Installing and Commissioning (2024)

First of all I want to thank those who are stepping out of their assignment.

Elder Pastor David Erikson

Deacons: Jesse Van Werven, Jon Olson and deacon chairman Cecil Martin. (Thank you).

Acts 20 is an amazing chapter in the bible. It contains Paul’s farewell to the leaders of the church in Ephesus and he simultaneously commissioning them. They gather around him and he say to them…

Acts 20:18–19 (ESV)

18 “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

Christians service is done “among people” over a “period of time.” Your service is not to be some board of directors that makes uniformed decisions behind closed doors. Rather, your ministry is to be “among the people” “over an extended period of time” to the people that gather here.

I want you to look out and behold the people that you have been called to live among and serve.

These are the people that God has entrusted to your care.

You are called to serve them, with all humility and with tears.

What you are embarking upon is a massive and holy undertaking.

Paul continues on...

Acts 20:20–21 (ESV)

20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul did not “shrink back” from declaring profitable things to his people. He did it publically and privately. Urging people to “repent,” that means to change their minds about something so that it might change the trajectory of their lives.

These people here need to be cared for publically and privately by you…and some of their needs will be difficult to bear, but you must not shrink back for giving them the teaching and the assistance that they need for their growth in godliness.

Teaching and assisting (Elders and Deacons)

What is a deacon and what do they do? They are servants who do three things…

Spot and meet tangible needs. - A deacon should be skilled at spotting practical needs and then also taking the initiative to meet them in an efficient manner.

Protect and Promote church unity - The role of deacon was given to the early church in order to salvage the unity of the Jerusalem church. They were created to be the “shock absorbers” for congregational flourishing. They help things be smooth. The call is to help protect and promote church unity in practical ways!

Serve and support the ministry of the elders. There are so many practical demands of ministry that the elders and pastoral staff can’t and shouldn’t do. Deaconing is not for the faint of heart. Much of it is thankless—grunt work, not stage work.

Paul says more things, but I will skip ahead to some concluding thoughts.

Acts 20:28 (ESV)

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

This is where we start to feel the weightiness of being called into an official office within the local church.

You are called to give careful attention to yourselves and to these people before you.

This is a command…not a suggestion. Pay attention. This is like the start of a fencing match. On Guard.

Be in a continued state of readiness to learn of and protect from any harm that may come your way or their way.

This is no passive assignment.

and Paul continues on by saying...

Acts 20:31 (ESV) 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

at all times...

admonish - to advise someone concerning the dangerous consequences of their actions.

Every one - not just a select few you might get along with.

done with tears there is emotional investment.

and then Paul sets this group of men aside and commends them to God. He commits them to doing the work that he had laid out for them.

Acts 20:32 (ESV)

32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

This is your assignment since you have been affirmed to your positions. Shepherd, tend and care this flock in front of you.

Let’s Pray