​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, October 17, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“Many People … One Mission!”
Acts 20:1-6 & Colossians 4:10-15
 
“Many People … One Mission!”  That’s the title that I gave to my Meditation this morning.  As you may remember, right after Easter this year, we launched a new sermon series in the Book of Acts.  For a little bit over six months now, we have been following together the movement of Jesus of Nazareth and the expansion of His Kingdom.  For me, it’s been a hope-filled journey because it reminds us of a God who is so actively working in the world.  In Acts we are reminded of the power of the gospel.  Over the course of our study in the Book of Acts we got to learn that when the gospel of Christ is faithfully proclaimed, it has the power to transform hearts and transform communities.  I have been personally blessed by this study and I hope you feel the same.
One of the things that deeply touched my heart and continues to inspire me in our study of Acts is how the Early Church collectively worked together to make it happen; to spread the message of Jesus.  The message didn’t spread primarily by the professionals, but by the witness of the Body of Christ together.
As we get to Luke’s account in Acts chapter 20, we are told that Paul is near the end of his life.  In just a few months, Paul will be arrested in Jerusalem, get sent to Rome for trial, where he will spend the last two years of his life under a house arrest before he was executed in 64 AD.  It’s typical for the New Testament writers to include “greetings” in their letters to individuals they met in places where the gospel had been proclaimed.  The couple Scripture lessons I picked for this morning reflect this truth.
Why?  Have you ever asked yourself why all those names are mentioned in the NT letters?  To tell you the truth, most of us would probably skip over those names.  Most of us will not bother to read through them.  They are hard to pronounce anyway.  Right?  Church, there must be a reason to include all those names in God’s Word.  Why does the Bible mention Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus Trophimus, Mark, Barnabas, Justus, Epaphras, Luke, Demas, Nympha, and many others?  Why all those names?
I truly believe that there is a purpose behind throwing in all these personal names and information in the New Testament letters.  As we consider this thought today, please allow me to suggest two reasons for the Holy Spirit’s emphasis on mentioning all those names.
First: The Lord Keeps Record of our Sacrifices for the KingdomThis is a theme that we saw at least once when we looked at the life of Cornelius.  In Acts 10, the Lord sent an angel in a vision to Cornelius, a God-fearing man, saying: “Cornelius, your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”  God takes note of our prayers and our sacrifices for the gospel.  Our love to Jesus and our sacrifices for His Kingdom will not go unnoticed.
In listing all those names in God’s Word, God not only honoring all those faithful followers of Jesus and rewarding their faithfulness, but also God wants to remind all of us today that our contributions to the Kingdom count.  Our faithfulness today paves the way for the next generation to follow in the way of Christ.  May we never underestimate our efforts today for the cause of the gospel.  They are precious in God’s eyes.
Second: God Uses Many People to Accomplish His PurposesBut there is a second reason why all these names are mentioned in the Scripture.  God wants to remind us that He uses different people to accomplish one purpose.  God uses young and old, rich and poor, males and females, Jews and Gentiles, educated and not very educated, gifted and not very gifted.  There is a place for everyone in God’s vineyard.  The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
If you look at some of those final greetings in the Bible, you will see how God uses many people to accomplish one purpose.  For example, in Colossians 4:11 Paul names three individuals: Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus.  Paul describes them as “they have been a comfort to me.”  In Colossians 4:12, Paul speaks of “Epaphras.” He says about him, “He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills.”  Paul continues his list by commending “Nympha” and how she showed hospitality by hosting the church in her house.  There were others who financially supported the work.
Friends, we are invited to collectively carryout the mission of Christ and to invest our talent, time, and treasure in the work of the gospel.  Whatever your gift might be, God can use it.  Our Nominating Committee has some vacancy to fill in.  If you got a note from them, seriously consider it as an invitation from God Himself to engage in the work of the kingdom in a deeper level.
And when you come across any of lists of names in the Bible, never pass too quickly through them because each one of them had a story to tell of the outworking of God’s grace in their lives.  The story of God’s grace is not over yet.  It will continue to unfold in the ministry and mission of the Church today.  May we continue the good work the Lord began many centuries ago.  In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!
 
