5. Acts 20.25-32, Last Word to LEADERS
Notes
Transcript
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In AD 79, the Roman city of Pompeii sat in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.
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Pompeii was prosperous, cultured, comfortable — the kind of place where people assumed tomorrow would look much like today. The mountain towered above them every day, but over time its presence had become ordinary. Familiar. Easy to ignore.
In the days before the eruption, there were warning signs. Ancient writers tell us there were tremors, disturbances, puffs of smoke from the mountain . But life continued. Markets opened. Families ate meals. Merchants sold goods. Children played in the streets. People carried on. They didn’t stand guard. They didn’t keep watch. They (perhaps) normalised, rationalised, the warning signs. They didn’t keep watch.
Then came the eruption.
Within hours, ash darkened the sky, toxic gases filled the air, and the city was buried.
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Now people go on holiday to look at the outlines of corpses captured and hardened forever in ash and rock.
And that thought sets the scene for Acts chapter 20.
Here we are in the final sermon in our series called Famous Last Words. Today we hear Paul’s famous last word to the elders at the church in Ephesus…
The backstory is he’s on his way to Jerusalem, stopping off at various places on the way. He doesn’t want to head to Ephesus but DOES want to speak to the Ephesian elders one last time, and so he lands at Miletus and calls them down to meet him there.
I say one last time… Paul IS clearly, painfully aware that these sre his final words to a church where he spent so much time and invested so much of his ministry. You can see that - v25
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“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.
There are five things he wants to impress on these elders… they are our five points today… many of them (on the thee of Pompeii… are about KEEPING WATCH and BEING ON GAURD) - warnings of pitfalls and dangers ahead.
We’d better get going, here’s point no. 1…
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1. The Charge to the Elders
1. The Charge to the Elders
You may wonder, just as an aside, what this passage has to do with YOU? After all it’s addressed to church elders and most of us in the room are not elders. Four reasons this is important.
Firstly, it’s God’s word - God decided you needed this passage.
Secondly, you may not be an elder but elders are not a different species from you…. Elders are NOT called to a completely different kind of Christian life than you are… elders are simply called to be examples and teachers of the kind of Christian life we’re all called to… so learning what elders ought to do will ALWAYS be of use to all Christians.
Thirdly, you may not be an elder but you DO (as a congregation) have the responsibility of appointing elders - you vote to do that… so you need to know what you’re looking for.
And fourthly there is one particular elder - namely - the next minister - that you’re all about to have to appoint soon so this could not be more relevant.
So this is Paul’s charge to the elders.. actually there are really three charges he gives.. the first is…
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A) Keep Proclaiming (the whole counsel of God)
A) Keep Proclaiming (the whole counsel of God)
So Read on, v26
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Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
Paul can say, with confidence, that in every way, on each occasion, and to full depth… he has expounded the Word of God and the message of the Gospel to the people.
He didn’t shirk it, or duck the opportunities, he didn’t water it down, soft pedal it, he didn’t exclude certain groups…
If any of them now reject the Gospel… it certainly WON’T be because Paul wasn’t clear.
If they miss out on salvation… it WON’T rest on Pauls shoulders for not preaching the gospel, but on theirs for not responding in repentance and faith.
That is a real challenge to me and to our elders today.
As I look out at you all, can I say the same? I don’t know, God will judge. A lurking anxiety for many elders is this… ‘have people really listened?’, ‘have I clearly explained?’
Please be in no doubt about the core message of the gospel… you are I are great sinners who need a great saviour.
Our greatest problem in life is that we are rebels against God, deserving of hell and judgement. But God, in his great love, has sent his son to be our saviour.
He alone has died for our sins - salvation from sin and eternal life with God is found in no-one else than Jesus.
To become a CHristian is not just to have a warm feeling toward the church… to be a CHristin is not merely to be baptised.. or to have some isotonic connection… unless you have real and living faith in Jesus you REMAIN on a collision course with God and will experience the hell of his judgement.
Repentance means turning from sin and turning to CHrist as YOUR saviour. It means a new direction in life. It means, with the help of the Holy Spirit living a new life which is more and more sanctified - that is - more and more transformed to be holy, like Jesus.
Those who profess CHristian faith but remain worldly and unchanged are NOT real believers.
This is the gospel - the order full good news of Jesus - you must respond to it yourself in faith.
And ELDERS - we are responsible to discharge our duty to proclaim the whole will of God.
We have to get the WHOLE GOSPEL, from the WHOLE BIBLE, to the WHOLE PEOPLE of God.
