Acts 18:24-28 

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. ²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Old-Style Parenting

A mother was very upset with her younger son’s grades and said: “Why can’t you be like your big brother? Look at him! He’s very studious. He always have straight A’s grades! He excels in school. Not like you. You always have basketball in your mind.”

This is just a common expression of dismayed or disappointed parent.

Parents, surely love their children to excel in school or in everything they do. Is it an ordinary notion that not everybody is wired or gifted with the same talent? How many life stories have you heard about people who did not shine in school but later in their life, they excel and become famous or successful?

For sure you’ve heard the story of Einstein, Edison, Lincoln, Gates, Zuckerberg. God has designed each person to excel: King David was the youngest, Queen Esther was an orphan, Joseph was slave, Daniel and his friend were young people.

In Christianity, it’s not also avoided for people to compare one pastor with others. From the 1^st century Christians we can easily trace that some Corinthians favored Paul while others favored Apollos. In 1 Corinthians 3:4…⁴ For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? Division was shaking the stability of peace in the church of Corinth.

Is it biblical to compare or to favour one pastor or with the other?

1.  Learn

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Biblical knowledge normally influence one’s opinion: whether lack of knowledge or much knowledge, there will always be problems in the church, why?

Misunderstandings are also some practical warnings to reconsider our views.

Apollos had great knowledge of the Scriptures but Priscilla and Aquila discerned that Apollos’ need to learn more about Christianity. Apollos may be a great speaker but not one of his speeches was added in the Bible.

Paul was no articulate speaker but we can read his epistles recorded in the Bible. Bible scholars suggest that Paul was a boring preacher that was why a person named Eutychus had fallen asleep while listening to Paul’s message.

Both Paul and Apollos were given them different functions in the church.

In 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, ⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷ So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field.

Paul was the sower and Apollos was the cultivator who helped the Corinthians to grow mature in their faith.

Farmer

A farmer who does all the works—sow or plant seed, water, cultivate, fertilize, or harvest is no doubt a small time farmer. A farmer who hires multiple workers in his field must be a big time farmer.

How do we view our church, has God designed it for one-man staff or multiple? Do we believe that God will provide and sustain us with multiple fulltime workers? Would the Almighty God raise fulltime workers from this church eventually?

Apollos had a thorough knowledge of the Scripture but Priscilla and Aquila, who were not distinguished speakers, helped him learn more about Christianity. Apollos was very much willing to learn; he did not challenge Priscilla and Aquila’s reputation as teachers. Apollos listened and learned from them adequately. Aquila and Priscilla might have informed Apollos about Corinthian church.

Who inspired Apollos to proceed and continue the ministry in Corinth?

2.  Live

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

Apollos lived and practiced what he had learned or what he was trained for. The disciples in Ephesus encouraged him to go and help the believers in Corinth. They made sure that the believers in Corinth would welcome him with open hands.

Did Apollos sense that he will be more effective in the ministry if he bring his oratorical talent in the big city of Corinth?

Apollos was gifted in public speaking and many believers in Corinth were inspired that God brought Apollos to teach them; he was real good in public debates.

Eloquent speaker is the kind of leadership that perfectly fit the Corinthian church. The presence of Apollos, as gifted speaker brought some misunderstanding among the Corinthians that some have favored Paul while others favored Apollos.

If God is in control, why did God allow many pastors to leave their former church? If former pastors are the best pastor for the church, why did God relocate them? If Paul was the best leader for the Corinthian church, why did God allow him to leave the city of Corinth? Was Apollos a better leader for the Corinthians that God sent him to Corinth?

Each believer has been given a particular ministry at a designated time. When God gives us training or education, He wants us to live with it, to practice it in our daily life for us to enjoy and grow in our relationship with Him.

I’m not sure!

Do you know for sure that your career is what God has prepared for you?

I’ve experienced doubts: When I was in the seminary, I was not very sure if I will be a pastor, missionary, but I love the idea of itinerant preacher. I considered opportunities that were offered, now, I am here with you.

In Ephesians 2:10, ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When opportunities of ministry knock at your door, pray for discernment! Pray that God would put or position you into a situation for you to practice and live with what He has prepared in advance or trained you for.

Have you discovered what God has designed or wired you for? Are you satisfied with your spiritual life and ministry involvement at the moment?

If there’s longing to know more of God’s plan for you in your heart, keep praying.

We are God’s project; God is not mistaken to place you where you should belong.

Are you called to preach, pastor, teach, lead, train, help, give, serve, or evangelize?

Our calling is where God wants us to excel and experience more of His love for us. Our spiritual gift is our tool to testify of what God has done in our life.

Problems or struggles are God’s highway under construction to redirect and position us to be in a situation where He has designed for us to excel.

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