Worship Service 04/03/2022

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 18:24-28

Thesis:
The church needs growing pastors,
working together with gracious people,
filled with gospel power,
to accomplish God’s mission.

Notes:

Q: What is the baptism of John?
A: see Malachi 4:5-6, Isaiah 40:3 (OT); see also Luke 1:17, Matthew 3:1-3 (NT)

mikvah–baptism for Gentile converts to Judaism

John’s baptism was similar–except it was a sign of repentance for Jews

1. A growing pastor works hard to know and communicate God’s word
   • Acts 18:24, “…Apollos…was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures”
     • Competent in understanding
       • 2 Tim 2:15, “…Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved….”
         • a godly pastor preaches for God’s approval
     • Capable in communication
       • “…rightly handling the word of truth.”
         • It’s not hard to find something to say about a passage of Scripture
         • What is more difficult is to understand and communicate what God is saying
     • Compelling in application
       • 1 Tim 2:14, “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God….”
         
2. A growing pastor strives to teach accurately
   • Acts 18:25, “..he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only lthe baptism of John.”
   • Three questions to answer when studying a passage to preach:
     • What does it say?
     • What does it mean?
     • Why does it matter?
3. A growing pastor boldly preaches the gospel
   • Acts 18:26, “He began to speak boldly in the synagogue….”
     • The Bible doesn’t address every single topic
     • But what it does speak of it does so authoritatively
     • Courageous in delivery
       • Titus 2:15-16, “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority.
         Let no one disregard you.”
       • 1 Tim 1:1-7, “…charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine….”
       • Acts 18:27-28, “he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,
         28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus”
       • refute–to defeat false arguments with truth–not with ad hominem attacks
4. A growing pastor is passionate about discipling people
   • Discipleship is not informational, it is transformational
     • Rom 12, “fervent in spirit”
       
5. A growing pastor is humble and teachable
   • Acts 18:26, “…but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him nthe way of God more accurately.”
     
6. A growing pastor is Christ-centered, gospel-saturated, and Spirit-filled
   • Acts 18:27, “he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,”

Live It Out!

1. You may know the Scripture, make moral choices, and serve in the church–and yet not be a genuine believer in Jesus Christ–
2. Get this settled

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