On a Mission from God 3

July 20, 2025   /   Cornerstone Global Methodist Church

Scripture Reading: Acts 20:17-36

If you knew you wouldn’t ever see us again and you had the chance to talk to us and offer some last words, in one last conversation, what would you say?

The man speaking in Acts 20 is named , and wrote nearly half of the New Testament in the form of what kind of writing? … many of which were addressed to people we read about him visiting in the history book called “Acts.”

One of these is named because it’s written to the Christians in Ephesus, that we read about in Acts 18-20!

The pagan residents of Ephesus were especially fond of worshipping the goddess , whose temple was so massive it was one of the “seven wonders of the ancient world”!

BUT Paul has wonderful spiritual success there, and through him God changes many people’s hearts, performs miracles, casts out demons, and so changes some of the pagans that they burn a huge amount of pagan literature and materials!

This makes many other Ephesians mad and they nearly kill some Christian leaders — who don’t give up! The Christian leaders carry on the work and worship as Paul leaves after serving for this number of years there:

Paul leaves to preach and church-plant and encourage Christians in Greece, then comes back to the coast of what is called in the modern day the country of — near Ephesus, calls for the Christian leaders in Ephesus to come talk to him one final time in-person. His words are in Acts 20:17-36

A summary of Paul’s main 5 points to them:

  1. LIVE : v. 18 “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you…”.  Humbly; through tears; through dangerous opposition from ‘The Jews’.     vv. 33, 34 – He didn’t covet people’s money; he worked for what he earned!  ++People are watching you — how are you behaving? Do they see you acting like Jesus?

  2. TO JESUS: v. 20 Paul preached the full truth “publicly and from house to house.” He explained to both Jews and Greeks they “must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”    vv. 26 – 27 – He said “I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the will of God”…and he helped people to r!  ++Who does Jesus expect YOU to tell about Him?

  3. FOLLOW THE : 22 He said he was “compelled by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem (where Jewish leaders see him as a sell-out blasphemer worthy of death). And the Spirit did miracles through him that were radical! Then he says: “The Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me” (Do those end up happening? Tune in next week to find out and keep reading a chapter a day! —but spoiler alert…YES!) ++Are you living in full, balanced believe in and interaction with the supernatural side of the world (especially through the power of Jesus via the Holy Spirit)? Are you totally rejecting all things moral and spiritual that are NOT directly in line with Jesus?

  4. THE FLOCK: care for the ! v. 28—he says to Shepherd the flock of the church of God which Jesus bought with his own blood! Confront heretics, blasphemers, liars, false teachers – correct false teaching.    v. 31 – Paul did this, there in Ephesus, for three years! Be a dedicated ! ++Are you educating yourself in truth, and lovingly speaking truth in opposition to false teaching and behavior? Are you guiding well people you have influence over?

  5. HELP and SERVE! V. 35 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”   Try to earn more than you need not so you can have more stuff but so you can help others to have the stuff they need.   ++Who legitimately is in need that you know of and can legitimately help? Are you earning, saving, investing, and GIVING as much as you can – all for the Lord?

IN ALL OF THIS WE CONTINUE TO G.R.O.W. this summer!

While reading a chapter of Acts (and then Revelation) a day, corresponding with the date (i.e. On July 20, read Acts 20), also incorporate G and R:

G= : “God, thank you for the Scripture and for all the good things in my life…”

R = : “God, what do you want me to know and do from this passage?”

 

 

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