Blog 3---- 7 more short lessons on Aquila and Priscilla.

1.       A and P model for us the dynamics of married folk and single folk working together as a team for God’s kingdom. This doesn’t have to be weird folks, Paul who was single and yet worked  closely with A and P. Paul reminded the Corinthian Church that being single is a gift and being married is a gift.  Let’s be content in the situation we are in, and serve God whole heartily (1 Cor 7: 24-40). Being married or single are both good and add important dynamics and perspective and flexibility to church community and ministry.(Acts 18:3,18:26)

2.       They where strategic in their ministry. It’s seems to me that A and P where very strategic in their work, they were focused and new their part… they new the risks. They traveled with Paul at one point to Ephesus but then when they arrived they stayed, and Paul went on to Caesarea (Acts 18:18-22).

A and P where booted out of Rome by the Emperor who didn’t want any Jews around. Yet in the letter to Romans they are being greeted by Paul and commended by Paul for risking their lives for him and for the Gentile church that remained in Rome. So that means A and P strategically went back to Rome even though it was maybe somehow illegal for them to do so. This leads to my next point kind of already mentioned but worth reiterating …..

3.       A and P risked their lives for God and for his church. (Acts 18:2) (Roman 16:3-4)

4.       A and P where refugees, displaced Jews, but their circumstances didn’t slow them down from serving God. We first meet this couple at the beginning of Acts 18. Paul bumps into them shortly after they and many other Jewish folks and been run out of Rome. But it is not to long into the chapter that you see them working in business and ministry with Paul.  They travel to several cities between Asian and Europe to plant churches or encourage churches, they even hosted different people or churches in their home wherever they ended up living for while.

5.       They used their trade in tent making to support their ministry.  Many Christians are called into full time ministry and thus raise funds from individuals and churches to do so, especially if they are working outside the church in a local or overseas ministry. However another way to fund ministry is to utilize ones own salary from their trade, business or degree. (Acts 18:3)

6.       They where a influence to a least 3 different house church networks, in three different cities, in three different countries, in two different continents: Ephesus (Syria, Asia), Corinth (Greece, Europe), Rome (Italy, Europe). The guys are somewhat inconspicuous in the scripture but their authority and influence was wide and deeply respected. This leads to my next and final point.  

7.       They came, they stayed, they left… They discipled and entrusted, they mentored and sent.

It seems clear to me that that these two loved the church, more so loved God, I conclude this by seeing their involvement in the church in the NT scriptures, their risk for her seen in Paul’s commendation to them in Romans. (It is very evident that Paul loved and respected these two very very much). But these two where never to long one place, got too attached to wherever they where, or whoever they worked with, you always seem them here and there, coming and going, receiving and releasing people. It must have been hard, I always found that the hardest part about being in transit and overseas ministry. But these two took obedience to God seriously they went where and when he told them to “GO”.  They valued the growth of God’s family, and multiplication of his church. They didn’t just stay in one place to build up their own “Kingdom” and become “Mega Pastor Stars”, they build and grew a person or a church up then they moved on to something else. I think this again a great healthy and important model for ministry.

I have been really blessed by the presence of Aquila and Priscilla in the NT scripture, I hope you have too and like me have learned a few things, and will model them in your own Christian life.

Blessings in Christ from Rwanda,

Jody

Lesson 2:  Aquila and Priscilla model for us in first century Christianity, various expressions of intential Christian community and ministry.

Over and above their local church involvement, A and P where committed to *monastic community (Acts 18:3), a traveling missionary team (Acts 18:18-19) and a small home based disciple training school (18:26). It’s neat to see that even these first century Christians where strategic, relational, and living intimately with those, whom they committed to doing ministry and mentoring with and for. Let’s talk note of this for the 21rst century.

*“Christian” Monastic Community (Jody’s simple Definition) = An intentional community of Christian singles, married people, or married people with children, who do life together (eat, fellowship, work, etc) or kingdom ministry together, or both, out of one residence or strategically in one neighborhood or region.

Thank God today in the 21rst century there are numerous local and global ministries, mission organizations, bible schools and seminary’s, DTS (discipleship trainings school) and even Christian monastic communities that invite people into this type of kingdom living and work.

 I don’t think this has to be complicated, Look at how A and P did it…. if you have a house with an extra room consider how you might you use that space to invite another person or couple into ministry together. Even just for a short time. Or if you know a person who desires to be a follow of Jesus or who wants to go deeper and become more mature, consider inviting them into your home for several weeks or months of training and mentoring.

Warning: This type of commitment is not easy as many of us Christian are still in the process of becoming like Christ, many of us are not fully there yet, so it can get messy. But at the same time I think this is the best biblical model for Christian living and ministry, I have had the privilege to be a part of several such things over the years and promise you it is worth it. It has had huge impact in my spiritual growth as well as many others.

