Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 17 October 2014 "An 18-month stay in Corinth"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Friday, 17 October 2014 "An 18-month stay in Corinth"
Daily Scripture:  Acts 18: Corinth
1-4 After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus.
5-6 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God’s Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. “Have it your way, then,” he said. “You’ve made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I’m spending my time with the other nations.”
7-8 He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews’ meeting place. But Paul’s efforts with the Jews weren’t a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him.
8-11 In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: “Keep it up, and don’t let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I’m with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city.” That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians.
12-13 But when Gallio was governor of Achaia province, the Jews got up a campaign against Paul, hauled him into court, and filed charges: “This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal.”
14-16 Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio interrupted and said to the Jews, “If this was a matter of criminal conduct, I would gladly hear you out. But it sounds to me like one more Jewish squabble, another of your endless hairsplitting quarrels over religion. Take care of it on your own time. I can’t be bothered with this nonsense,” and he cleared them out of the courtroom.
17 Now the street rabble turned on Sosthenes, the new meeting-place president, and beat him up in plain sight of the court. Gallio didn’t raise a finger. He could not have cared less.
Ephesus
18 Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken.
Reflection Questions:
From Athens, Paul went on to Corinth (see map), a large seaport known for all the vices typical among idle sailors throughout history. Yet God told the apostle that he had "many people" there. Paul met Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers, who became dear friends and co-workers (in Romans 16:3-4, Paul would write that they had "risked their own necks" for his life). He ended up staying in Corinth for 18 months.
After Paul preached in Corinth for a while, some synagogue members (by now predictably) "opposed and slandered him." He "left the synagogue," but remarkably, "Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household came to believe in the Lord." Jesus told Paul in a dream, "Don't be afraid….I'm with you." How does it change your outlook in difficult, scary situations to have a sense that you're not all alone, that Jesus is with you? Where do you need God's comfort and courage right now?
When Paul met Priscilla and Aquila, they were all far from home. He'd come from Athens, and faced hostility in Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila were recent exiles from Rome at Emperor Claudius' orders. Most often God works through people. How did God use the close friendship that developed to strengthen all three people to serve Jesus more effectively?
Today's Prayer:
Loving Lord, guide me as I keep building my ability to trust that you are always with me. And make me the kind of friend who can help and support someone else in serving you more faithfully. Amen.
Insight from Chris Folmsbee
Chris Folmsbee is Resurrection’s Director of Discipleship Ministries.  He is the author of several books, with an extensive background in applying principles of spiritual growth to real life. He, his wife Gina and their family have been attending Resurrection since 2008.
Pastor and theologian John Stott asked, “Why is it that some Christians cross land and sea, continents and cultures, as missionaries? What on earth impels them? It is not in order to commend a civilization, an institution or an ideology, but rather a person, Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be unique.”
This is the story of Paul—crossing land and sea, at all costs—in order to preach the gospel. Paul was propelled into spreading the message of the gospel, meaning the unique person and work of Jesus, because of 1) a personal encounter with God and 2) the promises of God for God’s people. Paul, a new man after Jesus found him on the road to Damascus, was living anew for the opportunity to preach the gospel, to share his story of conversion and the story of Israel—inviting Jew and Gentile to believe in and follow this unique Christ, a different kind of king who came to faithfully and generously serve the people.
Clearly, at times, and likely more often than the New Testament even documented, Paul would have been fearful for his life and the lives of those traveling with him. We see in our reading for today (Acts 18:9-11) that Paul had a vision where God expressed God’s presence with and protection for Paul. Paul leaned into this vision and stayed in the city of Corinth proclaiming the gospel for 18 months. Paul trusted that God was who God said God was, and he lived into God’s promise to protect him.
What are you afraid of when it comes to sharing the gospel in word and deed? In what ways are you feeling anxious about having spiritual conversations with your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.? Do you believe that God’s promise to be present with and protect Paul was meant just for Paul, or do you believe that God’s promise to Paul is meant even for us today?
As you feel compelled to share the gospel through word and deed, know that God’s promise to Paul doesn’t stop at Paul. God’s promises are not promises merely for ancient times. God’s promises are for all times! As a missionary, you too are promised the presence and protection of God. Therefore, act on the Spirit’s prompting with confidence, knowing that God is a God of presence and protection.
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