Paul Encourages the Ephesians As He Says Goodbye
Theme: Living by Faith in Christ Alone
Theme Verse: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 NIV
Readings: Acts 20: 13-37
Memory Verse: " However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace." Acts 20:24
Note that Luke is again with the group (vs.13,15) so this is an eyewitness account of part of Paul's third missionary journey. Paul is hurrying to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost, if possible.
Paul sends for the Elders of the church in Ephesus to meet him at the seaport. He tells them "You know that from the first day I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you" (v.18b). Word received: I want your manner of life in Me to be evident to all. Paul continued, "serving the Lord with all humility, with tears and trials/temptations which happened to me by the plots of the Jews" (vs.19) Word received: I want you to serve Me as Paul did with all humility. He emphasized, "how I kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house" (vs.20). Word received: I want you to keep back nothing of My full gospel. Paul reminds them of his "testifying to Jews and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (vs.21) Word received: Will you go where I send you? Speak the word I give you.
Now look at Paul's ability and commitment to listen to and hear the Holy Spirit. (vs.16, 22, 23) Paul listens and is compelled ("bound in the Spirit") to obey what God says to him, even if it is dangerous. Word received: My desire is that you would hear Me and obey as Paul did. Paul's chief desire and determination is to complete the task Jesus, his Lord and Master, has given him! What is in the Greek and not the English is "to finish my course (race) with joy!" Paul is willing to go forward in obedience to God knowing "that afflictions and imprisonment await" him. This shows how closely Paul's spirit is in contact with God's Spirit. He doesn't know exactly what will happen but he has a sense that the end of his race is coming, perhaps a sense of impending martyrdom. The Holy Spirit has prepared him, stiffened his resolve to obey--no matter what! Notice he doesn't blame God for what is happening.
Paul knows, and wrote in Ephesians 6:12 that his real struggle is not against people but against "the rulers of the darkness of this age", the evil spiritual powers. As he wrote in Philippians1:21, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain". Living he can serve Christ and by dying he can be with Jesus.
NOTE: The "Elders" of Ephesus (vs.17) were called "presbyters" in Greek, the same word often used for ordained priests and ministers today. The pattern in synagogues was to be ruled by a body of elders who ruled but did not perform priestly or pastoral functions. Paul and Barnabas appointed Elders in newly founded churches (see Acts 14:23 & 20:17). So it is especially interesting that Paul calls the same men "overseers" (episkopous" in Greek) given that responsibility by the Holy Spirit in order to shepherd the church of God. To shepherd is to guard, protect, guide care for God's flock of "sheep". The present hierarchy and 3-fold ministry did not develop immediately but certainly developed a lot in the 2nd century as the apostles died off and heresies attacked the church. Interestingly Philippians 1:1 refers to overseers and deacons!
Paul really loved these people and they loved him (Verses 36-38). Parting for the last time is very painful. They were not ashamed of their tears. Paul had shared tears before with these people (v.19) with whom he had shared severe tests from plots of his opponents. Their mutual love was why Paul was able to be so frank. He held nothing back, he warned, instructed. exhorted them on how to protect themselves, grow in the power of the Spirit to glorify and hear God. Word received: This is the way a community should be. This is the way I want Christ Church community to be--lots of teaching, loving and praying together.
Look now at the rest of Paul's message. Not only did he "hold nothing back" that would help them but he taught…publicly and from house to house. The first century church soon encountered Christian Gnostics (means knowledge) who like pagan Gnostics and the mystery religions taught a two-level religion, with special secret knowledge for the elite few (1 Timothy 6:20) The test of the catholic (universal) Christian faith came to be what was publicly taught, everywhere and at all times.
Our generation goes ga-ga over these Gnostic writings that have been rediscovered. The church rejected them because they were false! Paul warns about wolves in sheep's clothing coming into the church and giving false teaching, drawing people to themselves. These "wolves" would come out of the church itself! Therefore "Be on your guard" (vs.28, 31). That certainly fits the church today! The good news of God is still "turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (vs21). It is for ALL people, both Jews and non-Jews, unlike some who say not to preach to Jews or try to reach people of other religions. Paul intensely longed for all his fellow Jews to come to know Jesus as the Christ (Messiah).
Because Paul had repeatedly warned and taught these people, he was "innocent of the blood of all men". He had done his best to make known the new life in Christ and he commended them to God's care and prayed with them. This is like the passage in Ezekiel 3 that talks about the responsibility of God's servants to be watchmen and warn those who fall into sin.
Paul also reminded them of the example he had set of supporting himself so that he and his friends could help the poor and weak. This is still true in many places in the world and there are church in our own diocese who have "worker priests".
It is interesting to note how Paul intertwined past, present and future in this final message. Past: what he had preached and how he had set an example. Present: the Holy Spirit is compelling him to go to Jerusalem and finish the task of testifying to God's grace. He also commits them to God's care. Future: he won't see them again and he warns them as shepherds to keep guard over God's flock and protect them from false shepherds. Through it all, Paul is and will remain focused on his task and committed to the Holly Spirit' guidance.
NOTE on Ephesus: It was generally considered to be the greatest metropolis of the Roman province of Asia (in present day Turkey). It was an important city in the early church. Not only is it associated with Paul, John the Apostle and the "other John" but with Irenaeus, a bishop who came from there to France and wrote (about 185 AD) an important book "Against Heresies" (including Gnosticism). At that time, to preserve the apostolic faith against heresy, people were urged to look to the churches who were founded by apostles. Unfortunately in the 2nd century disputes over the correct date to celebrate Easter began to embitter the relationship between churches and bishops east and west leading to a split that still exists today.
Ephesians is one of the churches mentioned in Revelation (chapter 2). There were several councils of the Church in Ephesus to settle theological disputes. One recognized in West and East was the 3rd General Council in 431 AD. Another met there in 449 but resulted in a stormy ruptured relationship between Alexandria and Rome. (Source: A History of the Christian Church, by Williston Walker, pp118, 138) Later tradition also says that Mary the mother of Jesus lived there later in her life.
How to teach word for teachers: Look at Paul and the love the Ephesians bear him. Look at his love for them. Consider the lies that are told about Paul. Look at the lies in your day against My church. I AM. I AM the Way, the Life and the Truth. Turn to Me for the Truth.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 25
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.The church is God's family as well as a Christian community. God wants there to be love and understanding there.
2. When we are part of a true Christian community we can also learn the truth about Jesus.
3. Being part of God's family can help protect us from bad choices by teaching us God's Word.
4. In God's family there is wonderful fellowship and people supporting each other.
5. God wants each of us to love him, obey him and serve him as Paul did. Will you?
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