The Heart Of A Shepherd Series

Having been speaking to a laptop screen for the last 10 months, it feels good to be able to speak to you face-to-face again!

• We give thanks to God for this day. Let us look into His Word, taken from Acts 20.

Read Acts 20:13-38.

LET US PRAY:

Our heavenly Father, we have come again into your presence to worship and acknowledge you. Thank you for the Scripture, from which we see your works and understand your will. Shine your light into our hearts and minds again, so that we may respond to what you show us.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14) In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Acts 20:13-16 FROM TROAS TO MILETUS

13We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene [met the lean]. 15The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus [mer let thus]. 16Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

After speaking through the night at Troas, Paul left for ASSOS.

• While Luke and the rest of the team went on board the ship and set sail to ASSOS, Paul decided to walk there on foot. [MAP]

• Sailing takes a slightly longer time because it has to skirt around the jut-out coastline.

• No reason was given why Paul chose to walk. It might have allowed him to stay longer at Troas or he wanted some quiet time for himself on the walk.

He joined the team onboard the ship at ASSOS and they set sail to MITYLENE [met the lean], passed through KIOS and SAMOS, skipping EPHESUS and arrived at MILETUS [mer let thus].

• Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending more time because he wanted to reach Jerusalem by the day of Pentecost, which is about a month away.

• 20:6 “But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.”

• 12 days have already passed from the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they left Troas, and the day of Pentecost is the 50th day from the start of the Feast.

• You would notice Luke giving us a clear timeline in these two chapters (20-21) - where they sailed to and how many days they stayed – to tell us they were on a tight schedule.

At MILETUS [mer let thus] Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus to meet him.

• Believing that he might not get the chance to see them again, Paul wanted to part with some words of encouragement.

• We see the heart of a shepherd for the under-shepherds, for the elders of the church, the overseers and shepherds of the various home-churches (20:28).

In the light of the oppositions which Paul experienced in the province of Asia, he wanted to encourage them before he departs.

• This farewell speech revealed much about Paul – his conduct, his commitment and his concern for the church.

• This was the only speech Paul made to a Christian audience that Luke has recorded for us. [Luke recorded Paul’s message to the Jews in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13), to the Gentiles in Lystra (Acts 14) and the Gentiles in Athens (Acts 17)]

Parting words are significant words; no idle words, no casual talk. Paul shared his deepest concerns.

• This is the heart of the shepherd, and it will do us well if we can note what he says and learn from his conduct, his commitment and his concern for the church.

• For those of us who are serving today – in a small group, in fellowship or worship, or any ministry. Listen and take heed to these words from a shepherd of God’s church.

WE SEE HIS CONDUCT (looking at the past)

Paul set them a good example, in word and in deed, when he was with them for 3 years.

• 20:18-21 He said, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.