Practical Encouragement

Introduction

“Keep practicing and one day you’ll be famous!” That’s what someone told me once as I was skateboarding as a teenager. The problem was, I really wasn’t very good. And no amount of practice could make up for my lack of talent and fear of injury.

This would be an example of bad encouragement. It is completely impractical and potentially hazardous. While the heart may be in the right place, the execution is lacking.

When we give encouragement, it needs to be practical. That is what we encounter here in the beginning of . Practical encouragement.

Our passage this morning gives us three snapshots of Paul’s ministry as he makes his way back to Jerusalem.

The key to grasping why the Holy Spirit felt these passages were important lies in Paul’s purpose for this entire journey.

We find that purpose back in 18:23. The goal is to strengthen the believers in these churches. As we go through this passage we need to ask how this purpose is accomplished in each situation.

Believers are encouraged to take three specific actions in this passage.

As we examine these actions this morning we will be making application for us here at Grace Church.

Taking these actions enables the church to fulfill its God-given mission.

Tie these to service in the church

The first action we find is believers being…

1. Encouraged to Serve vv. 1-6

Have you ever gone into a “seat yourself” restaurant? Most of us have. In these places the idea is that you seat yourself and then your server will come and take your order. There is an expectation that you will be served because that is the server’s job. Make sense?

When we trust Jesus Christ as Savior we become part of the body of Christ. We are given Spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit and we are to use those gifts along with our talents to serve the Lord in a local church.

Service is something that is expected.

Turn to (p. 1320).

(p. 1320)

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 NKJV

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

We have diverse gifts but they are given to profit the entire body of Christ. Therefore, If you are not using your gifts in a local church context, you are not fulfilling your calling from God.

Our goal this morning is to be encouraged to do what God has called us to do. I am also setting up the Sunday School class that Sean Greene will be doing.

In these verses we find three directives as we are encouraged to serve. Directive # 1…

Directive # 1…

List of service opportunities

a. Serve in community v. 1

READ v. 1

The “uproar” speaks of the riot caused by Demetrius and the other craftsmen in ch. 19. We saw that come to an end as the city clerk dismissed them.

Paul recognizes that it would now be best for him to move on. Remember, this is a journey undertaken to encourage the churches that have been planted.

What we need to see in this verse is something we have noted before. Paul rarely serves by himself. Here he has fellow believers, fellow disciples, working with him.

He gathers them together and embraces them before leaving. Paul encourages and strengthens these fellow believers who will remain in this hostile city after his departure.

We serve in community.

One of the main reasons for this is spelled out in (p. 1305).

(p. 1305)

Romans 12:4–8 NKJV

For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We serve in community because we have diverse gifts that are used by God to complement each other.

Failure to serve and use our gifts leaves the body weak and vulnerable.

Today we will be having a lunch, followed by a business meeting. At that business meeting I will present a list of opportunities for people to minister here at Grace Church.

There is something for all of us to do. Scripture is clear that for a believer to be healthy they must be serving.

To accomplish our mission, we must work together.

What is our mission? This is what the Grace Church doctrinal statement says “The object of this church is the salvation of souls, the edification of Christians through the teaching of God's Word, the world-wide proclamation of God's saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the promotion of godly worship, the defense of "the faith once delivered," and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God's holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.”

I would summarize this statement by saying we want to see people saved, we want to teach them the Word of God, we want them to share the gospel, and we want them to grow.

If we are going to accomplish our mission, all of us must work and serve.

What we see with Paul is the body of Christ working together. We serve in community. That’s our first directive. Directive # 2…

Directive # 2…

b. Serve personally vv. 2-3

READ vv. 2-3

Paul personally visits and encourages these saints. Paul is strengthening and encouraging these churches as in ch. 18 when the third missionary journey began. Why? Because of the persecution faced in these cities.

It says in v. 1 that he is visiting the churches in Macedonia (S).

In Philippi they were beaten and imprisoned. While the jailer did come to Christ, there was a certain level of hostility to the gospel and those who proclaimed it.

In Philippi they were beaten and imprisoned. While the jailer did come to Christ, there was a certain level of hostility to the gospel and those who proclaimed it.

In Thessalonica the Jews caused an uproar and dragged Jason to the magistrates. Then these Jewish unbelievers followed Paul, Silas, and Timothy to Berea and persecuted them there as well. In Athens there were those who mocked. In Corinth Paul was brought before the judgment seat.

After traveling to these various places and encouraging the saints, Paul stays 3 months in Greece.

There is something interesting just thrown in here. “the Jews plotted against him.” This caused a change in Paul’s plans.

He was going to sail back to Syria, most likely to Antioch and his sending church. However, this persecution by the Jews led him to go back through Macedonia.

ii. Personal presence v. 3

Had this persecution not taken place, we might not have the rest of ch. 20 and there are some great things ahead.

There is something interesting just thrown in here. “the Jews plotted against him.” This caused a change in Paul’s plans.

What seems like a trial and a change of plan to us is never outside of God’s control.

There is work that God has for Paul. People God wants him to reach.

That is what ministry is about. It is about people. Our service needs to be personal.

Ministry is only effective when it is personal.

There are opportunities for this kind of service here at Grace Church. We have people who are not able to be here and others that are not able to be here consistently. They need to be visited! They need to be encouraged just as Paul goes and encourages people here.

We sere in community and we serve personally.

Directive # 3…

c. Serve practically vv. 4-6

8 men travel with Paul. I love the practical way they serve in these verses.

In verse 4 we find that they go with him.

READ v. 4

These men are from all over. Paul has met them on his journeys and taken them with him.

Some of these names we know from other epistles, some we don’t. The point is that These men meet the practical need of companionship. They go with Paul.

But that’s not all they do.

READ v. 5

They also wait for Paul in Troas (S).

Paul apparently picks Luke up again in Asia. We haven’t seen Luke since 16:17 in Philippi. Now we again see him use the word “us.”

These are faithful men. They go when they need to and stay when they need to. They are here to serve and they will serve anywhere they can.

ii. Wait v. 5

Are we willing to go anywhere we are called?

v. 5 – Paul apparently picks Luke up again in Asia and Luke again travels with him. We haven’t seen Luke since 16:17 in Philippi. The men mentioned in v. 4 almost all appear in other epistles.

Are we willing to wait? Where will we wait? How long will we wait? Are we putting limits on our service?

READ v. 6

The third thing these men provide is fellowship.

For seven days they all spend time together in Troas.

What were they doing? If the past is any indication, they were preaching and teaching the Word.

The practical service these men offer is a model for all of us to follow.

They go when and where they need to go, wait when that is required and fellowship at every opportunity.

Serving in practical ways keeps the body healthy.

This is how the body of Christ ought to function.

We must serve in community, serve personally, and serve practically.

This is the first action Paul encourages believers to take. We are encouraged to serve.

Secondly, we are…

2. Encouraged to Endure vv. 7-12

I once hiked for 24 hours straight. It was called an endurance hike. It was a very aptly named hike. We managed to go about 70 miles in 24 hours.

The ability to keep going mile after mile and hour after hour came largely from those around us. The encouragement of the other guys, they conversations that took our minds off of our fatigue, these things helped us to endure.

The point is, Endurance is often a team effort.

There are many places in the NT where people are exhorted to endure.

In life there are many things we must endure and they differ vastly.

This passage gives us a very different look at the need for endurance.

But what we find is that endurance is a team effort.

There are two realms of endurance seen in this passage. The first realm is…

Long preaching.

Things you don’t like

a. Physical endurance vv. 7-9

These verses teach us three lessons about physical endurance.

Lesson #1 - Preparation.

READ v. 7

be ready to listen to long preaching

They gather on the first day of the week. By this point this has become the custom, to meet the first day of the week.

At their weekly gathering, Paul preaches a farewell message.

We don’t know exactly when Paul started preaching but it was probably shortly after their evening meal.

Now, if you’re like me, eating makes you sleepy. And Paul is preaching long.

This is where preparation comes in. How many of you have noticed that my messages are not short? A couple of you.

I have nothing on Paul! I would argue that he preaches at a least a good 4 hours.

We need to be prepared, be ready, to listen to long preaching.

be ready to listen to long preaching

Now, as a pastor, I need to be careful and considerate in the length of my preaching as well.

However, one of the primary reasons we gather together is the preaching of the Word of God. Consider what Paul wrote to Timothy in (S).

2 Timothy 4:1–2 NKJV

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

This is the mandate. To preach the Word.

When we come to church, we need to be prepared for preaching. We ought to be preparing our hearts all week long.

Next we learn a very practical lesson.

Lesson #2 - Placement.

READ v. 8

This might seem like an insignificant observation but I believe it is a primary factor in what happens next.

What kind of lamps would these have been? Probably oil lamps.

