Learning is Leading

GETTING STARTED

The people who have had the greatest impact on my life tend to have one thing in common, they are always learning. This comes through a continued desire to study Scripture, a willingness to listen, and always desiring to grow. This takes humility. Scripture is full of instances in which men and women are left with a choice to listen or leave. In today’s passage we see how one man’s teachability resulted in a spread of the gospel.

  • Do you find it challenging to accept help? What areas of your life have been impacted by listening, or a heart of teachability?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 18:24-28 (ESV)

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came 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 spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. 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.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was Apollos’ heritage? What were his talents?
  2. What was the depth of Apollos’ knowledge of Jesus?
  3. How did Priscilla and Aquila respond when they heard Apollos teach? How did Apollos respond to them?
  4. Although Apollos was competent in the Scriptures and a gifted speaker, he still had much to learn. His willingness to listen and learn led to a more impactful ministry. What situation are you currently in where humility could lead you to greater understanding?

RESPOND TO GOD

Later in Scripture, Paul revealed the effectiveness of Apollos and his ministry. He was a well-educated, Jewish man who could captivate a crowd with his teaching. There are many others in the pages of Scripture with similar attributes, but when approached by questions or given instruction, their response was one of superiority, not humility in listening. Jesus calls us to make disciples, and in the process to be a disciple of his as well. We are all called to be a student, a learner of the character of God. Our backgrounds don’t matter before Jesus; our submission to him and a willingness to learn is what enables great kingdom impact.

  • Thank the Lord for being the ultimate teacher. Ask for a heart of teachability and wisdom through humility.