Paul to Rome

I don't like that at all.

Is that better?

Better still.

Even better.

Good morning.

We'll be taking our lesson from Acts this morning as a continuance of our series in Acts.

As just a quick overview, the first nineteen chapters of Acts record the beginning and rapid spread of Christ's church.

Notice with me in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, it says we read from Jesus here, who was alive and in the flesh after being horrifically tortured and killed by a Roman crucifixion.

Acts 1:8

He says here, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.

We've been systematically looking at the fulfillment of Jesus' promise here in verse 8 since the beginning of the year, that the gospel would go from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Let's look at a quick overview.

In chapter 2, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles.

Peter preaches the first gospel sermon, and about 3,000 souls are baptized into Christ.

The church is established in Jerusalem and grows despite persecution.

In chapters 3 through 7, opposition intensifies, culminating in the martyrdom of Stephen.

Yet persecution does not stop the church.

It continues to spread.

Chapters 8 through 12 show the gospel moving outward.

Philip preaches in Samaria and to the Ethiopian eunuch.

Saul of Tarsus is converted and transformed from persecutor to preacher.

Peter opens the door of faith to the Gentiles and the household of Cornelius, demonstrating that salvation is for all.

Persecution continues with the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter.

Beginning in chapters 13 and 14, the focus shifts largely to the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

The Holy Spirit sends Paul and Barnabas into Asia to establish congregations, Asia Minor.

Though they face opposition, imprisonment, and hardship, churches are planted and churches are strengthened.

The Jerusalem Council in chapter 15 confirms that Gentiles are saved by grace and not by the law of Moses.

And then chapters 16 through 19 record Paul's continued missionary work in Macedonia, Greece, and especially in Ephesus.

He establishes congregations, reasons daily in synagogues and marketplaces, performs miracles by God's power, and endures riots and persecution.

By the end of chapter 19, the gospel has deeply impacted Ephesus and Asia.

Before we jump into Acts 20, I want to welcome everyone here.

It's been an interesting morning, especially for the people in the back messing with the sound.

I know most people here, those that don't know the visitors, and we appreciate your presence so much, realize that you have a spiritual mind about you, because we do spiritually, spiritually oriented things here, and you're here, and this life is fleeting.

And we know that by the passage of time.

And you've chosen to take your time to be here this morning.

We sure appreciate that.

Thank you for being here.

As we come to Acts 20, we're not entering a new story, but standing at a pivotal moment.

The church has been planted, leaders have been appointed, battles have been fought, and souls have been saved.

Acts 20 presents Paul at a critical point in his journey, reflecting on his work, strengthening the brethren, and preparing faithful leaders to continue the work after his departure.

When we study the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul, we quickly see that he was not merely traveling and preaching randomly here and there.

He had a system, he had a pattern, and he had a purpose.

In fact, we see this with all the recorded apostles.

But Paul was not making just making converts, he was establishing churches.

He was appointing leadership, strengthening disciples, and ensuring spiritual stability.

In the latter part of Acts 20, if you look with me just now, as Paul meets with the Ephesian elders, we are given a rare glimpse into his heart and his method.

Many of these epistles are windows into how the apostles built churches that could stand and flourish.

In Acts 20, verse 20 and 21.

Acts 20:20

There we go.

Paul says, I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable and teaching you in public, and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul's mission in Acts 13 through 20 had not been aimless, but had purpose, intentionality of expanding the gospel message as he understood God who was directing his steps.

Romans chapter 1, verse 16, Paul also references this mission of transformation and salvation for all.

Romans 1:16

It says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

He's not ashamed.

That was an interesting statement to make.

How does one become not ashamed?

Not ashamed of something socially, religiously, and in every other way would have been shameful.

I mean, including Gentiles into the family of God.

The answer is conviction.

Paul was convicted of the truth.

In fact, we see Paul reference his mission of spreading the gospel in over 30 different instances throughout his letters.

Paul was on mission.

Turn with me to Acts chapter 20, verse 17.

Acts 20:17

Verse 17, Paul calls for the elders of the church in Ephesus.

This tells us something important.

Leadership had already been established.

We see the pattern of leadership being established in the churches.

Excuse me.

In Acts 14, 23, on the return leg of his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in every church.

This was systematic.

Later, Paul would instruct men like Timothy and Titus to continue this pattern.