How does an oil lamp give off light? By burning it.

If you have many lamps in a room with many people what happens to the temperature? It goes up!

What I believe Luke wants us to know is that it was hot in that room.

What a combination. They’ve just eaten. Paul has been preaching for hours. The room is hot.

When we are having a meeting the placement of heat and cooling sources is an important consideration.

One of the books I read in Bible School about preaching advised against ever preaching where you faced an air vent. One pastor went so far as to refuse to speak in places where this was unavoidable. He was worried about damaging his voice. I think he was a little extreme, but the point is well made. We need to be careful about these kinds of things.

All the factors we mentioned above come together to cause catastrophe in the next verse.

READ v. 9

Here we learn Lesson #3 - Position.

Lesson #3 - Position.

I don’t want to make light of this young man’s misfortune; but, if you are sleepy, stay out of the window.

Position is important.

If you can’t see, sit in the front. Can’t hear? Find the spot that the speakers work the best. Get a hearing assistance pack. Struggling to stay awake? Stand in the back if it helps. The point here is that There are practical steps we can take to help us endure.

This story is so interesting. Luke records it simply as a matter of course in what took place. What is the lesson here? Don’t preach too long? (no because after Paul brings him back he keeps preaching till dawn! We will see that in v. 11) Don’t fall asleep in church? (probably) Don’t sit by an open window when you’re tired? (definitely)

The wording makes it seem like Luke isn’t present for this. Returns to “we” in v. 13.

What do we need to take away from this. There is a need for endurance here at Grace Church.

There is a need for endurance here at Grace Church.

The preaching may be longer than you are used to. Is that okay? Are there ways you can prepare for that? Is there a position you can be in?

The other area we are going to need endurance is when you encounter things you don’t like here. It could be music, paint color, or any number of things. Take whatever steps necessary to help you endure.

Things you don’t like

The honeymoon period will wear off. There will be things that bug people about me and about this church. That’s okay. We need to bear with one another.

Our ability to endure is often determined by planning ahead.

By the way, I have an open door policy. Please let me know when there are things that bother you and things you would like to see change.

The story of Eutychus teaches us the importance of physical endurance.

Had everyone worked together as they should, this whole thing would probably never have happened.

There is also a second realm of endurance…

b. Emotional endurance vv. 10-12

This is a difficult and heart-wrenching situation. A young man is dead.

This is a time when emotional endurance is needed.

If we desire emotional endurance we need three qualities.

i. Faith v. 10

Quality #1 - Faith

READ v. 10

Verse 9 states that this young man died. Therefore, the only conclusion we can come to is that Paul brought him back to life.

This is a miracle! He was dead, now he is alive.

He was dead then healed

Paul’s faith is on display as he tells them not to be troubled.

Trouble yourselves – θορυβέω (thorybeo) throw into disorder; disturb. To cause an uproar, to throw into a state of great commotion, noise, and confusion.

Trouble yourselves – θορυβέω (thorybeo)

Paul demonstrates an unwavering faith in the power of God to miraculously intervene in the lives of men.

They don’t need to be disturbed, they don’t need to be in confusion and disorder. Why not? God had spared the life of the young man.

To have emotional endurance, we need faith. Faith that even in the difficult times, even in death, and injury, God is working things for good.

Have faith.

Quality #2 - Focus

READ v. 11

Paul has some refreshments and keeps on talking. He talks until dawn!

Paul finished his message.

Paul finished his message

This is focus. God called Paul to proclaim the gospel and to encourage churches, that is his focus. Even this incredible miracle couldn’t derail him.

Having a mission, something to live for bigger than ourselves, gives us emotional endurance.

What is our focus? What is our mission? When the hard times hit, and they will, it is our focus, our mission, that will get us through.

Quality #3 - Fortitude

READ v. 12

All indications are that they continued in the faith.

They are comforted by the miraculous resurrection of this young man.

And so, they press on.

Miracles happen around us all the time. They remind us of who our God is. They encourage us to keep pressing on.

Emotional endurance is produced as we are convinced of the sovereignty of God.

He has a plan and purpose for all things! He gets the glory! A young man falls from a window. A seemingly senseless tragedy, but in the end God is glorified and His people have their faith strengthened.

God’s sovereignty is the source of emotional endurance.

Here at Grace Church we are convinced of the sovereignty of God. That reality gives us the faith, focus, and fortitude to endure the trials of life.

