A Model for Ministry

Acts 20:17-27

February 8, 1998

 

Stott offers several intro points of importance:

 

1. Only speech in Acts addressed to a Christian audience.  All others are evangelistic legal defenses, 

    or to Roman and Jewish authorities.

2. Leaders addressed are called elders and described as pastors and overseers (v. 28).

3. The Ephesian church had a team of elders/pastors over them.  No Biblical warrant for "the 

    one-man-band" or for hierarchical structure.

4. Luke was present and heard the speech and maintained distinctive Pauline vocabulary in recording 

    it.

 

Paul gives a reminder of his ministry (vv. 18-27) then instructs and admonished the elders (quote 28).  Within the framework of his reminder we find a model for ministry.  "You yourselves know" carries the idea that they understood something because they were related to it in its practice.

 

I. Model for Service

 

1. Uses the term which means 'serve as a slave.'  For Paul, being a bond-slave of Christ was 

    preeminent.  Though he often uses references to "sonship," in this situation and many others he 

    wants to convey that he was a slave of Christ.

 

    a. Ownership by the Lord

    b. Time belongs to the Lord

    c. Loyalty to the Lord

    d. Affection for the Lord

    e. Duties related to the Lord

 

2. The conscientiousness that he belongs to the Lord produces humility.

 

    a. Right view of God

    b. Right view of self

    c. Never an attitude that God's kingdom cannot make it without me!

 

3. Tears and trials point to the burden and adversity related to ministry.

 

    a. Burden of souls of men, spiritual maturity, care of souls

    b. Adversity of multi-faceted trials by those opposing the gospel.

 

II. A Model for Proclamation

 

1. No man-pleaser

"...did not shrink" - draw back in fear; testing the direction of the wind of opinion will not build proper ministry.

 

2. Measured the value of his proclamation

"...profitable" - to be of an advantage; speaking to please men may be entertaining but has no value in the long scheme of things.  Paul evaluated his content and found it substantial

 

3. Declared the whole counsel (will) of God (v. 27)

    - God in His Trinity and the fullness of His character

    - Christ as Prophet, Priest, King

    - Work of Holy Sprit

    - Complete work of Christ

    - Justification, sanctification, glorification

    - Foreknowledge, predestination, election, effectual calling

    - Application of doctrine to daily life

 

III. A Model for Witness

 

1. Message was consistent in all settings (v. 20)

 

2. Utilized all opportunities

 

3. Straightforward in demands or duties of sinners

 

IV. A Model of Faithfulness

 

1. Resolute heart

    "bound in spirit" (perfect passive participle)

    Illustration: Carey - goldmine, "I'll go down if you will hold the ropes" to Fuller, Sutcliffe, Rylands Jr.

 

2. Willingness to suffer adversity (v. 23)

    Illustration:  Mrs. Spurgeon

 

3. Stay on course (v. 24)

 

    a. Run into problem when we consider temporal matters of greater importance.

   b. Remember that we are in a race - Paul lived with this consciousness

 

4. By life and lips testify of the gospel of grace

 

5. Serve conscientiously (vv. 25-26)

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