1 Timothy 3, chapter 1 through 7, with a qualification of elders, and Titus chapter 1, verse 5.

Titus 1:5

This is why I left you in Crete, excuse me, so that you might put that, put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town.

Paul's pattern was to preach Christ, make disciples, form a congregation, establish qualified leadership, and ensure doctrinal stability.

Churches were grounded in sound doctrine.

In Acts 20, verse 27, Paul says, For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:27

He didn't give partial truth.

Truth turned into changed hearts for the Lord.

That faith was unmistakable.

We don't see the establishment of different teaching congregations throughout the region.

When Paul left an area, he didn't leave a Baptist church, he didn't leave a Catholic church, or a Methodist church, or a Muslim church, or a people's church, or a Pentecostal church, or strong armed church, or any kind of other churches.

Paul gave the truth from God.

And what was left was a church, a called-out people.

Thank you, brother.

A called out people for Jesus.

Because that is the only way.

That is the only way to God.

It was pure, it was powerful, and it was the whole council of God.

And we are to adhere to that this very day.

The church Paul was establishing was Christ's church.

And it is the only biblical church.

He didn't forget anything.

He declared the whole council of God.

So there was nothing missing.

There was nothing that needed to be added or anything that was better.

If truth was sought after within those regions, people found themselves in Christ's church.

And this is the case today.

Also look with me in 2 Timothy chapter 4.

2 Timothy 4 · chapter mention

Second Timothy chapter 4.

2 Timothy 4 · chapter mention

I want to start with verse 1.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but have having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Paul instructs Timothy to preach the word, and that time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.

And in Colossians chapter 1, verse 28, Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 1:28

That's a key statement.

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy, that he powerfully works within me.

Paul's goal was not shallow Christianity, but maturity.

A Christian was never meant to marinate in basic knowledge, but to grow, to be influential, to effect change from this world.

Perhaps because of this next point.

Churches and brethren were prepared for a future danger.

In Acts 20, verse 29, Paul warns, After my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things.

Acts 20:29

Paul expected real threats, real danger from external persecution.

2 Timothy 3, verse 11 and 12, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, which persecutions I endured, yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

2 Timothy 3:11

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Paul expected threats from internal false teaching.

In 1 Timothy chapter 1, starting in verse 3, as I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach in different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

1 Timothy 1 · chapter mention

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Ever knew a confident false teacher?

There's a lot of them.

Paul expected division and disunity.

Romans chapter 16, verse 17 says, I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.

Romans 16:17

Avoid them.

Paul knew there would be persecutions coming with those churches that were established, external, internal, and disunity.

So he built churches that could survive.

He taught the whole council because these things were coming.

And he wanted, brethren, he wanted churches to be prepared.

Those dangers are our threats of this day.

And so the teaching is not to become stagnant, but to thrive in the knowledge of Jesus, to be ready in season and out, just like 2 Timothy 4 and 2 tells us to.

Paul did not just plant churches, he revisited them.

Acts 20, verses 1 and 2.

Acts 20:1

Luke records that Paul traveled through Macedonia and Greece, giving them much encouragement.

Encouragement was not accidental, it was part of Paul's system.

Notice that Paul strengthened disciples personally.

On earlier journeys, we read in Acts 14, 22, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith.

Paul understood something.

Christians need reinforcement.

They need encouragement.

They need to be constantly, continually built up.

In fact, at the beginning of chapter 20, Paul is lifting up brethren from the result of the riots that we see in chapter 19.

In verse 1, it says, after the uproar ceased, is referring to the riots there in verse 19.

We talked about that last Sunday.

Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed from Macedonia.

Notice also, when he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.

He wrote letters for this purpose.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 13, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope, for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Therefore, encourage one another, encourage one another with these words.

Who doesn't just reel?

Have a step back when a loved one passes from this earth.

It encouraged those brethren over two thousand years ago, and it still brings encouragement.

Also in Philippians, to encourage unity and joy, Philippians 4, 4.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

Again I will say, rejoice.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand.

Paul's words were intended to lift up and to move them forward.

And it's included for us as well, to move us forward.

Paul's ultimate encouragement was always centered on Christ.

In Romans 8, verse 1, he says, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

What greater encouragement is there?

Forgiveness, hope, resurrection, eternal life?

