What's Your Legacy?

Turn to Acts 20:16

Legacies: Wherever we serve we leave a legacy. There is a need for great leaders and leaders to have integrity.

Dabo Swinney the coach of the Clemson Tigers is a great coach and leader. But he is an even greater man of God.

Churches need strong leaders with a great desire in their heart to serve God faithfully. His word and to His people.

Dabo Swinney

He had a urgent need to get to Jerusalem but felt compelled to share his heart with the people at Ephesus.

Note the tearful goodbye in verse 36-38. Paul left a legacy with these people. What manner of Paul’s life as a leader that he showed and identified with these people that caused these people to feel that way about him.

Paul’s legacy was characterized by: CONSISTENCY

He was consistent in his leadership: vs 18 you know what kind of person I was from the day of arrival. the way he lived and the way he ministered. He was consistent.

He was consistent in his relationships: Vs 20 He loved people! he taught them, witnessed to them preached to them, not just in a building, but outside the church, and at home!

He was consistent in leading others to Christ: Verse 31 for 3 years he stayed at Ephesus and taught the people. He says “I didn’t stop warning everyone day and night with tears”! what consistency he showed in his concern toward his fellow men. Not just those he knew but those he didn’t know!

Paul’s legacy was characterized by: HUMILITY

He had humility about who he was: vs 19 serving the Lord with all humility. He had authority and a title as apostle but it didn't matter to him, he had humility. With tears and trials, he had consistency and humility even with all he was going through

He had humility in who he served: Vs 22 I go bound in the spirit- He was willing to submit to the spirit. He allowed the spirit to lead him. So How do i know when and where the spirit is leading me? By learning how to submit. Humble yourself and know you can’t do it alone!

He had humility in respect to life: Vs 24 -25 say more about his humble leadership. He says “nor do I count my life dear to myself”. It wasn’t about him, It was all about Jesus. No matter what happened to him, no matter where the spirit led him, he was all about serving God and doing His will.

Paul’s legacy was characterized by: FOCUS

He was focused on why he was there: He was there to testify! No matter who he came into contact with he was testifying about what Jesus had did in His life! about who Jesus was.

He was focused on what needed to be done: Verse 21 repentance and faith

He was focused on the mission not the obstacles: Vs 22-24

He was focused on the future: Vs 24 finish my race with joy Vs 31 again 22 23 24

He was focused on the ministry: he was given a ministry to do and God has given each one of you here today a ministry. You must stay focused and finish your race with joy.

Bro. Bill Kuykendall told us “I may get tired in the ministry, but I will never get tired of the ministry.”

Even us pastors need a few days off to be fed God’s word, a vacation to unwind from the stress of the ministry but we always come back to what God has given us to do and we do so with renewed focus because we know that the ministry we received was not from man, not from mom or dad, not from grandpa or a pastor, youth pastor or friend but from God.

Paul’s legacy with these men and women of Ephesus was characterized by consistency, humility, focus and lastly...

Paul’s legacy was characterized by: INTEGRITY

A MAN’S BEHAVIOR SHOULD MATCH HIS BELIEFS!