 

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, October 10, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“When the Name of Christ Is Held in High Honor!”
Acts 19:8-12 & 17
 
Acts chapter 19 takes us to the heart of Paul’s Third Missionary Trip.  Paul’s third missionary journey took place in 53 AD and lasted for 3 years.  The big portion of this missionary trip was spent in the city of Ephesus.  For three years, Paul spoke boldly and argued persuasively about Jesus of Nazareth and the kingdom of God’s arrival in Him.  This is the longest period of time Paul ever stayed in one mission field.  You may be interested to know that during his house arrest in Rome in 61 AD, Paul wrote and sent 3 letters to the congregation in Ephesus: First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Ephesians. 
 
In Acts 19:17, the passage we are looking at this morning, Luke gives his summary of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.  Having seen lives transformed by the gospel, miracle done in the name of Jesus, Luke sums up and captures the ministry in Ephesus in these words: “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”
 
In order to appreciate and understand the magnitude of this statement, we need to know how difficult it was to share the good news of Jesus in Ephesus.  It was extremely difficult to be a follower of Jesus Christ in the pagan city of Ephesus.  The story of planting the Church in Ephesus is a hope-filled story.  There are many lessons we can learn today as we reflect on this story.  Please allow me to underscore a single lesson this morning, but before I do that, Let’s first examine the city of Ephesus.
 
The City of Ephesus
Ephesus was the capital city in Asia Minor under the Roman Empire.  During the days of the Romans, the city of Ephesus bore the title “the First and Greatest Metropolis of Asia.”  Ephesus was the most populous city of the most prosperous province in the empire. 
 
The religious atmosphere in Ephesus was a tough one.  As I mentioned earlier, to appreciate the early Christian community in Ephesus and their perseverance, we need to understand the culture in the city of Ephesus.  Ephesus had one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world: the Temple of Artemis (also known as Diana).  Artemis was worshipped as the fertility goddess among the Greeks and Romans.  People from around the world came to worship the goddess Artemis. 
 
The Temple of Artemis was bigger than a football field and a half long and wider than a football field.  It was wrapped with 127 massive pillars of marble.  All the town worshipped at the temple.  Given that Artemis was the goddess of fertility, hundreds of temple prostitutes both male and female were present at any given time.  Many of the festivities celebrating Artemis ended in rampant sexual immorality.  That was the environment.  Think of the challenges faced by the early Christians who lived in Ephesus.  
 
But at the end of the day, this challenge really didn’t compare to the worship of the Emperor Domitian, which was also headquartered in Ephesus.  Ephesus also hosted a temple to the emperor.  Very few cities had those temples.  In Ephesus, stood a temple to worship Domitian built on the highest place in town so that all could see.  Domitian began his reign in 81 AD and immediately selected this place for people to worship him as god.  On the plateau of the temple – where the temple actually stood – was a statue of Domitian that was held up by other statues.  These were all the statues of all the gods of the empire holding Domitian up as the highest.  For early Christians, that was a very intimidating sight, because Domitian, next to Nero, is one of the emperors that most brutally persecuted Christianity.
 
It was here in Ephesus that Paul preached the gospel and planted a church.  How did the followers of Jesus survive the culture of Ephesus?  How can we maintain a strong spirituality, a closer walk with Jesus, in the midst of such a hostile culture?  Here is an important key from Acts 19: Stick to the Body of Christ and grow daily.
 
Stick to the Body of Christ and Grow up Daily in the Lord
Here is the formula, the secret, to persevere and endure a pagan culture: stick to the Body of Christ and grow up in the Lord daily.  This formula is based on Acts 19:9-10, “Paul took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”  
 
Growing up in Christ is a daily process.  It’s a journey.  This journey is traveled with a like-minded community.  This community is called the Body of Christ, the Church.  Ephesus was a tough place to evangelize and to make disciples.  That’s why the apostle Paul stayed in Ephesus three full years.  Luke tells us that Paul gathered with the disciples “daily” in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  Paul met daily with the followers of Jesus in Ephesus.  They traveled this tough road together.  They were fed God’s Word.  They became an encouragement to each other.  Someone said, “Come to Church every Sunday and come to Christ every day.”
 
Friends, Paul’s experience in Ephesus reminds us of the importance of this gathering.  It’s God’s way to build up our faith.  May we never give up meeting together.  May we never forsake the gathering of the saints.  When such dedication and perseverance are found, “the name of the Lord Jesus will be held in high honor.” It will not be the name of Domitian whose statue was held up by all the gods of the empire; it’s the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  May we never lose sight of our mission to honor the name of our Savior.  The 21st century American culture is as tough as the first century Ephesian’s culture.  Yet, it happened back then and by God’s grace it can happen today.  May it be so.  In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen! 

