Equipped Through Discipleship

January 18, 2026

From the beginning, faith has never been a solo project. Our spiritual life was always meant to be shared, shaped, corrected, and strengthened within the people of God. In Acts 18, Luke introduces us to Apollos, a man who, on the surface, appears to be the kind of servant every congregation would want. He is sincere, but incomplete. Faithful, but unfinished. And so, God will move to grow Him through other servants. How did Priscilla and Aquila help Apollos grow?

1. Sincere Faith is Not the Same as Complete Formation

   1. Who is Apollos?

      1. Acts 18:24: Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.

         1. Religious, educated, and trained.

      2. Acts 18:25: He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, …

         1. Knowledge, fervent in spirit, and courage: (v. 26a) bold in his public teaching.

         2. 18:25c: But he knew only John’s baptism.

   2. He is incomplete. A person can love God deeply and still need further formation.

      1. Growth is not automatic. It is intentional, and often it is relational.

2. How Real Discipleship Actually Happens

   1. Focus on Priscilla and Aquila:

      1. Acts 18:26: They heard him.

      2. They took him aside.

      3. They explained the way of God to him more accurately. i.e., faithful instruction given in love.

   2. Priscilla and Aquila are not apostles. They are ordinary disciples who take responsibility for a brother’s spiritual growth.

3. Teachable Hearts Become Powerful Servants

   1. What was the result of Priscilla and Aquila’s work?

      1. Acts 18:27: When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.

      2. Discipleship did not slow Apollos down. It strengthened him.

   2. Growth is something we celebrate.

      1. Acts 18:28: For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.

      2. Teachability multiples usefulness in the kingdom of God.

   3. Discipleship is: humility to listen, a willingness to grow, and readiness to be shaped.

4. As We Close

   1. Jesus chose relationship over distance and did not disciple from afar. (Matthew 4:19)

   2. Jesus corrected privately before publicly. (Matthew 13:36; Mark 8:17-21)

   3. Jesus welcomed teachable hearts - even when they were incomplete.

   4. Jesus defined greatness as service, not status. (Mark 10:43)

   5. Jesus called His followers to make disciples - not just converts. (Matthew 28:19)

   6. Are you humble enough to be taught? Are you willing to invest in others? The kingdom is built by intentional discipleship.