Sunday, July 20, 2014 Speaker: Doug Virgint

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey ConcludedActs 20:17-38Message 3 in our 14-part series on the Acts of the Apostles. Sunday, July 20, 2014 Speaker: Doug Virgint

Acts 20:17-38 Our outline • Paul’s plan for the rest of his ministry • Paul’s plea to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem • Paul’s passion for church leadership • Paul’s presentation of the Gospel • Conclusion

1) Acts 20: 17-38 – Paul’s plan “Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21)

Acts 20:17-38 • Paul’s plan : • Visit Jerusalem with a gift from Gentile churches to the poor Christians there • Visit the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to reinforce the leadership • Visit Rome, and further west, to present the Gospel (Spain, and perhaps even Britain)

Acts 20:17-38 • Paul is rushing through the Aegean sea to get to Jerusalem ASAP • He passes by the island of Chios (where Homer was born) • He stops at Samos, the birth of Pythagoras, the great mathematician • a2 + b2 = c2

Acts 20:17-38 • Visit Jerusalem with a gift from Gentile churches to the poor Christians • In Galatians, Paul adds one detail to James’ decision at the Acts 15 Jerusalem council: • “Only they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” (Galatians 2:10)

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift F.F. Bruce has written an important book that traces Paul’s passion to collect these gifts and take them to the poor in Jerusalem. ”Paul, Apostle of a Heart Set Free”

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift “At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them.”

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift “For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected,I will leave for Spain by way of you.” (Romans 15:25-28)

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift “Now concerningthe collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.” (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift • Paul made that commitment at the Jerusalem conference • Many Christians in Jerusalem were desperately poor and were banished from the temple and all Jewish charity

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift • Paul wished to show off the generosity of Gentile churches to the Jewish believers • Paul remained a devout Jew to the last and wished to demonstrate his Jewish piety to the Jewish Christians in Judea • He felt that this gesture from Gentile Christians would help heal the tensions between the strong Jewish Christians and the new non-Jewish churches

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift • Why was Paul so desperate to arrive in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost? • A large crowd of pious Jews from around the world was still in Jerusalem. • It was at the day of Pentecost that God showed his will to call all nations to him through preaching in many languages. On that day the Spirit was given and the church was founded.

2) Visit Jerusalem with a gift • Why was Paul so desperate to arrive in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost? • To a Jew, the feast of Pentecost was a joyous time, to celebrate the harvest and to bring the first fruits to God as an offering. • Paul no doubt saw this collection as a ”first fruits” offering from the Gentile Christians.

3) passion for leadership • Paul seizes his last opportunity to influence the future of the church he had founded in Ephesus. • He knows that the most important way he can spend the one day he has available is to meet the leaders one last time.

3) passion for leadership • The most pressing need in our churches – in this church – is not to copy the latest program that worked somewhere else… • It is not to follow the latest trends. • It is to develop real Biblical leadership, from within the local church. • Leaders who follow Paul’s model – and, ultimately, Christ’s model!

3) passion for leadership • Let’s spend some time looking at Paul’s model for Church leadership: • Our service is first of all for the Lord (19) • we serve God rather than man • our service is marked by humility (the servant is not greater than his Master)

3) passion for leadership • We also serve the Church • teaching is the soul of a church leader’s work (20, 27) • it takes great courage to not shrink from teaching all God requires, especially when the Bible is countercultural • the local church needs a plan to make sure all important truths are covered regularly (Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus)

3) passion for leadership • We also serve the Church • pastoral work is also part of the leader’s work in the local Church (31) • this takes time and competence • the true pastor applies the Word of God to people’s problems

3) passion for leadership • We must also serve those who know not Christ • church leaders show leadership in evangelisation (21) • they provide occasions in the life of the local church for this to take place

3) passion for leadership • We must also watch our own lives while we serve Christ and His Church • an attitude of sacrifice • not after the money (33-35) • we are willing to suffer (19) (tears and trials)

3) passion for leadership • We must also watch our own lives while we serve Christ and his Church • Paul has made tremendous sacrifices and suffered greatly • But he is not retiring • He is looking forward to travelling to Rome and even further west – • Spain and the British Isles

3) passion for leadership Paul had a passion to preach the Gospel to all of the Gentiles – to all the Roman Empire. He knew that he was the apostle to the Gentiles. He had a plan to accomplish God’s calling in his life – flexible, but a plan!

4) presentation of the gospel “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 21) Two elements of Paul’s gospel here: • repentance toward God • faith in our Lord Jesus Christ

4) presentation of the gospel Repentance toward God: • a change of mind that results in changed behaviour • it involves our whole person: intellect, emotions, will • the conscious act of the sinner who turns from his sin to God

4) presentation of the gospel Repentance toward God: • remorse – sorry for consequences • repentance – sorry for act itself, for our sin • John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, Paul - all called for repentance

4) presentation of the gospel Repentance toward God: • true repentance is a gift from God “God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance ” (Romans 2:4) • we need to realize that God is the Holy Sovereign of the universe and that our sin has insulted him and called down his judgment on us

4) presentation of the gospel Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ: • understanding that all our religion and the good things we do are inadequate to obtain God’s pardon and salvation • believing who Jesus is – God the Son, the second Person if the Trinity, who came to earth to save us

4) presentation of the gospel Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ: • understanding that God punished our sins in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross. • on the cross, God the Father treated Jesus-Christ the Son as if He had committed all the sins I have ever committed.

4) presentation of the gospel

4) presentation of the gospel Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ: • believing and accepting what Christ has done for me • committing ourselves to serving and obeying Christ as Lord • “Lord Jesus Christ”

5) Conclusion • Is the Lord calling you to leadership in the local church? • Our churches desperately need younger men and older men to be trained to take over leadership. • No other calling is so rewarding and so important. • Are you allowing some career or some ambition to get in the way of that calling?

5) Conclusion • If you are a leader in a local church, are you allowing a lack of humility, a refusal to sacrifice or improper motivations to ruin your ministry and your local church? • Are you looking for a mentor and for training?

5) Conclusion • Are we as individuals and as a local church showing generosity to the poor people who surround us in Montreal and in the whole world?

5) Conclusion • Are those of us who are older getting lazy in our service? Are we continuing to serve the local church and the Lord – perhaps in different ways? • Does the Bible ever speak about retirement?

5) Conclusion • Have you truly repented of your sin? • Have you placed your faith in the “Lord Jesus Christ”?

Acts 20: 17-38 Paul’s third missionary journey concluded

Sunday, July 20, 2014 Speaker: Doug Virgint