Keep proclaiming.
Next… elders… Keep WATCHING nd firstly, watch yourself!
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B) Keep watching (yourself)
B) Keep watching (yourself)
Look at v28
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Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
The second half of that vers is the bit we EXPECT - elders must keep watch over the flock… but the first bit we so easily forget or neglect.
Elders must first keep watch over themselves. This does not mean that elders/ministers are perfect - if that were the criteria then we would have not elders… that also means that at points over the last 11 years I have got things wrong.
SO the standard is not sinless perfection, but there is a watchfulness which is key. And I don’t JUST mean we must watch our doctrine… it’s not ONLY about taking care to TEACH what is right. Every bit as important is how we live.
Paul makes the same point in 1 Tim 4.16 SLIDE
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Each elder must watch his life and his doctrine… we’ve all seen the GREAT harm that comes when church leaders fall… we’ve all (hopefully) also see the great pressure that church leaders are also under - not least of all from Satan who, no doubt, sees this as a wonderful way to undermine the church. So let me say - please PRAY, pray for your leaders and elders.
That wonderful old preacher John Stott put it this way….
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We note that the Ephesian pastors must first keep watch over themselves, and only then over the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made them responsible. For they cannot care adequately for others if they neglect the care and culture of their own souls. JOHN STOTT
And leaders and elders we MUST watch… stand guard over our life and doctrine.
So Keep watch (over yourself) AND
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C) Keep Shepherding (the flock)
C) Keep Shepherding (the flock)
v28 again…
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28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Perhaps the most common metaphor for the work of church elders is…. the shepherd.
We have a role to govern and lead (of course) but we are not business managers.
We are to be shepherds.
Listen to John Stott again…
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They are to ‘be shepherds’ of God’s church, poimainō meaning in general to ‘tend’ a flock and in particular ‘to lead a flock to pasture, and so to feed it’. This is the first duty of shepherds. JOHN STOTT
The way we lead the flock is to FEED the flock… we are charged with leading the flock to PASTURES - to FOOD.
And the food we are to feed? Is the word of God, the Bible. This is the spiritual nourishment you need.
Of course we care about practical needs, physical needs, of course there is sympathy and empathy in the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows of life… but ultimately what does each of us need to gaurd and guides us through… to lead us TO the Lord and keep us walking WITH the Lord? - it’s the WORD of the Lord.
That is why, when Paul lists the qualifications of the elder… MOST of them have to do with Godly character (and we’ve seen the need for an elder to watch his life, his character).
The only SKILL listed… the only COMPETENCE that is an absolute requirement is to be able to teach.
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2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
I said this last week but it bears repeating…. Soon this congregation will be looking for a new Minister. There’ll be all sorts of thoughts
we want someone young and vibrant, but he must also be old and experienced
he needs to be clever, but also supremely relatable (good in the books but good with people)
he must be a great counsellor, fundraiser, organiser, kids-work leader, musician, politician (magician?!)
There will be plenty of voices - perhaps plenty of thoughts, desires, opinions rising in your minds (perhaps you’re just thinking…. my goodness I just hope he’s better than the last guy). But ABOVE ALL ELSE choose a minister who wants the WORD of God at the centre - who’ll understand that the word of God does the work of God.
He must watch himself…
He must watch over the flock.… (lead it by feeding it with the word).
Secondly… there’s something here about
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2. The Governance of the Church
2. The Governance of the Church
Point two is NOT the main thrust of the passage this is a bit of a sidebar, but I think it is worth stopping to notice. This chapter is an important reason WHY I am a Presbyterian.
When we talk about Presbyterianism we talk abotu church GOVERNMENT - how should a church by governed, structured, led. etc.
In this chapter there are three words which are ALL USED (and used interchangeably) to describe church leaders.
The main word actually comes just a wee bit before where our reading began.
When Paul calls the Ephesian ELDERS together… well that’s what they are called the ELDERS - just look at v17…
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17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
That is the most common word - it’s the normal word (if you like) - to describe church leaders.
If you’re interested it is the Greek word…
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Lexham Theological Wordbook πρεσβύτερος
πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros)
But there two other words too….
Look at v28 for the next….
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28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
The word is OVERSEER - Paul is CLEARLY talking to the same group of elders but now he also calls them OVERSEERS…
The greek word there is…
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Lexham Theological Wordbook ἐπίσκοπος
ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos)
It’s from that word we get out English word BISHOP. So what is a bishop? is it someone in a point hat with a big stick? Is it another type of elder or minister who is higher powered and rules over them? - according to Acts 20 the answer is NO! An overseer is an elder… it’s a different word for the same thing.
