A Glimpse Into The Life Of The Early Church - Acts 20:7-12

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered

together to break bread, Paul began talking to

them, intending to leave the next day, and he

prolonged his message until midnight. There were

many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered

together, and there was a young man named Eutychus

sitting on the windowsill, sinking into a deep

sleep. And as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome

by sleep and fell down the third floor and was

picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon

him. And after embracing him, he said, Do not

be troubled, for his life is in him. When he

had gone back up and had broken the bread and

eaten, he talked with him a long while. until

daybreak and then left. They took away the boy

alive and were greatly comforted. As we continue

our journey in the book of Acts, it's always

a good reminder to remember what the book of

Acts is about and what's happening and what's

taking place and why it's written. So the book

of Acts is really A record of the Lord's work

in establishing and building and growing the

church in the world. It's a record, we could

say, of the result of the gospel in the life

of God's people. How Christians live faithfully

in a fallen world. As part of God's kingdom.

As part of the heavenly kingdom. How Christians

live faithfully in a hostile society and culture.

As they progressively near their heavenly home

and their heavenly destination. Today we get

a beautiful glimpse into the life of the early

church. we get a beautiful glimpse into the gathering

of the early church. We see in this text that,

and we'll consider in this text, the day on which

they met, a distinctly Christian day of worship,

the first day of the week. We'll consider the

substance, or what they were doing as they gathered

together. To worship God. And we'll see. What

the preeminent thing was. As they gathered together.

In this. In the midst of this gathering. We find

Eutychus. This young boy. Who falls out the window.

And dies. But we also find. That the apostle

Paul. Who was present. Revives him. or brings

him back to life, so we can say he died and he

was raised, brothers and sisters. And then Paul

returns to the gathering after comforting the

people and continues to preach and teach to them

after breaking bread. So first, let's consider

today, the day on which the early church gathered

for worship. Notice in verse 7, the text begins,

on the first day of the week. Now, this phrase,

I'm guessing for many of you, will stand out.

You'll think to yourselves, now I know I've seen

that text elsewhere. That phrase, that terminology,

I know that I've witnessed that. And you have,

brothers and sisters. The exact phrase, the first

day of the week, is used in every single one

of the Gospels. It's used in Matthew, Mark, Luke,

and John. Specifically, it's Matthew 28 .1, Mark

16 .21, Luke 24 .1, and John 20 .1. Now, those

sections of Scripture probably sound familiar

as well because it's at the end of the Gospel

account and it's at the beginning of the resurrection

account. So here we find the exact phrase that

is used by the author of the Gospels to describe

the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ rose from

the dead. This phrase is a distinct contrast

with the Jewish Sabbath, which was the last day

of the week, or Saturday. The reason we find

this significant is because the first day of

the week is the consecrated day It's because

on that day, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from

the dead in all His glory, in all His grandeur,

in all His greatness. And this is the day that

the Christian church gathers together to worship

that glorious Savior in all His power. So the

first day of the week is uniquely and distinctly

associated and identified with the resurrection

of Jesus Christ. We could think about this quote

from Matthew Henry, the great Bible commentator.

Listen to what he says. It's simple and straightforward.

He says, The Lord's day, or the first day of

the week, is the Christian Sabbath. In remembrance

of the resurrection of Christ. So, the Lord's

Day, the first day of the week, the Christian

Sabbath, is in remembrance of what, brothers

and sisters? The resurrection of our Lord. Or

we could think about Justin Martyr, one of the

earliest church fathers. Listen to what he says.

The day called Sunday. The day called Sunday.

On all who live in the cities or in the country

come together because it is the day on which

Jesus our Savior rose from the dead. So here's

one of the earliest church fathers stating that

Sunday, the Lord's Day, The first day of the

week is the day that everybody from the cities

and everybody from the countries come together

to worship and praise God. And why is that, brothers

and sisters? Because on that day, the Lord Jesus

Christ rose from the dead. This is significant,

brothers and sisters. Because we are not the

first to worship on this day of the week. We

are not the only ones that worship on this day

of the week. Why do we as believing Christians,

as evangelical Christians who believe in the

gospel of Jesus Christ, worship on this day,

not Saturday, not Monday, not Wednesday? Because

we believe and we confess. that Jesus Christ

rose from the dead and ascended to the Father's

right hand on this day. So the day in which we

worship is built wholly and completely on the

gospel of Jesus Christ. And the day on which

we worship bears witness to the truth and the

reality that we serve and worship a risen Lord.

