Sermon Tone Analysis

Welcome

Introduction

Our text for today is Acts chapter 20 through chapter 21 verse 16.

Last week we joined Luke the physician and author of Acts, as he began to unfold the Apostle Paul’s third missionary journey.

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So when we parted last Sunday, Paul and his companions were before a rioting mob in the city of Ephesus in modern day western Turkey.

Our text our picks up with the apostle Paul leaving Ephesus and making his way through Macedonia, giving much encouragement along the way and address some concerns that he has for the churches in the region.

Ultimately Paul will make his way back to Jerusalem where he will give the money that he has collected for the suffering Jerusalem Christians and then make his journey to Rome.

Let’s read

Pause

Pray

In chapter 20, look at verses 29 and 30.

I want us to begin in the middle of our text.

We will identify a problem and then see how what’s written before and after these verses inform the solution to the problem.

So let’s read verses 29 and 30 again.

Now zoom in even closer to the text at the last phrase in verse 30, “…to draw away the disciples after them.”

This is the problem.

Paul is concerned that God’s people, particularly, in Ephesus will be drawn away to serve idols, live greedy lives, gorge themselves in immorality, and even worse things, all while claiming a freedom to do so in the name of the gospel that brings freedom from sin and forgiveness of sin for all who believe.

Notice a similarity with an Old Testament text from Jer. 2:2

and what is written to the church at Ephesus in Rev. 2

Pause

Now that we have identified the problem let us look at the solution.

Look on to verse 32.

In the flow of the passage this verse comes to us after Paul has given a charge to the Ephesian elders to “pay careful attention to or guard the flock.”

Verse 32 is the means of guarding.

“The word of his grace” is the gospel and it was to God by way of this word of grace that Paul commends these elders and their church.

Having said that I want us to observe 3 ways that we see the gospel doing this work of guarding in the text and then what the implications are for us.

The gospel creates a community of people who love the local church and her means of grace.

The gospel creates a humility in us that aids us in faithfully serving the Lord during times of trial and sorrow.

The gospel creates a people who not only love its message but seek to use it for their mutual edification.

The gospel creates a community of people who love the local church and her means of grace.

Acts 2:42 gives four means of grace that have remained integral and central to the church.

When we get to chapter 20 I think this same model for the early church.

We could elaborate on this model in this way for our own context in 2018 by saying that the gospel

Faithful biblical teaching.

How is that worked out here at CrossWay?

Faithful preaching

Helpful care group leaders

Discipleship groups

Fostering true fellowship

Fellowship that begins on Sunday and permeates our week

Linking arms, standing shoulder to shoulder in the cause of the Gospel

The gospel treasured and regularly rehearsed in the Lord’s Supper

Affections for Christ in His person and gratitude for His completed work of redemption

The reminder that we are not alone in this life and that God has placed in a family of believers

Care for one another felt in the church’s prayer life

Regularly praying for each other stirs us up to carry burdens together in other ways

As we learn to care for each other we in turn learn how to care for the world around us, together.

Our 2nd observation is this

The gospel creates a humility in us that aids us in faithfully serving the Lord during times of trial and sorrow.

When trials come, and they will, it takes humility to submit to God’s sovereign plan for our life.

We may seek to do many good things for the kingdom of God and endure tremendous obstacles or opposition.

That doesn’t mean that it is time to throw in the towel.

It simply means that we press in a little more.

We hold on just a little longer.

Paul says, “I did shrink from declaring to you...” This was Paul’s ministry among the churches.

In verse 24 Paul says, “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.”

Remaining faithful to your gospel ministry when your is heart is broken, when you are heavy laden with burden is not easy.

But cast your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you.

Listen what says to Timothy near the end of his life.

In 2 Tim. 4

Now our third and last observation is

The gospel creates a people who not only love its message but seek to use it for their mutual edification.

The gospel in this text is in the phrase “…the word of his grace.”

Notice how power this word of grace is.

It is able to

Build you up

Strengthen you

Sustain you

To encourage you

Give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

It brings a promised imperishable reward at the end of things

Sanctifies us so that we can receive that reward.

Beloved, the gospel of Jesus Christ is our only hope in life and in death.