Paul and the Ephesian Church

Intro

Start with the story of watching HO’s final sermon at NLC

Segue to Pastor Earl and his sermon clip (0:26:43 - 0:28:18)

In Acts 20, Paul gives his farewell address to the Ephesian church

He knows he will not see them again (unlike Earl and Caroline!)

Similarly, he leaves them with principles that will lead to God’s blessing

But how did Paul get to Ephesus? He actually went there and back again

The Story: There and Back Again

Show “The Apostle: There and Back Again” photo

Paul and Silas complete their missionary journey

From Athens -> Corinth

Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul

Paul meets (and works with) Priscilla and Aquila (as tentmakers)

Stayed in Corinth 1.5 years (Jewish persecution ramps up)

From Corinth -> Antioch (sending church)

By way of Cenchrae -> Ephesus (for the first time) ->Caesarea -> Antioch

Paul’s third missionary journey

He returns to Ephesus over land and stays a good long while (at least 3 years)

Spends time correcting teaching on the Gospel, preaching to both Jews and Greeks (more to the latter), and performing many miracles

Paul even causes a riot incited by the silversmiths who are losing business building idols of Artemis to the population due to the spreading of the Gospel

Paul (finally) leaves Ephesus -> Macedonia -> Greece -> Troas

It is in Troas where Paul raises Eutychus from the dead!

He then sets sail for Jerusalem (where the HS has told him to go)

Troas -> Assos -> Mitylene -> opposite Chios -> Samos -> Miletus

When at Miletus he calls the Ephesian elders to himself to deliver his farewell speech

Read Acts 20:17 - 38.

The Task: Care for the Church of God

Paul tasks the overseers to “care for the church of God” (v. 28)

After all, Jesus died for the church! It was “obtained with God’s own blood” (v. 28)

In this, we are to follow Paul’s example and “serve the Lord with all humility” (v. 19)

Not a task limited to overseers/leaders/pastors; we are all called to care for the church of God; doing it for the sake of the church and not our own sake

How do we do this?

The Way:

Live “life-on-life”

Talk about bone-on-bone, steel-on-steel; then explain life-on-life

Look at how up close and personal this time was for Paul and the Ephesians

Mentions tears twice; talks about being in homes; refer back to stories over 3 years; look at the end!

Re-read Acts 20:36-38.

You can’t care for others (or the church) from a distance

Fellowship Groups, hosting people for supper (or lunch), attending baseball games, spilling out into doing life together (spiritual family)

Speak the truth

Paul never shied away from speaking the whole truth of God, even when it was hard

He defends himself in v. 20 and v. 26

We must follow this example and be willing to speak the truth to one another (care)

That can look like biblical preaching (one of SBF’s core values)

Preaching the whole Bible (Revelation); got tricky during COVID

Must be more personal (life-on-life); talking about accountability

Discipleship groups; warning against doing something foolish and harmful like dating a non-believer or even leaving a spouse

Watch each other’s back

Paul warned the church that false teachers would arise (v. 29 - 30)

From outside the church and from within

Their goal will NOT be to care for the church in humility, but for selfish gain

So we are warned to be alert

More than just an individual warning, we need to look out for one another

Used in combat (swordfighting; streets; dogfighting); It means to help be alert to unsuspecting danger

We all have spiritual blind spots; can be deceived or tricked. We need each other to continue to discern what is true and be alert

We are alert and discerning what teachers say by the spiritual fruit they yield

Cf. Matthew 7:15-20.

This is something the Ephesians took to heart and did well!

Cf. Revelation 2:1-2.

Be generous

Opposed to false teachers (selfish gain), Paul gave an example of service and generosity

He did not covet riches (v. 33)

Instead chose to work for his keep (v. 34)

Letters show that Paul was willing to accept donations and help, but only begrudingly

His example goes further: Not only did he not require charity, but we worked to generously give to others in need

To pound this point home, Paul quotes Jesus from… we have no clue!

While the Gospels don’t record it, Jesus is teaching us a simple and profound lesson: It is more blessed to give than receive

Which I seem to remember quoted at me every Christmas as a child/teen/adult;

We do have Jesus’ teaching captured in Matthew 25:37-40.

We take care of the church Jesus died for by caring for those most in need

Refugee families; Karen is very good at seeing (and filling) needs around her

The Result: Eternal Inheritance

Re-read Acts 20:32.

What is the result of caring for the church? What is the nature of God’s blessing to live this way? Our eternal inheritance

Cf. Ephesians 1:11-14.

Not that we earn this inheritance; it is a gift freely given

When we care for the church that Jesus bled for, we:

Encourage one another to stay the path and strive for this inheritance

Invite others to trust in Jesus for their eternal inheritance

That is a blessing worthy of living for

Pray