The Apostle Paul reviewed his ministry among the Ephesian Elders to give them an example of how they should minister to God, the church, and the lost. Let’s learn from his example!
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Our Ministry to God, the Church, and the Lost
Acts 20:13-21
This morning we are going to embark on a study of Paul’s Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders. His message is so rich in instruction that we are going to slow way down. This passage of Scripture is way too important to blow over quickly. So, we are going to take several sermons to cover this section of Scripture.
One way to help yourself think through this Farewell Message is that:
- In 20:17-21 we have A Review of the Past.
- In 20:22-27 we have A Testimony of the Present.
- In 20:28-38 we have A Warning about the Future.
So, here in this section Paul is going to reveal to us what his ministry was all about. This morning we are going to get a glimpse into the heart and soul of this great man of God, and hopefully be motivated and challenged to serve God and others with that same spirit.
But first, let’s see the context in which we find this great message. Remember that Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. He wants to be there by the Feast of Pentecost, and so he is in a bit of a hurry. For that reason, he sailed past Ephesus and docked at Miletus. Paul knew that if he set foot in Ephesus, there would be no way he would be able to leave soon enough to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost. He was extremely popular and loved there, having been the instrument God used to bring thousands to Christ. Paul knew that if he went up to Ephesus, the demands upon him would be so great, that he would never leave in time to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost. So, since he couldn’t visit the entire church at Ephesus, the next best thing was to speak to the leaders of the church at Ephesus. So, when he arrived in Miletus, he sent someone on an errand to bring to him the Elders of the church at Ephesus.
This sermon is extremely important because it was the only speech in the Book of Acts addressed to the Elders of a local church. All the rest are addressed to an unbelieving audience. The fact that Paul would take the time and go to the trouble to deliver this message, and that Luke would pause in his narrative to record these words tells us that they are very important.
Just notice a few brief points about these Elders.
First, they were called Elders, but they did the work of overseeing the church (20:28) and shepherding (pastoring) the church (20:28). So, we can see that an Elder, and an Overseer, and a Pastor, are all the same person looked at from 3 different perspectives. They are interchangeable terms. When you look at the Man – he’s an Elder; a spiritually mature man. When you look at the Ministry – he’s both an Overseer (one who manages and oversees the work of God) and a Pastor (one who shepherds and cares for God’s flock). Some denominations say that Elders are under the authority of the Pastor. Sometimes they also say that the Pastor is under the authority of a Bishop, who oversees many pastors. That’s totally unbiblical. The word “Bishop” is the same word as “overseer”. We’ve already seen that an Elder, a Pastor, and an Overseer all refer to the same person. A Pastor is an Elder who is also an Overseer. At The Bridge we will sometimes refer to someone as an Elder, sometimes as a Pastor, sometimes as an Overseer.
Also, notice that there was a team of men who comprised the Elders or Pastors of the church at Ephesus. Now, we don’t know how all of this worked out practically. There may have been one pastor per house church, or several, or in some cases, none. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But collectively, these men comprised the Elders of the entire church at Ephesus. They were not on their own, doing their own thing, independent of anyone else. They formed a unit, a team. Because there was a team of men overseeing the believers in Ephesus, these men needed to learn to submit to one another, and hold one another accountable. This would be very helpful if one of the Elders went off the rails doctrinally or get caught up in sin. But the important thing is that Jesus should be seen as the Head of the church, not one man. If a local church has two or more pastors, they should all have the same authority. There should be no one guy who is the Senior Pastor, in terms of having more clout and authority than the other pastors.
“He called to him the elders of the church.” Now, think of that statement for just a minute. Ephesus was about 36 miles from Ephesus. That means, it would take at least a day, maybe a couple of days for these Elders to get to Miletus. Then it would take at least the same amount for them to get back home. These guys don’t get vacation pay. Paul was asking them to leave their jobs and families and come to him immediately. What impresses me about these Elders is how available they were. It’s been said that one of the greatest abilities in the kingdom of God is availability. Paul sent to them, and they dropped everything, and they came. They were demonstrating that the kingdom of God took priority in their lives. This was sacrifice.