The next word - the third word… is also in v28.
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28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
The word is shepherd - the Greek word before it is…
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Lexham Theological Wordbook ποιμαίνω
ποιμαίνω (poimainō).
It’s from this word to shepherd that we get our word PASTOR.
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So do you see? Our elders, are also overseers, our overseers are also pastors. These are one and the same thing.
We really are getting off course now BUT.… if we were to flip back a few pages to from Acts 20 back to Acts 15. We would see the account of the council of Jerusalem.
What happens thee is that there is an issue, a controversy in the church… the response of the church is to call a meeting of the elders from across the area… so that they can pray, discuss, deliberate and then decide together. And this decision is then passed down as an authoritative ruling to the churches.
Acts 15 was, in a sense, the first Presbytery meeting. When a bunch of Presbyters (ELDERS!) get together.
That’s why we DON’T believe that each individual congregation is an island and can just do whatever it wants - we belong to a Presbytery. And, in a time of vacancy, YES WE have a role in choosing our new minister (who is really a kind of lead elder) but our Presbytery also have a role in helping us - not least of all in appointing an interim moderator - to help us.
We;’ve seen the CHARGE given to elders… we’ve taken a little detour (or maybe a big detour) to think about the governance of the church.
Much more briefly now, here’s the third thing…
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3. The Value of the Church
3. The Value of the Church
Believe it or not, we’re still in v28
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28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Who’s church is this? It’s not my church…. it’s not your church. It’s God’s church…. it’s the church of God.
Borrowing someone else's car
Driving home from the hospital with a baby
Extraordinary phrase - bought with the blood of God
Vacancy - value your church, love it, serve it, be committed to it, treat it with care - it belongs to Jesus, he bought it with his own blood.
Next - number 4….
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4. The Danger to the Church
4. The Danger to the Church
We eventually move on from v28 to v29 - have a look...
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29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
How painful must this be for Paul to say? Whether this is a kind of supernatural insight he has.… or perhaps he can just see the signs already developing.… or perhaps it’s just a more general comment - Paul knows this is true becuase, in a sense, it’s always true….
Regardless… how painful must it be… this church in Ephesus where he had spend more than three years of his ministry…. where he had taught so faithfully, dilligently and carefully (that’s v17 - remember?)… this church was going to have to do battle with false teachers, who would distort the Gospel for personal gain.
Having spoken about the church as a flock and the elders as shepherds… Paul now exrtends that metaphor in the most brutal terms…. if the people are the flock and the elders are the shepherds the false teachers are like SAVAGE WOLVES. That is the danger and the damage of false teaching.
Be aware…. if the church in Ephesus - which was pastored by Paul and Timothy (for goodness sake!) wasn’t immune to the danger of false teaching, then neither are we.
Tragically we do get a little insight into how this panned out.
Some years later… do you remember these words which come from the Lord Jesus through the apostle John in Revelation? Listen to this later comment about this same church…
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1… These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
So in SOME ways the Ephesian church DO heed Paul’s warning… to some extend the reject false teachers - false apostles and so on.
But in the process they themselves lose their first love of Jesus.
There are dangers ahead… and so Paul’s warning to the leaders especially (but to everyone generally) is there in v31
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31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
We’ve seen the charge to elders - to watch, to guard…
We’ve taken a rabbit trail on teh governance of the church
We’ve seen the value of the church - it belongs to God
And the danger TO the church - savage wolves who are false teachers.
Finally a word on…
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5. The Nourishment and Future of the Church
5. The Nourishment and Future of the Church
Paul’s very last famous last words to these folk are there in v32 - with this we round off our who Famous last words series….
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32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Commit you to God - there’s prayer… elders and others (we ALL) must be in prayer.
And to the WORD of his grace - gospel of God, contained in the word of God is KEY
That nourishes the church… and the future toward which all of this is heading? An inheritance among the saints… eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
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In 79 AD the guards on the walls of Pempeii didn’t keep watch properly. The leaders in teh city saw the signs and ignored them. The result was disaster. Elders, leaders, we are (in one sense) like guards and watchmen…. here is Paul’s famous last word to us… watch yourselves, watch the flock, watch out for wolves… mind that you nourish and feed the church properly she is of great value… she belongs to Jesus - bought with his blood and her destination is (ultimately) with Jesus in his heavenly Kingdom.
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Let’s pray
