how paul does church acts 20. the fight the question of truth the question of truth “paul has...

How Paul Does How Paul Does ChurchChurch

Acts 20Acts 20

The FightThe Fight

The Question of TruthThe Question of Truth““Paul has persuaded many people that Paul has persuaded many people that

handmade gods aren’t reallyhandmade gods aren’t reallygods at all!gods at all!” ” Acts 19:26Acts 19:26

Vs. “That Hideous Strength”Vs. “That Hideous Strength”

See to it that no one takes you See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to world, rather than according to Christ. Christ. Colossians 2:8Colossians 2:8

No,No, but but I sayI say that the things that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. become sharers in demons. 1 Corinthians 10:201 Corinthians 10:20

Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. Galatians 4:8

The Fight the Church is The Fight the Church is LosingLosing

A Study of Students from Christian homes:

• 52% attended religious services frequently before College.

• Only 29% 2 years later.


““Over the past 20 years…Over the past 20 years…Christians have increasingly Christians have increasingly been adopting spiritual views been adopting spiritual views that come from Islam, Wicca, that come from Islam, Wicca, secular humanism, the eastern secular humanism, the eastern religions and other sources.”religions and other sources.”

39% (of adherents of Protestant 39% (of adherents of Protestant churches) contends that, “the churches) contends that, “the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon are all different Mormon are all different expressions of the same expressions of the same spiritual truths.”spiritual truths.”

What About What About ThisThis Church Church Here?Here?

Don't you wish you had Paul leading this church?

What would Paul say to us if he were passing through this here Macedonia?

Leaders and Workers: ever wondered, “What do we need to do here?”

New People: have you ever wondered, “What does a really cool Christian church look like?”

We’re in luck! Observe:

“They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas.” Acts 20:5 (NLT)

Acts 20:13-16 Dr.Luke Kills us with details… Then:

16 …we came to Miletus.

17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church”

18-21 And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment

The church does not grow by corporate standards or principles! (1 Thes. 2:7-8)

Today’s Clergy-Laity Professionalism: a failure!See 1 Thess. 2:7-8 “But we proved to be

gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”


Only 51% Protestant pastors Only 51% Protestant pastors have a biblical worldview.have a biblical worldview.

Pastors least likely to have a Pastors least likely to have a biblical worldview are biblical worldview are those those who are seminary graduateswho are seminary graduates (45% vs. 59% non-seminarians).(45% vs. 59% non-seminarians).

Just 9% of all “born again” adults Just 9% of all “born again” adults and just 7% of Protestants possess a and just 7% of Protestants possess a biblical worldview.biblical worldview.

““The low percentage of Christians The low percentage of Christians who have a biblical worldview is who have a biblical worldview is a a direct reflection of the fact that half direct reflection of the fact that half of our primary religious teachers and of our primary religious teachers and leaders do not have oneleaders do not have one.”.”

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment

The church does not grow by corporate standards or principles! (1 Thes. 2:7-8)

Today’s Clergy-Laity Professionalism: a failure!

Paul’s Credentials: “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials…”Do we need, as some, letters of commendation to

you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 2 Cor 3:1-4

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment With CourageWith Courage

Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue..

20-21 I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth.

20 I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable…

27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth. Calling for Calling for RepentanceRepentance..20 …solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“If there is no hell, we don't need you; and if there is a hell, you are leading us astray. Either way, we're better off without you!”—Warren Weirsbe BEC - New Testament


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth. Calling for Calling for RepentanceRepentance..

“Often times you'll hear parents say:‘Well, we're just praying for our kids.’” Tony Arnold, Director, Campus Crusade for Christ,“Are Students Losing Their Religion on Campus?”

“I would e-mail her and usually at the bottom of the e-mail, I would put like a reference to a verse in the Bible," Craig Parrish said. "And the reason I didn't write out the verse is I wanted her to look it up, then she might read on either side of that individual verse.”Tony Arnold, Campus Crusade for Christ

I Want Muscles!


