the British Weekly, many are saying “What good is preaching or hearing sermons? It seems like such a waste of time! It seems so foolish!” Well, in a way, it is foolish. Listen to what Paul said about preaching in a letter he wrote to the Corinthian church a few years after he left there: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (I Corinthians 1:18-25)
Regardless of the response, preaching is the God-ordained central method of getting his message out and across. It has been this way from the beginning and it is still true today. So, even though other ministries are important, may the preaching of the gospel always be central to our church’s ministry!
3.) Perseverance through Persecution in Ministry (9-17)
The third part of Paul’s model for ministry that Luke highlights for us is perseverance amidst persecution. Sure, some people were putting their faith in Jesus as a result of Paul’s preaching and the team’s ministry, but others rejected it and were personally abusive towards Paul. As they increasingly made life more difficult for Paul through persecution, he certainly would have become more scared and discouraged. He probably even considered leaving this ministry and moving on to another city that was more receptive to him and his message.
Then one night the Lord Jesus himself spoke to Paul in a vision. He told him not to be afraid and to keep on preaching the gospel. Jesus gave him the assurance of his divine presence and protection through his many servants in Corinth. In essence, Jesus tells him to persevere amidst persecution, and he would be alright in the end. In response to this vision, Paul decides to stay in Corinth and teach the Word of God for another year and a half in spite of the persecution he faced.
Luke finishes this section with a story of how Jesus made good on his promise to protect Paul from danger in Corinth. The Jews brought Paul before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, who acted as mayor of Corinth and the governor of the whole region. They charged Paul with “persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” The reason for this charge was to show that Christianity was not truly Jewish and therefore could not be included under Rome’s religious protection for Judaism.
Jesus’ supernatural protection is seen in the fact that Paul didn’t even have to speak a single word in his own defense. Gallio immediately and miraculously dismissed the case on the grounds that he had no interest in getting involved in what he considered a Jewish theological squabble. So, Paul was instantly released and returned to his ministry of preaching. In their frustration, they took their anger out on Sosthenes, one of their own synagogue rulers. Unfortunately, Gallio did not intervene to stop the beating.
If Gallio had pronounced an unfavorable judgment on Paul, the progress of Christianity could have suffered many more difficulties over the next few decades than it actually did. As long as Paul persevered amidst persecution, the gospel continued to go forth!
Saint John Chysostrom (347-407), an early church father and considered by many to be the greatest preacher in the history of the Christian Church, is a wonderful example of perseverance amidst persecution in ministry. For many years he served as a priest in his hometown of Antioch where he gained a reputation for holy living, compassion for the poor, and as a powerful preacher of the Word of God. Against his will, this popularity eventually led to his appointment as archbishop of Constantinople, the second highest position in the church after the Pope.
He used this prestigious pulpit to thunder against wealth, licentiousness, and the other sins and vices that ruled the day. His sharp tongue and deep commitment to biblical truth won many converts, but it also created a lot of enemies. His greatest enemy was probably the Empress Eudoxia, who conspired to have John exiled after he preached a sermon that condemned her extravagance in erecting a silver statue to herself and compared her to the evil queen Jezebel.
The very night he was sent away Constantinople experienced a massive earthquake which she took for a sign of God’s anger and immediately be called for John’s return and reinstatement. This proved to be short lived though. John’s fiery sermons angered her again and earned him a second exile. He later died from sickness as he was being transported from one place of exile to another. Before he died, he proved his knowledge of the Bible and his spirit of perseverance amidst persecution in ministry in a letter he sent to a friend. Listen as John Chysostrom writes: When I was driven from the city, I felt no anxiety, but said to myself, if the empress wishes to banish me, let her do so: the earth is the Lord’s. If she wants me to be sawn in two, I have Isaiah for an example. If she wants to drown me in the ocean, I have Jonah for an example. If I am to be thrown into the fire, the three men in the furnace suffered the same. If cast before wild beasts, I remember Daniel in the lion’s den. If she wants me to be stoned, I have before me Stephen, the first martyr. If she demands my head, let her do so; John the Baptist shines before me. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked shall I leave this world. Paul reminds me, “If I still pleased men, I would not be the servant of Christ.”
