The Normal Christian Life | Acts 18

Summary

Priscilla and Aquila were ordinary church members who understood they had one life to leverage for the glory of Jesus. Their example gives us a picture of the normal Christian life: they were on mission together, lived with their anchors and sails up, were “all in” with the church, and made disciples. The invitation is not to settle for a comfortable version of Christianity, but to surrender our lives to Jesus and experience the joy, purpose, and abundant life found in following him.

Key Takeaways

• Be on mission together. Priscilla and Aquila moved, served, opened their home, and discipled together. For married couples, the point of marriage is to point to Jesus and make much of him together (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:25). If you are single, be on mission for Jesus now; you don’t need to be married to make an impact.
• Live with your anchors and sails up. Priscilla and Aquila were willing to uproot their lives and follow wherever God led (Acts 18:18). Sails up means telling God, “My life is yours. I’ll go wherever you want me to go and do whatever you want me to do.” Anchors up means refusing to let anything keep you from saying yes to Jesus.
• Be all in with the church. There is no divide between “professional Christians” who do ministry and everyone else who watches. Through Christ, every believer is part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) which means:
  • Direct access to God: No mediator is required beyond Christ himself.
  • Daily Sacrifice: We are to present our entire lives to God.
  • Outward Proclamation: We proclaim Christ’s excellencies to one another and to an unbelieving world.
• Make disciples. Priscilla and Aquila saw where Apollos needed to grow and lovingly helped him understand the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:26). The normal Christian life includes both being discipled and helping someone else know Jesus and become more like him.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• When you compare your life with the picture of “normal Christianity” in this sermon, where are you encouraged? Where might you have settled for something less?
• On mission together: Who has God put around you to be on mission with? If you’re married, how well does your marriage currently point people to Jesus?
• Anchors and sails up: What could Jesus ask you to do for the sake of the gospel that you’re not sure you could say yes to? What does that reveal about what you’re holding onto?
• Sometimes the “anchor” isn’t a major life decision. It might be sharing the gospel with a neighbor, forgiving someone who hurt you, or saying no to something good so you can invest somewhere better. Where might the Spirit be asking you for a simple act of obedience this week?
• All in with the church: Are you primarily watching or are you “on the field”? Where are you currently offering your time, gifts, relationships, and resources for the good of the church and the advance of the gospel?
• Make disciples: Who is one person you are intentionally helping know Jesus and become more like him? If no one comes to mind, what is keeping you from making that kind of investment right now?