A risen Savior who is no longer in the grave.

Now, isn't it interesting that in this church,

in the book of Acts, which is so long ago from

us, but was so close, but was fairly close to

the inception of the church, already has an established

principle and practice of what day they gather

and worship on. The early church in this day,

in Acts chapter 20, in the church that Paul planted,

Acts 20 · chapter mention

already maintains the principle that they worship

on the first day of the week. We stand in the

long line of faithful men and women and believers

throughout the ages, brothers and sisters, and

we confess a distinctly and uniquely Christian

By worshiping on Sunday. Now, what did they do

when they came together to worship? What was

the substance of their worship when they gathered

together? Now, it's important that we understand

and we recognize that just as they worshiped

on the first day of the week, because that was

established for them by the apostles, And the

risen Lord and his resurrection. The nature.

And the content. And the substance. And the life

and the practice of their church. Was built on

apostolic patterns. That they had been taught

by the apostle Paul. And the other apostles.

Now if we go back to Acts chapter 2. We find.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

This pattern. We referenced this several weeks

ago. In Acts chapter 2. In verse 42. We read

Acts 2 · chapter mention

these words. They were continually devoting themselves.

To the apostles teaching. And to fellowship.

To the breaking of bread. And to prayer. There's

the pattern. Of the life. Of the early church.

Doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread,

and prayer. So it's no coincidence that as we

come to Acts chapter 20, we find the same pattern

Acts 20 · chapter mention

being practiced and emphasized in its gathering

on the first day of the week. We see in this

text the fact... That they were corporately and

intentionally coming together, gathering physically,

geographically, to sit under the Word, to take

part in the ordinances, to pray, and to fellowship

as the body of Christ. In the text, We see the

breaking of bread. Now, in the early church,

this included the Lord's Supper, but also what

was called traditionally as an agape feast. We

see this reference in the book of Jude, or they

might be called love feasts. And so in these

feasts, there was fellowship, and there was fellowship

at a meal over the... Table, we could say. And

at the end of this, most likely, they concluded

with the taking of the Lord's Supper. As the

Lord Jesus Christ had instituted it in the upper

room. So not only did they worship on the Lord's

Day, but brothers and sisters, they gathered

together to remember the Lord and His work. And

then we find that they sat under the ministry

of the Word. What does the text say? Paul began

talking to them, intending to leave the next

day. And he prolonged his message until midnight.

Then we read again. And there was a young man

named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking

into a deep sleep. And as Paul kept on talking,

and then we see a little bit later, he talked

with them a long time. But notice it's not just

random discussion. It's referred to as a message

in verse 7. It's a discourse that Paul is giving.

So we have the Christians coming together corporately

and gathering together, taking part in the Lord's

Supper and fellowshipping, and we have the ministry

of the Word present. Now, just because prayer

is not mentioned in this text, That does not

mean that they did not partake in that. That

they did not exercise prayer and they did not

pray for one another. We read throughout the

remainder of this narrative, especially in the

latter part of chapter 20, that Paul prayed with

the Ephesian elders. We read in chapter 20, verse

36, when he had said these things, he knelt down

and prayed with them all. And then we read a

little bit later in chapter 21, verse 5. When

our days there were ended, we left and started

on our journey. Well, they all, with wives and

children, escorted us until we were out of the

city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying,

we said farewell to one another. We have every

reason to believe that this gathering at Troas

with Paul teaching included every aspect and

every element that is referenced in Acts chapter

Acts 2:42

2 verse 42. The life of the church is built on

the pattern that the apostles had given to them.

That the apostles themselves had instituted and

established in the churches which they themselves

planted, brothers and sisters. In a sense, we

could say this about the life of the church,

especially with regards to chapter 20. There's

nothing novel taking place in chapter 20 that

has changed or... Or been adjusted. They're doing

the same thing. That the church did. In Acts

Acts 2:42

chapter 2 verse 42. They weren't creating and

developing. Novelties. For the early church.

And for the members of the early church. What

were they doing when they gathered together.

