Guard Yourselves and the Flock
[ READ ] Acts 20:17-38
Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them:
“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Talk about a sense of purpose. Paul’s commitment to his calling is so strong, hardship, suffering, being misunderstood, imprisoned, beaten–nothing–can keep him from obeying the Spirit’s leading and sharing the truth of Jesus’ saving work with others.
As he leaves Asia for Jerusalem, he reminds the elders of the Ephesian church of his three-year ministry to them, the core aspects of the gospel message, and prepares them to care for the church well in an upcoming season of trouble.
There’s a lot here for us to consider: do we have a sense of purpose like Paul in our lives for the Gospel? What does good leadership look like in the church? How do you say goodbye well to people who God has made your faith family?
- Monica Godfrey
As he leaves Asia for Jerusalem, he reminds the elders of the Ephesian church of his three-year ministry to them, the core aspects of the gospel message, and prepares them to care for the church well in an upcoming season of trouble.
There’s a lot here for us to consider: do we have a sense of purpose like Paul in our lives for the Gospel? What does good leadership look like in the church? How do you say goodbye well to people who God has made your faith family?
- Monica Godfrey
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ How does Paul say that he has behaved while with the Ephesians? Why is this important?
+ What does Paul desire for his own life?
+ What does he exhort the church leaders to do and why? What do you think that looks like practically in the life of a church?
+ What does the word commend mean? What does it mean that Paul commends the Ephesian church to God and his word?
+ What do they do before he leaves?
+ What positive leadership traits are evident in Paul’s speech?
+ How does Paul say that he has behaved while with the Ephesians? Why is this important?
+ What does Paul desire for his own life?
+ What does he exhort the church leaders to do and why? What do you think that looks like practically in the life of a church?
+ What does the word commend mean? What does it mean that Paul commends the Ephesian church to God and his word?
+ What do they do before he leaves?
+ What positive leadership traits are evident in Paul’s speech?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Reread verse 24. We have all been given a purpose or ministry by God, even if it is not as high profile as Paul’s. Is this verse something you can truly say for yourself?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Reread verse 24. We have all been given a purpose or ministry by God, even if it is not as high profile as Paul’s. Is this verse something you can truly say for yourself?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, we thank you for Jesus, who is the focal point of Paul’s life and work. We thank you for Paul who faithfully focused his life around obeying the Holy Spirit’s leading and boldly sharing the faith with those who did not know you as well as investing in leaders in the many churches he planted. We pray that you would reinvigorate our sense of purpose in our faith. We pray too for our elders and church leaders to faithfully lead our church. Thank you that you, Jesus, are alive and active in our world today.
+ Pray with me:
God, we thank you for Jesus, who is the focal point of Paul’s life and work. We thank you for Paul who faithfully focused his life around obeying the Holy Spirit’s leading and boldly sharing the faith with those who did not know you as well as investing in leaders in the many churches he planted. We pray that you would reinvigorate our sense of purpose in our faith. We pray too for our elders and church leaders to faithfully lead our church. Thank you that you, Jesus, are alive and active in our world today.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What do you think your purpose is? Where does our purpose come from?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ What do you think your purpose is? Where does our purpose come from?
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