The Spelling Bee - The Wesleyan Church

And he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:25)

When she first knew it was called a “spelling bee,” she was confused. What did bumblebees have to do with words anyway? I mean, even bumblebee was easy to spell—just as it sounded! But on the day she approached the platform, she was ready to face competition head-on. She had studied and run practice drills with her mom Only once was she stumped by a word, and she made sure she now knew that one inside and out: p-r-e-s-t-i-d-i-g-i-t-a-t-i-o-n. (She didn’t really know what it meant, but at least she could spell it!)

Apollos was an excellent student, well-versed in the Scriptures he had grown up studying as a Jewish boy. And he was trained as an eloquent orator of the teachings. But while he had been taught some things about salvation through Jesus, he had not yet experienced Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. He knew about Christ and knew the prophecies of Messiah, but he did not yet know Jesus. It would be in this new community that he would discover saving grace.

How often do we teach about things we haven’t experienced? The gospel is to be leaned into and lived, not just spoken about. As we disciple others, may we always be open to God’s revelation through his Word, by his Spirit, that we may truly share the grace that we know ourselves.

Be open to God’s revelation in our lives through his living Word.

Elizabeth Rhyno is a wife, mom, and pastor of relational arts at Waterline [Wesleyan] Church. Elizabeth chooses to pursue the Lord and lean into his heart for community.