Bill Acton :: Acts 20:25-38 - Paul Departure from Ephesus

Sermon Outline for Acts 20:25-38

Paul’s Departure from Ephesus

1. Summary of Paul’s Ministry
   1. He preached the Kingdom – Act 20:25
   2. He served with a clear conscience – Act 20:26
   3. He faithfully declared the whole “counsel” of God – Act 20:27
   4. He earnestly warned the church of peril – Act 20:31
   5. He did not live for material gain – Act 20:33
   6. He worked with his hands – Act 20:34
   7. He taught them to give – Act 20:35
2. The Exhortation to the Elders – Act 20:28
   1. The concern about your own lives
      1. They must obey the truth they teach
      2. Genuine obedience brings authority
   2. Take care of the Church
      1. The titles: 3 titles are used interchangeably for the same men – Elder, Bishop, and Pastor
      2. To take care of means to “shepherd”
      3. The shepherd ministry
         1. Feeding
            1. Sheep are not self-feeders
            2. Sheep need help
         2. Guarding
            1. Sheep must be protected
            2. Sheep must be defended
         3. Healing
            1. Sheep get sick
            2. Sheep get hurt
         4. Watching
            1. Close observance
            2. Alert evaluation
            3. Correct interpretation
         5. Guiding
            1. Sheep are not independent travelers
            2. They must be led
         6. Rescuing the lost
         7. Loving
            1. “He calls His sheep by name” – Jhn 10:3
            2. Love always individualizes
      4. It is the Church of God
         1. Christ loves the Church
         2. Christ bought the Church with His own blood
            1. Redemption
            2. Atonement
            3. Ownership
      5. Watch for perils – Act 20:29-30
         1. Imposters - Wolves in sheep’s clothing
            1. They talk like
            2. They act like
         2. Outsiders who persecute
         3. They shall not spare the flock
         4. They are from the inside
            1. They divide and separate
            2. They seek a following
            3. They draw people to themselves
      6. Follow Paul’s example – Act 20:31-35
         1. Admonish with compassion – Act 20:31
         2. Use the word of grace – Act 20:32
         3. Be selfless in serving – Act 20:34-35
         4. Work hard in order to give
      7. The commitment – Act 20:32
         1. I commend you to God
            1. Acknowledge sovereignty
            2. Release them
         2. I commend you to the word of His grace – Rom 5:2, 20; 2Ti 2:1; Tit 3:7; 2Co 9:8; 12:9
            1. It builds up
            2. It secures inheritance
         3. The word of His grace
            1. Electing love
            2. Effective atonement
            3. Effective calling
            4. Eternal security
3. The Farewell – Act 20:36-38
   1. Prayer was real
   2. Love was real
   3. Sorrow was real
   4. Separation was real