Call to Faithful Ministry - Acts 20:17-38

Introduction - 2.5 mins

How would you like to loose $7,000 in 4 second? I can give you my venmo if you’re interested

Opening Illustration:

Senbere Teferi - Olympic Runner from Etheopia - World Record Holder for womens 5k road race (14 mins 29 sec)

Last Summer - 10k Race in Atlanta Georgia

was in 1st - saw a police officer turn off the race path, followed him

only gone for 4 seconds, lost 7,000 - still came in 3rd tho

Surface a need

The Bible describes our life and ministry as a race to run - and many distractions

we can’t afford even a small delay - they can have devastating consequences

a momentary lapse in judgement - moral failing

or ignoring a problem over a long period of time - harm marriage, relationship to kids

In the passage we look at today, Paul pleads with church elders to run the race well

Turn to Acts 20:17

Give Context

At this point, near the end of Acts, Paul is on his way to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, and he knows his life is coming to an end. He is waiting for a ship to come get him, and so he calls for the elders at Ephesus to meet him in a nearby city.

Intro Subject Matter/Main point

In this passage Paul urges these elders to faithful ministry, and he does it in three ways

Intro Main Points

1. By Keeping Proper Perspective on this Life (Acts 20:17-27)

2. By Urging them to Fight Falsehood (Acts 20:28-31)

3. By Loving the Flock (Acts 20:32-38)

Body - 20 mins

MP 1. By Keeping Proper Perspective on This Life (v 17-27) (8 mins)

Acts 20:17–27 (ESV)

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:

“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;

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.

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem,

constrained by the Spirit,

not knowing what will happen to me there,

23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,

if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,

27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Explain

Paul understood what his ministry was about

He looks at his past, - persecution from Jewish opponents

he looks at his future - danger and persecution in Jerusalem

and the whole time he proclaimed the gospel faithfully (2 Times v20 and 27)

That’s why at the end of this passage he can say INNOCENT (v26)

Illustrate 1 - He uses an image from the OT

Ezekiel 33:1-7 - Paul compares himself to the watchman

Supposed to warn the people about the invaders, sound the trumpet

if he did - blood on their hands if they ignore

if he doesn’t warn - blood on his hands

Paul says, he was a faithful watchman for God’s people

Albert Mohler says about this passage “a good deal of preaching today is not innocent of blood…Paul says his hands are clean because he proclaimed the truth to everyone the Lord brought to him. Will we be able to say the same on the day of judgement?” - Al Mohler

Transition: That is why he was innocent - but how was he able to be this bold despite persecution? - verse 24

Explain

v24 “I do not account my life of any value or as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God”

Don’t misread - “if only” as if its a long lost hope -

“ my purpose is to finish my course” - CSB

“so that I might finish my course” - KJV

He set his life aside so that he could pursue the ministry

John the Baptist - He must increase I must decrease

Jesus in Luke 9:24 “24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

The reason he sets his life aside

Illustration 2

Gas Station

If you are at the gas station, buy a candy bar and put the change in your pocket

Get a call, friend won the lottery - split with you - $10 mil each

Before you can get home, a guy holds you at gunpoint and demands your change and your candy bar

What’s your attitude right the? You are so much more willing to endure that because you have put the value of your pocket cash in proper perspective

Compared to the greater value of a life devoted to Christ and his gospel, Paul is able to endure these trials

Apply

As you reflect on your own ministry - don’t look to build up your life, your name - don’t pursue your comfort

Make it your mission to please God - not others

and you can endure the trials for the sake of Christ

MP 2. By Urging them to Fight Falsehood (v. 28-31) (9 mins)

Acts 20:28–31 (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.

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you,

not sparing the flock;

30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things,

to draw away the disciples after them.

