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Acts | Chapter 20

20:1-16

“Groggy in grace”

I.) Intro. 

II.) Vs. 1-6 Sustaining grace

III.) Vs. 7-12 Fortunate grace

IV.) Vs. 13-16 Walking in grace


Intro.

Last week we saw Demetrius’ speech before the chamber of commerce in Ephesus as he delivered his four-fold case against Christianity. You will remember that he declared, “Christianity is dangerous it could cut into your prosperity, it will cause you to lose your popularity & your power, why becoming a Christian is just unpatriotic.” That is the best the world can do when finding fault against Christianity, for it can not attack it’s truths all it can do is attack the results of applying those truths compared to those that don’t! You see the danger of Christianity does not lie in applying it, rather it lies in not applying it enough. This is why Paul did not just give the gospel without going back to encourage those who had committed their lives to Christ. The challenge for us Christians is to live for Christ in the midst of a world that is directly opposed to our way of life. God has provided the Church as the means by which we can do this.

The importance of the Church was brought home this week when three of our youth group stood up in their High School classes. The first two stood up in science class to oppose the teacher’s position in favor of homosexuality. Their stand was certainly not popular but they sought the Church to help them in their conversation with her. In the end the teacher had little to support her position & did what the world most often does when confronted by truth, find a different rabbit to chase. This one took the form of the comment; “Well you know the Bible is not all that accurate.” & “I’m going to heaven because I’m a good person.” So we sent them back with information so that this teacher might do her homework before saying something that is false. Then my son in a class that was discussing the issue of capital punishment used it as an opportunity speak on the evils of abortion. Which left the class with nothing more to say & the teacher praising the logic of his argument. All three of our youth took up courageous stands in a place devoid of light, “public school” & acted, as the Church should, salt & light. Folk’s we have nothing to fear TRUTH is on our side! So what is it that will help us take our stand for truth? Well, as we shall see in these verses the fellowship with others who are in the same battle.


Vs. 1-6 Sustaining grace

Vs. 1 In these verses 2-6 Luke covers about a years time. The first thing I notice about Paul’s situation is the words, “After the uproar had ceased.” The uproar was that riot described in chapter 19 when 30,000 people spent 2 hours shouting “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” The word uproar appears three times in the N.T. & each time it is used to describe an out of control hysterical mob. Paul had wanted to come out & speak to the 4 issues of Demetrius, but the body of Christ & friends that were in the politics of the city persuaded him other wise. But Paul did not leave the city but rather waited until the hysterical mob was dismissed then he goes back to the Church to encourage them, before he left.

            Here then is one of the great reasons to meet together for a Church service, FELLOWSHIP. The word “embrace” means to draw to ones self. The world had been shouting for two hours & there was a great need to just get together & encourage each other. The common grace we have together encourages us to continue on even after the world has been shouting at us non-stop!

You see folks when we hang out together we find out that the world has been screaming at each of us in it’s own way. Whether that is a pro-homosexual teacher or a class of students who are in favor of killing innocent unborn babies while saving convicted murders. That’s what fellowship will do for you! It will sustain you in God’s glorious grace, after the world had shouted at you. You will be able to go back to a place, the Church, where people feel the same way about things as you do.

Vs. 2-3 So going to Church will help sustain you when the world shouts but look here, it will also warn you when you are about to get on board with something or someone that would destroy you.

            Here’s the story as told by Luke. Paul sails across the Aegean Sea to where the Church’s of Philippi, Thessalonica & Berea were. And while there he “encouraged them with many words”. In other words Paul shared the Word of God with them. Now we are also told in the Epistles that Paul received an offering for the suffering Church in Jerusalem. Here then are two important things that Church life ought to have in order to keep you from things that will harm you:

  1. The teaching of the Word of God: Paul did not offer them entertainment, or psychological platitudes but the Truth that transforms hearts. You see getting together to hear the Word of God builds us up! The Bible contains truths that when applied will keep you from hidden danger. 
  2. The worship of the person of God: Fundamentally when we receive the offering it is an act of worship before our God who alone has provided all that we need to sustain us. So when they contributed to the love offering it showed what was on their heart. Simply put, as they were giving they were giving out of what God had already given them & this showed not only that they cared for others more then themselves but that they trusted in God to provide.    

