Paul's Farewell to Ephesus

Introduction:

“Sole” example in Acts of a sermon given to Christians.

18-21: His own ministry example

“You knew...” Section (18)

22-27: Facing your Future

“And now behold… I am going to Jerusalem.”

“I know...” Section (23, 25, 29)

23: I know… Trials are around every corner.

24: Gospel! Two times used as a noun (15:7). Only time referred to by Paul!

v.25: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

25: “And now, behold… I know… you won’t see me again… Those who proclaimed the Kingdom with me.”

Tie between gospel and Kingdom. To preach the Gospel is to preach the Kingdom!

28-31: So WHAT?

Take care of the flock/shepherd the flock

Trinitarian Charge:

v.27: Care for all the flock. Jews. Gentiles.

v. 27: “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care fo the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Church belongs to Jesus, elder must care for it.

“Past and future will together shape their present ministry.”

28-31: Warning of Heresies your guard!”

29: 3rd “I know… Wolves will come”

Coyote vs. Wolves

If pastors every want to get feedback from their sermons, just mess up a famous cartoon’s character.

32-35: Material goods/consumerism

Jesus unknown quote, “It is better to give than to receive.”

Miletus: 30 miles north of Ephesus, but round about 3 day journey.

Elders (17), ‘pastors’ (28a), and ‘overseers’ (28b)

Paul communication technique:

God is this, therefore you...

I did this, therefore you...

God did this, therefore you.

Introduction:

When was there a time when you had to say a hard goodbye??

Goodbye’s are hard to do.

Some of the saddest songs are about saying goodbye...

“I will remember You,” Sarah McLaughlin

“Tears in Heaven,” by Eric Clapton

“Bye, Bye, Bye” by Backstreet Boys?

Happy, nothing to do with a happy breakup with a girl, but a happy breakup with their former producer who ended up in prison for fraud… Which is sad in itself, which means with even happy goodbyes, it’s sad.

Our passage recalls a sad goodbye:

Goal: Pull out some valuable truths from this meaningful goodbye story:

Only sermon recorded to just Christians, Christian leaders.

Draw out some very important themes from Paul’s goodbye sermon:

I loved you Well

I’m Leaving on Mission

I Preached the Full Gospel

I Loved you Well

“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,  serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul reflects back on their relationship:

“I lived among you...”

Paul planted roots in Ephesus.

Reminds me of Jesus’ ministry: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

What did he do? Look at the action...

Served

Cried

Experienced danger

Preached boldly in public

Taught from house to house

Testified to everyone

He just poured his heart and soul… and body, into this ministry!

That makes leaving a community very difficult:

37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Leaving Hamilton...

Conversation with my grandpa

How have you given yourself to community?

If you were to move tomorrow, who would cry with you?

Goodbye’s are much harder when you loved well...

POWER OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY!

I’m Leaving on Mission

Leaving Hamilton was an emotional roller coaster. On one hand I was an emotional wreck, but it was funny… The moment I stepped into that 34 foot Uhaul to drive it straight south, I was so confident that this is what God wanted.

Picture:

Heather driving a four year old and a newborn in a Toyota.

I’m driving a 34 foot UHaul driving down the Niagara Escarpment boucing to the song “Life is a Highway!”

Moving on Mission is exciting… BUT, it’s also a huge challenge...

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God

Verse 22: Starts a new section:

First section: Looks back

Section section: Marked with, BUT NOW…

Leaving on Mission=Tethered with the Spirit

Paul feels compelled to go Jerusalem knowing it may not end well...

“Constrained by the Spirit” to go there:

NIV: “Compelled by the Spirit”

“To tie” “Bind” “wind”

Used to describe being bound by chains

Could be described the bonds of marriage…

v. 22 Imagine: Cowboy’s lariat: Lasso is a VERB. Paul was lasoed!

Spirit’s Pulling Paul to Jerusalem:

Paul like: “If history has taught me anything, I’ll suffer.”

“This is going to hurt!”

Despite the expected suffering ahead, Paul’s like, I can’t NOT go, the Spirit’s taking me there!