So, really you might say what we have here is a Pastor’s Conference, with the apostle Paul as the keynote speaker. I’ve been to many pastor’s conferences over the last 30 years, but none will ever compare to the message we find right here in Acts 20!
Now, as we take a look this morning at Paul’s Ministry, we can see it in 3 different perspectives: Paul’s Ministry to God; Paul’s Ministry to the church; Paul’s ministry to the lost.
1. Paul’s Ministry To God:
Service. If you were to sum up Paul’s Ministry to God in 1 word it would be “service.” He was “serving the Lord.” In fact, the word “ministry” means “service.” We use the word “Minister” to describe an important and powerful person in the church. However, the word really means “servant”! Paul saw himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, you should see yourself as a servant of Christ. Since we are servants, our life should be that of willing, joyful service to our Master. This is the only reasonable response of a disciple. If Jesus is Lord, the Master, and we are servants, then we give our lives to serving Him. A servant has no rights. He doesn’t see himself as someone great. He takes the most menial jobs and performs them willingly. We, on the other hand, too often want to assert our rights, we assert our self-importance, we want greater self-esteem, and we don’t want to have to do anything that is “beneath us.” How far short of the tremendous example of Jesus Christ we fall!
Notice he was serving the Lord. He wasn’t serving the apostles, or the church at Antioch who sent him out, or even the people in Ephesus. Paul was serving the Lord. It’s very easy for us to slip into the attitude of doing what we do because we have an obligation to the church, or to the people. You who serve in children’s ministries might think “Oh man, it’s my Sunday to teach the kids. I’d rather be in the service, but I told Linda that I would do I better keep my commitment even though I’d rather not.” That’s the wrong reason to serve! Yes, it is true, you are serving our kids. But ultimately you are serving Jesus. We need to always remember that it is the Lord Christ whom we serve, whatever it is. When Debbie and I clean up the house on Saturdays, we need to remember that we are serving Christ. When you pick up people and giving them a ride to church, you are really serving Christ. When you prepare and bring food for the meal, you are serving Christ. When you take a meal to a sick family, you are serving Christ. we need to remember that we are doing that for Jesus Christ. When you invite another family over to your home to share a meal, you are serving Christ. When you share the gospel with someone, you are serving Christ. When you lead your family in worship, you are serving Christ. When you help your spouse or child when they are sick, you are serving Christ.
And you know what? That will take all the drudgery out of that job and make it sweet. You get to serve the King of Kings! What would happen if Jesus Himself walked into this room? We would be falling all over ourselves for the privilege of doing something for Him. We would be taking his coat, giving up our chair for him, making sure He was comfortable. Well, just because we don’t see Him with our physical eyes doesn’t change the fact that we are doing all for Him. You might think that you can’t serve the Lord, because you’re not in the ministry – you’re a mechanic or window cleaner or landscaper or construction worker. All of that can be service to Christ. God intends your entire life to be service to Jesus Christ. There is no dichotomy between sacred and secular in the Christian’s life. Everything is sacred! So, how did Paul serve the Lord? With Humility, Tears, and Trials.
- With All Humility: Now, at first glance it may seem like Paul is on an ego trip, kind of boasting in his humility and great accomplishments. For that matter, why is Paul bringing up his past ministry among the Ephesian elders. Is he bragging about himself? Not at all. Paul knows that “As goes the leaders, so goes the church.” He wants these leaders to rise to their high calling and to fulfill it as faithful, godly men. And so Paul is pointing to himself as an example for them to emulate. He’s not pointing to himself to exalt himself, but to help teach these men what kind of leaders they need to be by the grace of God.
What is humility? I think we have a wonderful definition in Phil.2:3 “with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” The humble man considers others as more important than himself, and so he puts their interests before his own. A godly leader must never use the people to serve himself; but rather he must become the servant of all, like Jesus Christ. I remember years back I was at a Bible Study, and one of the ladies that attended was telling me about the pastor of the church she used to attend. He didn’t carry his own Bible, but he had the elders do it for him. He drove a Rolls Royce while the people in his church were poor. In her mind, something just didn’t add up.
