Priscilla & Aquila

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Have you ever wondered how God works in unexpected ways, challenging cultural norms and fostering unity? Discover how the stories of Priscilla and Aquila, and the early church, reveal God’s plan for unity and empowerment for all believers. Join us as we explore how we can co-respond to God’s voice and live out our unique callings in today’s world.

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Priscilla & Aquila

Message Summary
Have you ever wondered how God works in unexpected ways, challenging cultural norms and fostering unity? Discover how the stories of Priscilla and Aquila, and the early church, reveal God’s plan for unity and empowerment for all believers. Join us as we explore how we can co-respond to God’s voice and live out our unique callings in today’s world.
Key Scripture
“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: Understanding God’s Unexpected Ways

  • Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-11 NLT
    “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
  • Devotional:
    God’s ways often defy our expectations and cultural norms. Throughout history, He has chosen the unexpected to fulfill His purposes. This passage from Isaiah reminds us that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Just as rain and snow nourish the earth, God’s word accomplishes His will, often in ways we cannot foresee. As we begin this devotional journey, let’s open our hearts to the unexpected ways God might be working in our lives and communities.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How have you seen God work in unexpected ways in your life?
    2. What cultural norms might God be challenging in your life today?
    3. How can you align your thoughts and ways more closely with God’s?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for an open heart to recognize and embrace God’s unexpected ways.
    2. Ask God to reveal areas in your life where you need to align more closely with His thoughts and ways.

Day 2

Day 2: Unity in Diversity

  • Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT
    Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
  • Devotional:
    Unity is a central theme in the body of Christ. Paul urges us to live in a manner worthy of our calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, and patience. Unity does not mean uniformity; rather, it celebrates diversity within the body of Christ. We are called to make every effort to maintain unity through the Spirit, recognizing that we are all part of one body, serving one Lord. As we reflect on this passage, consider how you can contribute to unity in your community.
  • Response Questions:
    1. What does unity in diversity mean to you in the context of your church or community?
    2. How can you practice humility and gentleness in your interactions with others?
    3. What steps can you take to promote unity in your relationships?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for a spirit of unity and peace within your church and community.
    2. Ask God to help you embody humility and gentleness in your daily interactions.

Day 3

Day 3: The Role of Women in Ministry

  • Scripture: Acts 18:24-28 NLT
    Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. Apollos had been thinking about going to Achaia, and the brothers and sisters in Ephesus encouraged him to go. They wrote to the believers in Achaia, asking them to welcome him. When he arrived there, he proved to be of great benefit to those who, by God’s grace, had believed. He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah.
  • Devotional:
    Priscilla and Aquila are a powerful example of a couple working together in ministry. Priscilla, often mentioned first, played a significant role in teaching Apollos, a gifted speaker, more accurately about the way of God. This passage highlights the importance of women in ministry and the impact they can have when they respond to God’s call. As we reflect on this story, let’s consider how we can support and encourage the gifts and callings of women in our communities.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How does the story of Priscilla and Aquila challenge traditional views of women in ministry?
    2. In what ways can you support and encourage women in your church or community?
    3. How can you use your gifts to teach and mentor others in the faith?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for the empowerment and recognition of women in ministry roles.
    2. Ask God to help you identify and nurture the gifts of those around you, regardless of gender.

Day 4

Day 4: Co-Responding to God’s Call

  • Scripture: Genesis 2:18-24 NLT
    Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
  • Devotional:
    The creation of woman as a helper for man highlights the concept of co-responding to God’s call. The term “helper” implies strength and partnership, not subordination. In marriage and in the church, we are called to co-respond to God’s voice, working together to fulfill His purposes. This unity and partnership reflect God’s design for relationships, where both men and women bring their unique strengths to the table. As we reflect on this passage, let’s consider how we can better co-respond to God’s call in our lives.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How does the concept of co-responding to God’s call change your view of relationships?
    2. In what ways can you strengthen your partnerships with others in fulfilling God’s purposes?
    3. How can you better recognize and appreciate the strengths of those around you?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for a deeper understanding of how to co-respond to God’s call in your life.
    2. Ask God to help you build strong partnerships that reflect His design for unity and collaboration.

Day 5

Day 5: Living Out Our Callings

  • Scripture: Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
    And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
  • Devotional:
    Living out our callings involves mutual submission and love, as exemplified in the relationship between Christ and the church. This passage from Ephesians highlights the importance of sacrificial love and respect in our relationships. Just as Christ gave Himself for the church, we are called to lay down our lives for one another, fostering unity and love. As we conclude this devotional series, let’s commit to living out our callings with humility, love, and a heart for unity.
  • Response Questions:
    1. How can you practice mutual submission and love in your relationships?
    2. What does it mean to you to lay down your life for others, as Christ did for the church?
    3. How can you foster unity and love in your community?
  • Prayer Points:
    1. Pray for the strength and wisdom to live out your calling with love and humility.
    2. Ask God to help you be a catalyst for unity and love in your relationships and community.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

Introduction: Welcome your group and open with a brief prayer, asking for guidance and openness to the Holy Spirit as you discuss the message. Remind the group of the sermon’s focus on how God works in unexpected ways, fostering unity and empowering all believers to respond to His call.

Discussion Questions and Context:

  1. How have you seen God work in unexpected ways in your life?
    • Context: The sermon highlighted how God often defies cultural norms and expectations, choosing unexpected people and methods to fulfill His purposes. Reflect on personal experiences where God’s ways were surprising yet impactful.
  2. What cultural norms might God be challenging in your life today?
    • Context: The sermon discussed how God’s ways are higher than ours, often challenging societal norms, such as the roles of women in ministry. Encourage the group to consider areas in their lives where God might be calling them to think differently.
  3. How can you align your thoughts and ways more closely with God’s?
    • Context: Isaiah 55:8-11 was used to illustrate that God’s thoughts and ways are beyond our understanding. Discuss practical steps to align more closely with God’s will, such as prayer, scripture study, and community involvement.
  4. What does unity in diversity mean to you in the context of your church or community?
    • Context: The sermon emphasized unity within the body of Christ, celebrating diversity as a strength. Encourage discussion on how different gifts and backgrounds contribute to a unified church.
  5. How can you practice humility and gentleness in your interactions with others?
    • Context: Ephesians 4:1-6 calls for humility and gentleness as key to maintaining unity. Discuss practical ways to embody these traits in daily life and relationships.
  6. How does the story of Priscilla and Aquila challenge traditional views of women in ministry?
    • Context: The sermon highlighted Priscilla’s significant role in teaching Apollos, challenging traditional views on women’s roles in the church. Discuss how this story can inspire a more inclusive view of ministry.
  7. In what ways can you support and encourage women in your church or community?
    • Context: Reflect on the importance of recognizing and supporting the gifts and callings of women, as demonstrated by Priscilla’s ministry. Encourage practical ideas for support and encouragement.
  8. How does the concept of co-responding to God’s call change your view of relationships?
    • Context: The sermon introduced the idea of co-responding to God’s call, emphasizing partnership and mutual submission. Discuss how this concept can transform personal and communal relationships.
  9. What does it mean to you to lay down your life for others, as Christ did for the church?
    • Context: Ephesians 5:21-33 illustrates sacrificial love in relationships, mirroring Christ’s love for the church. Explore what sacrificial love looks like in practical terms within the group’s context.

Closing: Conclude the session by summarizing key insights and encouraging the group to apply what they’ve discussed in their daily lives. Close with a prayer, asking for God’s continued guidance and empowerment to live out their callings with unity and love. Encourage group members to reflect on the week’s devotional content and to support one another in their spiritual journeys.

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