Introduction

Good morning. Let us turn to Acts Chapter 18. This chapter is somewhat difficult to unpack. I have read it many times, yet I cannot quite articulate its essence. Luke records the situation at the time, but I am not entirely clear on the point he is trying to make. I propose to title this chapter Building the Church, Strengthening the Disciples. If you were to ask me how confident I am that I have understood it correctly, I would say that I am not entirely sure. We can explore it together. It is not easy to grasp the author's intended theme within historical narratives because it is often deeply embedded. However, after many readings, I believe that “Building the Church, Strengthening the Disciples” is a fitting theme for this chapter.

Building the Church While Working

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them (Acts 18:1-3).

Paul waited in Athens for news from the church in Thessalonica, staying there for about two weeks. The number of brothers and sisters in the Thessalonian church was small; it was a small church. After Timothy understood the situation, he told Paul how the brothers and sisters there were facing successive persecutions. Paul was very happy to hear this in Athens and wrote 1 Thessalonians.

Paul did not establish a church in Athens, but was busy arguing with people. After leaving Athens, he went to Corinth and met a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who were in business, and joined them. They were in the same trade as Paul, making tents. At that time, tent-making probably involved carpentry work, and it was not likely to involve iron or steel wires. Before coming to Corinth, Paul made tents, which is a bit like being a modern-day renovator or builder. I believe Paul was also a very good tentmaker. He worked with Aquila and Priscilla every day, and his income must have been quite good. Because in Paul's letters he says that he often used his own hands to support his co-workers, which means that Paul earned a lot of money.

In contrast, Peter very much liked to devote himself to prayer and preaching; however, Paul built the church while working. So the question arises, does building the church while working count as neglecting one’s proper occupation? Later I discovered that this is an idea of building the church. Many years ago, I felt that being in full-time ministry in the church was quite corrupting! Because this is not like building a tent. If you build the tent and it collapses, people will hold you accountable. But you build a church, and all day you just wisely pray and preach. You do not even know if you are preaching correctly. You are just talking about things no matter what.

Some time ago, I met a couple who said that their pastor often preached the same sermon. Some pastors also prepare 52 sermons, preach them for 52 weeks of the year, and then continue to read them the following year. Some pastors have prepared 104 sermons, read them for two years, and then continue to read them, using them in a cycle. The pastor often cooks twice-cooked pork for everyone to eat, but there is nothing fresh about it; it’s all reheated leftovers! That’s not how you run a church. Just take the mobile phone industry. A new generation is updated in less than two years. Some time ago, there was still VIVO X50, but now it is already X90. I used to use an iPhone 3 a few years ago, but now it has been upgraded to iPhone tens.

However, the church business is very interesting and has not changed for decades. In fact, you can’t blame others for not changing for many years. All day long, you just pray and preach, and you don’t know anything else. But Paul was down to earth. His idea of building a church was to shepherd people. If you don’t know anything and you only have a lot of theological theories, then you can’t shepherd people. Thank God! I know a little bit about everything. Whether you are an accountant, a financier, a teacher, or a language teacher, or even an engineer, I can talk to you. Being a pastor really requires contact with society, because in the process of shepherding, you will encounter all kinds of problems in people's lives. It is not something that can be solved by empty talk about great principles.

When I was building the church, I discovered one thing, which is that although I am very good at building people's faith, after it is built, people are full of confidence to take the exam, but they fail. The truth is very simple. If you spend all day praying and preaching to prepare for college, you will definitely not pass the exam! You still think that God will help you, but in fact God helps people like Paul. The church that Paul built has a set of theories, not a rigid collection of offerings with a vessel all day long.

Building the church is about winning people like catching fish. The people you win are not about raising a few sheep and then killing them to eat roasted whole sheep. Shepherding God’s flock is about solving many very practical problems. So from the very beginning of building the church, I knew that I had to train people in a down-to-earth way to make them more valuable. Let me brag and be a bit of a show-off. I am really a person who enables losers to turn their lives around. If you are really not a very good person, then you have come to the right place. Chinese Mingding Destiny is the place where you can grow. It is a bit difficult for anyone who comes here not to grow.

I have always been building the church while working. Later, even if I was serving God full-time, it did not delay me from doing practical things. Next, I have a lot more to do about shepherding, because in the depths of my mind there is an idea called winning people like catching fish, which is to enable everyone to become more and more valuable. But I often feel guilty in my heart and feel that I am not doing well. Sometimes I feel very tired, and I don’t know what to do with many problems. There is too much to study and solve, but I don’t know where to start first, and I can only helplessly watch the needs of my brothers and sisters and feel distressed. If you don’t study well, I will definitely study. No matter what you did before, it doesn’t matter. I will teach you how to study, and you will become more valuable. Your grades improve when you come among us, because I often teach you how to grasp the key points.

