As Paul recounts his ministry among the Ephesian Elders, he instructs them as to what a faithful ministry to God, the Church, and the Lost looks like.

Paul Reminds The Elders Of His Ministry Among Them

Acts 20:17-21

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 at least 4 sermons to cover this section of Scripture. In vs.17-21 Paul reminds the Elders of his ministry among them. In vs.22-27 Paul Informs the Elders of his impending sufferings. In vs. 28-31 Paul Charges the Elders to Shepherd the Flock. In vs.32-38 Paul Commends the Elders to God and His Word.

Another 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. 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 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 an Overseer; one who manages and oversees the work of God. When you look at the Method – he’s a pastor; one who shepherds and cares for God’s people. Some denominations say that Elders are under the Pastor who is under the Overseer or Bishop of many churches. That’s totally unbiblical. 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, these men may have been the shepherds of the house churches in Ephesus. Or there may have been a couple of Elders for each house church. We just don’t know. But collectively, these men comprised the Elders of entire church at Ephesus. They were not on their own, doing their own thing, independent of anyone else. They formed a unit, a team. I’m convinced that God wants a team of men to pastor The Bridge, not just one guy. It is our plan and intention to raise up a group of men to pastor this flock. Those who have the gift of teaching will give themselves to that calling. Others with the gift of leading or administration or counseling or evangelism will give themselves to those callings. But the important thing is that the church should not be run by one guy at the top who is the Head of the church. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. There should be no one guy who is the Senior Pastor, in terms of having more clout and authority than the other pastors. Jesus is the Senior Pastor, the Chief Shepherd. The team of pastors must learn to work together, loving, respecting and submitting to one another in the Lord. I’m currently considering Kelly Salas as a potential future Elder. Over the next 12 months or so, Kelly will be going through a time of training and testing. If at the end of that period he meets the Biblical qualifications for an Elder, he will be formally ordained and appointed to serve at The Bridge as an Elder along with myself.

“He called to him the elders of the church.” Now, think of that statement for just a minute. It would take at least a day, maybe a day and a half for the Elders to get to Ephesus. 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 what we are looking at 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 not 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.” Paul saw himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, you should see yourself as a slave of Christ. Since we are slaves, our life becomes that of willing, joyful service to our Master. This is the only reasonable response of a disciple. If Jesus is Lord, the Master, then we serve 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 service 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 Brian or Lyndsay that I would do it and I have to stick to my commitment.” That’s the wrong reason to serve! We need to always remember that it is the Lord Christ whom we serve, whatever it is. Whether it is setting up chairs or sound equipment, putting up signs or the communion table, or the welcome table, or picking up people and giving them a ride to church, we need to remember that we are doing that for Jesus Christ. You should think of teaching those kids as if you were serving Jesus Himself, or giving Jesus a ride, or setting up a chair for Jesus to sit it. Your service isn’t to me. Don’t ever do something as an obligation to me. Please, do all that you do because you are rendering service to Jesus Christ Himself. 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 and said, “I’d like you to do this or that for Me.” We would be falling all over ourselves for the privilege of doing that job for Him. 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 mortgage broker. 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.

A.  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. So, 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.

Serving the Lord with all humility: 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. Last Wednesday night at our Bridge Group, one of the ladies was telling me of the pastor of the church she attended. Apparently he didn’t carry his own Bible, but he had the elders do it for him. He drove a Rolls Royce while people in his church were having their lights turned out cuz they couldn’t pay the bill.

Paul didn’t see himself as a Christian celebrity, and neither should we. 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 a kingdom unto himself. He’s in this thing because God called Him to it, and he loves the Lord and he loves God’s people.

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.

B.  Serving the Lord with tears: 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.

C.  Serving the Lord with trials: 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 when they hear the absolute claims of Jesus Christ will become so angry that they are like animals. A godly leader must face trials that others will never experience. Often the truth of God is not popular. When he courageously declares the truth, not everyone will like it. He may end up bearing the brunt of someone else’s anger against God and His Word.

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.

      A.  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. To about 9:00 p.m. What did he do then? He went from house to house teaching the believers. Paul was tireless in his efforts to spread the gospel.

B.  The Style of Paul’s Teaching:  Luke uses 4 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 explained and taught people the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Testifying solemnly: 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. 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 dead earnest about eternal issues. Eternal glory and eternal damnation are the issues at stake. How can we try to be funny and make light of these issues when this is what is at stake?

C.  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 portions of the Word of God that a man of God must not shrink from declaring? Total depravity of man, God’s sovereign election and predestination, Hell as conscious eternal torment, Jesus Christ as the only way to God, the necessity of repentance to be saved, the evil of culturally accepted sins like homosexuality, 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 hate and despise. 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 in Iraq. 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 in Iraq. 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.

A.  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 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 “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!

      B.  Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ:  What is faith? Repentance is turning from sin. Repentance 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 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, never been born of the Spirit, I charge you to repent of sin and trust in Jesus Christ right now! He will save you.

Life Application:  What are the marks of a godly man or woman of God? Let’s sum them up:

1. Life of Service.

2. Life of Humility.

3. Life of Compassion

4. Life of Persevering in Suffering

5. Life of Faithfully Teaching All the Truth

6. Life of Calling Sinners to Repentance and Faith

Friends, if that’s you, rejoice! God is at work in you. Even if you don’t have the gift of teaching, just substitute whatever gift you have for teaching like mercy, exhortation, service, hospitality or giving.  Pray that God would transform us to be like Jesus!

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