Brothers and sisters. They came together on the

first day of the week. They sat under the preaching

of the word. They sang hymns. They came together

and they took the ordinances. They came together

and they prayed and they fellowshiped with one

another. That was the life of their church. They

were committed to this corporate gathering in

this manner, in this function. We don't do something

terribly different than that, do we, brothers

and sisters? The life of our church is built

and established. Very similarly to the life of

the early church. Why is that? Why are there

not all these novelties that had no place in

the primitive church or the early church? Why

are there not all these new things? Brothers

and sisters, why are there not all these creative

realities? To draw men. To appease men. To meet

men's needs. Why, brothers and sisters, the apostles

did not establish that and their pattern for

the life and practice of the church. They ordained

the Word. They ordained prayer. They ordained

the Lord's Supper and Baptism. That's what we

do because it is very, very similar to what the

early church did in reality. These were Christians

who prioritized corporate worship and the realities

of corporate worship because of the gospel. Why

did the early Christians gather together? Because

Christ had saved them. Why did they come together?

Why did they want to put voice to their praise?

Why did they want to love their brothers and

sisters in Christ? Why did they want to hear

in the Word? Because Jesus Christ had saved their

souls from hell. He had made them new creatures

in Christ. He had given them the Holy Spirit

and He had changed them, brothers and sisters.

He had brought them out of the dominion and rule

of Satan and He had given them all the glorious

and eternal blessings that God has given to His

Son to them. So what do they do? They come together

and they worship Him because they're compelled

to. They have a longing in their heart to praise

the risen Christ because He has rescued them.

The Holy Spirit creates a longing and a desire

to praise the Lord. The Holy Spirit creates a

longing and a desire to love our fellow men,

and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Holy Spirit creates a longing within us to

hear Christ in His Word. That's why they came

together, brothers and sisters. And that is why

we must come together. Why do you come here on

the Lord's Day? What is your purpose? What is

your intention and your motivation for gathering

together? Can you come and sit in this sanctuary

and worship God without ever thinking about God

Himself? Without ever actually interacting with

the living, risen Christ? Brothers and sisters,

we gather together to meet with God. We gather

together to come to Him and to hear from Him.

Do you come together because you are eager to

praise the Son of God who gave Himself on your

behalf? Do you come together to lift your voice

in praise and adoration to the God who has redeemed

you because of grace and mercy alone? Or do you

come together for some other reason? With some

other end in mind? If there is any other reason,

then it's wrong. Our worship is a result of Christ

and His salvation in our lives. We come together

because Christ has indeed saved us, brothers

and sisters. Do you have gratitude welling up

inside of you where anticipation is building

because you want to proclaim it to the risen

Christ? Do you want to hear what Christ has to

say for you in His Word? Or do you come? And

gather because you've always come together and

gathered. Or do you come and gather because your

wife or your husband comes and gathers? Do you

come to appease something in your heart and your

mind or in somebody else's life? We come because

Christ has saved us. Why do you? Gather together

on the Lord's Day to worship the risen Lord,

brothers and sisters. The risen Christ knows

our heart and He knows our minds. Bring a smile

to His face, brothers and sisters. And come to

Him because of Him. Worship Him because of Him.

Sing because of Him. Listen to the Word because

of Him. Not because of yourself or men, but because

of the risen Lord and the work that He has done

in your life personally. So, this is what their

meeting, their gathering was made up of. And

this is why they came together on the first day

of the week. And they gave themselves to the

worship of God. Now there's something else that

we have to consider in this text. There's this

whole situation or episode with Eutychus falling

asleep and falling out the window and dying.

Now we come to this and we're tempted to think

that's very, very random. What's the purpose

of this? Why is this even... recorded in our

Bibles. But before we get to that, it's important

for us to understand that in the life of the

church and its corporate gathering, we see in

this text that the ministry of the Word, or Paul's

preaching, teaching, his speaking, his message,

has the prominent position in the assembly. It

has the preeminent place among those who are

gathered together. Now, I'm not just going to

say that and leave it there. I'll show you why

that is the case. Because I'm sure some of you

are saying, well, preacher, that's easy for you

to say. You're the one preaching. You want it

to be about the preaching and the teaching. But

brothers and sisters, that's not the case at

all. I want you to see this in the text because

it is for the good of your soul. It's for your

good to esteem the Word of God as Christ Himself

esteems the Word of God. It is for the good of

your soul to have a high view of the holy, infallible,

inerrant Scriptures and the Gospel. So I want

to show this to you in the text and demonstrate

why the Word has preeminence and how the Word

has preeminence in this text. If you remember,

Two weeks ago we spoke about the fact that it

was Paul's exhortation and encouragement which

definitively marked his ministry as an apostle

to the churches. In this portion, in this meeting,

we find a concrete example of that exhortation.