So as Paul left those Church’s he then came to Corinth, & Athens & stayed there three months no doubt doing the same as he did in Macedonia. His plan was to leave from there & sail directly to Syria in order to make it back to Jerusalem in time of the Passover. Some how Luke tells us that Paul had gotten word of a plot to kill him while on board the ship & decides to go by land & then take a ship to Troas.

So what’s my point? Well staying in fellowship kept Paul alive! The teaching of the Word of God & the worship of the person of God kept him from getting on the wrong ship! Ever stop to wonder how many times we have been spared from destruction because of the fellowship we share with each other? You see the world is going to yell at you & even try to get you into things that can harm you but fellowship with other Christians around the Word of God & the worship of the Person of God will prevent that from happening!

Vs. 4-6 So as we see Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem in a hurry but could not go the direct route & now has to travel by land from Corinth to Philippi around 300 miles. He is bringing with him this entourage (including himself & Luke 9 guys) representing the different Churches that had given an offering. Then Luke in the first person says that the guys mentioned in verse 4 sail from Phillipi (now doubt Neapolis as Philippi is in land) across the Aegean Sea back to Asia & the port city of Troas. So Luke says in verse six that after the feast of unleavened bread which Paul & Luke must of celebrated with the Church at Philippi that sailed to join them. So?

            Well what is almost hidden in this travel log of Luke are the words, “and in five days” joined them! You see when Paul had done this same trip in Acts 16:11 it took only two days. My point is this, staying in fellowship will help you a great deal when the journey you’re on faces tough sailing.

Now have you ever noticed when it is that we most often run into delays? Well for me it’s always when I’m in a hurry to be some where. To me one of the most difficult things we Christians face is that terrible word “WAIT”. I hate yellow lights, I’m alright with green ones & red ones but I don’t like yellow ones. But as much as I don’t like waiting I really don’t like waiting alone! Sure it’s discouraging to not get where you want to go but it’s far worse to be by yourself while you wait! Hanging around fellow believers in Christ makes the delays seem much shorter doesn’t it?

So fellowship with other Christians will:

  • Sustain you in God’s glorious grace, after the world had shouted at you!
  • Warn you when you are about to get on board with something or someone that would destroy you!
  • Encourage you when the journey you’re on faces tough sailing!

Vs. 7-12 Fortunate grace

This is the earliest recorded description of a Christian worship service. So here in this section we get a great look at what the early Church service looked liked. And as I studied this section I came up with five qualities that a church service ought to have:

  1. Vs. 7, 8 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together… the upper room where they were gathered together”: Three things come to mind here in these two verses. These are just the basic ingredients that with out these three things you can not have a Church service, Time, People & a Place!
  2. First day of the week: What is interesting is that the believers gathered not on the Sabbath (Saturday) but rather Sunday. This became known as the “Lords day” as it was the day when Jesus rose from the dead & the Church was raised in power at Pentecost. Now there are still some Christian groups that want to maintain worshiping God on Saturday & I have no problem if that is their wish as Paul said, in Rom 14:5-6 “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.” But still some persist in making this an issue of fellowship, saying that we are not going to heaven if we don’t worship on Saturday & keep the Sabbath. So my answer is simple, “If you are going to keep the Sabbath as God had commanded as a sign of the Mosaic Covenant that He had with Israel then do so as they did.” They could not travel more then 2/3 of a mile & they could not kindle a fire. So the moment those who want to push this issue get in their cars & drive more then 2/3 of a mile to Church they have broken the Sabbath. And Gal. 3:10 says that, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
  3. Disciples came together: Now again we see something interesting, the Church service was for “followers” of Jesus. The Church service was not designed around making it comfortable for those who were not believers. Now if they wanted to come I’m sure they were allowed in but the worship service was a time when the disciples came together. All too often today the Church has changed the reason why they gather together & who it is that gathers. Not so in the early Church!
  4. The upper room: These folks worked on Sundays as it was a normal work day & there weren’t buildings that they meant in so this was most likely a persons house in a room large enough to hold the Church. Now it’s true the Church is not a building but for the Church to meet you have to have a place large enough from them to do so. 
  5.  Vs. 7 “to break bread”: Now these words appear twice here & then in verse 11. It is generally assumed here that the breaking of bread in this verse is what we call “communion”. So the second quality the Church service ought to have is celebration about the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. That’s worshipping the Lord for Who He is & what He has done. If the Church does not gather around the person & work of Jesus then it is not a Church service!
  6. Vs. 7,11 “Paul…spoke to them and continued his message until midnight…. And talked a long while, even till daybreak”: Ok now there ought to be no more jokes about me going long in teaching on Sundays! All told the best we can guess is that Paul taught two 6 hour messages. Seriously the main thing is not the length but rather every Church service ought to have regular instruction from the Word of God! It is interesting to note that this was not just in sermon form but our word dialogue comes from this word here. So Paul taught & had a Q & A time with them. This why I’m found of Home Studies as it gives a better opportunity for every body to inner act with questions.
  7. Vs. 11 “Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while”: Though this is the same words as above in verse 7 the fact that Luke adds “and eaten” leads me to believe that what he is describing here is a “love feast” or potluck as we call them today. Simple put every Church service ought to have a regular time of just fellowshipping with each other. Just enjoying the presence of the Lord in each other’s lives. That is why we loving call ourselves Calorie Chapel. 
  8. Vs. 10-12 “he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead… Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him”: Here then is the last but most important ingredient the Church service ought to have, the presence of God! Oh He may not always show up & raise the dead or awaken the sleepy, although at times, it would be a welcomed sight. Jesus said in Matt 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” How horrible it is that by the time Revelation was written we read of Jesus’ words to the Church in Laodicea, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” In a lot of Churches Jesus’ presence is not there at all & He stands at the door trying to get in.