The reality is that if we are going to be faithful to Jesus Christ and his ministry, we will face persecution. People will oppose us and sometimes abuse us. They may even try to exile or execute us! But we serve a supernatural God who can protect not only our bodies, but also our souls. It is comforting to know that nothing can happen to us which God has not allowed. Even when he does allow us to experience harm and pain, he holds us in his strong arms. So, whenever people oppose us, laugh at us, make fun of us, or even threaten us because we proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, hang in there! Persevere to the end! God will bless our ministry and reward our faithfulness!
This passage tells us about Paul’s ministry in the city of Corinth. It was the third largest city in the Roman Empire and was one of the most important commercial centers in the Mediterranean world. It was also famous for its immorality. The temple of Aphrodite employed over 1,000 male and female prostitutes. Corinth, maybe more than any other city Paul had visited, needed to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is probably why he stayed here for a year and a half.
It is interesting to note that out of a year and a half in Corinth, Luke only dedicated 17 verses to Paul’s ministry there. He could have told us so much, but he chose to limit his story by highlighting three things Paul did to build his ministry. By choosing to show us these things, Luke uses Paul’s actions to present a model for all future churches to conduct their ministry. So, here is a model for our church and individual ministries!
1.) Intentional Teamwork in Ministry (1-5a)
Upon Paul’s arrival in Corinth he was blessed with the acquaintance of Aquila and Pricilla, a Jewish couple who had just been kicked out of Rome along with all of the other Jews. We don’t know if they were already Christians or not, but most scholars believe they were because Paul immediately went to live with them right away. Like Paul, they were “tentmakers”; that is, their trade was making leather goods. They immediately joined forces and became business partners and colleagues in ministry. Paul’s partnership with Aquila and Pricilla allowed him to maximize his time preaching in the synagogue while still being able to earn enough money to provide for his basic needs. Without this new partnership and intentional teamwork, he wouldn’t have been able to preach as often and his overall ministry would have been hindered; their partnership allowed him to preach “every” Sabbath.
We see Paul’s model of intentional teamwork again in verse 5a when Silas and Timothy arrived on the scene from Macedonia. They immediately resumed their roles of doing “behind the scenes” and “follow up” ministry. They were not in the spotlight preaching, but they did all of the other things that were necessary for their ministry to be successful. As a result of their teamwork, Paul was able to “devote himself exclusively” to the task of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If Silas and Timothy hadn’t come along to serve in the ministry, Paul’s preaching wouldn’t have been as effective, fewer people would have heard the gospel, and the whole ministry would have suffered. We have seen this principle of teamwork the whole way through the book of Acts and Luke highlights it for us again here. This text shows us that in Christ’s church, every member is a minister!
It is true! Every member is a minister! We don’t all have the same gifts, talents, abilities, or interests, but we are all called to serve the Lord with the particular abilities he has given us. We don’t all perform the same roles, but there is a role for every one of us to play in the church. Some have the gifts and calling for the more visible roles of preaching, teaching, and leading worship. Others are more suited for the behind the scenes work of cleaning the church, cutting the grass, repairing the building, setting up tables, playing with children, preparing and serving communion, flipping hamburgers, brewing coffee, and so many other things.
A few weeks ago I watched the high school students at MVU put on a wonderful performance of “The Sound of Music.” As I was watching, I couldn’t help but think about all of the work that goes into a production like that. For most of the performance we only see the students who sing and dance in lead and supporting roles, but have you ever thought about the people who do all the behind the scenes work to make the whole show a success. There are people who build the set, make the costumes, apply the make-up, perform the music, print the programs, and sell the tickets. Then there are is the stage crew and director who are literally behind the scenes who perform crucial roles.