We find the prominence of this. The word is seen.

And the fact that the whole narrative. In a sense.

Is built around Paul's message. His preaching.

His teaching. His talking. And his message. As

it is described in verse 7. Verse 7. Says this.

Paul began talking to them. Intending to leave

the next day. And he prolonged his message. Then

in the middle of the text. We read this. And

as Paul kept on talking. And then we read in

verse 11. When he had gone back up and had broken

the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long

while until daybreak. Beginning, middle, and

end. But also notice that the primary thing that

draws our attention, the death and resurrection

of Eutychus. When does it occur? While Paul is

preaching and teaching. Right in the middle of

his message. And what does Eutychus' episode

make us automatically think about? Paul's message.

It's pointing us right back to Paul's message.

The ministry. Of God's word. We see that he prolonged

his message. So if we think about this. This

meeting. At Troas. Between Paul and the believers.

The substantial. Thing that composed this meeting.

Meaning hours and hours. Was the preaching and

teaching. The exhortation of the apostle. Now,

this was a unique situation because Paul most

likely would never see these believers again,

so he extends his message. It takes up an expansive

amount of time, and it takes up an expansive

amount of the service itself in Acts chapter

Acts 20 · chapter mention

20. So we find that it is prominent in this text.

We could look on at other sections in this narrative

and Paul bears witness to the importance of his

proclamation and the word of grace or solemn

testifying to the grace of God and the gospel.

We find in this text the importance of the word

of God is confirmed. very, very clearly. We read

about Eutychus. He's sitting on the windowsill.

He's getting very, very tired. And he falls out

because, clearly, he loses bodily control. And

he falls from the window, lands on the ground,

and he is dead. The temptation... Is to look

poorly and think poorly at Eutychus. Because

he wasn't paying attention. Because he wasn't

focused enough on the word. I don't think that's

right. The reality is it was late at night. They

were meeting in the evening. There was many lamps

as it says. It was dark brothers and sisters.

Paul was preaching a long time. He was never

going to see these believers again. And this

was a young man. Probably someone who had not

met puberty yet. And he's getting tired. He's

getting worn out. And what's he do? He passes

out and he falls out the window and he dies.

So I don't think there's blame to be had on Eutychus.

But the other temptation is to put the blame

on Paul because he's preaching a long time. But

that's clearly not what takes place because the

apostle returns to the message. He doesn't stop

preaching. Oh, this is more significant. No,

he brings the boy back to life and resumes his

proclamation. So obviously, that's not the case.

So what is the purpose of this miracle in the

midst of the assembly as they are gathering together?

Well, if we think about miracles in the Bible,

and in the Old Testament in particular, and in

the ministry of the Lord and Peter and Paul,

what is the purpose of miracles, brothers and

sisters? Is it to... Just simply show how powerful

and mighty God is or show how powerful and mighty

a person is like this power originates with them?

No. The purpose of signs and wonders in the Bible

is to bear witness to the message and the truth

or the ministry and the messenger like the apostles.

So let's go ahead and turn. to a couple examples

and consider these. We read in 1 Kings 17, 21

-22. We find a very similar story. This is not

the first time that someone has died and been

brought back to life. In the pages of Scripture.

The prophet Elijah had sought to do a kindness

to the Shunammite woman who had been so kind

and caring to him. So he proclaims that she will

have a child, that she will bear a son. Well,

she has a child, and here's what we read. When

the child was grown, the day came that he went

out to his father to the reapers. He said to

his father, My head, my head. And he said to

a servant, Carry him to his mother. When he had

taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat

on her lap until noon and then died. She went

up and laid him on the bed of the man of God

and shut the door behind him and went on. Then

she called to her husband and said, Please send

me one of the servants and one of the donkeys.

that I may run to the man of God in return. He

said, Why will you go to him today? It is neither

a new moon nor Sabbath. And she said, It will

be well. Then she saddled a donkey and said to

her servant, Drive and go forward. Do not slow

down the pace for me unless I tell you. So she

went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her at a distance, he

said, To Gehazi his servant. Behold there is

the Shunammite. Please run now to meet her. And

say to her. Is it well with you? Is it well with

your husband? Is it well with your child? And

she answered. It is well. When she came to the

man of God. To the hill. She caught hold of his

feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away.

But the man of God said. Let her alone, for her

soul is troubled within her, and the Lord has

hidden it from me and has not told me. Then she

did. Then she said, Did I ask for a son from

my Lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? So

hear the woman questioning the word of the prophet.

