In Acts 20 Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. His life will soon be over. With that in mind, he calls for the pastors/leaders at Ephesus to meet with him. This is his last conversation with them and he knows that. What must he say that will equip them to lead in his absence? He reminds them of his MANNER of life and his MESSAGE. The manner of life was consistent with the message God had given him to preach. Now Paul is telling these leaders to follow his example (his lifestyle) and hold to the same message. This is something we as Christians must do today, The winds of culture seem to be blowing strongly in a different direction. But we are called to the same manner of living and the same message God gave. Paul.
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OUTLINE
A. Read text: Acts 20:17-27
> Vs 22-23 Prophetic Warnings
> Acts 21:8-14 Agabus’ warning & Paul’s Response
B. Reminds Elders of (1) Manner of life (2) Message
I. MANNER of life
- Vs 18 “And when they had come to him, he said to them: ‘You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you.”
(1) “always”
(2) “among you” - Vs 19 “…serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews.”
(1) “with all humility”
(2) “tears”> I Thes. 2:1-12
(3) “trials”
> American concept of success v Paul
> Vs 24 “But none of these things move me….”
II. MESSAGE
- Vs 20-21 “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1) Used every opportunity:” taught you publicly and from house to house”
(2) Message was about “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ”Acts 3:19 (1) repent (2) be converted (3) sins forgiven (4) times of refreshing Repentance needed for American Church
> 65% of abortions performed on professing Christians
> only 20% born again Christians say their faith is their highest priority - Vs 25-27
“And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
QUESTIONS
- Were you surprised to hear 65% of abortions are performed on professing Christians? Do you think the American Church needs to repent? Do you believe that judgement begins in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17)?
- Why did Paul remind these church leaders of his manner of life and message? Do you think that over time we can lose sight of these standards?
- Paul’s manner of life was characterized by humility, tears, and trials.
Are you surprised that he didn’t use such standards as education, size of audience, and other criteria commonly used to measure leadership today? - Paul specifically included repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ in describing his message. Do you think a message that leaves out a call to repentance will produce genuine converts?
- Paul said that he had not shunned to declare “the whole counsel of God.” What part of the whole counsel of God do you think preachers avoid mosttoday? What part is considered politically correct and what part is not?