So there you have the five ingredients of every Church service:

  • Time, people & place
  • A time when gather for the worship of God
  • A time of instruction from the Word of God
  • Fellowship with the people of God
  • Most importantly the presence of God

Ok with that let me take a short detour & look at Eutychus’ fall. Here are the details as Luke gives them to us:

Paul started teaching around 6PM  & continued to do so until around midnight & in order to see they let many lamps on the 3rd story where they were meeting. A teenager named Eutychus (fortunate) was fighting sleep & had placed himself by an open window to get fresh air so keep him awake but the warmth of the room & the hypnotic flicker of the flames caused him to fall into deep sleep & out a window to his death. This stopped Paul’s sermon to where he went down fell on him & God brought him back to life.

Now one can not fault any of those involved in this but perhaps a sign could have been placed over the door which read, “Falling asleep in Church can be hazardous to your health!” Now what I do get out of this story is some reasons why people, “pardon the pun” fall away from church:

  • Not having their feet on solid ground: In other words they get all caught up in emotionalism & not the practical walking with the Lord.
  • Sitting on the edge with to good of a view of the world: In other words people fall away from Church because they are living on the windowsill of the world even though they are inside of the Church.
  • The warmth & light of the Church becomes more important then being a light in a dark world: Or to say it another way they stop reaching out to a world that needs to come & experience the presence of the Lord.

But if that’s the case what can we do for those who have fallen from the Church? Well go down & get them with the love & care that only Jesus can provide!   


Vs. 13-16 Walking in grace

Vs. 13-16 Here is the last of Luke’s travel log concerning Paul’s travels. Practically speaking Paul’s decision to not get on the boat with the rest of his tam made since as it would take them a whole day to sail to Assos from Troas, while Paul could walk it in under ten hours. But I think there is an important reason other then this. I think Paul wanted time by himself with the Lord & that ten hours would provide just that. Folk’s as great as it is to hang with the Church there is even an more important thing we need to do & that is spend time alone with the Lord. We need to spend time just walking & talking with Him.

            So as we take part in communion now lets do just that!


20:17-27

“The Ephesian Pastors Conference: Session one”

I.) Intro. 

II.) Vs. 17-21 Knowing how to serve

III.) Vs. 22-27 Finishing the race with joy


Intro.

Last week we saw, as Luke records Paul’s travels, several key things concerning the reason why it is important to attend Church as well as what specifically makes up a church service.

Based upon the passage I came up with three good reasons why it’s important to consistently go to Church.

It will:

  • Vs. 1 SUSTAIN you in God’s glorious grace, after the world had shouted at you!
  • Vs. 3 WARN you when you are about to get on board with something or someone that would destroy you!
  • Vs. 6 ENCOURAGE you when the journey you’re on faces tough sailing!

