The book of Acts portrays Apollos as an outstanding teacher. God used him across different cultures, and so he became known as the apostle's right hand. What is most impressive about Apollos, however, is his teachability. He never thought he was finished or that there was nothing more to learn. Luke describes Apollos in the following way:
- He came from a cultivated city (v. 24).
- He was an educated man (v. 24).
- He knew the Scriptures (v. 24).
- He had been instructed in the Christian faith (v. 25).
- He had an evident gift for teaching (v. 25).
- He taught the gospel without error (v. 25).
- He taught the truth with passion (v. 26).
Church history says that Apollos was such a good teacher that most people preferred listening to him over the apostle Paul. That might lead one to assume that Apollos already knew everything. Yet Apollos "knew only the baptism of John" (18:25). He understood repentance. He knew what it meant to surrender to God. But he was not familiar with the deeper truths of discipleship or the Spirit-filled life. That's why Aquila and Priscilla took the time to explain the way of God to him more accurately (18:26).
For leaders, there is a danger of becoming satisfied with the status quo. After all, once a leader has already gained influence and a certain amount of respect, why should they keep growing?
- Your growth determines who you are.
- Who you are determines who you attract.
- Who you attract determines how successful your organization will be.
The task of leaders is to remain teachable. To cultivate a learning posture, they can keep five aspects in mind:
- Leaders have ambitious goals.
Without ambitious goals, there is no reason to learn. Nothing leads to a learning rut faster than the idea that no further growth is needed.
- Leaders think about the next success.
Existing successes often prevent further learning. That's why leaders do not focus on what they have already achieved, but on what they still want to achieve.
- Leaders know that there are no shortcuts.
Everything of value has its price. Leaders know that and are willing to pay that price.
- Leaders remain humble.
They know that pride comes before a fall. They can admit that they do not know everything and are willing to keep learning.
- Leaders don't make the same mistake twice.
Where there's sawing, there's sawdust. Leaders know that mistakes happen in the growth process, and they learn from them.
Acts 18:24-28
Apollos at Ephesus
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.