2023-06-11 Leading With the Gospel

LEADING WITH THE GOSPEL (Acts 20:17-21) June 11, 2023 Read Acts 20:17-21 - Paul's on a beeline to Jerusalem. But when his ship docks at Miletus, 30 miles from Ephesus, he calls the elders. What follows is one of the most touching scenes in the Bible. Paul loves these men where he's invested 3 years of his life. He wants to leave them a legacy. What results is the only sermon in the NT devoted exclusively to believers. It covers Paul's past, his present and his future - each as a means of instruction. This is leadership by example. Today we look at Paul's Past: 18b) "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19) serving the Lord." Serving the Lord - that was Paul's life. It wasn't about Paul; it wasn't even about the people, tho he loved them. It was always about "serving the Lord." He's a "slave of Jesus Christ" (Rom 1:1). He was not interested in money or the easy life. His life was about serving the Lord. I pray that would be our driving motive as well. Robt Morgan saw a man in the park one day with his dog who happily ran circles around his master, eyes locked on him. He never glanced at anyone else and only left his master's side to chase the tennis ball the man threw. Morgan thought, "That dog is smarter than I. He knows the greatest thing in life is to serve his master." That's why we were made. To glorify our master. How? Well, Paul served by his Walk and by his Words. I. Paul Served the Lord by His Walk (Characterized in 3 ways) A. He Served with Humility Not some humility -- all humility. Paul wasn't promoting Paul. He asked nothing - often plying his tentmaking trade to pay his way. He knew what Augustine later expressed, "For those who would learn God's ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second thing, humility is the third thing." Paul knew it was about Christ, not Paul. To the fragmented Corinthians he said, I Cor 3:4-6: "For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." Others came to entertain; not Paul: I Cor 2:2-5:" For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." Paul wanted God's glory, not his. As he sat in jail in Rome - a bonafide Xn celebrity by then. Should have been well-treated by Roman Xns; instead he got the cold shoulder. Phil 1:15 Some indeed [from Rome] preach Christ from envy and rivalry . . . out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." "It's not about me; it's about Christ." So, how is your service? Do you have to be in the spotlight? Do you quit if unrecognized? When someone hurts you, or criticizes, do you give up? Or like Paul in jail in Rome, can you keep on going with a sweet spirit? Is your life characterized by humility or is it self-promotion? Serious questions, aren't they? Challenging? If your ministry does take you front-and-center, as a teacher, worship leader, singer, elder or deacon, can you handle it? George Whitfield, greatest preacher of his day, often addressed 20,000 to 25,000 without a mic, knew how to handle praise. When told how great his sermon was, he would reply: "I know it; the devil told me that just as I was stepping down from the pulpit." We need to cultivate such humility in our own ministry - an ability to serve even if no one is looking, even if there is no recognition, even if our efforts seem unappreciated. Believe me, God isn't missing anything - neither our faithfulness, nor our unfaithfulness! B. He Served with Humanity Paul shed tears over the Ephesians. He cared about their physical needs. He told Tim to take a little wine for his stomach issues (I Tim 5:23). But mostly Paul cared about the eternal destiny of believers and unbelievers. He cared for Jewish brothers: Rom 9:2-3: "that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." What compassion! I love you folks dearly. I do. But give up my salvation for you? I wish I had that compassion. Paul had compassion for those struggling in their faith. He said to the confused Corinthians in II Cor 2:4: "For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears." He saw what every pastor sees - people knowing the Word, choosing to disobey, then wondering why their lives are a mess. It is heart-rending refuse God's wisdom: "But you don't understand my wife, my husband, my boss, my kids, my needs. This is a unique situation that God didn't know about." As a pastor you know the trainwreck that's coming. It's agonizing to watch. Paul also cried over false teachers. He says in Acts 20:29: "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears." John R. Rice was Dad's favorite preacher. He used to shed tears during sermons. Decided once it was undignified and tried to stop. But the power dried up. He realized tears as an expression of compassion was no problem, and God blessed his ministry. Let's pray for compassion. C. He Served Through Hardship Everywhere Paul went, the Jews, the very people he said he'd give up his eternal life for, were always opposing him. We don't know how, but it happened in Ephesus as well. But Paul didn't quit. He kept on going. Love is costly. Ever notice when God gives you someone to love, they can be the most critical, unkind, unappreciative people you've ever known? Ever notice that? To love the unlovely is hard. But Paul knew suffering was part of the deal. Right after his conversion, God sent Ananias to tell him he'd have a ministry to the Gentiles, then added, Acts 9:16: "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Suffering was part of the