Then we saw FIVE ingredients that make up a Church service which will sustain, warn & encourage you:

  • Vs. 7a Time, people & place
  • Vs. 7b A time when we gather for the worship of God
  • Vs. 7c,11b A time of instruction from the Word of God
  • Vs. 11a A time of fellowship with the people of God
  • Vs. 9-10 Most importantly the presence of God

Now having just studied this Tom & myself attended the Youth Workers Conference in Murrieta this past week. We both came back “sustained, warned & encouraged”; the only thing that we were bummed at was that more of you didn’t go. Every year I get to attend the senior Pastors Conference & I get blessed by the speakers & again I come back wishing more of you could partake. Well this morning you all have been invited to one of the greatest Pastors conferences ever, “The Ephesian Pastors conference”. It’s cool as you all get to go behind the scenes & hear what only pastors normally get to hear! Last week we saw the emphasis on the Church & now here we see Paul has some things to say to the Pastors about how to lead the Church! So pay close attention to these verses so you can see if I’m following the instructions given here. 


Vs. 17-21 Knowing how to serve

Vs. 17 Now you will recall that after staying in Troas seven days all accept for Paul, sailed to Assos, where Paul walked to it. From their they all sailed together stopping on all these little islands in the Aegean Sea until they landed Trogyllium (Tro-jill-e-um). This is a little port town in Asia one mile across the sea from the island of Samos, (today they have called their harbor “St. Paul’s Port” in honor of his landing there.) From there they walked inland to Miletus. As the crow flies it is only 30 miles from Ephesus but the windy road would have taken them several days to get there by foot. To set up what we are going to look at this morning allow me to give some general observations:

  1. This is the only speech recorded by Paul given entirely to a Christian audience.
  2. This is the only speech in Acts given strictly to Pastors. Now notice that Luke calls them by three different names in this passage:
  3. Vs. 17 Elders: This is where we get our word Presbyterian. It is borrowed from the Jewish synagogue & describes the MAN in his maturity with the Lord. 
  4. Vs. 28a Overseers: This is where we get out word Episcopal & it means bishop. This word describes the man’s MINISTRY, which is to oversee the Church. 
  5. Vs. 28b Shepherds: Here is where we get our word pastor from as it means to feed or tend the flock. So here we see in this word the METHOD by which the man exercises his ministry.  

 Vs. 18-21 Now here in this section I have come up with six aspects of what makes up the heart of a pastor. You see Paul is going to describe this in the PAST tense using the words “you know”. In other words these qualities of the heart were things that the pastors would have observed in him while he served among them for three years.

THE RIGHT HEART

  1. Vs. 17-18 Called: Now notice here that Paul & his guys land in Miletus & then sent for the Pastors in Ephesus & they came to him. So? Well put it together, “he sent, & they came to him.” They were called & showed this by coming. It reminds me of when Jesus called Peter & his brother Andrew fishing on the Sea of Galilee. He called to them by saying “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And they showed that they were called by “immediately leaving their nets and following Him.” My point is this; the heart of a pastor is always available when the Lord calls. These guys had family obligations they had work responsibilities but they set aside time to go to meet with Paul. Here then is the bottom line when it comes to pastoring “You make time for things that are important!” If your called you go, man it’s that simple!
  2. Vs. 19a Perspective: Look at this, who did Paul serve? He did not serve the People; no he served the Lord. Paul viewed ministry not as serving people first but rather serving the Lord. I can only serve you to the degree that I first serve the Lord. Other wise I will be a man pleaser rather then a God pleaser. Man this speaks to me about having the right motive in my service. 
  3. Vs. 19b Humility: Next Paul says that they were able to see that when he was among them that he served in humility. Now no doubt part of Paul’s mind set here was thinking about how he worked while he was there & in verse 33-34 he says that he “coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel & provided for his own necessities”. But I think it goes deeper then just that to describe a heart that truly esteems others higher then yourself. You see true humility is not what the world thinks of it as “think poorly of ones self”. No rather it is not think of ones self at all. How’s that possible? Well only when you see your self in the grace of God & not our merit.
  4. Vs.19c Compassion: Paul says that his service among them was with “many tears.” What brought about such tears in his heart? Well I think we can see two areas in which Paul was left broken hearted in the pastorate:
  5. The lost: In Rom. 9:3 Paul speaking of the lost Jews said that he “wish him self accursed from Christ for my brethren.” In other words Paul said if he could give up his salvation so that the lost could have it he would.
  6. The Church: In 1 Cor. 11:28-19 Paul is describing what he has gone through on the ministry & then says, “what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” 

Paul says that ministry brought about a brokeness because of his heart’s deep care for those that were perishing as well as those who were of the body of Christ.