We are encouraged to serve, encouraged to endure, finally, we are…

3. Encouraged to Witness vv. 13-16

We have spent the last several months talking about personal evangelism.

This is mandate from God for every believer. Sharing your faith is not something optional. It is not something we do if or when we feel like it.

Personal evangelism is a command. A command that we must obey. Failure to witness is disobedience.

Some of us may not have many opportunities to share our faith. With some of the programs and outreach we have planned, we hope to see that change.

Paul’s entire life is an encouragement to witness. In this passage we learn two requirements of witnessing.

First we earn that…

Help in children’s ministry

Grace evangelism – Missions & Community outreach

a. Witnessing requires personal sacrifice vv. 13-14

READ vv. 13-14

Paul travels on foot. Why?

Everyone else goes by boat. Why would Paul want to go on foot?

I think there were two reasons. He was able to stay in Troas longer and he wanted to witness to people on the way!

The only reason I can think of is he wanted to witness to people on the way!

He walks from Troas to Assos (S).

That might not look very far, but it is about 20 miles. Probably a good 7 hrs of straight walking.

Paul could have made the trip on a boat. Instead he walks so that he can minister to people.

Paul sacrifices for ministry.

He meets them at Assos and they sail to Mitylene.

There is something we need to address and understand here. Ministry requires sacrifice. Jesus made this very clear in (S).

Matthew 10:37–39 NKJV

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Sacrifice is expected of the child of God!

To share our faith with someone always requires time and usually includes some discomfort. But there is also joy!

We have some programs we want to start here at Grace Church. We want to begin some children’s ministry.

These will start in July with a VBS and then kick off Sunday school and a mid-week kids club.

Involvement in these ministries is going to cost some time. It will require sacrifice. But this is what we are called to do.

The salvation of the lost is worth personal sacrifice.

It is worth sacrifice to see people come to Christ! It is worth sacrifice to see people grow! It is worth the sacrifice to see the next generation equipped to serve the Lord!

Witnessing requires personal sacrifice.

Secondly we learn that…

b. Witnessing requires consistent focus vv. 15-16

READ v. 15

Notice the fast pace of this verse. The next day, the following day, the next day. There is an urgency to what is taking place here (S).

Why? Why is there such urgency?

READ v. 16

Here’s Ephesus, and here’s Miletus. Paul is trying to get to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost.

Why?

First of all because it is an important Jewish observance.

Secondly, because it was the day the Holy Spirit came on the apostles and the church age officially began.

Third, because Paul was passionate about the salvation of the Jews.

Paul is focused!

He is bypassing places so that he can get where he believes God wants him to be.

A consistent focus is required to reach the lost.

One of our projects is going to be the formation of a Grace evangelism team. This team will head up our efforts in missions and outreach.

Our goal is to have a missions program funded through special giving as well as a portion of the general fund.

We want to have more community outreach.

We want to highlight one missionary a month, have a missions conference, and regularly communicate with our missionaries.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, please come talk to me.

Paul is focused. But he is not so focused that he ignores people. Next time we are in Acts we will get to look at one of my favorite sections of the book, Paul’s meeting with the Ephesian elders.

Conclusion

As we wrap up this morning I want to take us back to our mission statement.

“The object of this church is the salvation of souls, the edification of Christians through the teaching of God's Word, the world-wide proclamation of God's saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the promotion of godly worship, the defense of "the faith once delivered," and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God's holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.”

Salvation. Proclamation. Edification. Fellowship.

That’s what we are about and our desire is to be more intentional with this focus.

To accomplish our mission, we need to be serving.

Please prayerfully consider where and how God would have you serve here. If you are unsure of your gifts or of how you can be used, come to our Sunday School class next week.

As we begin to be more focused in our ministries here, we will come under attack. When opposition increases, we need to endure.

We serve a sovereign God who is in control. He is working all things together for good.

As we serve and endure, we witness. We share our faith.

This can be intimidating. It can be challenging. If you weren’t able to be in the personal evangelism class, listen to it online.

May Grace Church be a place of service.

May we be a safe harbor from the storm of life.

May we be a church that reaches people with the gospel.

By God’s grace, may we fulfill our mission.

#518 “The Longer I Serve Him”

Acts 20:1–16 NKJV

After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. And Sopater of Berea accompanied him to Asia—also Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted. Then we went ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, there intending to take Paul on board; for so he had given orders, intending himself to go on foot. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. We sailed from there, and the next day came opposite Chios. The following day we arrived at Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.