Now I have to train our pastors and co-workers first, because I can’t handle so many things alone. If I can train pastors and co-workers to be like me and be able to help others grow, can I build the church while doing practical things; while learning and growing, while shepherding God's flock, this is a set of ideas for building the church. Years ago, I was wondering how I could walk in God's will? How can I build a church? At that time, I believed that I should pray more. Later, I discovered that praying more alone is not enough; I also need to do practical things. Just like Jesus doing carpentry and Paul making tents, they were all building. We must not only work and do things, but also solve problems.

As a pastor, I have not only done many things, but I have also written 100 Bible study materials. The Bible has 66 books, and I have written 100 Bible studies. I have written several books on just one book. Ordinary pastors cannot compare with me. Some people say that my expression is too straightforward. In fact, I am saying that the idea of building a church must be to edify people. If you yourself are a poor student, who can you edify?

If I can teach the learning methods well and figure out how to enlighten people, then that will be great! Is there anything better in this world than winning people like catching fish? Now, apart from loving work and working hard, I have no other hobbies. I don’t touch any food, drink, or entertainment. Any boss would be happy to hire me, and God would be happy to hire me too, because I am a faithful servant. This is an idea of the church. Among us, you cannot avoid doing serious things. Even if you retire, you have to continue to do them!

Because doing serious things is to prepare you for future shepherding. So what is the relationship between doing serious things and doing shepherding? Doing serious things will give you experience. You must study hard when doing any serious thing. If you can’t endure hardship in studying, you are not very smart, and you don’t put in enough effort, then you can only be a nobody. There is no talk of being above and not below; you can only be below and not above. So you have to do serious things. Some people retire in their fifties, but I make them continue to work, which often makes them very unhappy, because people don’t want to work. I can only tell them that they have come to the wrong place. They can go wherever they want. This is Paul’s idea of building a church.

Persuading People

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4).

Everyone comes to church on Sunday, and the pastor begins to persuade people. Now we not only persuade people on Sundays, but we persuade people every day. What does it mean to persuade people? It means to make people have knowledge, spiritual knowledge, and to recognize spiritual laws, then that will be great! If people do not know about the spiritual realm, let me say something cool: the spiritual world governs many things! So no matter how powerful you are, if you do not have God, can you beat a ghost? So persuading people is to teach people spiritual knowledge. This is what Paul did. He not only persuaded Gentiles and Greeks, but also persuaded Jews. He argued with people every day. He also knew that arguing was not good, but he just wanted to argue. Because he wanted to gain one if he could, and two if he could. Anyway, when he casts this net, he puts the good ones in the vessel and throws away the bad ones. This is what Jesus taught.

A person building the church while working is a very effective way to prevent Pharisees from taking root and sprouting in the church. Many Jews are born with the characteristics of Pharisees. For thousands of years, from Moses to Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul, the Pharisees have been very famous. So we must persuade people while screening out the Pharisees, so that we can do practical things and love God. People make progress and can also shepherd, and become Paul's co-workers. If you only work all day and don't persuade people, don't say anything, don't preach, and don't care about whether the truth is true or not, just know how to work hard, then you can just be a part-timer. If a person does not have the heart to build the church or the heart to strengthen his disciples, then he is ruined.

Building the church starts with persuading people. Many people will definitely encounter many problems. Some have children with epilepsy, and Paul says it's simple. There are also people with joint pain, stooped backs, and all kinds of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and arthritis. People have many problems. When they come to Paul, he persuades people while healing the sick and casting out demons. Although it is not said here, he must be persuading people while proving that Jesus Christ is Lord. Not only in words, but also with practical examples. Unfortunately, even if a dead person is resurrected in front of you, if a person does not believe it in his bones, then it is useless.

'I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God (Acts 18:10-11).

In order to persuade people to build a glorious church, Paul stayed in the Corinthian church for a year and a half, while also being eager for the word of God and constantly and fervently proving to the Greeks and Jews that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Being Zealous for the Word

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:5).

Paul's zeal for the Word is a personality trait. Only people with this personality can build the church. If you think that it is just winning people like catching fish, and that fish are better, what do you do with people? Some people just don't have this interest, and we have to respect their choice. We have to accept that people are not interested in being a preacher. Even if they miss the treasure, you don't have to force them. But I want to say that a person cannot build a church if he is not zealous for the Word. Even if he reluctantly builds a church, it will be loose, lukewarm, and tepid. So zeal for the Word is a personality trait. I like to be vigorous and energetic, and I walk and work with a gust of wind. One who is slow in action always gets left behind.