  • Vs. 19e Faithfulness: Paul uses the word “trials” here & then in verse 24 says that those trials which happen did not, “move me.” In other words Paul considered trials part of ministry & faithfulness to that which God called him to characterized his ministry. Tuff going did not cause Paul to step aside from serving the Lord. The heart of the pastor must be faithful & not moved.
  • Vs. 20-21 Teacher: At the very core of Paul’s heart was to teach the Church. Paul’s ministry was making sure that he held nothing back from them that would have been helpful for their growth. In verse 27 as we shall he says that he, “had not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Not only that but we read that he did so both “publicly” as well as “house to house” (privately). Further more he says that he was no respecter of persons as he taught both Jew & gentile, in other words Paul taught those familiar with the Word of God & those not familiar with the Word. This past week Tom told me of a conversation he had with an elder, board member of another local Church. Tom shared at what had attracted him to the ministry of Calvary Chapel was the verse by verse expository teaching of the Bible. To this the guy shared that they don’t teach the Bible at all in their Church as those who attend are just not ready for it! My question is, “Just what are they ready for?” So what was Paul’s teaching? Well we are told:
  • Repentance towards God: “Repentance” is a change of mind that results in a change in behavior towards God. Paul did not preach against sin, he preached that they needed to have a change of heart towards God. You see you can preach against sin all you want but until a person has a change of heart towards God they won’t let go of their sin. So Paul taught about God’s character & when they started seeing Him as He really is they turned to Him & in so doing turned away from their sin. Have you ever watched a mom try to get their toddler to let go of the glass vase that the child has picked up? Well if they just snatch it away the child has a conniption. But if she takes some toy that the Child has not noticed & starts waving it in front of their face pretty soon they drop the vase & start playing with the toy! You see that is what Paul said in Rom. 2:4 “that it’s His goodness that leads men to repentance.”
  • Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ: Here then is the other part of this, trust in the Lord Jesus. Did you see this? Paul does not say that they don’t have faith or trust but rather that they needed to redirect that trust “toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. Folks, the world needs to see God differently & then they need to redirect their dependence from themselves to God. So that is what was at the heart of Paul’s teaching.  

Vs. 22-27 Finishing the race with joy

Vs. 22-24 In the section above Paul’s perspective was the past as he used the words “you know” now he changes that to “I know” & the future which the Holy Spirit was showing him was going to happen. Here then we learn the secrets of pastoral consistency.

            I love it Paul spoke of what ought to be in the heart of a Pastor now he deals with longevity. You see we pastors are in a race but it’s not a sprint but rather a marathon. Even in this town on the scale of who’s been here the longest at 13 ½ years I’m third on the list. Why the turn over? How come so many move on? Well Paul is going share that it’s having the wrong goal. You see all too often for us pastors the goal is the Church & it’s out come & not Jesus. Look at this:

  1. Vs. 22-23 Paul says that his future is uncertain at best & most likely involve chains & trials. What is it that we all hate? Well it’s an uncertain outcome full of disappointments. Hey, if all my joy is found in doing ministry then I’m going to be prone to being bummed.
  2. Vs. 24 So what was it that drove Paul? Well here he tells you, “Finishing the race with joy!” And what things enabled him to do that? He lists two here:
  3. “Nor do I count my life dear to myself”: First Paul said that what kept him going was that his life was not his own. Or to put it another way, “It’s not about me!” We are in an ever-increasing society that places all of its joy on self! Have you ever stopped to look at magazine names over the last 50 years? In the 50’s the top selling magazine was called “Life”. Then in the 60’s & into the early 70’s it was “People”. Then in the 80’s & into the 90’s it was “Us”. Now the top selling magazines might as well be called “Self ”. That’s a sure-fire way of getting wiped out looking out for number one!  
  4. “The ministry I received from the Lord”: Wow, Paul declares that the ministry that he had received was from the Lord & not man. Have you ever stopped to realize that? The Lord has given you the ministry that you are now doing. The story is told of one of “Alexander the Greats”  foot soldiers who’s responsibility it was to carry the spoil that they had taken in battle. He would load up the mules to carry it to the next destination. One day one of the mules came up lame & Alexander was at the back of all the foot soldiers & noticed that the movement of his troops had come to a stand still. Eager to find out what had happened  he rode up to where the soldier was. There was the man who’s responsibility it was to carry the spoil carrying everything that was loaded on the mule on his own back as well as leading the other mules. Not knowing it was Alexander the Great who asked why he did not just throw some of the spoil away & keep going the man replied, “It is my master who has given me this charge & I shall carry it as long as I am able or die trying!” To this Alexander replied, “The treasure you are carrying is now yours, come ride with me.” Ministry is very hard at times but only unbearable when it is our treasure we are attempting carry!