There is no better encouragement.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 58, therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain, telling us your work matters, your faith matters, your endurance matters.

1 Corinthians 15:58

That is encouragement anchored in eternity.

Paul demonstrates what a huge job it is for a Christian to be busy about encouraging.

He models this with individuals, he models this with groups like the Ephesian elders.

He models this with whole congregations.

Why?

Because we all need encouragement.

This flies in the face of someone who thinks they don't need anyone.

The lone wolf, the disciple that has reeled from the pressures of this world, that has stepped into seclusion.

Encouragement is needed.

It's what your brethren do, it's what you do, and it's what we all need.

A quick look into most of Paul's letters shows that he is repeatedly encouraged and is thanking God in prayer for his brethren.

Even Paul needed encouragement.

Nate talked about this at Link last Sunday with the account of Aquila and Priscilla.

You know, you may be saying to yourself just now that I've skipped around all over chapter 20 of Acts, and I haven't even touched on the dear brother that fell out of the third-story building window at night when Paul is preaching.

What about Udicus?

The account of Eudychus is certainly in Acts for a reason and for several reasons we could explore.

Is it speaking to us that are listening to the word that we should move up and in?

It's biblical, I'm just saying.

Up and in.

Thank you for doing that.

Biblical church.

Is it telling us that we probably need to get here a little earlier so we don't have to sit on the third story window seat?

Possibly.

We don't know.

Is it a reminder that we all have purpose in the kingdom?

It gave Paul an opportunity to raise him from the dead and display God's power for sure.

Is it a reminder that God's word, God's word, is something that should be a desire of ours?

Paul, God's word is holy.

We should desire it.

When it is anywhere, we should be there.

Maybe it's a good time to say worship continues tonight at five.

It'd be good to see everyone.

As we continue examining Paul.

Paul's work in Acts 20, we're not simply reading a historical narrative.

Luke is giving us a window into the life and practice of the early church.

What we see in Troas is a congregation that had been shaped by apostolic teaching, and their worship reflects a clear order and purpose.

If you're in this morning's adult class, AJ walked all over this.

I'm just going to cover it again.

Verse 7.

Acts 20, verse 7, on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Acts 20:7

In just this one verse, it reveals several important truths about how the early church worshiped together.

First off, the church assembled on the first day of the week.

Luke tells us very plainly that the disciples gathered on the first day of the week.

This was not random.

It was intentional.

Why the first day?

It was the day our Lord rose from the grave.

It was the day the new covenant family celebrated the victory of Christ over death.

And as the gospel spread and churches were planted, this became the regular time when Christians assembled, among other reasons.

Paul refers to the same practice in 1 Corinthians chapter 16.

1 Corinthians 16 · chapter mention

Now concerning the collection for the saints, this is in verse 1.

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up.

Again, the day is given, the act of worship explained.

The early church had a pattern.

That pattern was rooted in the resurrection of Christ.

The central purpose, if you'll notice, was breaking of bread.

Luke doesn't only tell us when they gathered, he also tells us why they gathered.

He says they came together to break bread.

In the context of Christian worship, this refers to the Lord's Supper, the memorial meal Christ instituted on the night he was betrayed.

Paul explains the meaning of this observance in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 23 and 26.

1 Corinthians 11:23

And Paul concludes with these powerful words.

Could be a silent sermon, a memorial, a holy honor that was conducted on the first day of every week.

The bread said Christ gave his body.

The cup said Christ shed his blood.

The supper proclaimed Christ died for our sins, and the promise remains.

Imagine visiting a battlefield where a great sacrifice took place.

Often there will be a memorial, perhaps a cross, a monument, a wall of names.

Why do people stop there?

Because remembering matters.

The Lord's Supper is the church's memorial.

Each week we specifically include this remembrance to the greatest sacrifice ever made, the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world.

God wants us to remember this sacrifice.

Jesus instituted it, and we observed it today.

Notice also the assembly included teaching from God's Word.

Acts 20, verse 7 also tells us that Paul spoke to them.

Acts 20:7

The assembly was not only about remembrance, it was about instruction.

The word of God was taught, so the church could grow in faith and understanding.

Later in the same chapter, Paul reminds the Ephesian elders, Acts 20 and verse 27, for I did not shrink from the declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul's ministry was not built on entertainment or philosophy or personal opinion.

