058 Mundane Matters and a Man That Changed the World
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1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece 3 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. 4 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. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 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.
7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 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. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
13 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. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 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. 16 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.
Paul changed the world, but his life wasn’t always exciting.
Paul changed the world, but his life wasn’t always exciting.
1. The mundane matters of Paul’s life.
1. The mundane matters of Paul’s life.
(1) A. Paul loved the church so he loved people through the church.
(1) A. Paul loved the church so he loved people through the church.
The local church was his life.
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.
He called the disciples and embraced them.
These are men he had invested in for a long time.
Paul had been in Ephesus for about 3 years.
We only have a few verse that were interesting enough for Luke to write about.
We love what we put our efforts into!
Paul loved the church in Ephesus, and he loved these men.
He was not saying goodbye for the last time.
He would not return to Ephesus.
This is the beginning fo the end for Paul.
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
My joy and my crown.
What is your joy?
What is your crown jewel?
Your most prized possession?
Your proudest accomplishment?
Look at what Paul tells the church in Thessalonica.
This has become one of the most clarifying verses in my life.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
What we will present to Christ is people.
People are mundane.
People take time!
(1) B. Paul loved the church so he loved to build up the church.
(1) B. Paul loved the church so he loved to build up the church.
2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece
Paul began to visit churches that were already planted.
Paul spent several months doing this.
Paul “encouraged” to give courage - to build up!
He was a contributor to the growth and health of the church.
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Edifying : building up, encouraging, constructing.
He was telling the people not to give up.
Keep going - finish strong.
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
9 Marks | 6 Members Who Build Up The Church
1. The member who attends.
1. The member who attends.
Church attendance is the most basic way you can encourage others.
Church gatherings are not simply to be attended at your convenience. They are a means to build each other up by your faithful attendance.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
2. The member who encourages.
2. The member who encourages.
Come ready to give someone a word of encouragement.
Let someone know you are encouraged by their attendance.
Let a teacher know you appreciate and have learned from their teaching.
8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
3. The member who confronts without indulging in gossip.
3. The member who confronts without indulging in gossip.
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
4. The member who prays.
4. The member who prays.
11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
5. The member who serves.
5. The member who serves.
Attendance is great, but even better is one who serves!
6. The member who shows patience.
6. The member who shows patience.
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
(1) C. Paul loved the church so he invested in the leadership of the church.
(1) C. Paul loved the church so he invested in the leadership of the church.
4 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. 5 These men, going ahead, waited for us at Troas. 6 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.
These are all key people in the church. Look at what we can learn from this.
There was unity and interdependence among the local churches.
There was unity and interdependence among the local churches.
Nine men from different churches accompanying Paul.
Even different cultures.
These men are witness to the fruitfulness of Paul’s ministry.
These men are witness to the fruitfulness of Paul’s ministry.
They were no doubt the result of even his first missionary journey.
If not directly a result of Paul’s ministry, then indirectly as fruit from a church planted.
Imagine the courage and encouragement this gave Paul.
Daily seeing the power of the gospel at work in lives around him. Now serving with him.
Get involved in disciple-making and watch the power of the gospel at work.
They serve as proof that the mission mindedness of church is not contingent on age or size.
They serve as proof that the mission mindedness of church is not contingent on age or size.
Young churches had given up some of their best leadership.
This was done for the sake of other churches.
One of the things they were doing was collecting offering for the the church in Jerusalem. (1 & 2 Corinthians)
They are a clear reminder of Paul’s focus on people.
They are a clear reminder of Paul’s focus on people.
Paul was investing in these men.
(1) D. Paul loved the Lord so he was willing to go follow Him anywhere.
(1) D. Paul loved the Lord so he was willing to go follow Him anywhere.
We have here and many other places in Acts a detailed travel list.
Paul was willing to go where needed.
Paul was willing to do the mundane and difficult for the end goal.
Paul knew he had to do the mundane to get to the end goal.
(1)E. Paul loved scripture so he faithfully taught it whenever he could.
(1)E. Paul loved scripture so he faithfully taught it whenever he could.
7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 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. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.
FIRST: Here is evidence of the church meeting on Sunday instead of the Jewish Sabath (Saturday)
They met on the first day of the week.
They met at night.
Most likely because the people worked during the day.
Paul never warned Gentiles about breaking the Sabbath.
It was not part of the Jerusalem counsel teaching.
NEXT: Paul preached someone to sleep!
This is mundane.
Meeting upstairs.
Luke mentions the lamps.
Creating a hazy, smokey atmosphere.
Probably warm.
Eutychus is sitting in the window probably for fresh air and to stay awake.
Paul preaches this guy to sleep. He fell out the window and died.
So Paul raises him from the dead!
NOW THERE IS SOME EXCITEMENT!!
They were not just a little encouraged.
They were greatly encouraged!!
This was not a sign miracle.
Paul go right back to teaching and preaching until sunrise.
The focus of the passage is not the miracle, but the teaching.
The focus is not the exciting but the mundane.
THEN Luke continues with Paul’s travel itinerary.
Paul was a man that changed the world.
He did it through the local church.
He did it through people.
He did it through more mundane days than exciting days.