Vs. 25-27 Finally Paul says it for this reason that he had not stopped carrying that load. Paul wanted to make sure that he had left nothing out that was helpful for them.

            Notice that Paul did not just use the Word of God as a springboard to speak of some topic. No he taught the whole council of God not just certain topics. Folk’s this is the reason we go through the Bible verse upon verse chapter upon chapter book upon book. So that I can declare to you that I’m innocent of your blood. I want to make sure that you get every drop you can out of the Word of God that’s my responsibility, what you do with it is yours!

            Now next week we will look at the second secession of the Ephesian Pastor’s conference, so we will see you then!     

20:28-38

“The Ephesian Pastors Conference: Session two”

I.) Intro. 

II.) Vs. 28-35 The lost art of shepherding

III.) Vs. 36-38 The love of the body


Intro.

Last week we took a sneak peek at what ought to go on at a Pastor’s conference. Now I’m not sure how you felt going through the text, all I can say is that I found the passage extremely convicting. Man was this ever practical stuff, when most people go to seminars what they get is techniques that will help them be more outwardly successful in their profession. But what we see here is that the greatest barrier in being used for God’s service is not a lack of education or some new gadget but rather the lack of a surrendered heart to the master. So Paul’s teaching to these Pastor’s centered on the “heart of the MAN. Before Paul ever speaks a word about the MINISTRY or the METHOD, he gives six characteristics that make up the heart of the MAN: 

  1. Vs. 17-18 Called: The heart of a pastor is always available when the Lord calls.
  2. Vs. 19a Perspective: He must not serve the People; no he serves the Lord. He must have the right motive in service other wise he will be a man pleaser rather then a God pleaser.
  3. Vs. 19b Humility: His heart is one that truly esteems others higher then himself. This will happen when you see your self in the grace of God & not our merit.
  4. Vs.19c Compassion: He ought to be broken hearted in the pastorate in two areas, the lost (Rom. 9:3) & the Church (1 Cor. 11:28-19). Ministry ought to bring a brokeness that produces compassion because of a deep care for those that are perishing as well as those who are of the body of Christ.
  5. Vs. 19e Faithfulness: Trials are a part of ministry & faithfulness to that which God has called you to must characterized your ministry. What would it take for you to step aside from serving the Lord? The heart of the pastor must be faithful & not moved.
  6. Vs. 20-21 Teacher: At the very core of a pastor’s heart there must be a desire to teach. Publicly & privately, those familiar with the Word of God & those that are not. They need to be taught that they needed to have a change of heart towards God & that they need to redirect their trust “toward our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

With the greatest stumbling block to pastoring out of the way (his heart), in this section Paul address in verses 28-30 the Pastors three fold MINISTRY then in verses 31-35 Paul speaks on four METHODS in which he ought to serve in the ministry. Finally we get a glimpse in verses 36-38 of how the Church will respond:

  • When the MAN has the right heart —- ELDER
  • When the MAN has the right focus in MINISTRY —- OVERSEER
  • When the MAN in MINISTRY employs the right METHOD —- SHEPHERD

Vs. 28-35 The lost art of shepherding

Vs. 28 It is important to remind us to whom Paul is saying these words, Pastors! Paul was saying in verse 27 that he had not “shunned” to declare the whole counsel of God. The word “shunned” in verse 27 is the same as the phrase in verse 20 “kept nothing back”. It is a sailing term that means “to draw back or down the sails on a ship”. Simply put Paul says in verse 27 that he made sure that he kept all the wind in the sails of the Word of God on their behalf!

            So that being the context now look at the words of verse 28; “Therefore take heed to yourselves”. The words “take heed” mean to “hold your mind on yourselves”. Before these pastors were to be concerned with the Church they needed to make sure that they kept their minds on their own devotional lives. They needed to keep all the wind in the sails of the Word of God in their own personal devotional lives first & foremost. All too often we pastors fall into the trap of doing the work of the Lord at the expense of our own personal walk with God. Hey brothers & sisters, ministry must overflow from what is already taking place in your personal, secret, intimate devotional time with the Lord! 

