Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Last week we began our study of this topic, pay attention.
We are going to continue to learn this morning from Paul’s conversation with the Ephesian elders.
One of my brothers used to work at a factory.
One of the jobs at this factory was to make pallets.
It was a very monotonous job.
You grab the pieces, hold them up to the stapler and it shoots a staple to hold them together.
Rotate the pieces and repeat.
One day we get a phone call from him saying that he is on his way to the hospital for a tetanus shot because he had stapled his finger to one of the pallets.
Basically, he quit paying attention.
The job was the same thing over and over again and he zoned out.
Before he knew it, BAM! His finger was stapled to the pallet.
We have to pay attention.
This passage challenges us to pay attention in three areas.
We looked at the first one last week.
We are going to look at the final two today.
It is important for us to pay attention because
Failure to pay attention leads to disaster.
Like stapling your finger to a pallet.
However…
When we pay attention to these areas three things happen.
We are able to be effective for Christ.
We are able to defend against false teaching.
We are able to encourage the body of Christ.
In order to be effective for Christ we discussed the need to…
In order to be effective for Christ we discussed the need to…
1. Pay Attention To Your Reputation vv.
17-24
To have a reputation that reflects the character of Christ we need to take two actions.
One.
We…
a. Serve without restraint vv.
17-21
This means there are no limits on our service.
Two.
We…
b.
Serve without reserve vv.
22-24
This means we hold nothing back.
This is how Paul served.
This is the reputation he had.
When we pay attention to our reputation and serve in this way we will be effective for Christ.
As we continue examining Paul’s message to the elders of the Ephesian church we come to a second result of paying attention.
As we continue examining Paul’s message to the elders of the Ephesian church we come to a second result of paying attention.
Do you want to defend against persecution?
Then…
2. Pay Attention To Your Preparation vv.
25-31
Persecution is a real thing.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it here in the US.
In other countries churches are being burned, bombed, and destroyed.
Christians are being harassed, beaten, and killed.
Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders to be prepared.
Preparation is really the only defense we can offer.
God defends us.
All we can do is prepare to face whatever He allows to come our way.
There are three preparations that need to be made.
#1…
a. Prepare for changes v. 25
READ v. 25
Paul has just shared in v. 23 that he is going to face chains and tribulations.
In every city they have visited, the Holy Spirit has revealed Paul’s coming trials.
In v. 24 Paul passionately declared that the promise of suffering doesn’t move him.
His life is not precious to him!
He desires only to fulfill his God-given mission; the proclamation of the gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
Paul’s knowledge of coming suffering has made it clear to him that he will not see these believers again.
Paul has faithfully, boldly, and passionately communicated the truth about the kingdom of God.
Now those he has preached to will never again spend time with him.
Change is coming.
Paul, church planter extraordinaire, the persecutor turned apostle, the author of Scripture, Paul is going to be arrested and imprisoned.
What I believe Paul wants to communicate here is that their faith had better be the real deal.
If their faith is grounded in Paul or his teaching, they are in for some rough times.
Paul is going to be gone!
Faith founded in a teacher or preacher instead of Christ and His Word is a weak faith!
When that teacher or preacher fails you, and they will, your faith fails with them.
This is what lies at the heart of what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
(p.
1311).
(p.
1311)
Our faith must not be in a teacher.
Our faith must not be in our baptism.
Our faith must be in Jesus!
It must be in the Cross of Christ!
It must be in the gospel of God's grace!
To trust in anything else makes the cross useless!
Paul is telling the Ephesian elders that he isn’t going to be around.
That means they need to trust in God and His Word.
Paul emphasizes this as he reveals the second preparation.
#1.
Prepare for change.
#2…
b.
Prepare for choices vv.
26-28
READ vv.
26-27
Paul’s innocence is a direct result of his preaching.
He leaves nothing out.
He declares himself to be innocent based on his thorough approach to preaching the Word.
There is an implication here.
Failure to preach the whole plan of God makes you guilty.
Paul has not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God.
Shunned – ὑποστέλλω (hypostello) shrink from; avoid; withdraw.
To hesitate, shrink back.
To pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness.
Shunned – ὑποστέλλω (hypostello)
Paul does not draw back, he does not avoid, he does not hesitate to give people the whole counsel of God.
Counsel – βουλή (boulē) purpose; plan.
Thought-out plan, a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished.
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