I recently read a Christian article on how God likes to use two’s and three’s to do his work, here is the link, very interesting to see this pattern in scriptures.

 http://www.cmaresources.org/article/the-power-of-2-or-3

 

Blessings to you folks today,

Jody

Lessons on Aquila and Priscilla in the 1rst century, and how we can apply it to our own lives in the 21rst…

 Lesson 1: 

 Aquila and Priscilla where transient for God: (Acts 18: 1-2, 18, Romans 16:3-5, 2 Tim 4:19)

- A and P where refugees from Rome (Italy) to Corinth (Asia), this is where Paul meet them for the first   time.

- They traveled with Paul to Cenchreae Syria on a short term mission trip

- Paul greets them in the book of Romans, they are back in Rome after being exiled, helping the gentile Christian church, taking a risk in doing this I might add.

- Paul greets in them in a 2 letter to Timothy in a church in Ephesus that seemed to meet in the household of a man by the name of Onesiphorus.

So we see that this couple even though it was the 1rst century, got around, and there was no cars, planes, and high speed trains back then. They likely walked and walked, took a boat, or a donkey and a wagon. Thank God! Amen? We live in the 21rst century where it is much easier to get around as well as communicate, and all the more reason for our generation to be “moving” for God’s kingdom. In the early church Christians where on the move sharing the good news, making disciples, and then visiting each other from time to time to encourage each other to keep pressing on in the faith.

As 21rst a century Christians let us not forget where home really is. Let us not get too comfortable in a church, or community, or circle of friends, yes get rooted and love the people around you like crazy. But let us not forget the great call on our lives to GO, to GO and make disciples.  For some that means GOing across the street, or down the road, or to the next town, but for some that means renewing the passport and getting on a plane with the wife and kids and submerging into new whole life.

The laborers are few brothers and sisters, be open to where God wants you to be, it maybe seem difficult, stressful and sacrificial to be transient for God ,and it is, ask any missionary family or traveling Christian worker, I have  been there myself. But I promise if you ask any of them they would also say…. It’s hard, but sooooo worth it? When we obey God’s call, we never lose out our really.

Note: A and P where refugees to Corinth Asia, they where exiled by the Empire of Rome who wasn’t a fan of the Jews. Being a refugee really sucks (I have had friends who where, or are refugees) your are often treated like second class citizen in the host country. And yet this situation did not stop this couple from serving God and even hosting people in their home. Thankfully they seem to have a transferable trade of tent making to support themselves and their ministry.

  

 More lessons to come….

Aquila and Priscilla

… Hottest Christian couple in the New Testament,

…. I don’t mean hot as in attractive because I don’t know if they where, but I mean hot because they where on fire for God…

Two years ago our missionary community did a study on Aquila and Priscilla, I believe it was lead at the time by our director Rob Yackley.  To be honest I recognized their names but didn’t remember much about them.

Aquila and Priscilla are inconspicuous in the NT scriptures, but their names are speckled throughout the book of Acts, and throughout some pastoral letters in the closing remarks and greetings from Paul. At a closer glance you start to see how much there is to glean from this first century missionary couple, and how much impact and influence they had on the early church.

A couple of weeks ago Francine and myself sat down together to re -examine the scriptures on these guys. Both of us where convicted, and came to the conclusion that we both really want to model their example now today in the 21rs Century, their marriage, and their ministry. They were transient, fearless, radical, and committed to God’s work. Committed to evangelism, discipleship and hosting and encouraging the early Christian house church movement.

 We prayed about it and felt that God was really using this NT couple to help us cast vision for our marriage and ministry. After lots of discussion and prayer we felt really excited and honored, yet a little overwhelmed, and to be honest maybe even a bit afraid, like anyway might feel stepping on board an adventurous expedition into unknown territory.   

Needless to say I believe that God would love it, if a lot of couples and singles would  model their faith and work after these two, and for that reason I feel compelled to share this little series of blog’s with you, and persuade all of us to somehow become like Aquila’s and Priscilla’s.

You’ll find these “two cats” in these four texts in NT scripture  Acts 18:1-3,18,23-28, Romans 16:3-5, 1cor16:19,  2 Tim 4:19, If I have missed on let me know, now stay tuned these four short text actually have a lot to say, Part 2 to come.

Intro blog:

 I have been wanted to get a blog going for a while now to share some things, with some peeps. I have been spilling over with lots of life lessons, biblical revelations and community experiences these days as well as looking for a channel to express myself in some artistic way. I feel that writing, once I get into it will be a great start. I hope somehow this will be enjoyable for you the readers and somehow give God glory.

 This blog is hopefully going to be full of stuff. Conversations around cross cultural and cross continental marriage, birth control, biblical feminism and egalitarianism, house churching, ministry and missions, Christian evangelism and discipleship, leadership development, community and international development, health and fitness, masculinity, Africa, Canada, prayer and liturgy, life coaching etc. Look forward to your comments and feedback…..   

Stay tuned, hope to put up a series of postings starting tomorrow about what I think right now are two really cool players in the New Testament scriptures, you might be surprised because they are somewhat of a inconspicuous couple.