            This can be best illustrated by looking at three men in the Bible who happen to be three successive generations, grandfather, father & son.

  • Abraham: He was a lover of God & along the way of his life you can see that every where he went he built altar’s to God (five times). As he did so God continued to bless him & his flocks increased so he dug wells (two times) to ensure that the flocks that God had given him would be sufficiently watered.
  • Isaac: Then along comes his son Isaac whom when you observe his life digs five wells but only one altar. In fact he names two of the wells, one he calls strife & the other he calls contention.
  • Jacob: Isaac’s son Jacob, the third generation from Abraham, builds no altars & digs no wells. Instead he increase the flocks by craftiness & creativity.

Follow me on this one folks:

  • A servant that loves God (builds altars for worship) & then will have to dig wells to supply water to take care of serving the sheep that God supplied because he built altars.
  • In time people move away from the simplicity of just wanting to worship the Lord & grow closer to him. They instead start wanting to see their flocks grow, so they copy the formula but build more wells then altars & all it produces is strife & contention.
  • Finally, they move away from altar’s & well’s altogether. Instead they rely on new techniques of craftiness & creativity. Programs, entertainment, relevant messages, anything to try to increase the flock.

How did it get to this? Well it started when the servant of God left spending time at the altar & became more concerned with the flock. This in turn will eventually led to abandoning altar building & well digging altogether. It is only after this that Paul then says, “and to all the flock”!

            Now before we look at the threefold ministry of the pastor in the Church Paul reminds them just who’s Church it is:

  1. POWER “Among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”: It is the Holy Spirit that has raised them up. Therefor they are to oversee & not overbear or overlord! It is the Lord’s Church & He appoints His own servants & all that the body of Christ can do is bear witness to God’s sovereign choice. 
  2. POSSESION “Shepherd the church of God”: It is His Church he has ownership of it, we are His property & all that the leadership can do is be faithful stewards of it.
  3. PRICE “Which He purchased with His own blood”: Jesus paid the ultimate price for ownership of the Church, He alone has redeemed us back to the Father.

Baxter wrote in a commentary in the 1600’s three question as coming from the Lord to the Church:

  • “Did I die for them & you are not willing to look after them?”
  • “Are they worth my blood, but not your labor?”
  • “Did I come down from heaven to save that, which was lost, and you are not willing to go next door to seek them?”     

Now in this section you will notice that Paul uses metaphors to describe Church life. “Shepherd, sheep & wolves” all of which of coarse familiar with the sheep industry. 

Threefold ministry of the pastor

  1. Vs. 28 FEED: Paul uses the word here in verse 28 to “shepherd” the Church. It is a word that means to “tend or feed” the flock. Simply put the shepherd is given the task of leading the flock to the best pasture to feed upon. And what is the best pasture for growth? Well it’s is the word! Paul in verse 20 already had laid out for them his method in dispensing the Word of God to them. He said: “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks”. Do you see that? Paul says that pastors ought to:
  2. “keep back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you”: That is to say give them all-possible truth. THE WHOLE OF THE WORD.
  3. “taught you publicly and from house to house”: That is to say use all-possible ways. THE WHOLE OF THE WORK.
  4. “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks”: That is to all-possible people. THE WHOLE OF THE WORLD.

       In Ezek. 34:2-4 the Lord rebukes the leaders of the nation because the “shepherds of Israel feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.

The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them.” You see they were guilty of fleecing the flock instead of feeding the flock! Jesus says that false teachers are like wolves in sheep’s clothing. The only difference between a sheep & a wolf disguised, as a sheep is their diet! You will be able to spot the wolf, as sheep carcasses will be around them!

