Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
As we all know, it has been raining a lot.
One of the things about rain is that it brings puddles.
These great little pools of wetness are always waiting to attack the unsuspecting.
The other night we were running to the van when all of us splashed right through a deep puddle drenching the shoes of one of my children.
This came about because we were focused on running to get to the van and we were not looking at where we were putting our feet.
Sometimes in life we get so focused on the destination we fail to pay attention to the journey.
What we have read this morning is Paul’s plea to the church to pay attention.
We learn in this chapter that Paul has been told he will be arrested.
He will not see the Ephesians again.
It is likely that he believes this arrest will end in his death.
This is a good assumption considering the things he has faced already in his ministry.
SO what we are about to study is Paul’s last words to a group of church leaders.
When last words are spoken, people listen.
We lean in, we call for silence, we don’t want to miss any part of what is said.
That is the attitude we need to approach this passage with.
Paul is giving last words.
Lean in, don’t miss what he is saying.
We are going to learn this morning from Paul’s conversation with the Ephesian elders.
This passage challenges us to pay attention in three areas.
We are only going to be able to look at one of them today.
Failure to pay attention leads to disaster.
However…
When we pay attention to these areas three things happen.
We are able to be effective for Christ.
We are able to defend against false teaching.
We are able to encourage the body of Christ.
Do you want to be effective for Christ?
Then…
Paul calls for the Ephesian elders to pay attention to three vital ideas.
????These ideas serve as the basis for Christian character and are the foundation upon which the Christian life is built.
Do you want to be effective for Christ?
Then…
1. Pay Attention To Your Reputation vv.
17-24
My wife was telling me recently about a guy who made several youtube videos about various encounters where he worked while wearing a polo shirt with the company name on it.
Eventually he was fired because the company was being represented in a way it did not like.
They were concerned about the reputation of their company.
This reputation is affected by every employee.
Consider what Paul reveals in (S).
An ambassador is someone who “Acts as an authorized representative of one sovereign ruler or country to another.”
We are God’s authorized representatives!
This means that our reputation becomes His!
In this first section Paul declares the two actions necessary to maintain a good reputation.
Action #1…
a. Serve without restraint vv.
17-21
READ v. 17
This sets the context of the conversation we will be examining.
Paul Travels to Miletus where he calls the Ephesian elders to him (S).
Paul summons them.
This demonstrates his apostolic authority.
Also, remember from v. 16 that Paul is in a hurry to get to Jerusalem.
However, he still takes time out to visit with the leaders of the Ephesian church.
We are never too busy or rushed to spend time in fellowship and encouragement with the body of Christ.
READ v. 18
This is an incredible thing to be able to say.
Let’s break this down.
Paul claims that they know his reputation.
From the first day, they know how he always lived.
Paul is confident in his reputation, why?
Because Paul is a follower of Christ.
And as a follower of Christ he has invited others to follow him.
Paul does this several times in his epistles.
We will just look at (S).
Paul lived in such a way that others could follow his example.
When you tell people to follow you it gives added incentive to follow Christ!
Paul details how he lived in v. 19
READ v. 19
Paul served with humility, tears, and trials.
At this point Paul has written Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
These letters have begun to circulate and gain acceptance as authoritative.
My point is that, Paul could have been proud!
Look at what he says in (p.
1350).
(p.
1350)
Paul had the pedigree.
He had everything the Jews required to be a leader.
Yet he considers all these things as nothing compared to Christ.
Now turn to (p. 1134).
(p.
1134)
Paul could have been proud and boastful.
He could have proclaimed to all the multitude of his accomplishments and all he had endured for Christ.
Instead he served with humility.
Why?
Because he recognized that all of his accomplishments were the work of Christ!
It is the grace of God that works in us to make us useful and effective.
Paul was all in.
He served Christ without restraint!
He gave his all!
These passages we just read also reveal the reason for Paul’s tears and trials.
The Jews continually plotted against him and tried to kill him over and over again.
We will see more of that in the end of the book.
Despite everything that Paul did and everything he faced, he served the Lord with humility and without restraint.
READ v. 20
Paul didn’t hold back in his preaching!
Kept back – ὑποστέλλω (hypostello) shrink from; avoid; withdraw.
To hesitate ⇔ shrink back v. — to pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness; conceived of as drawing or shrinking back from something.
Finite verb, aorist, middle, indicative, first person, singular.
Kept back – ὑποστέλλω (hypostello)
Paul avoided nothing helpful in his preaching.
It would benefit someone by hearing it, Paul said it.
Helpful – συμφέρω (sympherō) be profitable.
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