Today we’re finally continuing with our Acts series! We spent December on a Christmas series, and January on politics. We left off on the “speed round”, covering one chapter at a time, and today we pick up again at Acts chapter 18. Grab your Bibles and buckle up…--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at
[email protected] Now --Q. When Should You “Shake the Dust” and Move On?We’re going to see this in action in the text today, but first we need to back up and see where it comes from in the Christian ethosJesus' teaching to His disciples when He sent them out to preach:Luke 9:5 (NLT) 5 “And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”This symbolic gesture was meant to demonstrate that the messengers had fulfilled their duty and were no longer responsible for the people's rejection. It was a sign of divine judgment, indicating that those who refused to listen were accountable for their own spiritual condition.Ouch. This seems harsh! But maybe you’ve been there:A family member who has rejected JesusA co-worker you’ve tried to share withSomeone with a stubborn, rebellious heart on hot topicsAbortionGender, sexualityToday we’re going to answer two questions: When should you move on?When should you stick around and invest?The TentmakersActs 18:1-3 (NLT) 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 2 mentions there were Jews from Pontus on the day of Pentecost who were converted. Perhaps Aquila was one of them.Aquila was a tentmaker by profession. Probably had a lot of experience living in his product in his travels. Add them all up, he traveled over 4,500 miles. That’s crazy in that day.Romans 16:3-5 (NLT) 3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. 5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.What did he do in all those travels?Worked a regular job (he was a tentmaker)Shared gospelThe Point: it was normative to make disciples in the early churchNot just for the “professionals” like Paul (who btw wasn’t a professional!?)And not just MEN, either! Priscilla is mentioned first 4 out of 6 times women made disciples too!So everyone needs to pay attention to this next part.Since we’re all supposed to be “sent out”, we all need to know when to move onShake the DustActs 18:4-6...