To establish a church, one must be zealous for the Word and see that the church has too many needs. Our Lord Jesus Christ was a Jew. The Jews were originally God's people and God's chosen people, but they lost the treasure and let it slip through their fingers. It is a great pity! Paul was zealous not only for the Jews, but for everyone. If you don't believe it yourself, it is impossible to make others believe it. You yourself are confused, and then your preaching is nondescript, like somebody with astigmatism. Some people don't understand astigmatism. Songs and music have four-four time and four-three time, but there is no two-five time. Two-five time means that you are out of sync and not on the right track. People like me call me Christianity, because everything I do is enthusiastic and full of vitality.

Being zealous for the Word, building the church, and strengthening the disciples are things you cannot do without this personality. Our preachers, pastoral district leaders, and small pastors must develop this personality. Live like a fire. Like a fire in winter, warmer than floor heating! Being zealous for the Word is a personality trait. Sometimes I am anxious inside, so I shout: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Whether you are by my side or through the Internet, do you feel that fire? Some people often say to me that they feel like they have been charged after chatting with me. I am a fast-charging charging station, with that kind of enthusiasm inside. Because I deeply believe that it is so good to have Jesus Christ! I count everything as dung, but only Jesus Christ as the most precious.

I testify to you every day, explaining tirelessly, but it's all like casting pearls before swine, which worries me – this is the heartfelt voice of a preacher. We preachers are here to build God's glorious church and to strengthen God's people and disciples. We must start passing on this living enthusiasm, transmitting the fire within people. No difficulty can stand before us; that’s what it means to live well! If you haven't lived like me, you won't feel this inexhaustible energy. I'm thinking about how to pass on this way of living. Isn't there a lyric that goes, Rushing through nine provinces with zeal? Add the ten provinces of Asia, plus the eleven provinces of Europe, and then add the Americas to make twelve provinces, because we have truly obtained a treasure.

Someone once told Jack Ma that he was good at bluffing, and Jack Ma's response impressed me. He said, If you don't believe in yourself and try to get others to believe, that's bluffing; if you believe in yourself, it's not bluffing! I deeply believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate treasure, and many miracles have been performed through my hands. The miracles I perform are unbelievable to human eyes, healing diseases that even doctors can't solve. Can you say this isn't a treasure? It's not a decision of a million, or ten million, or even a hundred million; it's a decision about an invaluable treasure. When I was a child, I heard a story about someone who obtained a cornucopia; they could get anything they wanted by touching the edge of the pot, and treasures would pour out of it. Since I met Jesus Christ, I've realized that even that cornucopia can't compare to Jesus! When a person has Jesus, they have obtained the true treasure!

Teaching the Disciples the Word of God

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:11)

Paul taught the disciples the word of God, but what he taught is not written in the Bible. However, much is written in the epistles of the Apostle Paul: Galatians, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians – all are the word of God. In fact, it's not easy to read the epistles of the Apostle Paul clearly; you need to understand them and also clearly convey the word of God.

Do you know what the Apostle Paul valued most? It's what is written in Romans: mortifying the evil desires of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. Speaking of teaching disciples, Paul's concept of discipleship here is also defined by Jesus Christ. Not just anyone who claims to be a disciple is a disciple; you must truly forsake all to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. What the Apostle Paul taught is that only those who lay down their lives for Jesus Christ will have God's presence.

God's Presence with Paul

Paul had zeal in his heart. He wanted to strengthen the disciples, build God's glorious church, and bring all of God's people into God's kingdom. How do we know God was with Paul?

Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:9-10)

Paul stayed in that city for a year and a half, establishing the Corinthian church, clearly preaching the word of God, and allowing the brothers and sisters in the church to receive various spiritual gifts. This is how the Corinthian church was built. Paul made tents, and the Corinthian church didn't take a single penny. Moreover, Paul also helped the brothers and sisters in the Corinthian church. Paul had the heart of a shepherd, and in his letter to the Corinthian church, he said: You may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but you do not have many fathers. That's true! He said that only parents accumulate wealth for their children; how can children accumulate wealth for their parents? Parents accumulate wealth for their children because parents usually die earlier; parents generally don't outlive their children. So Paul spoke very clearly that it is to shepherd God's flock.

I am deeply moved! God said He was with Paul, and no one would harm Paul. In this city, there are many of God's people, and God is with such people. So brothers and sisters, don't doubt why God isn't with us. Everyone must begin to be urgent for the truth, working while constantly growing. You can exhort people, teach disciples, and lead people into God's grace.

God told Paul that there were many of God's people in that city. Looking around, how many of God's people in this world need to hear Chinese Mingding Destiny, which is the theology of the Apostle Paul? When we see the needs of this world, see the souls struggling in this darkness, how can we remain indifferent? May God also be with our brothers and sisters, raising us up to be people who build God's glorious church, who are urgent for the truth, and who can teach disciples.

