Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. It's a joy to gather here with you today. We are here, as always, to honor our Lord, to seek His wisdom, and to feel His love.

We have a powerful message to consider today. We're going to look at a verse from Acts, chapter 20, verse 28. It's a verse that speaks to us about the price Jesus paid for our salvation, about the trail He blazed for us to follow, and about our journey in His footsteps. It's a verse that reminds us of the blood He shed, and how we, in turn, are called to live our lives. Acts 20:28 says,

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

This verse, dear friends, is a call to action. It's a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us, and of the responsibility we have to each other as members of His church. It's a call to follow in His footsteps, to walk the path He walked, and to care for each other as He cared for us.

As we prepare to delve into this message, let's remember the words of G.K. Chesterton: "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried." It's a reminder that following Christ is not always easy, that it requires sacrifice, but it is always, always worth it.

Let's pray together.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for this day, for the opportunity to gather here in Your name, to study Your word, and to learn from Your wisdom. We thank You for the sacrifice of Your son, Jesus Christ, for the path He walked, for the blood He shed, and for the example He set for us to follow. As we delve into Your word today, we ask that You open our hearts and our minds, that You guide our thoughts and our understanding, and that You help us to see the lessons You have for us. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

So, friends, let's get started.

Christ's Path Paved with Pain

When we think about the life of Jesus, we often focus on His miracles, His teachings, and His resurrection. But it's important to remember that His path was not an easy one. It was a path marked by suffering and sacrifice. It was a path that led to the cross. And it's this path, this difficult, painful path, that we're called to follow.

Jesus' suffering was not incidental: It wasn't a byproduct of His mission. It was central to it. He didn't suffer because He had to. He suffered because He chose to. He chose to take on our sins, to bear our burdens, to pay the price we could not pay. He chose to walk a path of pain for our sake.

A humbling truth: It's a truth that challenges us, that calls us to a higher standard. It's a truth that demands our attention and our response. We can't simply acknowledge it and move on. We have to grapple with it, wrestle with it, let it sink into our hearts and minds.

Jesus' suffering was not in vain: It wasn't pointless or meaningless. It had a purpose. It was part of God's plan. Through His suffering, Jesus accomplished something incredible. He bridged the gap between us and God. He made reconciliation possible. He opened the door to forgiveness and redemption. He turned suffering into salvation.

An inspiring truth: It's a truth that gives us hope, that fills us with gratitude. It's a truth that lifts us up, that strengthens us, that encourages us. We can't simply hear it and forget it. We have to remember it, hold onto it, let it guide us and sustain us.

Not something we're meant to avoid: It's not something we're meant to shy away from. It's something we're meant to share in. We're called to take up our cross, to follow in His footsteps, to walk the path He walked. We're called to embrace suffering, not for its own sake, but for the sake of Christ.

A challenging truth: It's a truth that pushes us, that stretches us, that tests us. It's a truth that requires courage, commitment, and conviction. We can't simply accept it and do nothing. We have to live it, embody it, let it shape us and define us.

Jesus' suffering is not the end of the story: It's not the final word. It's not the defining feature of His life or ours. Yes, His path was paved with pain. Yes, our path will be too. But there's more to it than that. There's joy, there's love, there's resurrection. There's victory over sin and death. There's life, abundant and eternal.

An uplifting truth: It's a truth that brings us joy, that fills us with love. It's a truth that gives us a reason to celebrate, to rejoice, to sing and dance. We can't simply know it and keep it to ourselves. We have to share it, proclaim it, let it shine for all to see.

Blood Trail, Our Trail

As we consider Acts 20:28, we find ourselves standing at the foot of a trail ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO