PREPARE YOUR FLOCK
INTRO: PAUL DEPARTING TO GO TO JERUSALEM
1: HE GIVES HIS FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
A) YOU ARE OVERSEERS OF THE FLOCK
B) THE CHURCH CANNOT BE DEPENDENT UPON ONE PERSON
C) CHRIST PURCHASED THE CHURCH WITH HIS OWN BLOOD
POINT: PAUL IS TRYING TO INSTRUCT THEM IN HIS FINAL WORDS TO ALWAYS LOOK TO CHRIST AND NOT PUT ALL THEIR FAITH IN ONE PERSON OR ONE GROUP. THIS IS STILL A FATAL FLAW OF MANY CHURHCES TODAY.
2: SEE MY FACE NO MORE
A) THIS GREAT LEADER GONE
B) THE PLANTER OF THE CHURCH
C) THE ONE WHO PROBABLY CONVERTED MOST OF THE CONGRGATION THERE WAS GOING TO BE GONE FOREVER.
POINT: THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR A LOT OF CHURHCES, NEW LEADERSHIP, THE OLD PASSES AWAY THE NEW IS INTRODUCED. PAUL WARNS THEM OF WOLVES COMING IN AMONG THEM SEEKING ONLY SELF GRATIFICATION AND SELF EXALTATION.
BODY: WORD OF HIS GRACE
1: BUILD YOU UP
A) THE WORD OF GOD
B) OVER AND OVER YOU HEAR IT
C) TRUTH IS THE WORD IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILLSTAND EVEN AFTER WE ARE GONE
POINT: TO ENSURE STABILITY AND SOUNDNESS FOR THE FUTURE AFTER US WE HAVE TO BUILD THINGS ON THE WORD OF GOD. THE ONE THING THAT WILL NOT FALTER OR FALL IS THE WORD OF GOD.
2: NOTHING WRONG WITH WORKING
A) PAUL V34 THESE HANDS HAVE MINISTERED UNTO MY NECCESITIES
B) THROUGH OUR LABOR WE SHOULD SUPPORT OUR OWN AND THE WEAK AROUND US
C) PAUL QUOTES JESUS IN V 35
POINT: SOME OF THE LAZIEST FOLKS I’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED ARE CHRISTIAN FOLKS. NOT ALL BUT SOME ARE JUST PLAIN LAZY, THE APOSTLE SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WORKING ESPACIALLY TO SUPPORT YOURSELF.
CLOSING: WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS?
1: LEADERS COME AND GO.
A) SOME GOOD
B) SOME BAD
C) SOME JUST ALRIGHT
POINT: THE FLOCK AS A WHOLE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD TO BE ABLE TO GOVERN AND LOOK AFTER ITSELF FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE BODY AS A WHOLE. NOT DEPENDING ON ONE PERSON OR ONE METHOD OR PROGARM.
2: WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR CAHNGES
A) PEOPLE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A UNKNOWING WEAK GROUP
B) THE DEVIL DOES THE MOST DAMAGE TO THOSE WHO ARE IGNORANT TO THE WORD OF GOD
C) THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH ARE THE BACKBONE NOT THE PREACHER OR PASTORS.
POINT: TRUE LEADERS BRIGN THOSE BELOW THEM UP THEY ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO LEARN AND INFLUENCE THOSE ABOVE THEM AND LEVEL HEADED ENOUGH TO HELP THOSE EQUAL TO THEM AND BE HELPED BY THEM.
