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 An Exemplary House Church: Priscilla and Aquila

Romans 16:3-16

Key Verse 16:5a     

                             “Greet also the church that meets at their house.”

       Thank God for blessing 2009 Fall Bible Academy with many students. Especially I thank God for the sincere and heart moving testimonies by beautiful mothers of prayer candidates. Their testimonies reminded me of the love of God that saved me from my sins. I found myself singing all day long: “He took my sins away. He took my sins away and keeps me singing every day. I am so glad. He took my sins away. He took my sins away.” Indeed, the grace of salvation is what makes us happy no matter what. No one and nothing can take away this joy. I pray that the grace of salvation may overflow in our hearts, so that each of us may be a source of joy for wondering college students.

       From this week, we are going to study about House church ministry through Romans. In today’s passage we meet perhaps the most famous of the house church in the New Testament. It is Priscilla and Aquila’s house church. This couple is mentioned in the New Testament seven times (Ac 18:2,18,19,26; 1 Co16:19; Ro16:3; 2 Ti4:19) Through this exemplary house church, we want to learn the spirit of the early Christians house church. May God bless our study, speak to our hearts and inspire us as we meditate on the words of life, so that we may restore the spirit of the house church and server God’s world mission vision.

First, Priscilla and Aquila co-worked for the gospel. Read Verse 3. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”  Who are those, Priscilla and Aquila? We meet this couple first in Acts 18. They were Jews and tentmakers. They had lived in Rome. But Claudius the Roman Emperor had issued an edict to banish all Jews from Rome. So they came to Corinth, and settled as tentmaker. In Corinth, they met Paul, also a tentmaker who had come from the North. For a year and a half, they stayed together and worked together. In his greets, Paul put Priscilla’s name first: “Priscilla and Aquila’s house Church.” If someone calls my house-church, “Sarah and Peter’s house church.” I might feel offended. Not one time, but 5 times out of 7, Paul put the wife’s name first in his letters. Some might misunderstand that Priscilla was a strong woman, perhaps from an aristocratic family, and so her name had to be put first. But in these greetings, Paul mentions 28 people. Among them, nine were women. These greetings show that Paul deeply appreciated women who worked hard in the Lord and who mothered God’s people. Such godly women are the key in house church ministry. So Paul put Priscilla’s name first, to recognize and encourage her. Priscilla and Aquila worked in the tent making business together. Statistics show that it is hard for a couple to be in business together. But this couple saw each other every day, throughout the day, yet did not get on each other’s nerves. How could they work together so closely and so well? Paul says at the end of verse 3 that they were both “in Christ Jesus.” It means that both Priscilla and Aquila had a personal, vine-and-branch relationship with Jesus.(Jn15:5) They both knew the grace of Jesus, and experienced the love of God personally. So they could love each other, support each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, and be strong for each other. Their relationship was not just for themselves; It was for the sake of the gospel. They both were deeply committed to serving Christ Jesus. They were willing to use their home as a house Church. When Aquila invited strangers to their one-room house, Priscilla never be angry, but served the strangers with delicious food and even offered their bed and slept on the floor. When Priscilla cook delicious food not for him, but for sheep, Aquila never be angry, but he worked more hours to make more money for offering to God. They both were interested in sharing the gospel with outsiders and in building up God’s people. Neither of them was consumed with moneymaking only. Their deep love in Jesus and mutual commitment to the gospel was the foundation of their house church. Aquila loved his wife as Christ loves the church; Priscilla respected her husband. They mutually submitted to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph 5:21-33) So when people came to their home, they were moved by their relationship. One of the secrets of a successful house church is for the husband and wife to have a beautiful love relationship in Christ.

       In our ministry, Sarah and David Gates are like Priscilla and Aquila. As we know that they were so different from each other. David was like Macho-man, and Sarah was a feminist. In the world, it is impossible to marry each other. If so, they would make their house a battle ground all the time. But in Christ, they have loved each other, and become co-workers for the gospel. Under their care, a girl student found true love in Christ and grows in spirit and faith. She confessed that she felt like she is just one of the family members.

