Encouraging one another Acts 20:1-12

Introduction

Paul was a great preacher of the Gospel. Through his preaching efforts many had come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. It didn’t matter where Paul went, his goal was to preach the Gospel until the Holy Spirit moved him on. He gave us an example of how to live out the great commission as a church member every single day. Paul was a great church planter, we know of many churches that were started by Paul himself, but we also know of many churches that were started by people reached through his ministry. He laid out the pattern of New Testament church planting and that is Churches starting Churches.

One thing about Paul that often gets missed because of all the other amazing things God did through him is, He is a great encourager. On Pauls 2nd and 3rd missionary Journeys he spent much time encouraging those who were reached through the first missionary journey he took. George Adams said “Encouragement is the oxygen for the soul.”

This morning we are going to look at ways we can encourage and be encouraged through the church

Paul encouraging and being encouraged vs. 1-6

Paul embracing the disciples in Ephesus vs. 1

After the riot happened in Ephesus, Paul knows it is time to leave, but before he leaves he gathers the disciples together and embraces them one more time.

It reminds me of the first time Paul was in Philippi and they were beaten and thrown in jail. After Paul and Silas got out of jail they went to Lydias house and comforted the brethren

Paul cared deeply for the churches, and it is shown by the way he treats them.

Paul exhorting the Christians in Macedonia vs. 2

the word exhortation means the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable.

The writers of Hebrews challenges us to exhort one another to love and good works

Hebrews 10:24–25“24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

When is the last time we exhorted each other?

One of our roles as a church member is to exhort each other.

Paul abiding in Greece vs. 3

Paul came to Greece and stayed there three months

Most of this stay was in Corinth and during this time he wrote his letter to the church at Rome

Phillips wrote this “If the contents of his Roman epistle is any indication of his ministry at this time, he certainly set before the churches by example and exhortation the need for steadfastness in evangelism, church planting, and Bible teaching”

I believe we are more in need of these things than ever before, if God has planted you in Stephenville, he has called you to reach Stephenville with the Gospel, and through the local church to reach the world for Christ.

As Paul was getting ready to sail into Syria, he heard that there was a group of Jews waiting to kill him

Each year a pilgrim ship left the port city of Cenchrea for Palestine, to take Jewish people home for the annual festivals. Paul was going to sail on one of these ships, but some of the Jews caught wind of it and they were waiting on the boat to kill him. Paul instead headed back to Macedonia

Pauls entourage to Jerusalem vs. 4-5

Paul had representatives from several of the churches he started going with him to Jerusalem.

The reason he had so many people with him is likely because of the large sum of money he was taking to the church in Jerusalem.

This group of men went ahead to Troas, likely to protect the money just in case there was trouble with authorities

They sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread or the passover. vs. 6

5 days later they arrive in Troas where they stay for 7 days.

Paul preaching and comforting vs. 7-12

The church meets together vs. 7a

This is one of the earliest recordings of a church service

They gathered together on the first day of the week

One of the reasons we meet on Sunday is because we are celebrating the resurrected saviour every week.

Jesus rose on the first day of the week

1 Corinthians 16:2 “2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

Notice they gathered together

A church is not a building, its the people. But for a church to be a church we must assemble.

I am thankful for the ability to post sermons online as that will reach people who might never be able to come to our church, but if you watch the recording of the service online you did not go to church, you watched a church service.

They Participated in the Lords supper

The Lord’s supper is one of the two ordinances of the Church.

Here we see the early church taking the Lords supper on the Lords day

Paul preaches until midnight vs. 7b

When we think about the American church, its hard not to think about a schedule.

We have an order of service and we try to keep everything right on time, but here we see Paul preach until midnight.

He started his sermon around sundown and preached until midnight and we have no recorded complaints. I am thankful for our church, but there are lots of churches out there that if the preacher isn’t done by a certain time they are leaving.

We should allow the Spirit to direct the service and not the clock, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have order in the service, but we shouldn’t allow the clock to keep the Holy Spirit from moving.

Eutychus falls asleep during the preaching vs. 8-9

As Paul is preaching the lamps are lit and I’m sure people are starting to get tired.

Most of these people had been working in the fields all day and now Paul was preaching into the night, so i’m sure some were getting restless or even falling asleep, but the Bible introduces us to a young man named Eutychus.

Here we find Eutychus in the window sill of the third floor and he is in a deep sleep.

I think about a friend of mine in Bible college telling us a story about how another student fell asleep in class and they tapped in his shoulder in the middle of class and told him the professor had called on him to pray and he stood up and started praying in the middle of the lecture.

Here we find Eutychus sleeping so hard he falls out of the window from the third floor and he dies.

We could easily sit here and make the whole sermon about why you don’t fall asleep in church, but thats not the point of this passage. Jesus again is going to show his power through an apostle as he did with Peter.

Paul brings back Eutychus to life vs. 10

By the time Paul got down to the bottom, word had already began to spread that Eutychus was dead, but Paul embraced him and told them that his life was still in him.

Through the power that Jesus gave Paul, he raised Eutychus from the dead.

The church was comforted vs. 10 -11

After Eutychus was up the church had a meal together and fellowshipped until the break of day and then departed.

They had just heard some great preaching, saw a miracle, had a meal, fellowshipped together and now as the sun is coming up they are heading home and likely to work very soon.

They took the young man with them alive and look at the last phrase of verse 12 and were not a little comforted

They weren’t a little comforted, they were a lot comforted.

The preaching, miracle and fellowship comforted them.

Conclusion

May I remind you this morning there is comfort in Jesus?

The greatest comfort we could ever have is the comfort of eternal life. That comfort only comes through the belief that Jesus died on a cross for your sins, was buried, and three days later he rose from the dead, giving us victory over death and hell.

Do you need to be encouraged today, open the word of God and read it, I promise you’ll be encouraged

Do you need to encourage someone today? Write someone a letter, send them a text, call them on the phone and encourage them.