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth. Calling for Calling for RepentanceRepentance..

v20 v20 AnangelonAnangelon - - declaring…profitabledeclaring…profitable

v20 v20 DidaskoDidasko - - teachingteaching you you publiclypublicly……house to house to househouse

v24 v24 TestifyingTestifying - - testify solemnlytestify solemnly of the gospel of of the gospel of the grace of God.the grace of God.


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth. Calling for Calling for RepentanceRepentance.. Conveying the Conveying the Grace of GodGrace of God: “testify : “testify

solemnly of the gospel of the grace of solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (v.24)God.” (v.24)


Declaring what is Declaring what is truetrue.. AllAll of the Truth. of the Truth. Calling for Calling for RepentanceRepentance.. Conveying the Conveying the Grace of GodGrace of God: “testify : “testify

solemnly of the gospel of the grace of solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” (v.24)God.” (v.24)

Not Dissuaded or Distracted.Not Dissuaded or Distracted.

22-23 “And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.”

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men Titus 2:11

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment With CourageWith Courage Holding a Precious StewardshipHolding a Precious Stewardship

Not Passive, Not ResignedNot Passive, Not Resigned

24-26 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus…Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.”

“Often times you'll hear parents say:‘Well, we're just praying for our kids.’” Tony Arnold, Director, Campus Crusade for Christ,“Are Students Losing Their Religion on Campus?”

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 2 Cor. 5:18

For we are God's For we are God's fellow fellow workersworkers – – 1 Cor. 3:91 Cor. 3:9


Not Passive, Not ResignedNot Passive, Not Resigned Taking Sanctification Taking Sanctification SeriouslySeriously

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28 (NASB95)

"I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes. "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.

Acts 20:33-34 (NASB95)


Not Passive, Not ResignedNot Passive, Not Resigned Taking Sanctification Taking Sanctification Seriously.Seriously. Not a Not a Messiah ComplexMessiah Complex..

“…the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28 (NASB95)

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment With CourageWith Courage Holding a Precious StewardshipHolding a Precious Stewardship Not NaïveNot Naïve

“I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30

How Paul Does How Paul Does “Church”“Church” By Deep, Personal InvestmentBy Deep, Personal Investment With CourageWith Courage Holding a Precious StewardshipHolding a Precious Stewardship Not NaïveNot Naïve Discovering a Truly Discovering a Truly Fulfilling Life!Fulfilling Life!

“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:32-35

When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedl y kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they were accompanying him to the ship. Acts 20:36-38

Not Just for EldersNot Just for Elders

The Tragedy of ComplacencyThe Tragedy of ComplacencyAmy Mundhenk, co-founder and president Amy Mundhenk, co-founder and president

of the Kent Neo Pagan Coalition chose to of the Kent Neo Pagan Coalition chose to study Wicca, although her parents raised study Wicca, although her parents raised her as a Presbyterian. her as a Presbyterian.

"Dad lives in a world where there is nothing "Dad lives in a world where there is nothing but money. Life is a series of bills to be but money. Life is a series of bills to be paid. My mom is convinced I'm going paid. My mom is convinced I'm going through a phase," Mundhenk says.through a phase," Mundhenk says.

“Nudity is central to some people's beliefs,” Mundhenk says. “It works for me. If you really want to raise the right kind of energy, you've got to take your clothes off.”

Not Just for EldersNot Just for Elders

The Tragedy of ComplacencyThe Tragedy of ComplacencyAmy Mundhenk, co-founder and president Amy Mundhenk, co-founder and president

of the Kent Neo Pagan Coalition chose to of the Kent Neo Pagan Coalition chose to study Wicca, although her parents raised study Wicca, although her parents raised her as a Presbyterian. her as a Presbyterian.

"Dad lives in a world where there is nothing "Dad lives in a world where there is nothing but money. Life is a series of bills to be but money. Life is a series of bills to be paid. My mom is convinced I'm going paid. My mom is convinced I'm going through a phase," Mundhenk says.through a phase," Mundhenk says.

For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 1 Thessalonians 1:8

how paul does church acts 20. the fight the question of truth the question of truth “paul has...

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