Second, Priscilla and Aquila co-worked with Apostle Paul for the gospel. Read Verse 3 again. “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” Paul calls Priscilla and Aquila “my fellow workers.” It was not empty flattery. Paul came to deeply love and respect this couple as gospel co-workers. For a year and a halt, Paul stayed and worked with them.(Ac18:3b) At first, they made tents together. Paul also shared his deep Bible study and gospel faith with them. Through life together with Apostle Paul, Priscilla and Aquila grew spiritually and became his close co-workers.  How did they co-work with Paul? When Paul stopped making tents and dedicated himself to the work of God in Corinth full-time(Ac18:5), Priscilla and Aquila continued to support him. When Paul was in fear because of oppositions, Priscilla and Aquila encouraged Paul not to give up but keep preaching the gospel of Jesus. Instead of nagging him for love and attention, they supported Paul and encouraged him practically. When Paul finally did leave Corinth, they also left Corinth with Paul and moved Ephesus.(Ac18:18) However, right away Paul left them at Ephesus.(Ac18:19) They did not complain about Paul, but they established house church in that city because they accepted Paul’s prayer topic for them to be house church. Priscilla and Aquila were willing to pull up and go any where to co-work with God’s servant, Paul. Usually, for a woman it is hard to suddenly pull up and move her family, but Priscilla did it. Priscilla and Aquila ran a house church ministry with Paul first in Corinth, then, in Ephesus. Through their practical support, Paul’s daily bible teaching at the lecture hall of Tyrannus became very fruitful, so that the word of God spread to the entire province of Asia(Ac19:8-10)

       Priscilla and Aquila served God not in their won way, but in God’s way. They accepted Paul as the servant of God and co-work closely with and supported him. They could be proud and go their own way. But they humbled themselves and co-worked with Paul. Though Paul was the great man of God, the work of God is not one man show. But because there was Priscilla and Aquila’s humble co-work, he could do such great work of God in Corinth, in Ephesus, and even in Rome. This was how Missionary Sarah Barry co-worked with Dr. Samuel Lee first in Korea, then in America. I thank God for Sh. Jason and Anastasia Perry’s house Church. They could move some where for better job and enjoy comfortable life. Instead, they moved to Rutgers campus to co-work closely with M. John. Then Dr. Junhee Lee’s family followed their good example.  They decided to remain in Bush campus to co-work closely with Sh. Jason’ house Church. If our house church ministry is really going to work, we need to continue to develop such deep mutual respect and close co-working.

Third, Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for the gospel.  Read verse 4a. ^“They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” The literal Greek expression here is: “they stuck their necks out for me.” Priscilla and Aquila supported Paul not just with a room to stay in, some meals, or some financial support from time to time. Their support went so far as to risk their own lives to protect and defend Paul. It was not mere human loyalty; it shows their true colors and the depth of their commitment to the gospel. Priscilla and Aquila realized how important Apostle Paul was for the cause of the gospel, and especially, how important his Gentile ministry was. They protected Paul at the cost of their own lives, so that the gospel of Jesus might continue to spread to the Gentiles. We are not sure what event Paul may be referring to here. But, read verse 4b. Somehow, the Gentile believers had all come to know what Priscilla and Aquila had done for Paul. Their courageous, self-sacrificing faith became a source of courage and strength for many facing intense persecution. It is still risky to run a house church. Inviting even one stranger into our home can be risky business. It is our basic instinct to protect and preserve ourselves, our homes and our families.

       I thank God for the example of M. John and Grace Park’s house church. I thought that NJ ministry could grow because of M. John’s brilliant business skill. But it was not true. It was because of his sacrificial life of giving based on “Five loaves and two fish” faith. To serve God’s world mission, all his family members had been separated for many years: M. Grace Park was in NJ, M. John was in Chicago to receive training, John Jr. was with his grandmother in Korea, and Joel was with another grandmother. Finally all family members were together almost after 5 years separation. When John Jr. met his father, he asked his Mother, “Mon, who is that guy?” M. John has always invited sheep and co-workers to live together. To serve NJ ministry, this house church has offered their family life. Because of their sacrificial serving, Sh. David Gate’s house Church and Sh. Jason’s house Church could be established in God.      