Uncomfortable part...

Moving on Mission=Mission Eclipses Me

But then he says something that most remarkable!

v. 24: “But I do not account my life of any value not as precious to myself…”

Why? Mission! “If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.”

v.24: NIV: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—”

What is that task? v. 24: “The task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Paul dedicated his life to the mission to the point where his life took a back seat the mission! If he wasn’t living on mission, he didn’t see the point of life...

Paul’s passion makes me wonder...

Do I view my life the same way compared to the mission given to us??

Great Commission=Mission of the Church

Reworded the mission: “Our mission is to make disciples who discover the joy of belonging to Jesus.”

Would I suffer for this mission statement?

How do I view myself compared to God’s mission?

PAUL’S MISSION SO DEFINED HIM THAT THE MISSION ECLIPSED EVERYTHING:

If Paul had a tombstone, that this line would be his inscription:

It wouldn’t “Caring dad, loving husband, love Jesus.” These are great things, but for Paul, it would be like one line:

“Testified to the good news of God’s Grace.”

What would your one liner be?

Tomb Stone:

“I was hoping for a pyramid.”

“He loved bacon.”

Which, after Jesus and family, that may actually be a noble statement...

“Died, for not not forwarding that text message to ten people.”

Always wondered if those warning come true...

What defines your life in a statement? What defines your mission in a statement?

“I was hoping for a pyramid”: You wanted more attention?

“He loved bacon”: You wanted to satisfy your appetite?

“Died, for not forwarding that text message”: Well, that one’s just funny…

Does Jesus mission for the church eclipse your identity?

We prayed for the persecuted church this morning…

Open Door Stats

Nigeria: 80% of all persecuted Christians

Rise in persecution in Afghanistan for obvious reasons.

North Korea, China

Conservative estimates:

5,898: Christians killed for faith-related reasons.

5,110: churches and other Christian buildings attacked.

What are you living for?

Countermission

Tim Keller quote circulated this week.

How to determine whether you have a competing mission:

"If I have THAT, THEN my life will have meaning. I'll have value and feel significant and secure." Whatever THAT is--that is the object of your worship.”

How to Live Comissioned?

!!Hard to change!!

“Quitting smoking is the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” Mark Twain said, “I’ve done it hundreds of times.”

On Mission: Practical Tetheredness So what?

Imperatives:

Pay Attention to the Flock: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock...

Starts with yourself!

Watch yourself: Pay attention to yourself. Grow in self-awareness. Pay attention to what tempts you. Observe who you hang out with, what you’re laughing at, what you invest in.

Watch yourself

Coach:

AWE: Aware, Watch, Evaluate

How would you evaluate yourself?

Are you listening? Sleepy?

How would you evaluate your day to day rhythms? Your time with God? You investments?

Living on mission begins by checking your own heart.

Watch your flock:

Elders: Overseers

Care for one another! Love one another well. Preserve the community. Invest in the community!

Letter to the Ephesians: Ephesians 4:1-3: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Watch others:

Check on people. Reach out.

Even in a small church, some of us will feel disconnected.

Do you feel neglected?

Do you feel care for?

Do you feel heard?

Do you feel lonely?

Do you feel out of touch?

Do you feel unwelcomed?

We need to watch out for one another.

“Witness to One”

“Watch out for One”

Watch Out for Wolves: 31 Therefore be alert: Fierce wolves will come

Watch Yourself!

Watch the flock!

Watch for wolves

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Know the full Gospel so you want get swayed!

Full Gospel

Four steps:

Creation=Delegated Kingdom

Fall=Usurping Kingdom Authority

Redemption=Establishing Eternal Kingdom Authority

Restoration=Eternal Reign in New Kingdom

Watch the Weak

34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Paul worked his tail off.

Shows his hands “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities.”

Episcopos: Observe (microscope) Scope, on...

Careful attention to yourself

AND to ALL the flock:

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!!

Holy Spirit has made you overseers:

Holy Spirit, to care (NIV: Be shepherds) for God’s Church… God the Father… which he obtained with his own blood.... Jesus??

On Mission:

Who was on mission?