The Man Who Fell Asleep in Church - Acts 20:1-6

“Falling Asleep in Church”

Acts 20:1-16

©Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, November 2, 2003

I have never been overly interested in travelogues. I know all the sights and buildings in the slide show are significant to the person who took the trip, but to me, they all blur together. These are places I have never been to and people I have never met. It is hard to remain interested unless the presentation is filled with anecdotal accounts that bring the people and places to life.

In Acts 20 we are given Paul’s travelogue for the end of his third missionary journey. Paul left Ephesus and went back to some of the towns He had already visited (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth) to pick up an offering for the struggling church in Jerusalem. Apparently Paul invited various representatives from these churches to make the journey with him to Jerusalem to present to offering and to show support for the Jewish believers. Paul intended to cross the sea from Corinth but he found out about a plot to kill him. Consequently Paul went back on foot to these towns once again and stopped in Troas.

While they were in Troas we are told,

7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

On the first day of the week (Sunday) they gathered for worship. The early church changed their worship from Saturday to Sunday. They were making a break from their Jewish roots. Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday and the Holy Spirit came on the church on a Sunday. The church felt the first day of the week was the appropriate day to rest, worship God, and celebrate the new life that comes through Christ alone.

Since Sunday was the first day of the week it is likely that all of these people in attendance had put a full day of work in. They met together, had a meal together (often they had a “pot luck” dinner which enabled the rich and poor to share alike) and then settled in for a time of worship and instruction.

It is here that the story becomes interesting. We read about a young lad by the name of Eutychus (who’s name means “lucky”) probably 8-14 years old who came to this gathering after a long day of work. He was probably present for the meal so he is tired and his stomach is full. He finds a spot near a window where he can get some fresh air. Candles and oil lamps lighted the room so the air became rather heavy. We are told that Paul talked on and on. (Probably this was an interactive time of questions, answers, and instruction). The Greek text indicates the young man fought sleep and gradually lost the battle. When he finally fell asleep, he fell three stories out the window!

The people ran out to the street to find out the young man’s condition. It was apparent that he was dead. (Dr. Luke was an eyewitness, notice the “we” passages) The people began to weep and wail but Paul told them there was still “life in the boy”. Paul wrapped his arms around the boy and life came back to the young man. It was a miracle similar to the miracles of Elijah and Elisha.

When all the excitement was over Paul went back upstairs where they had a bite to eat and perhaps celebrated the Lord’s Supper; then he taught until daylight. The next day Paul and his companions began their journey to Jerusalem. Paul’s companions went by boat to Assos. Paul decided to walk and meet them there. Why? Most likely he wanted a little more time to instruct the people.

Eutychus will always be remembered as the boy who fell asleep church. We shouldn’t be too hard on the young man. We have all been in that situation in church, a class, or at some other gathering. The question I ask is, “What can we learn from this except: “if you are going to sleep in church, don’t sit near the window.”

WHY SOME FALL ASLEEP IN CHURCH

Physical Sleep

Let’s face it, sometimes people do fall asleep in church. Most of the people who fall asleep don’t come to worship with the intention of sleeping – it just happens! Sometimes people sleep because of medication, sometimes it is the heat, at times they didn’t get enough sleep the night before and sometimes, the speaker is boring. I may wish it wasn’t so, but it happens.

Of greater concern are those who have souls that are asleep! They are present in worship but their hearts are asleep. Their slumber is much more dangerous.

Spiritual Slumber

There are several reasons for people being asleep spiritually. The first reason is that they have not trusted Christ as their Savior. The Bible tells us that these people have no spiritual appetite. Paul wrote,

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)

Paul tells us that a person who is not a genuine believer cannot accept spiritual truth. It doesn’t make any sense to them.

Have you ever been involved in a conversation with people who are talking about something you know nothing about? Perhaps it is a couple of people talking about the intricacies of automobile engines, science, computer programming or a whole bunch of other things. If these people are deep in their discussion, you will soon be bored and get sleepy because you don’t understand what they are talking about.

