14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”   Matthew 5:14-15 NLT

 

Some common traits of difference makers:

• Difference makers are driven by a deep sense of purpose.

• Difference makers instinctively know how to get things done.

• Difference makers possess exceptional empathy and compassion. 

• Difference makers are not content with simply talking about change; they take action.

• Difference makers understand the power of collaboration.

 

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA WERE DIFFERENCE MAKERS.

• A husband-and-wife team that made a difference.

• We are told that they had come to Corinth from Italy as victims of Roman persecution, not for their Christian faith but because Aquila was a Jew.

 

1 Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.  Acts 18:1-3 NLT

 

• God will use whatever we surrender to him to help build His Kingdom.

• God uses ordinary people for eternal impact.

 

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said goodbye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him. 19 They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he left, however, he said “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail for Ephesus.  22 The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch. 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers. 24 Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. 25 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. 26 When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately. 27 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. 28 He refuted the Jews with powerful arguments in public debate. Using the Scriptures, he explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 18:18-28 NLT

 

• Both Aquila and Priscilla possessed an in-depth understanding of doctrine learned from Paul, and this husband-and-wife team was able to pass it on to another Christian and build him up in the faith.

• They made disciples.

• They were on mission.

 

19 The churches here in the province of Asia send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 1 Corinthians 16:19 NLT

 

• They used their homes for church meetings. 

• A church met in their house in Ephesus and a church also met in their home in Rome once they came back (Romans 16:5).

 

Next steps for me today…

• I choose to surrender everything to God.

• I Choose to make my home a place where God’s Word is taught.