deal. So, are you willing to love, even when it takes time you don't have, money you haven't got and emotional energy on empty? We're like the guy who went away to college. He wrote his girl: "Darling, I would climb the highest mountain just to look into your eyes; I'd swim the widest stream for a touch of your hand; I'd cross the burning desert for one of your smiles. I love you with all my heart. Jim." Then he added a P.S. "I'll be back to see you on Saturday if it doesn't rain." A lot of blow and no go there. Ministry means suffering - like Jesus. Rom 5:8: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners (still ungrateful and unlovely), Christ died for us." He loved through hardship. II. Paul Served the Lord by His Word (His message) A. It Was Thorough - Paul loved the good news. But knew it is meaningless without the bad news. So he shared the whole counsel of God - the bad news that all are sinners and hellbound - but the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save us. It's never been a popular message. Paul warned in II Tim 4:3: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." What a description of our own day when people will throng to hear 10 steps to a happy marriage or 5 steps to getting along with your boss, but one mention of hell and the crowd will be cut in half next week. We cater to itching ears, Beloved. Not Paul. Prov 29:25: "The fear of man lays a snare." That fits too many preachers and too many hearers today. We must never joy in talking about judgment. But neither must we shy away from the truth. The purity of the gospel demands we tell the whole truth - Jesus told His neighbors in Capernaum, Mt 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Wonderful, life-giving words. Unbelievable release from guilt and uncertainty. But those words came right after He warned Mt 11:24: "But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you." He gave the whole truth! There is no good news unless there is bad news. If I say, "Good news. They can cure cancer," but you don't have cancer, that's not good news. It's irrelevant to you. That's why we must tell the whole story. Good and bad. B. It Was Timely -- Paul was "teaching you in public and from house to house" -- never off-duty! We think sharing the gospel is the job of the pastor on Sunday morning. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is all of our job, all of the time. However we can - whether it is by the things we hang on our walls, the books and Bibles that lie around our home, the Bible verse we have on our business cards or vehicles, the tracts we have to hand out when opportunity arises, special invitations to a Bible study or Xn event, giving someone a Xn book or new Bible, or speaking with them directly. We can follow Paul, using any means available to share Christ. President Reagan wrote in his diary, May 19, 1982. "Nancy is very depressed about her father's health. I want so much to speak to him about faith. He's always been an agnostic; now I think he knows fear for probably the first time. I believe this is a moment when he should turn to God and I want so much to help him do that." I don't know if Reagan was a believer or not, I pray all of us would be looking for similar opportunities to point others to Christ at the opportune moment. Leading with the gospel. C. It Was Timeless -- It is great that Jesus died for sins and rose again. But how do we get in on that? Doing better? Giving to the poor? Getting baptized? All good things, but none can give you life. So what? Repenting of your sins and trusting in Jesus. Even those require a work of God in our hearts. But as I respond in faith to His call, repent my sins and believe Jesus died and rose again for me - in that very moment my heart is cleansed, my sins forgiven and my guilt removed. That is good news. Repentance toward God and faith in Christ -- two sides of the same saving coin. You cannot really have one without the other. True repentance leads to faith. True faith leads to repentance. Repentance means more than remorse. To repent means to with my whole heart turn from my sin and turn toward God. Like the tax collector in Lu 18:13b: "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" No more arguments with God; no more holding out; no more bargaining. It is a total turn from self to God. That's repentance. Faith? It is a commitment of all that I know of myself to all that I know of Him for now and for eternity. It is a full commitment to His sinless life, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection and His living authority in my life now. It's not just knowing facts; it is committing your eternal destiny to those facts and submitting to His Lordship. That's believing in Jesus. Conc - So, have you claimed Christ as the greatest prize of life? Listen to Rev 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." He's promised; He'll do it. It is simply for you, in the quietness of your own heart, right now, to confess your sin, open the door and let Him in. The invitation will not last forever, but it is wide open this morning. If you do know Him, are you leading with the gospel in your walk and your words? II Cor 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." That is to be the crux or our life - to by Word and Walk point people to Christ. Let me close with Spurgeon's words: "If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for." God help us to have that same heart. Let's pray. DONE 7