God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

This hard-working, faithful, serving couple raises the bar for all who follow. God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

Together they were fully devoted to the Word. They embraced its every truth and made it a priority to rightly apply what they learned. The “order of creation” and their distinctive roles and responsibilities they understood and embraced. The uniqueness of their spiritual gifting they separately honored and their gifting blended as a couple, they exemplified.

They were hard working and selfless. Forced to geographically relocate (Acts 18:2) simply because of ethnic/racial discrimination, they chose to get on with their lives rather than waste time and energy stewing over what should have been. They established their home in Corinth and got on about the matters of living. When the itinerate minister needed a bed in which to sleep, a table at which to eat and a place to ply his “tent-maker” trade, they opened their hearts, their arms, and their home. Paul slept in their home, ate at their table, and worked in their shop. (Acts 18) God, give the Church more marriages like this!

Barely had life returned to “normal” and their guest and pastor sensed the leading of the Lord to move on. So, rather than sighing in relief that they finally had their guestroom back, would be able to enjoy a quiet family meal and have less competition in their trade, they packed things up and moved again—though this time not because of discrimination but from dedication. The gospel needed feet and a voice. Theirs would be those feet and those voices. So from Corinth to Ephesus they moved. (Acts 18) God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

No sooner had they settled into life in Ephesus than their guest and leader declares his departure. Their journey had temporarily ended, but Paul’s had only begun. So they stayed and served the saints. Regular in their participation in the “gatherings of the saints,” they were astute in biblical understanding and devoted to the purity of its proclamation. Rather than fade when an exceptionally capable young preacher arrives, they instead open their home and invite him in. Then, in a most gracious and humble manner, together they opened the Word with him and the Spirit opened his mind and heart. Apollos was graciously discipled by these dear lovers of Jesus and partners with Paul. God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

They were hard working and selfless.
They were hospitable and encouraging.
They were theological and practical.
They were gifted and gracious.

But perhaps the outstanding feature of the six appearances of their names in the Scriptures (Acts 18:2-3 / 18:18 / 18:26 / Romans 16:3-5 / 2 Timothy 4:19) is this: In four of the six, the Spirit of God places Priscilla’s name before Aquila’s. They knew the creation order. They embraced the biblical mandate for a husband to lead and a wife to be his helper. They honored the proper reflection of the headship of Christ in His Church. But simply put, this couple was a ministry team who recognized their complementary gifting and shared their singular passion for the extension of the gospel. Their home, their relationship, their gifting all found harmony in serving the Lord as a “team” for His glory. God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

When Paul spoke of them to others, he repeatedly mentioned “the church that is in their home.” God, give the Church more marriages like this one!

See you Sunday, Church!
Pastor Tom