2013 Acts #31: an exposition of Acts 20:18-32. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 19, 2014.
Intro:
I was visiting with a friend a few months ago and we were discussing church life. He is a pastor in a neighboring state and we were comparing the way church starts happen. How is it that we start new churches? We agreed that in both states, the primary means of starting new churches is the tried and true Baptist method of “church splits”. But that there is a renewed interest in starting from scratch with the goal of reaching new people – actually leading people to faith in Christ and then assimilating them into a new church body. He told me of a new work in their association that had no members but rented a very expensive building – a prime location on the edge of a huge shopping mall. The building was being remodeled to have a very contemporary, non-church look and feel. The pastor had spent months working on the church’s logo and slogan. They had a website which was very impressive – but not a single member and they had never met! The message was clear – image is everything.
Other churches have turned to Disney designers to develop a kid friendly children’s ministry. While on the one hand Southern Baptists have decried the immorality of the Disney Company – the same Southern Baptists have asked Disney how they can more effectively minister to children! I am in favor of reaching as many people as possible. I am in favor of having facilities that are first rate. I believe our buildings should be as nice as we can afford – my concern is that priorities seem to be out of line. When we are more concerned about the style of our logo than the content of our preaching – something is wrong. When we are more concerned about our image than the glory of Christ we are in trouble. What characteristics should mark the church? What should be the church’s primary concern? What is to motivate and drive the church and its ministry? For some answers we turn again to the book of Acts.
Text: Acts 20:18-32
Dr. Luke is finishing up his account of Paul’s missionary journeys.
He has shown that Paul was “set apart” by the Spirit for this work.
God had called him to be the apostle to the Gentiles.
We’ve seen the Gospel move toward the west – as a result of the “Macedonian Call.”
We’ve witnessed great revival and great persecution.
Paul was warmly received and violently pursued.
Chapter 20 is something of a “catch all.”
Verses 1-6 deal with subsequent work following his 2-year ministry in Ephesus.
We learn that he wintered in Greece (probably at Corinth) before starting toward Jerusalem for the Passover Season.
Verses 7-12 – tells of an event at Traos where Paul preached someone to death.
20:9 – I’ve skipped over this for obvious reasons!
I want us to focus on Paul’s parting with the Ephesian elders – 17-38.
As we explore Paul’s parting words we learn something of his heart, something about ministry in general and I’m convinced we learn an abiding principle for church life –
Thesis: The glory and honor of Christ is to be the passion of the Church.
From our text we will note three principle characteristics of the church that honors Christ.
- The church that honors Christ sees ministry as a way of life and not as an activity. (20:18-21)
- The church that honors Christ cares more for the glory of Christ and his church than personal comfort and ease. (20:22-24; 33-35)
- The church that honors Christ exercises vigilant watch-care over the flock of God. (20:25-32)