Strengthening the Disciples

Paul went through Galatia, Phrygia, and other places where the gospel had been preached. Everyone knows that it’s a big deal when a person has God's presence! Strengthen the disciples' faith in the words of God. The words of God must take root and sprout in people's hearts and bear much fruit. Why is it necessary to strengthen the disciples? Because there is persecution everywhere, and the first thing that hinders people from entering God's kingdom is the devil. People are born carnal, and those who are naturally carnal have a lot of natural bad habits.

The church in Corinth was established for a year and six months, but the Christians there were still carnal, still needing to drink spiritual milk and not able to eat solid food, and the other places were similar. When Paul arrived in Galatia and Phrygia, he saw that the people there had returned to the law and left the faith. That's why Paul later wrote Galatians, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Corinthians. Not long after Paul left Corinth, a group of people came, but the Bible doesn't say who they were. However, people come and go, and after Paul left, the church that had been built was corrupted by the devil, so Paul had to go back again. In my opinion, Paul kept a close watch, preventing the devil from having the opportunity to corrupt.

Strengthening the disciples, I mean strengthening the brothers and sisters' faith in the word of God. I often hear brothers and sisters say that they have no confidence in themselves. I say, You shouldn't have confidence in yourself, right? They say they lack self-confidence. In fact, self-confidence is trash and doesn't amount to much. I tell them that people should have faith. In the end, they think it's faith in themselves. Actually, I want them to believe in God's word! If they believe in themselves, then what do people need God's word for? Strengthening the disciples means removing the garbage in people's minds and thoughts, so that we can understand that we must begin to have faith in God, and we will see signs and wonders following.

Apollos

While building the church and working, Apollos suddenly appeared – not the Cheng Yaojin of legend.

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25)

What does it mean to know only the baptism of John? Today, many churches only talk about repentance and not about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is called the baptism of John. They don't talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit or praying in tongues, which is very common. They are very good at explaining the Bible, just like Apollos mentioned here.

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. (Acts 18:26)

As for whether he believed after hearing, we don't know, but that doesn't matter. Later, there was the Apollos faction.

And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:27)

Achaia was a province, and Corinth was a city in the province of Achaia. Apollos went to the Corinthian church, and Aquila and Priscilla were the leaders of the Corinthian church at that time. They wrote a letter recommending this person, asking the Corinthian church to accept him. Apollos spoke there for a long time, and many people belonged to the Apollos faction. Some felt they were in the Paul faction, others in the Apollos faction, and still others said they were in the Peter faction. I believe that those in the Peter faction were a bit fatal, as they didn't know who spoke well, but judged from the flesh that Peter must be good because he had followed Jesus.

After Apollos went there, he helped many who had believed through grace, but perhaps his methods were different from Paul's. Why do I say this? The reason is simple: Paul didn't bring Apollos; it was Aquila and Priscilla's idea. In other words, there was a barrier between him and Paul. This person was eloquent, and we must admire that. Some people don't believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but their eloquence is a bit like Apollos.

I think Luke has finished telling this story, which is that in the process of Paul building the church and strengthening the disciples, you will find that there are many other factors at play. Apollos was one of them because he was very eloquent, but he only knew the baptism of John. As for whether he later understood Jesus and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we don't know, but you must know what our Jesus Christ said.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)

Don't get rid of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or you will become part of the Apollos faction. If you restore the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you will return from the Apollos faction to the Paul faction. Actually, it's not about which faction; we are in the Jesus Christ faction because that's what Jesus Christ said.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, (Acts 18:11-12)

Isn't it strange? Paul zealously preached so that these Jews could obtain the treasure, but these Jews attacked Paul. The proconsul of the synagogue, the governor of Achaia, was also a deputy, a high-ranking official. When Gallio heard this, he indicated that he wouldn't interfere before Paul even opened his mouth.

And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. And he drave them from the judgment seat. Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. (Acts 18:14-17)

Imagine beating the chief ruler of the synagogue in front of the proconsul Gallio, and Gallio didn't care. Why? Because this Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, followed Paul in believing in Jesus. So how did Paul explain this to Sosthenes after the beating? Actually, there's no need to explain; there's nothing to explain. Isn't it normal to suffer for Jesus? Some people ask why Jesus didn't protect him? It's normal not to protect him. Jesus himself was crucified, so it's normal for the flesh to suffer a little. Everyone must know that there will be times of suffering for the sake of the truth we believe in.

Conclusion

There are difficulties and setbacks in building the church and strengthening the disciples, but we have character. Because of our character, no difficulty can stand before us. There is no Flaming Mountain that cannot be crossed, and no Spider Cave that cannot be overcome; we can always find a way out. Even if there are more obstacles, we don't hesitate because we recognize that Jesus Christ is our treasure. Building the church is our Mingding Destiny! Strengthening the disciples and winning people like catching fish is the task God has given us. What virtue or ability do we have to be chosen by God to complete His work? How can we not value this office from heaven?

May God bless everyone!