Paul’s Address to the Ephesians Elders

Bible Passage:  Acts 20:18-35

This sermon of Paul was addressed directly to the elders of Ephesus.  While all of us are not elders, the message of Paul still carries significant lessons for us who are leaders in whatever role we are in – as parents, teachers, leaders of Bible Study or Fellowship groups etc.

Paul was on his way to Rome and his aim was to continue preaching to the ends of the earth.  However, he did not want to leave without saying his last words to the leaders of Ephesus and got them to meet him at Miletus.  And in his sermon, one gets the feeling that he was passing on the baton of responsibility for caring for the church to these elders.

There are a few things which I think we can really learn from what Paul said.

Live As I Live

Paul had once exhorted us to imitate him as he imitated Christ ( 1 Cor 11:1).

And here, he reminded the elders…

“… You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;”

~ Acts 20:18-19

In these couple of sentences, we can see what Paul did:

• Paul spent a long time with them.  And in that time, he really got to know them, their interests and worries.  He was not just a leader but a shepherd, following the example of Jesus… “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”.

  Question:  Do we really spend time with the people that we lead and know them?  Or are we just so busy over ‘leading’.

•  Paul was humble towards them.  Again, this echoes the footsteps of Jesus.  Always serving.  Always considering others greater than Himself.

  Question:  Are we truly humble in our service to God?  How about when we serve our fellow brethren?  We would like to think we are but only we would truly know the answer to this.  By the nature of work we do – we are always in the public eye.  And this brings us the danger of wanting people to always see us, to acknowledge us, to think our needs as most important.

  But the aim of our work is not for it to be seen by others.  So let us examine how we serve in the small areas.

•  Paul truly loved them.  His love and concern for the brethren was evident in his tears and trials.  He always wanted the best for them.  But all this came with a cost.  A very high cost.

  Do you love people?  Do you love the people whom you have been given to lead?  Do you love them even when they do not show you any love in return.  Do you love them even when they oppose you, criticise you and react negatively against you?

  How would you respond?

  Paul’s response – like Jesus – was remarkable.  He continued loving them.  Can we?

Preach As I Preach

2. What Paul preached

“how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Acts 20:20-21

The Bible is the truth and Word of God.  And yet, there have been many who have used this word for their own benefit – twisting and crafting it to soothe ears and gain followers.  There are parts of the Bible we don’t want to preach, or deal with, or help people apply to their lives – because these are hard sayings and will brand us as being negative.

But Paul was nothing like this.

He preached for their good and not his popularity.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

~ 2 Tim 3:16

We all know this verse.  And believe that the Scriptures are inspired by God.  But we often neglect the latter part of this verse.  The Word of God is also for reproof and correction and instruction in righteousness.

The truth hurts.  But it saves.

For the good of the church we must leave nothing out.

The danger is very often we do not speak out because most of us want to be liked.  So we only speak of ‘nice’ things.

But Paul kept nothing back because he was faithful in his teaching.  That is what we should do too.

And Paul’s preaching was not just on the pulpit.  It was also from house to house.  Maybe it was even done one to one.  And he preached to all – not just some but both Jews and Greeks.

And his message was always the same:  repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This message is for both Christians and non Christians.  This message needs to be repeated time and time again.

We must know our flock and their state.

Whatever it is, it required time and effort.  And he worked and worked and worked!

Today’s passage does serve as a very timely reminder for me.  May the Lord be merciful on us.