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, October 3, 2021)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“Priscilla and Aquila: Real Followers … Real Impact!”
Acts 18:1-4; Romans 16:3-5
 
There is a repeating pattern in the book of Acts that I believe deserves our attention.  This pattern is repeated over and over again in the story of the Early Church.  It’s hard to miss it!  It goes like this: people invite people.  People bless people.  People help other people to encounter the love and the grace of Jesus.  People share with people the good news of Jesus of Nazareth.  We have to remember that for over 300 years, Christians didn’t have church buildings or designated worship or sacred places.
 
The message of Christ didn’t spread through programs, committees, or any organized boards; rather, it spread primarily through dedicated followers of Jesus; it spread through the witness of the Body of Christ collectively.  The message was shared everywhere: at homes, in the marketplace, and at workplaces.  The gospel was proclaimed in season and out of season.  Authentic Christians, real followers of Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit, impacted and transformed their communities.  The couple I would like to introduce this morning is no exception. 
 
Aquila and Priscilla are two heroes whose lives had enormous impact on God’s kingdom.  Who were Aquila and Priscilla?  Luke tells us they come from Pontus “modern day Turkey”, a reminder on this World Communion Sunday that God’s Kingdom extends beyond our bounds.  Much can be said about Aquila and Priscilla, but for the sake of our time today, I would like to underscore a single thought on this World Communion Sunday as we reflect on the lives of these two wonderful followers.
 
Aquila and Priscilla and Mentoring Others
The work of mentoring is a hard work.  Nurturing others is not an easy job.  The book of Acts tells us that Priscilla and Aquila were excellent in mentoring others.  The more we read about Aquila and Priscilla, the more we get to know that they made room for others in their lives.  Aquila and Priscilla were always ready to help others; to offer hospitality; to teach them the way of the Lord.
 
In the book of Acts, Luke makes sure that we get it.  In fact, the Biblical references about Aquila and Priscilla challenge our lives today in such a profound way.  More than once, the Bible tells us that Aquila and Priscilla embraced others; they made room for others in their lives.  Let us see what the Bible says about them and how they encourage us today to do the same.
 

1. Providing Housing for Paul

At the beginning of Acts 18, we are told that Aquila and Priscilla provided a refuge for the apostle Paul.  After Paul left Athens, he went to Corinth.  There he met Aquila and his wife Priscilla.  I am sure Paul was exhausted.  He needed shelter.  He needed a family.  He needed some rest; some refreshing time.  He needed some fellowship with like-minded Christians.  In Acts 18:3, Luke tells us Paul “stayed with them and they worked together because they were of the same trade.”  Acts 18:11 state that Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half.  For 18 months, Aquila and Priscilla became a family for the apostle Paul.
 

1. Mentoring Apollos

From Corinth, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, left for Ephesus.  In Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla met with a Jew named Apollos.  In Acts 18:24-26, Luke tells us Apollos was “a native of Alexandria.  He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”  I love how passionate Aquila and Priscilla were in teaching this young Christian the way of the Lord.
 

1. Hosting the Church at their Home

Toward the end of his life, Paul made a few references to Aquila and Priscilla in regard to their hospitality and their sacrifices for the gospel.  Yes, they helped Paul in Corinth.  They supported in ministry in Ephesus.  They mentored young Apollos.  Moreover, they always hosted the Church in their home.  This is what Paul wrote in Romans 16:3-5, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, who work with me (co-workers) in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.  Greet also the church that meets at their house.”  He said the same thing in 1 Corinthians 16:19.
 
Friends, people like Aquila and Priscilla leave a lasting impact on God’s Kingdom.  Imagine the impression they left in Corinth, in Ephesus, and in Rome.  We need more like Aquila and Priscilla in our Churches today, don’t we?  We need people who are willing to listen, to help, to guide and to mentor.  We need people whose houses are churches.  We need people who open their hearts, homes, property – giving of themselves as unto the Lord. 
 
Tradition has it that Aquila and Priscilla eventually died in Ephesus as martyrs like Paul. Yet, their lives still speak to us today, even though they are dead.  I wonder what legacy we are leaving behind.  What will the next generation remember us with?  May God help us to remember that real followers impact the world and leave a lasting mark on those around them.  In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!