31 Therefore be alert,

remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Explain - Paul warns of dangers that the church will face, and gives two specific commands (v 28, 31)

Pay careful attention

to yourself - we cannot lead people to places we aren’t willing to go - we must be faithful, have accountability, and rely upon the grace of God

Piper’s prayer - sin can blind us to passages of Scripture that make us uncomfortable, downplay certain commands, or excuse our own behavior with bad reasons based on the text - searing our conscience so we can’t effectively warn others of sin

Illustration 1

Pastoring without watching your own spiritual life is like going into battle without armor - you will face serious damage and not help others

(v28) to all the flock - Strauch points out that we can’t isolate a part of the flock we get along with - the whole flock, be involved in their lives

the reason you were appointed elders to begin with - “to care for” - “to shepherd”

Strauch defines “to shepherd” as “to govern the church of God, to provide leadership and guidance for the church, to teach and correct from God’s word, and to provide protection from all dangers that threaten the life of the church”

Why?

because there are dangers from outside (wolves) and inside (false teachers)

Definition of Heresy - “teaching which renders the Bible’s gospel incoherent or inaccessible”

Incoherent - Jesus was created - idolatry to worship creatures - damned and saved by worshiping Jesus

Inaccessible - the Bible is not trustworthy

We should expect it from outside - the world is against us - do not try and please them. Many faithful pastors remind us that it will never be enough - they don’t care if you have female pastors if you are still against LGBTQ

we aren’t supposed to be mimicking the wolves, but the lamb

so preach to them, but protect the flock from their influence

Inside it often comes as more of a shock

Illustration 2

to clarify - not talking about a faithful church member who misspeaks about the Trinity - we’ve all been there - so don’t get trigger happy and wield your education like a bat

Our tendency will be to be gentle to these people and not firm enough

(v30) Do not let them fool you, they may claim to be good faith asking questions, but Paul says these false teachers are doing this “(v30) to draw away the disciples after them”

V. 31 “therefore be alert”

- stay awake - same word Jesus used in Matt 26:38 to ask the disciples to watch with him in Gethsemane, but they fell asleep

Transition: We do not want to fall asleep on the job

Apply

to defend the gospel and ward off error, know the truth

so we can apply it to our lives and the lives of our congregants

in fact make insist that you have other elders to hold you accountable

Also insist on getting to know your people - you cannot properly apply the word to their life if you don’t know what their life is like - get to know people and pour yourself out for them

Transition: We must defend and rebuke for the sake of the church, but with what spirit?

MP 3. By Loving the Flock (v. 32-38) (5 mins)

Acts 20:32–38 (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.

33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.

34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Explain

This is a tall order! How can we do it? Remembering the gospel

God and his word - able to build us up

the Same Savior who bore our sins and gave us new life, empowers us to love his bride

Paul is clear - we have to love the church

Get into the dirt and grime of people’s lives, and meet their needs, talk to them about their doubts, their families, their grief in tragedy, and while you are there where the wounds hurt - show them the power of the grace of God for burdened souls

Don’t simply rebuke false teaching because you hate false teaching.

Yes hate false teaching, but Hate because you love the Lord Jesus and the church

Illustrate

I love my wife - I hate any attempt that someone does to do her harm

But I didn’t marry her to finally stick it to rude people - or to show who’s boss to the people who take advantage of women

I married her because I love her, and because I love her, I hate what hurts her

Apply

Imitate Christ - see his bride as lovely

strive for the kind of ministry Paul has at the end of these verse - they weep with him - they loved him and he loved them

Conclusion - 2.5 mins

Trouble will come, in your ministry and mine, but God, working through his word and his people, can graciously build us up and preserve us to the end

We have something better than running the race ourselves. It isn’t the case that well we got distracted and now we have to catch up - maybe get third

No, Christ is our forerunner, he goes before us, and because of his righteous life, his death in our place for our sins, and his resurrection - God promises to bring many sons to glory

Notes

Pay attention to the time constraints - don’t be presumptuous about the time or that people want to hear us go over

If someone gives a time constraint do not ignore it

Breakdown was helpful - illustrations were helpful

speech was clear - engaging and eye contact

Going to other parts in the text - Ezekiel was good

used pause - didn’t use filler words

alot of text - handled well

Piper’s prayer

Passion came across and relaxed came across

not too tied to manuscript

vocal variation - speed good

energy good

Critique

Breaking up text - commenting as I go

speed was fast because of this

Lost and comment on verses in order

use the whole 25 mins - maybe taking more pauses

reiterating points at the close of the section

Denny

pitch and speed and variation good

more volume at times

watch posture - rest hands on front of podium

lean forward - shoulder width

Surfacing a need

Didn’t discern a singular point until the end

emphasize the main point in the beginning more clearly - reiterate

short and pithy so I can reiterate

maybe even faithful eldering - shepherding

proper perspective -> sacrifice

Faithful eldering requires

sacrifice

confronting error

loving the flock

Pillar