That’s the way Paul describes a person who has not entered into a personal relationship with Christ. They are asleep spiritually because they do not understand the things of God..

They are Indifferent due to unconfessed sin. There are some people who fall asleep in church because of their sin. They refuse to respond to the truth because it exposes their sinful living. They push God and His word away. They work so hard at not hearing the conviction of God’s Spirit that they reach a point where they cannot hear Him at all. Their hearts and minds become calloused and dull.

There are those who are involved in immoral relationships; those who are stealing from their employer; those who are out breaking the law with their friends; those who are abusing a family member; and those who put other things before the Lord. Sin erects a barrier between God and us. If we are unwilling to repent of our sin, we will gradually fall asleep spiritually.

They are Indifferent due to routine. Unfortunately, we can become spiritually tired because our worship and discipleship are more of a routine than a relationship. We stand up, sit down, pray, sing, feign attention, and go home. Sometimes familiarity breeds contempt. At other times familiarity brings slumber. Here are some signs that this kind of indifference may be creeping into your life,

· You can’t remember anything significant about a worship service except a joke or story.

· You have no problem skipping worship for some other activity (after all, worship is “no big deal”).

· You are more concerned with changes in the worship order, the mechanics of worship, or the participants than you are the sin in your heart and the wonder of God’s grace.

· You are more eager to see your friends than you are to hear the Word of the Lord.

When worship and discipleship become routine we are able to perform mindlessly and our hearts drift toward slumber.

HOW TO STAY AWAKE IN CHURCH

Warding Off Physical Slumber. There are some things we can do to minimize the threat of physical slumber. First, you can get a good night’s rest. It’s amazing to me that we are diligent to get home and in bed by a decent hour when we have to go to school or work the next morning (or are heading out on a vacation) but we have trouble giving that same consideration to the things of God.

Second, I encourage you to be involved in worship. Sing the hymns, talk to God during the time of prayer (rather than just listening to someone else talk), read along during the Scripture readings, take notes during the sermon, write questions and applications in the margin of your sermon outline sheet. Read the text before worship and try to guess what the points of the sermon are going to be. These things will help keep you awake.

Warding Off Spiritual Slumber Combating spiritual slumber is a little more difficult. The first thing we must do is examine our own heart. Why are you here today? Is it out of habit? Is it “something to do?” Is it because it is what is expected? Many people call themselves Christians and have no idea what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Here’s a little checklist for you,

1. Have you acknowledged your helplessness to save yourself or do you still believe you can make it to Heaven by your own goodness?

2. Have you recognized Jesus as your only hope of forgiveness and eternal life?

3. Have you ever received the gift of eternal life that is offered through faith in Christ?

4. Are you willing to let Jesus be the leader and ruler in your life?

I believe if you answer “No” to ANY of these questions there is a possibility that you are still spiritually dead. It is possible that you are “playing the game” but you have never really entered into a life-saving relationship with Jesus. You may have had great experiences and still not be a child of the King! If you want to be spiritually alive you must first turn to Christ as your Savior and Lord.

Be Honest About your Sin. I believe one of the things that has handicapped the church is our desire to cover up our natural sinfulness. We pretend to “have it all together”. We want others to think of us as those who are “on top of things”. We want to appear “victorious”. We are like people suffering from an addiction who are unwilling to ask for help. We spend our life denying that sin still has a hold in our lives.

The first step toward a vital relationship with the Lord, is honesty. We must be honest about our sin and our failures. We must admit to the Lord and to each other that we struggle and sometimes fall. We must measure our lives by God’s Word and be honest about where we fall short. And once we have honestly recognized our sin we must confess and repent of that sin. Unrepentant sin is like cancer. If it continues to go untreated, it will eventually kill you.

If you want to stay spiritually awake you must also diligently pursue the things of God. In one of our Bible Studies this week we were looking at 2 Timothy. Paul told his friend to “fan into flame the gift of God.” (2 Tim. 1:6). It is a reminder that if we don’t tend to the flame, the fire can go out.

