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What Apollos was at Ephesus (ver. 24) he was at Corinth. Change of sphere sometimes takes all the might out of a preacher. But this is not always his fault. The preacher who, supported by the prayers, cooperation, and enthusiasm of a warm-hearted Church, wins many souls to Christ, is not to be blamed if his ministry amongst an apathetic people is comparatively barren of results. Mighty preaching is —

I. CONVINCING PREACHING.

1. Some preaching is —

(1) Merely interesting. It deals with topics which fall in with the popular mood and agree with the popular tastes. It has taking titles, is eloquent in its language, is full of illustrations, and. is well garnished with poetical quotations. This often lacks power because it fails to grip.

(2) Philosophical. It deals with mental, theological, and moral problems. It appeals to the cultured intellect and taxes thought to the utmost. This too often lacks power, because only a few can appreciate it.

(3) Comforting. This deals with the afflictions of the body or the soul, and applies the soothing and healing balm of the promises of God; but often it is enervating, and has on many the effect which medicine has on a healthy body.

2. All these kinds of preaching are important and necessary in their place: but even these are powerless unless they produce conviction; and wisely handled subjects of passing interest, grave mental and moral problems, and the woes of humanity may be made instruments of power. The mighty preaching of Apollos produced conviction —

(1) Of sin.

(2) Of the need of a Saviour.

(3) Of the suitableness of Christ for His saving work. And no preaching is mighty which fails here.

3. For this convincing preaching the Holy Spirit is essential (John 16:7-11).

II. THE MEANS OF PRODUCING THIS CONVICTION ARE THE SCRIPTURES.

1. Some endeavour to produce conviction by abstract reasoning. And nothing is more incontestible than that the fact of sin and the power and claims of Christ as Saviour can be proved on intellectual lines. But logic is too cold to be powerful, and those who are capable of following closely subtle lines of argument are very. few.

2. Some depend on authority, and the result is either stubborn antagonism or the manufacture of worthless devotees. Rarely has conviction been produced by the mere ipse dixit of a preacher or a Church.

3. The mighty preacher deals with the Scriptures and shows from them that Christ is —

(1) A Divinely authorised Saviour.

(2) An all-sufficient Saviour.

(3) Just such a Saviour as can meet, by His Divine power, His human sympathies, His atoning sacrifice, the sinner's needs.

III. MIGHTY PREACHING IS THE GREAT MEANS OF HELPING THE CHURCH. Apollos helped them much, "for he mightily convinced," etc. Of course he helped those whom he convinced — by being the means of their conversion; and doubtless he, like others, helped the Church by counsel, government, encouragement, etc. Still the main help that the Church wanted then and what it wants now is that referred to in the text. This —

1. Strengthens the Church numerically. Those who are convinced that Jesus is Christ, join the Church and thus add to its numerical strength. The law of growth operates here as elsewhere. Vigour is manifested by growth.

2. Encourages its hopes. A stationary or declining Church is a desponding Church; and despondency is paralysis. On the contrary a hopeful Church is a progressive Church, and nothing stimulates hope like success.

(J. W. Burn.).

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KJV: 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:

WEB: When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;