The cast and crew all worked together as a team and the production was a wonderful success. It is exactly the same in the church. When every member remembers that they are a minister, the whole ministry is more successful. We should never have the attitude that ministry is only for a few select people or say “That’s what we pay our pastor for!” Ministry is teamwork!
So, what are your gifts and talents? Are you using them for the Lord? Have you joined our cast? If you haven’t, I extend a warm invitation to join the dynamic drama of what God is doing in and through our church. Paul had Silas, Timothy, Aquila, and Pricilla; we all have each other!
2.) Centrality of Gospel Preaching in Ministry (5b-8)
In addition to the importance of teamwork, Luke also highlights the centrality of gospel preaching in Paul’s model of ministry. In verse 5b he uses two terms to make this point explicit. When Silas and Timothy arrived, Paul “devoted” himself “exclusively” to the task of preaching the gospel. It was the driving force behind everything he did. He testified to the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah who died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day. He tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Son of God who offers forgiveness for sin and everlasting life. Without a doubt, gospel preaching was the centerpiece his overall ministry.
As usual, there was a mixed response to Paul’s preaching. In verse 6 Luke tells us that the Jews opposed and abused him. They flat out rejected him and his message, so in a symbolic gesture, he shakes the dust off his clothes in protest to their hard hearts and blasphemous attitudes. He proclaims to them that he fulfilled his responsibility to God by telling them about the Jesus and the way to eternal life, and now they would have to suffer the consequences of their own actions—their “blood would be on their own heads.” He wasn’t going to waste any more of his time kicking a dead horse; instead he would concentrate his evangelistic efforts on the Gentiles.
On the other hand, there were some who responded positively to the gospel message, put their faith in Jesus Christ, and became Christians. Luke mentions two people by name: Tatius Justus, a God-fearer who lived next door to the synagogue, and Crispus, a synagogue ruler who comes to faith with his whole household. These, along with many others in Corinth, were baptized into the faith and formed the first Christian church in that city. Regardless of the response he received, the preaching of the gospel was central in Paul’s model of ministry.
In a recent issue of Glass Window, a contributor recalls that several years ago, The British Weekly published this provocative letter: It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend a great deal of time preparing them. I have been attending church quite regularly for 30 years and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation, I discovered I cannot remember a single sermon. I wonder if a minister’s time might be more profitable spent on something else?
For weeks a storm of editorial responses ensued. . . finally ended by this letter: I have been married for 30 years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals–mostly my wife’s cooking. Suddenly I have discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet . . . I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago.
Just as gospel preaching was central to Paul’s ministry, it should be the centerpiece of the church’s ministry today. Without the preaching of the gospel, the sinner cannot know that there is forgiveness and the hope of everlasting life. Without the preaching of the gospel, the seeker cannot be introduced to the living God who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. Without the preaching of the gospel, the Christian may forget what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross and backslide into the old life.
So many churches and Christians today have given up on preaching. They have abandoned the verbal proclamation of God’s word for other forms and methods of ministering to people. Like the letter in the British Weekly, many are saying “What good is preaching or hearing sermons? It seems like such a waste of time! It seems so foolish!” Well, in a way, it is foolish. Listen to what Paul said about preaching in a letter he wrote to the Corinthian church a few years after he left there: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (I Corinthians 1:18-25)
Regardless of the response, preaching is the God-ordained central method of getting his message out and across. It has been this way from the beginning and it is still true today. So, even though other ministries are important, may the preaching of the gospel always be central to our church’s ministry!
3.) Perseverance through Persecution in Ministry (9-17)
The third part of Paul’s model for ministry that Luke highlights for us is perseverance amidst persecution. Sure, some people were putting their faith in Jesus as a result of Paul’s preaching and the team’s ministry, but others rejected it and were personally abusive towards Paul. As they increasingly made life more difficult for Paul through persecution, he certainly would have become more scared and discouraged. He probably even considered leaving this ministry and moving on to another city that was more receptive to him and his message.