If you want to remain physically fit you have to keep at it. You have to be diligent about getting your exercise, careful about what you eat, attentive to your physical health. If you simply sit on the couch and watch TV all day you will find yourself declining physically. It is the same way in the spiritual realm. We must continue to stir the flame of spiritual life. But how do we do that?

· Read widely. I encourage you to read a variety of good Christian books. Read books on theology, Christian living, Bible Study, and biographies. Even if you only read a book or two a year you will be making an effort to grow in your faith. Check our website for recommendations on some good books.

· Maintain a disciplined devotional life. Having a devotional life is simply making time for God in your daily schedule. It is finding time to encounter God’s Word and to approach Him in prayer. You may want to subscribe to a daily devotion over the Internet. You might set up a simple Bible reading program. Perhaps you can put a Bible in your car and take a few moments to spend with God before you go in to work. Maybe you could meet regularly with your family to read God’s Word and pray. You will not be enriched or “wowed” every day. But, like physical exercise, consistency will help you will keep your spiritual muscle tone.

· Worship Regularly. Regular worship gives you the opportunity not only to praise God but it also reminds you that you are not alone in the journey to Heaven. The church community provides opportunity for service and growth. True worship happens when we stop running long enough to lift our hearts to the Father in love. True worship cannot happen on the run. We must “be still” and know that He is God.

· Get involved in a Class or Study Group where you can interact with others. Bible Studies, study groups, Sunday School classes, youth groups, music ministries and fellowship groups are all great places to be encouraged in the faith.

· Remain Teachable. We can never feel we have arrived and must always be eager to learn something new about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer ran a seminary in Nazi Germany that was not approved by the state. He was a critical and intelligent man, but in his homiletics (preaching) class he always laid down his paper and pencil, opened his Bible, and listened to the students’ sermons, no matter how poor or unskilled they were. He felt that the preaching of God’s Word ought to be received as if he were listening to God himself. That is how we should listen too.[1]

CONCLUSIONS

As I read this account of the early church in Acts 20 I am amused by the story of Eutychus. But I am challenged by the story of these people who came together after a day of work and spent the entire night eager to learn the things of God.

Where is that hunger today? Where is the passion for spiritual life and vitality that we find in the early church? Are we lazy? Are we so over-committed to other things that we don’t feel we have time to spend with the Lord? Are we pretending to be believers but actually are just playing a game? Where is the hunger to know God more fully and to follow Him more completely?

Martin Luther had a parable or a dream about how on one occasion the devil sat upon his throne listening to his agents report on the progress they had made in opposing the truth of Christ and destroying the souls of men. One spirit said there was a company of Christians crossing the desert. “I loosed the lions upon them, and soon the sands of the desert were strewn with their mangled corpses.”

“What of that?” answered Satan. “The lions destroyed their bodies, but their souls were saved. It is their souls that I am after.”

Another reported, “There was a company of Christian pilgrims sailing through the sea on a vessel. I sent a great wind against the ship that drove the ship on the rocks, and every Christian aboard the ship was drowned.”

“What of that?” said Satan. “Their bodies were drowned in the sea, but their souls were saved. It is their souls that I am after.”

The third came forward to give his report, and he said, “For ten years I have been trying to cast a Christian into a deep sleep, and at last I have succeeded.” And with that the corridors of Hell rang with shouts of malignant triumph.5

Satan would like nothing better than to lull us to sleep spiritually. He loves to distract us with other things. He will whisper, “Don’t worry about it . . . you can get to it later”. He will make us comfortable. He will assure us that we can relax because we have “done our part”. Before you know it, we’ll be spiritually unconscious. We must be vigilant. We must stir up the flame of spiritual life. We must wake up! Satan understands that those who slumber in their spiritual life will not only drift from God . . . they will have no impact on the world in which they live. The world needs us to stay awake.

©Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, November 2, 2003

[1]Hughes, R. K. (1996). Acts : The church afire. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

5 Clarence E. Macartney, Chariots of Fire (Nashville: Abingdon, 1951), pp. 50, 51.