And so what takes place? Elijah goes and heals

the son in a very similar fashion. We read this

of Elisha. I apologize. So he entered and shut

the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord.

And he went up and lay on the child and put his

mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and

his hands on his hands. and he stretched himself

on him, and the flesh of the child became warm.

The child came back to life. And what does the

woman do? Then she went in and fell at the feet

and bowed herself to the ground, and she took

up her son and went out. This man is a prophet.

His word and his message. is confirmed in the

reality that the son was brought back to life.

She could trust the word of the prophet. If he

gave her a son, the son would live, even if that

meant resurrecting the child. She could trust

the word of the prophet, or we could say she

could trust the prophetic word. Now we read in

1 Kings. with Elijah, 1 Kings 17, verses 21 -22.

1 Kings 17:21–22

Now it came about after these things that the

son of the woman, the mistress of the house,

became sick, and his sickness was so severe that

there was no breath left in him. So she said

to Elijah, What do I have to do with you, O man

of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity,

to remembrance, and to put my son to death. He

said to her, Give me your son. Then he took him

from her bosom and carried him up to the upper

room where he was living and laid him on his

own bed. He called to the Lord and said, O Lord

my God, have you also brought calamity to the

widow? with whom I am staying by causing her

son to die. Then he stretched himself upon the

child three times and called to the Lord and

said, O Lord my God, I pray you, let this child's

life return to him. The Lord heard the voice

of Elijah, and the life of the child returned

to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child

and brought him down from the upper room into

the house and gave him to his mother. And Elijah

said, See, your son is alive. Now listen to what

the woman says. Then the woman said to Elijah,

Now I know that you are a man of God and that

the word of the Lord in your mouth is true. What

was the purpose of these children, these young

people, being raised up from the dead? With regards

to the prophets. To bear witness to the truth.

That these men were prophets. And that their

message was of God. Why did Christ work signs

and wonders throughout his ministry brothers

and sisters? To bear witness to the truth. That

the gospel which he came to accomplish and proclaim.

Was true and real. Why did the apostles. work

wonders and miracles throughout their ministry,

to bear witness to the validity and the veracity

of their message and their ministry, brothers

and sisters. So here we have Paul preaching and

teaching to this early assembly. And out falls

Eutychus and he dies. And down goes Paul and

he lays himself upon this young person. Very

similar to what the prophets had done. Very similar

to what we see Christ having done and Peter.

And then he says, don't worry. He's alive. Then

Paul goes back up and preaches. Now, think about

what that would do to the congregation that just

witnessed this miraculous event. If there was

somebody beforehand who maybe was questioning

Paul's words and his message, then what do you

think they would think after Paul just brought

this young boy back from the dead? Who? God is

with him. God's hand is upon this man. The power

of God is with him. His message is true. I ought

to listen to what this man says because he raises

people from the dead. So we find, brothers and

sisters, that this miraculous event with Eutychus

actually confirms the importance of Paul's message.

Paul's preaching. Paul's word. The Scripture

teaches in this text the all -importance of the

Scripture. We don't have apostles going around

preaching anymore, do we, brothers and sisters?

Paul's not living and breathing, going around

proclaiming divine revelation. We do have a Bible,

don't we? We do have a closed canon of Scripture

that has the same authority that Paul, in his

apostolic doctrine, possessed himself. So, if

we think about the fact that Christ from heaven

was bearing witness to his message that his apostle

was preaching, How important ought the word of

God be to us as we have a closed canon that has

been handed down to us. We have the word of the

living God, brothers and sisters. Is it precious

in your sight? Is it precious to you? The word

is the chief. means of grace in the life of the

believer and in the life of the church. What

do I mean by that? It is the chief means of grace

because, one, it is effectual unto salvation.

It gives new life. God applies power to the Word

and saves men. That is not true of the ordinances.

How do we know what baptism is, brothers and

sisters? How do we know how to rightly administer

baptism? How do we know how to rightly worship

the living God? Where do we find that out at,

brothers and sisters? The Word of God. The Word

of God is the chief means because it interprets

and informs all the rest of the life of the church.

And brothers and sisters, it is a chief means

of grace because it is a chief means by which

the living Christ sanctifies and nourishes His

people in their souls and builds His church.