One of the curses that comes along with the megachurch is that often the pastor is given a celebrity status. No, he’s not a celebrity. He is a servant. Notice how approachable Paul is. 20:18 says “you yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time” and 20:20 says he “taught publicly and from house to house.” Paul didn’t see himself as being too important or good to lower himself to teach the Word in the homes of poor people. Notice also 20:31 “night and day for a period of 3 years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” Paul was with them the whole time, he admonished each one with tears, he taught in their homes. Although Paul was an apostle of Christ, he was a guy you could approach and talk to. In fact, he was so well loved by these elders, that when he left they wept and repeatedly kissed him (20:37). Paul was a humble servant of Jesus Christ. Paul isn’t trying to build his own kingdom. He’s seeking to build the kingdom of Christ.
When our family was attending a new church in San Francisco, our son Josiah, who was about 4 years old at the time had a stomach ache, and in the middle of the worship time, he threw up all over the floor. Of course, we horrified and embarrassed, and didn’t know what to do. The guy in the row in front of us saw what happened, and ran to the bathroom, got some paper towels, and stooped down and cleaned up my son’s vomit. That’s humility. Considering others more important than yourself so that you are willing to lower yourself to serve them. Humility is the indispensable quality of a godly leader.
- With Tears: (Compassion) Why did Paul shed tears?
- In Phil.3:18-19 he says that he wept over those who were “enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”
- In Acts 20:31 he says “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.”
- In 2Cor.2:4 “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.”
In all these examples, Paul wept, not because of his own pain or heartache, but because of His care and concern for people. Paul got emotionally and personally involved in people’s lives. He didn’t preach from some ivory tower. He wasn’t a mere professional. He didn’t do this because it was a job. He loved people. He longed for them to be saved. When he had to rebuke the Corinthians, he wept. When some believers defected and served the flesh, he wept. When some were in danger of drifting from Christ, Paul wept. A godly leader cares about people and longs that they be saved from hell and taken to heaven. And because this longing is so great he feels it inwardly.
- With Trials: (Perseverance) What kind of trials is Paul talking about? The ones that came upon him through the plots of the Jews. It was the Jews that persecuted Paul so heavily. They ran him out of town after town. They stoned him. They thought he was teaching rank heresy, and so they hunted him down. So, why does Paul mention that he served the Lord with trials? Because he wants them to understand that a godly leader will suffer, but he will not give up. He must persevere through trials. The English Reformer, Thomas Cranmer once said, “None of us goes to heaven on a feather bed.”
So, why does Paul remind the elders about these sufferings he endured? Because they will have to go through them too. In 1Cor.15:32 he said, “I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus.” Later in Acts 20:29 he said “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Paul fought wild beasts, and the elders will have to fight savage wolves. Leaders will have to face people, who will oppose them and fight against them like wild animals. A godly leader must face trials that others will never experience. If you are going to faithfully serve the Lord, you will probably experience similar trials. The point is we must persevere in our service when we experience these trials.
Since Paul served the Lord, so should they. Since Paul served with all humility, so should they. Since Paul served with tears, so should they. Since Paul persevered through trials, so should they. So, there we have Paul’s Ministry to God – Service.
2. Paul’s Ministry To The Church: Teaching.
- The Location of Paul’s Teaching: 20:20 – publicly and from house to house. Remember that Paul made tents from sunup to 11:00 a.m. From 11:00 – 4:00 p.m. he taught publicly in the School of Tyrannus. Then he went back to making tents from 4:00 p.m. on. And at some point, he also went from house to house teaching the believers. Paul was tireless in his efforts to spread the gospel and build up the church.
- The Style of Paul’s Teaching: Luke uses three different words to describe Paul’s ministry of the Word.
