Priscilla and Aquila | A Marriage on Mission | Acts 18
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Welcome, church family! Below are my sermon notes for our message from Acts 18, focusing on how Jesus builds His church through ordinary people like Priscilla and Aquila. My hope is that these notes will encourage and equip you to make room for others in your life, home, and faith journey.
Big Idea
"Jesus builds His church through ordinary people who faithfully make room for others."
Introduction: Prominence vs. Influence
Think about the massive production of something like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour. While the star may be prominent, the lasting impact comes from the influence of an army of people behind the scenes—many of whom you never see. In the church, it's easy to think of the apostles—Paul, Peter, James, John—as the primary movers. But the true story of the early church is also about countless “ordinary” believers who showed up with friendship, hospitality, and encouragement.
Priscilla and Aquila: The Original Power Couple
This week, we meet Priscilla and Aquila—possibly the New Testament’s first “power couple.” They never take center stage, but their influence was extraordinary. Although we don’t know how they came to faith, we see the impact of how they lived their faith.
Ordinary, hardworking people—they were tentmakers by trade.
Present in the most influential centers of Christianity—Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome.
Opened their home, offered friendship, instructed and encouraged others (even risking their lives for Paul).
Through their story, we learn: You don’t have to be extraordinary to make an extraordinary difference. Jesus builds His church through people who faithfully make room for others.
Three Movements of Ordinary Ministry
1. Ministry of Friendship
Priscilla and Aquila had suffered disruption and displacement, driven from Rome as refugees, yet in Corinth, they warmly received Paul. Imagine losing your home and still having the courage to trust and open yourself to others.
Paul, in this season, was lonely, wounded, and in need of friends. God brought these three together through their common trade—and from that ordinary connection, friendship blossomed.
Takeaway: Sometimes God strengthens us not with spectacular miracles, but through the ordinary grace of friendship. In difficult times, it’s often the people who show up that make the biggest difference—not just the sermons we hear. Consider: Is your everyday life the soil where deep kingdom relationships are growing?
2. Ministry of Hospitality
Whenever Priscilla and Aquila settled, they opened their homes—and those homes became the church’s gathering places, first in Corinth, then in Ephesus, finally again in Rome. They had been displaced themselves, yet their homes were always open to others.
Key Point: Christian hospitality is less about impressing and more about welcoming. Our homes are not just private sanctuaries; they can be entrusted by God for the good of others.
Hospitality may require making room in your schedule, budget, and comfort zone.
You don’t need a perfect house—just an open heart.
Hospitality isn’t just for married couples—singles, young adults, and families of every kind can practice it.
What is your home for? Could Jesus use it as a place of rest, belonging, and discipleship for others?
3. Ministry of Discipleship
Priscilla and Aquila invested in others. When they heard the gifted speaker Apollos preach, they recognized his passion and knowledge but also that something was missing—so they gently, privately explained God’s way more completely.
Lessons:
Theological maturity is not reserved for “the professionals;” every believer can grow to encourage others.
Discipleship often means helping others be better—not more like us, but more like Jesus.
Apollos, in turn, was humble and received correction, becoming a powerful force for the gospel.
Who are you helping to flourish in faith? Are you teaching, encouraging, or investing in someone else on their journey?
The Root of Room-Making: The Gospel
Before Priscilla and Aquila could make room for others, they experienced Jesus making room for them. Jesus left His throne, entered our suffering, made Himself accessible—and gave His life for us. He is, above all, the friend of sinners. Our love flows from His love; our openness from His welcome.
Christian living is not about making ourselves worthy of God’s acceptance. It’s about responding in gratitude to the astonishing reality that He has already welcomed us by grace.
Questions for Reflection
Who needs you to make room in your life?
Is there a discouraged, lonely, or struggling friend who needs companionship?
How can you make room in your home?
Would you consider hosting or joining a small group? Could your hospitality create space for someone to connect?
Who can you help grow in Christ?