       Fourth, Priscilla and Aquila shared God’s vision along with Paul. Priscilla and Aquila had moved to major cities with Paul. It seems no matter where Paul went; they followed him in Corinth and in Ephesus. More over, they moved to Rome ahead of Paul. How could this couple move from city to city and keep starting over? It was because they shared God’s vision along Paul. “I must visit Rome also.” (Ac19:21) Paul saw God’s vision to spread the gospel through Rome. They shared Paul’s world mission vision and make this vision as their own. They were good co-workers not because they tried to follow Paul humanly but because they shared his world mission vision. They had a prosperous business to be able to have their own home. They did not put their hope in their home equity, but in the kingdom of God. Though it was hard to move back to Rome, they were willing to move anywhere, to do anything to advance the gospel of Jesus. They were willing to leave everything and to sacrifice everything. How could they do so? It was because of their living hope in the kingdom of God. They were not working for their won kingdom, but for God’s kingdom. If we try to hold onto people or onto our own ministry, we will only end up frustrated. We must expand our vision to see the kingdom of God, and God’s great vision for the whole world. I always wonder how to make college student work for God and his world mission. It cannot be done by push, or force. We should share the wonderful God’s vision for America to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. I pray that our 2 generation may have the same vision that God will make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Fifth, Priscilla and Aquila were excellent Bible teachers. In Acts 18, Priscilla and Aquila helped Apollos. Apollos was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He was a good public speaker. But when they heard him, they immediately recognized that something was missing in his message. But they did not publicly embarrass him. Instead, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God “more adequately.” They helped him to understand the deep meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the work of the Holy Spirit, the hope of the kingdom of God, the Second coming of Jesus and God’s plan for world salvation. Not only through their intensive bible study, but also through their live of faith, they taught the gospel of Jesus. In their house church setting they could take personal time to help him practically. Through intensive Bible study, he grew as an excellent bible teacher. This House Church shared not only common life, but also their gospel faith with intensive bible study.

Sixth, Priscilla and Aquila opened the House Church. Read verse 5a. As we have seen, Priscilla and Aquila always used their house as house church. They did so in Corinth, in Ephesus, and now, in Rome. They never got tire for doing so. They did not open their home grudgingly. They served others warmly. Their hearts were always open to God’s people. We wonder what was going on in their home. Their home was a place of God’s peace, where God’s troubled people could come and find rest. Their home was also a place of God’s word. When fellow believers came, they taught and admonished them based on the word of God. Their home was a place where believers could gather to sing songs, hymns and spiritual songs. Thus, it was a place of remember God’s amazing grace in Jesus and to give thanks. In their home, everything was done not for the sake of someone’s pride, but all in the name of the Lord Jesus, to turn people’s attention to God. (Col3:15-17)

       At first, I wonder what the house church means. I know about “House.” It is the place that I can take rest, place that I can walk around with underwear, place that I can watch movies rated R, place that I can be lazy because M. Sarah and my three daughters serve me like a king. I know about “Church.” It is the place where I should serve God, place that I should read Bible, place that I should ware proper clothes and behave like a holy man, place that I worship God. House is for me and Church is for God. “House Church”? How can these two: “house” and “church” come together and become one “house church”? What I learn through Priscilla and Aquila house church, “house” is not place for myself, nor for our personal, nor self-centered life. It is something precious that is worthy to offer to God for his world mission. My house should be not just a place for needed physical rest, eating, sleeping and relieving stress. But it should be a place for Bible study, for prayer, for singing praise and wonderful fellowship with brothers and sister in Christ. I should not build my house for me, but build house church where there is the word of God, worship, praise, and fellowship. This is not something new. This is how God established each house from the beginning.  

“Greet also the church that meets at their house.” Today we learned the spirit of house church. These are: 1)co-working for the gospel 2)close co-working with God’s servants; 3) life-risking spirit; 4)having faith in the kingdom of God and God’s great vision for the world; 5)Planting clear gospel faith through deep personal bible study until sheep grow as useful spiritual leaders for God’s kingdom; 6)making a house into a house church.

 The most of all, we should not forget that the foundation of our Church is the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. May God bless NJ Ministry to raise up 7000 house churches from Rutgers and 1000 house churches from Princeton. May God help us to share this wonderful world mission vision with 2 generations and even with college students.  God may make America a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation. We may not follow the pattern of the world, but restore the spirit of the early Christian house Church, and participate in God’s world mission.