So it's good for us to have a high view of the

Word of God. It is good for us to have and to

seek to have an esteem of the Scriptures. That

is similar to Christ's esteem and love and view

of the Scriptures themselves. Naturally, there

are all kinds of applications for this, are there

not? In the life of the church and in the life

of the believer. Typically, this story is the

occasion. Of men to make jokes. About long sermons.

About long winded preachers. But knowing the

purpose of this event. And this episode. What

is it actually meant to do brothers and sisters?

To induce reverence. And a high view of God's

word. It's meant to elevate the Word of God in

our sight, in our hearts. It's meant to remind

us of the importance and the significance of

God's Word in the life of His people and in the

life of the church. I long, as I read the book

of Acts and I read the New Testament, I long.

for our church and for other churches to be like

the New Testament church. Full of life and vitality.

And me saying this, brothers and sisters, is

not saying I don't think we have any of it. That's

not what I'm saying. But we can still excel all

the more, as Paul tells the Thessalonians. I

long for our church and other churches to have

the power of God upon us. That we would be filled

with the Spirit of God and bold with regards

to our praying and with regards to our evangelism

and our calling men to repentance and faith.

Bold with regards to our loving our brothers

and sisters in Christ. Bold with regards to our

sacrifice for the name of Christ. Our willingness

to be identified and associated with the people

of God. I long for Christ's blessing to be upon

our body and other bodies like it was in the

first century. But if we want that, do you know

what that means and what that requires of us?

That means we have to view the Word as they viewed.

the Word. If we want a revived church, if we

want revived souls, revived hearts, do you know

what that means, brothers and sisters? We must

have a revival with regards to our view and our

esteem of the Word of God in our lives personally

and corporately, where we hold it higher than

everything else. It informs everything else in

the life of the church and in our lives personally.

This is a view like that of Christ. If Christ

did not have a high view of His Word, He would

not have raised Eutychus from the dead. That

power did not originate with Paul, brothers and

sisters. That was the risen Christ exerting his

divine power to bear witness to what? The gospel

message that he had entrusted to his apostles.

Christ has a high view of the word. We ought

to seek out to enjoy a high view of God's word.

In our lives as well. How do you. Value and see.

And treat the word of God. What is your view.

Of God's holy word. Is there reverence in your

heart? Is there a bit of trepidation or caution

with regards to the word of God? It's not my

word. It's not your word. It's God's word. There

should be great joy. But brothers and sisters,

there ought to be a bit of sobriety as well when

we handle the holy word of the living God. How

do you think about the Word? Do you treat it

like every other book? Do you read it like every

other book? Do you come to it like every other

book? Or do you think about it, read it, memorize

it, think about it, with regards to the fact

that it is divine. And it is the word of the

living God who made the world and all that is

in it. One of the greatest privileges of my life,

brothers and sisters, is to proclaim the word

of God. I will forever be grateful to Christ.

that I have the opportunity to preach the Word

of God regularly. But we have to understand this

about that as well. One of the most terrifying

things that I do as an individual is preach the

Word of God. Do you know why that is? Because

I'm handling His Word and His truth. Not my own.

I have no right to change it. I have no right

to twist it or adjust it. Or to wiggle around

certain things. There's caution and sobriety

and reverence as we come to God's Word. But brothers

and sisters, there's joy. And there's comfort

and there's peace knowing... that God has in

fact given us his holy word. All of this, brothers

and sisters, informs not just our treatment of

the word, but our hearing of the word. When we

think about Eutychus, we typically, I would assume,

associate more with Eutychus and his growing

exhaustion to the point where he passes out,

as opposed to the multitude that was present,

that focused on Paul's instruction, and that

faithfully sat under it and heard the apostolic

doctrine being proclaimed. how we think about

God's Word will inform how we hear God's Word

and listen to God's Word, brothers and sisters.

And our hearing of God's Word will either lead

to or dismiss our experience of God's Word. At

the end of this text, We read this. They took

away the boy alive and were greatly comforted.

Now, they weren't simply comforted because Eutychus

was living and breathing in fine. They just gathered

corporately and sat under the preached word and

sang hymns to God and fellowshiped with the saints

and taken part in the Lord's Supper. Why are

they comforted? Because they know what Paul has

said is true, brothers and sisters. If we will

open our ears and our hearts to hear the word

of the living God, brothers and sisters, we can

experience the word of God in our hearts and

enjoy comfort and peace and hope and have our

hearts stirred up and have our faith strengthened.

But it all begins with how we think about His

Holy Word.