It was built on the whole counsel of God.

And this remained the responsibility of those who preached after him.

In 2 Timothy 4, verse 2, Paul instructs Timothy, preach the word.

2 Timothy 4:2

Be ready in season and out of season.

Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching.

Keep coming to this verse.

It's a good verse to know.

It's the reason why we preach.

The church gathered not merely to feel encouraged, but to hear the word of God.

We see the apostles' examples establishes the pattern.

When we step back and look at these passages together, we see something important.

The early church followed this consistent pattern of worship.

They assembled on the first day of the week.

They broke bread in remembrance of Christ.

They heard the word of God taught.

They gave and served together.

They worshiped in song and gave glory to God.

This was not a human tradition.

It was a pattern of worship given by an apostle.

Paul even tells the church in 1 Corinthians 11 1, be imitators of me as I am of Christ.

In other words, the churches Paul established were meant to follow the pattern of worship and devotion he had taught them.

We see that those congregations were centered on Christ.

When we look carefully at Acts 20, we see that everything about the church's gathering pointed back to Christ.

The day pointed to his resurrection.

The supper pointed to his sacrifice.

The preaching pointed to his truth.

The assembly pointed to his people.

The entire gathering revolved around Jesus.

That is exactly how the church should still function today.

Imagine a wheel with many spokes.

The spokes may point in different directions, but they all meet at the same center.

For the early church, Christ was that center.

Every act of worship, teaching, communion, giving, fellowship pointed back to Christ.

And when the church keeps Christ at the center, everything else remains in proper order.

We have taken this series, chapter by chapter, which is a good way to divide a series study, but pay attention to the flow throughout the chapters.

What is being established within those texts?

Paul's pattern of establishing congregations is revealed.

Encouragement, building up of those congregations always followed.

Congregational practices are being established.

This is where we get the truth, not man-made.

New believers are being taught principles of Christ.

Elders are being established and guided on feeding and protecting their congregations.

It mattered to Paul and the apostles.

It mattered enough to remind those churches that he established to continue in those teachings and establish practices and not to fear from them.

Those elders, those churches, those disciples had a duty to adhere to the truth.

And we have the same charge upon us because it's important to God.

We know the consequences of deviating from this, from truth, revealed in the old as well as the New Testament.

And we always have the truth in our hearts and confidence and boldness to always stand for it.

Within the travels that Paul was on in chapter 20, here he wrote his letters to 2 Corinthians as well as his letter to the Romans.

And there is so much more within the text that we simply don't have time to unbox.

It deserves further study.

In closing this morning, our series in Acts will continue, Lord willing.

And it will reveal many other things about what we've looked at this morning.

There's enough here in Acts 20 alone to spend an entire semester or more on deep dive studies of what is going on with Paul and the apostles and the church and with teachings for believers and the seekers of truth.

Paul was set upon spreading the gospel because it is the power from God to bring us to salvation.

Souls were in jeopardy those days.

Souls are in jeopardy even today.

His journey within the series is headed back to Jerusalem, which will put him on course for Rome.

But that's another sermon.

Despite the continued persecution, Paul moved forward with God's mission and purpose.

Let's pray.

Our great God and Father in heaven, we thank you for the day of worship and for your word that we've been looking into this morning.

Your word is truth, Father, and we pray that we will always treat your word as holy, as instruction and guidance for us to please you, to worship and honor and glorify you as we should.

We thank you, Father, for the love and grace and mercy you extend to your creation.

It is our desire to adhere to those things in your word, Father.

We thank you most of all for your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, for it is through Him we have access to you, O God, and the forgiveness of our sins.

As we look at Apostle Paul this morning, we thank you for his hard work and example in the kingdom, and we pray we can take your word, proclaim through Paul, and apply it appropriately.

That we not be stagnant, but that we grow in your word, prepared for what is to come, moving forward as Paul always did.

We pray it all through Jesus, Father.

Amen.

There's only one way to God, and it is through the risen Christ.

If you're not baptized in the name of Jesus, understanding that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died in your place, and you're not a Christian.

It's the only way.

You can change that now.

If you've fallen from the position and are living a life of sin again, please come back.

Please repent.

You know there is no other way.

We will pray for you and we'll pray with you.

Whatever the need.

Please come forward as we stand and as we sing the song.