Maybe a child, younger Christian, coworker, or friend. You never know what God might do through a life you encourage.
Conclusion: Making Room for God’s Mission
You don’t have to wait for an extraordinary life to make a difference. You don’t need to be Paul or Apollos; God may call you to be like Priscilla and Aquila—serving faithfully, welcoming others, opening your life and home, and investing in the next generation of believers. Take your ordinary life—your work, home, marriage, friendships, and abilities—and say, “Lord, here it is. It’s yours.”
Because Jesus made room for us, we can make room for others—for His glory and the good of His Church.
Thank you for reflecting on these notes with me. Let’s continue making room for others as we follow Jesus, together.
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Opening Prayer
Invite participants to open with a brief time of prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to lead the discussion, open hearts, and reveal personal application.
Session Overview
The conversation focused on how Jesus builds His church through ordinary people who faithfully make room for others. Using the example of Priscilla and Aquila, the discussion explored themes of friendship, hospitality, discipleship, and the transformative power of gospel-centered living.
Scripture Reading
Acts 18:1–3, 18–19, 24–28
Romans 16:3–5
Related references: Philippians 2:5–8; Romans 15:7
Key Themes and Questions
1. Prominence vs. Influence
A key theme that emerged was the difference between prominence (being visible) and influence (making a real difference).
Where do you see this distinction in your own life or community?
Have you experienced the impact of someone who worked “behind the scenes” for Christ? What did that mean to you?
2. The Ministry of Friendship
One concept discussed was how both Paul and Priscilla & Aquila needed each other at a time of personal upheaval. "Sometimes the most prominent people aren't necessarily the most influential, and very often the most influential are not nearly as prominent as others."
Why do you think God often strengthens His people through ordinary means like friendship rather than just spectacular interventions?
How have friendships in Christian community encouraged you in a difficult season?
3. The Role of Hospitality
The discussion explored the difference between hospitality and entertainment: “Entertainment is about impressing people. Hospitality is about welcoming them…Entertainment asks, ‘What will people think of my home?’ Hospitality says, ‘How can I use it for the good of others?’”
What hinders us from practicing genuine hospitality?
How might you intentionally “make room” in your home and life for others?
4. Discipleship in Ordinary Life
Several points were raised, including how Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos, showing that discipleship can happen in everyday contexts and by anyone willing to come alongside another.
“What if we think about discipleship as just the ministry of making others better? …It’s not really about helping people be more like us. It’s about helping them become more like Jesus.”
Who has helped you flourish in Christ? Who is God calling you to encourage or invest in?
5. Risk and Sacrifice
A key theme that emerged was the willingness of Priscilla and Aquila to risk much for the sake of the gospel: “They risked their lives for my sake, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.”
What are some ways we can obey Christ by sacrificially loving, serving, or standing with others—even at personal cost?
6. Gospel Motivation
The conversation focused on the foundation for Christian service: “The gospel is not primarily about what we do for Jesus. It’s about what he’s done for us…They made room in their lives for others, but Jesus did something far greater.”
How does remembering Christ’s welcome for you shape your willingness to welcome others?
Application & Reflection
Is there anyone you need to make room for in your life or friendship circle?
What would it look like to make your home or daily routine available for Christ’s purposes?
Who in your life needs room to grow in Christ—and how can you come alongside them?
Prayer Prompts
Thank God for the people who have made room for you in their lives and faith journey.
Ask the Lord to reveal someone who needs your friendship or hospitality.
Pray for humility like Apollos—to receive instruction—and courage like Priscilla and Aquila—to give, serve, and open your life for others.
For Further Study
Read Romans 12:9–13; Hebrews 13:1–2; 1 Peter 4:8–10.
Consider journaling about ways God has used ordinary people in your faith story.
Closing
Remember: "You don't have to be the main character in the story to make an extraordinary difference." As you go, ask God to show you how your ordinary life—work, home, relationships—can become a setting for extraordinary influence for His kingdom.
