A True Servant of Jesus Christ

Acts 20:17-38

Purpose: to see that a true servant of Christ …  

1. Perseveres! (Acts 20:17-21)
       He does not shrink back from gospel ministry though facing adversity

2. Sacrifices! (Acts 20:22-24)
       He considers his own life less important than the ministry

3. Guards the Sheep! (Acts 20:25-31)
       He protects the flock by declaring the whole purpose of God
       Pictures of the Problem:
           1 Timothy 1:19–20; 4:1–5
           2 Timothy 1:15; 2:17–18; 3:1–9
           Revelation 2:1-7
           2 Peter 2:1-3

4. Commends! (Acts 20:32-38)
       He commends his hearers to God!

A true servant is faithfully Christ-centered for himself, and for the church!

A Farewell Tour
Acts 20:1-16

Purpose: God works all things together for the purpose of His glory.

1. Gospel Purpose (Acts 20:1-6)

2. Gospel Power (Acts 20:7-12)

3. Gospel Progress (Acts 20:13-16)

Jesus Christ is building His Church and all the powers of Hell itself will not stop it.

Gospel Triumph!

Acts 19:21-41

Purpose: The Gospel always prevails no matter the trial!

1. Rome-ward Bound! (Acts 19:21-22)

2. Pagan Opposition Rises (Acts 19:23-29)

3. Providential Protection for Paul (Acts 19:30-31)

4. A Climate of Confusion (Acts 19:32-34)

5. Calm Prevails (Acts 19:35-41)

The Word of God is alive and active! He watches over His Word to perform it! (Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 1:12)

The Power Of Christ Displayed
Acts 19:11-20

Purpose: To show that Christ reigns, redeems, restores and reforms completely.

1. Amazing Restoration (Acts 19:11-12)

2. Audacious Rebuke (Acts 19:13-17)

3. Authentic Repentance (Acts 18-20)

The power of Christ is absolute. Therefore, we hope in Him.

Be Disciples of Jesus Christ!

Acts 18:23-19:10 Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

Purpose: to explain the way of God more accurately, that you would be disciples of Jesus Christ!

There were people who identified with the gospel in various ways at Ephesus before Paul arrived. Priscilla and Aquila understood clearly. Apollos had a growing but not accurate understanding. Twelve disciples of John the Baptist whose faith was incorrect and incomplete.

1. Apollos, a Strong Disciple in Need of Growth (Acts 18:23-28)

2. Believe in the One John Proclaimed! (Acts 19:1-7)

3. The Harvest is Plentiful! (Acts 19:8-10)

The Importance of Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ:

• The importance of the “Home Church” Antioch for Paul’s Missionary journeys

Acts 13:1-3; 14:26; 18:22

• The importance of a full understanding of Jesus Christ

A person must believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Acts 18:26

• The importance (and limitation) of John’s Baptism

Preparatory for something greater! Acts 19:4

• The importance of differentiating between servants and the Master

(see 1 Cor 1:10-13)

John the Baptist, Paul, Pricilla, Aquila, and Apollos are all only servants

• The importance of the gospel to those who hear (Acts 19:10)

Mission in the harvest (Matt 9:37; Luke 10:2; John 4:35)

Mission to the unreached (Matt 28:18-20; Rom 15:20; Rev 5:9; 7:9)

Being a true disciple of Jesus Christ holds Jesus above all others and unifies believers!

The Realities of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:12-26, 50-57

Purpose: To show that Christ is raised and our hope has been realized!

1. The Predicament of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 12-19)

2. The Power of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 20-26)

3. The Payout of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 50-57)

Jesus Christ is alive, death is defeated, sin is atoned for, reconciliation is complete, and eternity is secured!

“Follow Me!”

John 12:12-26

Purpose: Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me” (John 12:26)

1. Jesus Christ Fulfills Prophecy (John 12:12-19)
       Psalm 118 around 1,000 B.C.
       Zechariah 9:9-13 prophesied between 500 and 470 B.C.   
       When, exactly, did the disciples figure this out? (v. 16)
       So how should we read and follow this today?

2. The Hour Has Come for the Son of Man to be Glorified! (John 12:20-24)
       The hour coincides with the all-time Greatest Salvation event, the true Passover!
       The hour is "not yet" (John 2:4; John 7:6, 30; John 8:20)
       The “hour has come" (John12:23; 13:1; 16:32; 17:1)
       “The Son of Man” is Messianic! (from Daniel 7:13-14)
       The Gospel is the Glorification of: Jesus the Messiah/Christ/King
       The Son of Man
       At Passover
       In the death, burial, and resurrection of King Jesus (see 1 Cor 15)

3. Follow Me! (John 12:25-26)
       The difference between losing your life or keeping it to life eternal!
       To “follow” is a call to life-long discipleship
       “Follow Me” (John 1:43; 10:27; 12:26; 13:36; 21:19; 21:22)

What is your faith-answer to King Jesus calling you to “follow Me”?