Then one night the Lord Jesus himself spoke to Paul in a vision. He told him not to be afraid and to keep on preaching the gospel. Jesus gave him the assurance of his divine presence and protection through his many servants in Corinth. In essence, Jesus tells him to persevere amidst persecution, and he would be alright in the end. In response to this vision, Paul decides to stay in Corinth and teach the Word of God for another year and a half in spite of the persecution he faced.
Luke finishes this section with a story of how Jesus made good on his promise to protect Paul from danger in Corinth. The Jews brought Paul before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, who acted as mayor of Corinth and the governor of the whole region. They charged Paul with “persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” The reason for this charge was to show that Christianity was not truly Jewish and therefore could not be included under Rome’s religious protection for Judaism.
Jesus’ supernatural protection is seen in the fact that Paul didn’t even have to speak a single word in his own defense. Gallio immediately and miraculously dismissed the case on the grounds that he had no interest in getting involved in what he considered a Jewish theological squabble. So, Paul was instantly released and returned to his ministry of preaching. In their frustration, they took their anger out on Sosthenes, one of their own synagogue rulers. Unfortunately, Gallio did not intervene to stop the beating.
If Gallio had pronounced an unfavorable judgment on Paul, the progress of Christianity could have suffered many more difficulties over the next few decades than it actually did. As long as Paul persevered amidst persecution, the gospel continued to go forth!
Saint John Chysostrom (347-407), an early church father and considered by many to be the greatest preacher in the history of the Christian Church, is a wonderful example of perseverance amidst persecution in ministry. For many years he served as a priest in his hometown of Antioch where he gained a reputation for holy living, compassion for the poor, and as a powerful preacher of the Word of God. Against his will, this popularity eventually led to his appointment as archbishop of Constantinople, the second highest position in the church after the Pope.
He used this prestigious pulpit to thunder against wealth, licentiousness, and the other sins and vices that ruled the day. His sharp tongue and deep commitment to biblical truth won many converts, but it also created a lot of enemies. His greatest enemy was probably the Empress Eudoxia, who conspired to have John exiled after he preached a sermon that condemned her extravagance in erecting a silver statue to herself and compared her to the evil queen Jezebel.
The very night he was sent away Constantinople experienced a massive earthquake which she took for a sign of God’s anger and immediately be called for John’s return and reinstatement. This proved to be short lived though. John’s fiery sermons angered her again and earned him a second exile. He later died from sickness as he was being transported from one place of exile to another. Before he died, he proved his knowledge of the Bible and his spirit of perseverance amidst persecution in ministry in a letter he sent to a friend. Listen as John Chysostrom writes: When I was driven from the city, I felt no anxiety, but said to myself, if the empress wishes to banish me, let her do so: the earth is the Lord’s. If she wants me to be sawn in two, I have Isaiah for an example. If she wants to drown me in the ocean, I have Jonah for an example. If I am to be thrown into the fire, the three men in the furnace suffered the same. If cast before wild beasts, I remember Daniel in the lion’s den. If she wants me to be stoned, I have before me Stephen, the first martyr. If she demands my head, let her do so; John the Baptist shines before me. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked shall I leave this world. Paul reminds me, “If I still pleased men, I would not be the servant of Christ.”
The reality is that if we are going to be faithful to Jesus Christ and his ministry, we will face persecution. People will oppose us and sometimes abuse us. They may even try to exile or execute us! But we serve a supernatural God who can protect not only our bodies, but also our souls. It is comforting to know that nothing can happen to us which God has not allowed. Even when he does allow us to experience harm and pain, he holds us in his strong arms. So, whenever people oppose us, laugh at us, make fun of us, or even threaten us because we proclaim the name of Jesus Christ, hang in there! Persevere to the end! God will bless our ministry and reward our faithfulness!