A sermon preached by Rev. Melissa Burkhart at Pleasantville UCC Sunday, August 30, 2020

Several things are highlighted in this scripture. Vocations and ministry; the importance of relationships both with God, and with others; personal faith relying on God. Doing the work of serving others is better done with friends.

This week the Apostle Paul has moved on in his journey to the city of Corinth where he meets a couple, Priscilla and Aquila. Priscilla and Aquila became refugees in the wealthy port city of Corinth, fellow tentmakers welcomed Paul into their home while he stayed.

Setting the scene of our text, the spiritual condition of Corinth was lacking, corrupt even. Yet, we read of three followers of The Way advancing the Christian Church. Priscilla was Jewish and her husband Aquila was a Gentile, children are unknown. The church Paul is said to have founded in Corinth was comprised of Jewish, and mostly Gentile converts.

Tentmakers would have a sought after career to the many travelers who moved through the city. Sailors too, would have docked there staying in tents on their journey to the next destination. This craft was one that would have been passed on in traditional Jewish custom as they continue the family business.

Tentmaking was a livelihood, a quiet job that allowed for conversation and encountering many people. It was common for Jewish Rabbi’s to practice the trades and Paul would have been taught early in his life by Gamaliel, a famous teacher and one who was zealous for God.1 (Acts 22:3) Making tents would be how Paul made a living while in Corinth.

Priscilla and Aquila and Paul became good friends and colleagues. Priscilla and Aquila are married and always mentioned and worked together. Though not unheard of it is less common for partners to have the same trade and be in business together. They made it work, and their friendship with Paul was lasting.

Paul’s career could be seen as what we know as Bi-vocational. Going to the Synagogue on every Sabbath to share about Jesus, while living out the gospel through his work as a tentmaker.

As Christians we all are ministers of the Gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit, and though we may not all be preachers in the church, we have many vocations, tentmakers, furniture makers, store clerk, jobs of service to, with, and for others.

Pauls’ ministry as we know has been accepted and not. Prior to leaving for Corinth, Paul had been escorted out of Thessalonica to Beroea, and then to Athens. Still he was persistent as he shared about The Way. Yet again in Corinth, he went to the synagogues every Sabbath to talk about this and the leadership there called his ministry blasphemous and against Jewish law. It was through this interaction that Paul decided that his evangelism would be to the Gentiles.

1 The Josh Link : Discussing Paul - The Tentmaker 6 October 2005 Paul does not take the rejection with him. Rather he leaves it with the people by the symbolic action of shaking his garments. He no longer has anything in common with them and therefore is stopping all communication. To Paul, his response to the dismissal provides clarity, as he completed what he came to do, and it is now time to move on.

And we see how God intervenes. God’s response to Paul is a strengthening of faith, reminding him of the believers and ally’s that are among him in Corinth, reassuring Paul of the Holy presence there. God protects and provides, as we read that even before they venture on, Gods kingdom grows as they continue their ministry.

As Paul, Silas and Timothy prepare to continue on to Antioch, Paul seems to do something we might consider drastic. Before leaving Corinth, Paul shaved his head. There is an enormous importance in following through with a vow – they are not meant to be broken.

In fact, relinquishing on a vow is forbidden. (Numbers 30:3) If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips.

Including these sentences that show Paul kept his vow underscores that Paul still considers himself a Jew. In the synagogue he was speaking contrary to the law and here he is shown observing the law.

Jesus provided a new way of understanding God’s love for us in his ministry by his death and resurrection. The Apostle Paul as a Jewish- Christian continued spreading this message far and wide. And the ministry is carried on to the next place where - Priscilla and Aquila accompanied Paul on the next part of his journey to Ephesus they meet Apollos, also Jewish - Christian.

What we know of Apollos - well spoken, and well versed in the scriptures. He was instructed in the Way of the Lord and had zeal which added to his popularity. Apollos is teaching about Jesus and yet seems unaware of Jesus ministry around the Holy Spirit and Baptism.

He is only aware of the baptism of John. Priscilla and Aquila would spend time teaching this to a humble Apollos who was eager to learn. He is then more fully equipped to share the Gospel, which he does in Corinth helping others to know they are saved by grace through faith even the darkest times in their life.

The proclamation of the Gospel is at the center of our message today. The recognition that through all things we are saved by grace through faith, our sins forgiven. There is one more thing to this morning’s text, in the book of James the writer encourages the followers of Jesus to “Be doers of the word not just hearers.” We see this in all of the people highlighted this morning.

This message changes many lives though as we have heard in many of our undercover hero stories. We see also how God has opened the eyes of the apostles to new understandings as they grew and led others in the faith.

Learning and teaching go hand in hand, no matter the age, or any other differentiation. Coming together as a community learning and growing from each other’s experiences and resources, invites not just hearing but doing the work together. This week I was privileged to see the hand of God in a variety of people decorating the Huddle room.

They used their talents in carpentry and painting to spruce up the room showing others how to do what needed to be done while sharing in conversation and laughter. Each person taking great care coming together for our children to benefit from a revived space where they can grow in their faith. The same place where they are nurtured in Way of our Lord, and share in ministry together. What a humbling gift.

Priscilla, Aquila, Paul, Timothy, Silas and Apollos each had gifts and talents unique to them and shared their beliefs differently. Priscilla leads worship in her home. Sharing and teaching and building relationships is all part of our journey. As David Anderson and Rev Paul Hill show us in the book Frogs without legs cant hear, it takes leadership, a body and home to nurture discipleship and be equipped to go and serve.

They share four key elements to essential faith practices I think we see in our scripture today - caring conversations, devotions, service and traditions and rituals. There is great power in relationships with others and with God. It is not always in places of acceptance we are called to go, and as we hear from these who went before us, God provides The Way.

May it be so. Amen