  • Vs. 29-31a WATCH: The word “watch” in verse 31a means to “stay awake or be alert”. The idea here, borrowing from the shepherding profession, is of being a watchman. It was the shepherds responsibility to keep his eyes open constantly searching the horizon for any possible predators. The were two kinds of dangers that the sheep faced mentioned here by Paul:
  • Vs. 29 Savage wolves: The first danger that the shepherd needs to keep a watchful eye on is from without. False teachers who will slip in after he left spreading false teaching with the aim of destroying them. Notice that they will try to come in among them. There are those from without the Church that want to come in & exploit it for personal gain. A pastor must be alert & not drowsy in whom he allows speaking to the sheep.
  • Vs. 30 Men will rise up: Here is the subtlest of all the foes of the sheep. One  from among them that will be ambitious & hunger for power. They too draw away sheep by use of weird teaching. So often use this happens & little groups start forming around some leader’s teaching. The words “draw away” are literally “to drag away by tearing apart”. If the pastor is not on watch from among the sheep this can happen. In fact it happened to the very Church that Paul is sharing with as later on in Revelation Jesus says that they left their first love. And where is the Church in Ephesus today? Well there isn’t one! 
  • Vs. 31b CARE: As Paul was sharing about the second aspect of a pastors ministry, watching, he says that he wanted them to remember that for the three years he did not cease in warning them about the above with tears. The pastor must go beyond watching out for things that would harm them, he must be actively involved in their lives as to keep them from that which would do them harm. Pastoral care means that you must be involved in people’s lives. All to often the pastor becomes just a teaching machine. I love hanging around the body, getting to know you to help me better care for your needs. Based upon this verse let me suggest three ways Paul should that he cared for the Church:
  • CONSISTENT “for three years I did not cease”: In other words Paul was consistently demonstrating his care for them. He did not just do it once in a while it was a part of his every day life stile.
  • COMUNICATION “to warn everyone”: Paul was not just around them he communicated with them in this case it was to gently admonish them. Notice that he was not selective in who he spoke with, “everyone”. It is very important that the pastor regularly communicates with the body of Christ. 
  • COMPASSION “with tears”: This was heart-felt empathy. He allowed himself to feel what they felt. Again the pastor ought to be able to care in away that lets the sheep know that he feels their hearts sorrows as well as joys.

Now having looked at both the heart of the MAN & then the MINISTRY of the man lets look at the METHOD that the man should employ in the ministry.

Fourfold method of the man in ministry

  1. Vs. 31 Compassionately: Having touched on this already in dealing with how he ought to care for the sheep. It goes deeper in that the method he ought to employ in all of his ministry is compassion. Paul would write that even when he had to say something that was going to be hard for some to hear that he “spoke the truth in love”. After a short time a pastor left a church & they got another one. Someone asked what the difference between the two of the men was? The reply from a member of the Church was, “Well it’s kind of hard to say, as they both say the same things but in different ways.” Puzzled, the outsider continued, “What do you mean, does the new pastor not preach that sinners are going to hell like the old pastor did?” “No, they both preach that a person apart from Jesus in their life is going to go to hell.” “But the new pastor can’t say it with out weeping!”
  2. Vs. 32 Biblically: Second the method the pastor ought employ in ministry is always the “Word of His grace”. Why? Well Paul says, because it is the only thing that is able to establish them now for what God has for them. Notice that it is the “Word of His grace”. Programs can not build a person up not can slick marketing techniques, entertainment. No, only the word of His grace. Paul commended them to keep with the Word in their lives & the lives of those they pastored.
  3. Vs. 33-34 Selflessly: The third method he ought to employ in ministry is that of being a servant. Paul did not come to be served but rather to serve & he demonstrated as much by working while he was there.
  4. Vs. 35 Graciously: Lastly, Paul says that you ought to be gracious in ministry knowing that it is always better to give then receive. Always take the high road in ministry finding away to exalt others & not self. The focus of Paul’s ministry was on giving & not getting. No if every Christian possessed this same attitude every church facility would be paid for, every missionary would more then enough funds to reach the world & there would be no hungry or needed people in the world.

Vs. 36-38 The love of the body

Finally we see just how the body of Christ responses:

  • When the heart of man is right in ministry
  • When he has the right focus in ministry
  • When he uses the right method in ministry

In these verse we see three responses these men had to Paul.

  1. Vs. 36 PRAYERFULLY “Knelt down & prayed”: The body’s response to a pastor who serves them this way is praying with him & for him. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to know that you all are supporting me in prayer.
  2. Vs. 37a, 38 THANKFULLY “they all wept freely”: Next I believe this response shows how thankful they were of Paul’s ministry among them. The best way other then praying for the pastor to show your thankfulness to God is grow in God’s grace. I get the greatest kick out of seeing you all apply the Word which being taught. You thank me every time on Sunday morning when you stand before I get a chance to tell you to do so as we read the Word together.
  3. Vs. 37b LOVINGLY “fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him”: I can tell if I’m doing my job right when I see you all loving each other the way you do. I have had the privilege of being around a lot of Calvary’s but none more loving then this one. You all just genuinely love each other, & that shows me that we are doing ministry with the right heart & the right methods.