Question
House Church Series, Lesson 12
AN EXEMPLARY HOUSE CHURCH: PRISCILLA AND AQUILA
Romans 16:3–16 [Acts 18:1–3,18–19,24–26; 1Co16:19]
Key Verse: 16:5a
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Whom did Paul greet first? (3) How did he view them? How had they co-worked with Paul? (Ac18:1–3,18–19) What does it mean that they were fellow workers “in Christ Jesus”? (3)
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Note the six other places in the Bible where their two names are always mentioned together (Ac18:2,18,19,26; 1Co16:19; 2Ti4:19). In what ways did they work together? What was the source and nature of their relationship? (Jn15:1–5; Eph5:28,33)
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What did Paul mainly remember about them? (4a) How did this reflect the spirit of Jesus? (Jn15:13) Why is a spirit of self-sacrifice so essential in house church ministry? How did they influence the other Gentile churches? (4b)
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Where did the Christians in Rome meet? (5a) Note the other places where Priscilla and Aquila had been a house church (Ac18:1–2,19). Why might they have been in Rome now? (Ac19:21) What can we learn from them?
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Read Acts 18:24–26. How did Priscilla and Aquila personally help Apollos to be an effective gospel worker for the kingdom? What can we learn from this about one key function of a house church ministry?
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Note the origin and meaning of the word “church” (Mt16:18; 18:19–20). Think about the key functions of a house church (Col3:15–17; Ro15:1–7). How does the house church model inspire us to pray and work for the gospel in our time?
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In verses 5b–16, note all the people Paul greeted personally. How is his personal concern for them related to his prayer and vision for the world?