Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Acts 20:36–38

Acts 20:36–38 (LEB)

And when he had said these things, he fell to his knees and prayed with them all.

And there was considerable weeping by all, and ⌊hugging⌋ Paul, they kissed him, especially distressed at the statement that he had said, that they were going to see his face no more.

And they accompanied him to the ship.

Introduction

1. Paul was just completing his second missionary journey

- Whenever someone COMPLETE”S something (school) or (current age) it’s usually followed by celebration!

According to ( Acts 13:36 )… Your dearly beloved has completed her purpose & assignment on this earth!

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

I know it’s hard and I know it’s arduous, but can you put your hands together and celebrate the life and the legacy of our dearly beloved .

She has COMPLETED her time down here and has moved on to the next level

SO PAUL HAS COMPLETED HIS 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

2. Paul called the elders of Ephesus together to encourage them

AND AS WEV’E COME TO CELEBRATE, IV’E COME ALSO TO ENCOURAGE YOU `

3. BECAUSE THESE TYPE OF Goodbyes ARE PAINSTAKING

IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF LIKE PAUL IN OUR TEXT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE AND SAY GOODBYE , BUT like death usually does WE WERE COUGHT OFF GUARD AND NOW TODAY IS OUR FINAL GOODBYE

I KNOW ISAIAH 40:13-14 DECLARES THAT GOD IS TOO WISE TOO MAKE A MISTAKE

BUT WITH THE PAIN YOU FEEL TODAY, YOU’D QUESTION THAT

BUT IF I MAY ENCOURAGE YOU …

WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT … BUT GOD KNOWS HOW TO TURN IT AROUND AND THAT‘S WHEN JOY COMES

AND THAT’S MY 1ST CONCLUSION IN THE TEXT….

I.

A Time of Sorrow

A. Because they would “see his face no more” ( vs 25 )

1.

This would be a difficult parting

B. Because of the effect Paul had on their lives,

1. Introduced them to Jesus and nurtured their faith

2. Watched over them and instructed them

C. Their sorrow was openly expressed—v.

37

1.

Weeping is language understood by all

2. Our Lord wept often—John 11

II.

A Time of Separation

A. Paul was leaving them for the last time

1.

Paul had sensed the finality of it

2. Dying saints often sense the coming separation

B. They stayed with Paul to the very end

1.

They accompanied him to the ship—v.

38b

2. Family and friends stay with the loved one to the end

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2  A time to be born, and a time to die;

Romans 8:38 (LEB)

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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III.

A Time of Victory

A. They realized they would see Paul again

1.

At the coming of the Lord—1 Thess.

4:13–18

B. Victory does not lie in circumstances

1.

It rests in the will of God

2. John the Baptist was a victor in death

3. Paul and Silas were victors in jail

C. Victory rests in the person of Jesus Christ—1 Cor.

15:55–57