Working in the church used to mean performing one’s gift in the world whether it was at home, at work or in the mission field. Now it means a religious act performed within a building called the church. In the book of Acts, everyone was a missionary involved in the work of the church. Today, we have delegated this job to full-time vocation workers called clergy. Eph. 4:11-13 says certain gifts like pastor-teacher equip people to be involved in the ministry. All of us need to be involved. Paul is a case example of someone who mobilized and equipped workers for the harvest field. Acts 19-20 explains the ingredients for an effective evangelism and discipleship team.
Paul learned that the disciples in Ephesus had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance before believing in Christ. When they heard about the Holy Spirit, they were baptized in the name of Jesus. About 12 men began speaking in tongues and prophesying after the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 19:1-7). Supply the missing pieces in peoples’ understanding and application of God’s word.
For three months in the synagogues, Paul reasoned and persuaded people boldly about the kingdom of God. When some spoke evil of the Way, he took the disciples to the school of Tyrannus and reasoned daily with them. For two years, all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord. God performed miracles through Paul with diseases and evil spirits leaving. Some Jewish exorcists tried to mimic Paul, but evil spirits overpowered them so they left naked and wounded. Many believed, confessed and disclosed their practices and burned their magic books in the sight of all. The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (Acts 19:8-20). Teach and show evidence of the kingdom of God so His word grows and prevails.
Paul passed through Macedonia and Achaia, purposed to go to Jerusalem and later saw Rome. Timothy and Erastus who ministered to him were sent into Macedonia while Paul stayed in Asia for a while (Acts 19:21-22). Follow God’s leadership with your team ministering to one another.
Demetrius brought much business to the craftsmen who made the silver shrines of Artemis. He saw Paul as a threat to their prosperity because people were coming to Christ in Ephesus and Asia causing the temple of Artemis to be regarded as worthless. The town clerk cooled the riot after Paul’s traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, were dragged and a crowd shorted for two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:23-41). Realize that society views the gospel as a threat when people apply God’s word.
After the uproar, Paul exhorted the disciples in Ephesus and Macedonia before coming to Greece. When a plot was formed against him by the Jews, he determined to return through Macedonia with Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. They had gone ahead and waited for Paul’s team at Troas (Acts 20:1-6). Train a working team of ambassadors from various cities who can teach and spread God’s word together.
On the first day of the week when they gathered together to break bread, he extended his message until midnight. A boy fell to his death after sleeping, but Paul raised him to life through God’s power. He talked with them until daybreak. Paul decided to sail past Ephesus so he could be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 20:7-16). Maximize your time to teach and disciple others.
From Miletus, Paul told the Ephesian elders that he served the Lord with humility, tears and trials through the plots of the Jews. He always declared what was was profitable, taught publicly and from house to house repentance toward God and faith in Christ. Paul sacrificed his life to finish his course and the ministry he received from Christ of testifying of God’s grace, preaching the kingdom and not hesitating to declare the whole will of God. He told the elders to be on guard for themselves and the flock since the Holy Spirit made them overseers to shepherd the church of God bought with His own blood. Because savage wolves from among them would distort the truth drawing disciples after them, be on guard like Paul who never stopped warning them night and day for three years. He committed them to God and the word of His grace to build and give them an inheritance among all who were sanctified. He coveted no one’s money, worked hard to fund himself and his team and helped the weak as it’s more blessed to give than receive. He prayed and they wept together grieving they would not see Paul again (Acts 20:17-38). Teach from the whole Bible to prevent distortion of truth and deception from false teachers.
Consider if your church or ministry teams are aligned with the following ingredients for effective evangelism and discipleship:
1. Our team supplies the missing pieces in peoples’ understanding and application of God’s word
2. Our team teaches and shows evidence of the kingdom of God so His word grows and prevails
3. Our team follows God’s leadership with each member ministering to one another
4. Our team realizes that society views the gospel as a threat when people apply God’s word
5. Our team trains a working team of ambassadors from various cities who can teach and spread God’s word together
6. Our team maximizes their time to teach and disciple others
7. Our team teaches from the whole Bible to prevent distortion of truth and deception from false teachers
