Notes for Sunday "Tying Up Loose Ends"

1. Tying Up Loose Ends Acts 20 2. Key concept …let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds…encouraging one another…Hebrews 10:24-25 3. Tying Up Loose Ends Closing the coffeehouse story 4. Fixing to get ready After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia. When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. 5. Great story! 7 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. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. 9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” 11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. 12 They took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted. 6. Sailed to a central meeting place But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land…Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. 7. One last exhortation Summoned disciples Gathered associates Visited the new churches Celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread 8. Paul speaks to the leaders 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; 9. Reinforces their share history The memory of the righteous is a blessing…Proverbs 10:7 10. His work among them how 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. 11. Paul’s Preaching Ministry Declaring what is profitable Teaching everywhere Testifying of repentance and faith 12. Revelation 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. 13. Spirit Led Not always happy Burden shared 14. Reinforcing his work And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 15. A goodbye Kingdom oriented Duty discharged 16. A charge 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. 17. Overseers Be Watchful Watch the flock Shepherd them 18. A dire warning 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. 19. Address to leaders He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. John 10:12–13 20. Jesus’ warning and Paul’s Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 21. God will keep you 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. 22. Remember and follow my example 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.’ 23. Final goodbye When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly 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. 24. Our Take-Away Finishing something is not just walking away Be “Big Picture” oriented Always leave on good terms Relationships are for a lifetime 25. Tying Up Loose Ends Let’s pray