Declaring: this word speaks of what you do when you announce or proclaim or herald some news. It is very closely related to “preaching” in 20:25. The emphasis is not on explaining the meaning of Scripture, but of proclaiming, or heralding the truth of Scripture. Paul announced the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Teaching: this word speaks of explaining, instructing, dissecting, and analyzing the truth of the Word of God. A teacher explains the Word. A preacher proclaims the Word. There’s a difference between explaining how to play baseball, and announcing the news that the SF Giants have won the World Series! There’s a difference between what happens at halftime when the analyst comes out with his diagrams, and what the announcer does during the game. Both are good and necessary, but each has different functions. Paul declared and taught people the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Testifying: This has to do with what a person does in a court of law. He takes an oath to testify to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Paul testified to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice that he testifies solemnly. The subject matter is so serious and great, and the consequences of receiving or rejecting it are so great, that it must be testified in a solemn manner. That’s why I don’t believe it is appropriate to preach and teach so that you come across like a stand up comedian or a clown. The guy who does that makes it appear that his message is a light-hearted, don’t take it too seriously kind of message. No, we need our people to know we are in blood earnest about eternal issues. Eternal glory and eternal damnation are the issues at stake. How can we try to entertain folks when eternity is at stake?
- The Content of Paul’s Teaching: 20:20 – “anything that was profitable.” 20:27 “the whole purpose of God.” So, what is profitable? 2Tim.3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable.” All of the Word of God needs to be taught, announced and testified to. There is a strong temptation to avoid teaching on certain subjects because they are not popular. A preacher that wants to have a large following and be popular with the masses will not preach like Paul. Paul’s goal was not popularity, but faithfulness to the truth. So, what are those things in the Word of God that a man of God must not shrink from declaring? The total depravity of man, God’s sovereign election and predestination, eternal hell for the unrepentant, Jesus Christ as the only way to God, the evil of culturally accepted sins like homosexuality and transgenderism, the fact that the gate is narrow that leads to life and few find it, and the wrath of God. It takes courage to stand up and boldly proclaim the truth that you know your hearers don’t like. However, if you are to be faithful to your Lord, you have to say it. How would you like it if you gave a message to a courier to deliver to your wife that you had been badly wounded in battle and did not know if you would survive. He takes the message to your wife, but decides he’s got to soften the news because it will upset her too much. So he changes it to read that you sprained your ankle. Are you going to be happy with that guy? No! God is not happy with preachers who go around avoiding, ignoring, or candy-coating His Word. He wants His messengers to give the message exactly as He did!
So to summarize, Paul’s ministry to the church was to teach and preach the truth of the Word of God – period.
3. Paul’s Ministry To The Lost: Evangelism. Paul’s message to the lost is summed up in 2 words – Repentance and Faith.
- Repentance toward God: Paul’s ministry to the Church was to teach all the truth. His ministry to the Lost was to preach the gospel and call for repentance and faith. Repentance is the negative side, faith is the positive side. They are 2 sides of the same coin. So, what is repentance? It means to turn from sin, do a 180. It includes the mind, emotions and will. With your mind there is a knowledge of sin. With your emotions there is a sorrow for sin. With your will there is a forsaking of sin. Folks, without this you can’t be saved! Luke 24:46-47 “repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations”. Repentance is inextricably connected to forgiveness of sins. No repentance – no forgiveness. When I repent I see myself as guilty and deserving of hell. I know that I have offended a good and holy God. And I change my mind, heart, and will concerning sin. Notice that repentance is toward God. Why? Because He is the One you have sinned against. David said in Ps. 51:4 “against You and You only have I sinned and have done what is evil in Your sight.” My friends, unless you repent you will perish forever in hell. It is that important!
- Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ: What is faith? Repentance is turning from sin. Faith is turning to Christ. Faith is the hand that lays hold of God’s forgiveness in Christ. Faith sees Jesus as the righteousness I need to stand before a holy God. Faith in Christ means I have stopped trusting in my own righteousness in any way, but now trust only in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that both faith and repentance are gifts of God’s grace. Just as we begin the Christian life by repenting and believing, so we continue to live the Christian life every day by repenting and believing. Repentance and faith are the marks of a true child of God – this is how he grows in grace. If you have never become a Christian, I charge you to repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ right now!
Conclusion:
What were the marks of Paul’s life?
- Life of Service.
- Life of Humility.
- Life of Compassion (all tears)
- Life of Persevering in Suffering (trials)
- Life of Faithfully Teaching All the Truth
- Life of Calling Sinners to Repentance and Faith
How are you doing in these areas? Make a note in your mind right now of that area of life that you need the Spirit to work in you. Let’s ask the Lord to change and transform us!
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