Mission Momentum Manifested
Acts 18:1-22

Purpose: God empowers, sustains and propels His mission to completion.

1. New Partners, New Provision, and a New Practice (Acts 18:1-6)

2. New Believers, New Boldness, and a New Base (Acts 18:7-11)

3. New Resistance, New Response, and a New Result (Acts 18:12-16)

4. New Town, New Tactic, and a New Testimony (Acts 18:18-22)

As the Gospel goes to the nations, God supplies new vigor, new methods, new resolve, and new horizons. 

You Can KNOW God!

Acts 17:16-34

Purpose: that we may know the One True Creator and Savior God Jesus Christ

1. Making the Unknown, Known! (Acts 17:16-23)

2. Knowing the True God (Acts 17:24-29)
     A. This God is the living God, the Creator, the Lord of all things (v. 24)
        He cannot be put in a temple

     B. He is the self-sufficient God who sustains life (v. 25)

    C. He is the Sovereign God (vv. 26-29)
        God made all nations from one man
        God governs human history, boundaries, times, etc.
        God is available to all if they will seek Him
        God maintains our existence
        The image of this Sovereign God is seen in us

3. Knowing Jesus, the Risen and Returning Judge (Acts 17:30-31)
        God commands all people everywhere to repent
         There is a fixed day of judgment
         He will judge all men by Jesus whom He raised from the dead

4. Do You Know Him? (Acts 17:32-34)
        Some sneered at him
        Some wanted more
        Some believed

The One True God is: Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, Savior, and Judge. Have you repented? Do you know Him?

The Persecution Travel Agency
Acts 17:1-15

Purpose: God ordains persecution as a catalyst for mission advance.

1. The Gospel Preached and Received (Acts 17:1-4)

    

    

    

    

2. Jealousy Leads to Persecution (Acts 17:5-9)

    

    

    

    

3. The Gospel Advances and Is Received (Acts 17:10-12)

    

    

    

    

4. Jealousy Leads to Further Persecution and Advance (Acts 17:13-15)

    

    

    

    

The gospel mission is not predicated on mass acceptance, but on faithful advancement.

Nothing Can Stop the Gospel!

Acts 16:11-40

Purpose: To see how nothing can stop the Advance of the Gospel!

1. Salvation… (Acts 16:11-15)
      Proclamation (v. 13)
      The Lord opened her heart to respond (v. 14)
      Lydia and her household baptized (v. 15)

2. Divination… (Acts 16:16-18)
      The slave-girl had a spirit that knew what Paul was preaching!

3. Competition… (Acts 16:19-21)
      Profit and Power and Politics

4. Persecution… (Acts 16:22-24)
      Beaten and imprisoned!

5. While in Prison… (Acts 16:25-26)

6. Release x 2! (Acts 16:27-34)
      Paul and Silas released (v. 27)
      The Jailer released (vv. 29-34)
      The Jailer and his household, Believers Baptized (vv. 33-34)

7. The Gospel Unrestrained! (Acts 16:35-40)

The Holy Spirit empowers the gospel of Jesus Christ to freely move through peoples’ hearts, homes, opposition, persecution, and all obstacles, so that
“as many as” believe in Jesus are saved!

Great Challenges, Greater Capacity
Acts 15:36-16:10

Purpose: To show how God’s providence changes great mission challenges to greater mission capacity for gospel effectiveness.

1. God Redeems a Dispute (Acts15:36-41)

2. God Recruits a Disciple (Acts 16:1-3)

3. God Reveals a Detour (Acts 16:4-10)

God does not seek to frustrate our plans, but to execute His. We must remain humble, flexible, obedient for the sake of the Gospel.

The Gospel for All Nations!

Acts 15:22-35

Purpose: to understand and embrace that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the nations!

1. The Apostolic Answer - From Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 15:22)
       - Jerusalem represented the predominantly Jewish-background Apostolic Church
       - Antioch represented believers in Christ from Jews and Gentiles together

2. The Apostolic Letter That Opened the Floodgates of Mission (Acts 15:23-29)
       - Unauthorized instruction that had …
       - Disturbing words that unsettle souls (see Acts 15:1)…
       - Now settled by the Apostles and elders…
       - That faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ sets Jews & Gentiles free (see Acts 13:32-39)
       - Ends with a call for unity through essentials not pertaining to salvation
       - See also Galatians 3:8 citing Genesis 12:3

3. Messages Delivered, Received, and Advanced! (Acts 15:30-35)
       - Message delivered & received with rejoicing
       - An additional lengthy message given
       - The message of the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ taught and preached with many others!

The floodgates are open! The gospel is not only for us, but for Christ’s mission to the ends of the earth! The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all the nations!