(In)Formed Faith Acts 18:24-19:10 Dr. Eric Bolger

(In)Formed FaithActs 18:24-19:10

Dr. Eric Bolger

Two Stories of (In)Forming

• Apollos (18:24-28)


• Apollos (18:24-28)• Some Ephesian disciples (19:1-10)


• (1) Apollos


• (1) Apollos–A Jew from Alexandria, comes to Ephesus


• (1) Apollos–A Jew from Alexandria, comes to Ephesus– “He was an eloquent man, competent in

the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in [the] spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, . . .


• (1) Apollos–A Jew from Alexandria, comes to Ephesus– “He was an eloquent man, competent in

the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in [the] spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, . . .

though he knew only the baptism of John.”


• (1) Apollos–Began to speak boldly in the synagogue


• (1) Apollos–Began to speak boldly in the synagogue–Priscilla and Aquila heard him and “took

him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”


• (1) Apollos–Began to speak boldly in the synagogue–Priscilla and Aquila heard him and “took

him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”–Goes to Greece (Corinth) with support and

encouragement from the Ephesian believers.


• (1) Apollos– “When he arrived, 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.”


• (2) Some Disciples


• (2) Some Disciples–Paul crosses Asia Minor towards Ephesus

and meets these men.


• (2) Some Disciples–Paul crosses Asia Minor towards Ephesus

and meets these men.–Baptized into John’s baptism, but no

knowledge or experience of the Holy Spirit: “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”


• (2) Some Disciples– 4 “And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the

baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.’”


• (2) Some Disciples– 5 “On hearing this, they were baptized

in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.”


• (2) Some Disciples–Paul enters the synagogue in Ephesus and

speaks “boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”


• (2) Some Disciples–Paul enters the synagogue in Ephesus and

speaks “boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”–After some Jews harden their hearts and

speak evil of “the Way,” Paul takes the 12 disciples to another venue where he preaches daily.


• (2) Some Disciples– 10 “This continued for two years, so that all

the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

Lessons from the Two Stories


• God and his kingdom are bigger than our well-intended, but sometimes misguided, preconceptions.


• God and his kingdom are bigger than our well-intended, but sometimes misguided, preconceptions. – Southern Baptist mission


• God and his kingdom are bigger than our well-intended, but sometimes misguided, preconceptions. – Southern Baptist mission–Muslims meeting Jesus


• God and his kingdom are bigger than our well-intended, but sometimes misguided, preconceptions. – Southern Baptist mission–Muslims meeting Jesus– Long time friends and colleagues


• There are many un(in)formed Christians in the world today.


• There are many un(in)formed Christians in the world today.–Conversion only


• There are many un(in)formed Christians in the world today.–Conversion only– Experience only


• There are many un(in)formed Christians in the world today.–Conversion only– Experience only–Knowledge only


• There are many un(in)formed Christians in the world today.–Conversion only– Experience only–Knowledge only– “Jesus” only


• True conversion is a life-long process


• True conversion is a life-long process• True faith includes knowledge


• True conversion is a life-long process• True faith includes knowledge• True faith includes experience


• True conversion is a life-long process• True faith includes knowledge• True faith includes experience• True faith is cultivated in relationship

with other believers.

How Harvest Can Help (In)Form Us


• Worship service engagement


• Worship service engagement• Equipping Hour


• Worship service engagement• Equipping Hour–New opportunities for engagement with

God, God’s truth, others



God, God’s truth, others–Catachesis of children and adults




• Community Groups




• Community Groups• Mission trips

Documents

(In)Formed Faith Acts 18:24-19:10 Dr. Eric Bolger