Yesterday, we began a series of observations from Acts 20 about how Paul did ministry:
- He believed in the importance of the Word (verse 32)
- He traveled with a team (verse 4)
- He demonsrated God’s power (verses 9 – 12)
- He served with humility (verses 18, 19)
Here are a few more observations:
- He could talk a long time! Folks in those days weren’t bound by our technologically driven time constraints, and they couldn’t tune him in on a podcast after he left, so they got all the good they could while he was there:
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight… Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. (Acts 20.7 – 11, NKJV)
- He taught publicly and personally:
I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house. (Acts 20.20, NKJV)
- His gospel message was simple: repentance and faith, which he shared with all kinds of people:
Testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20.21, NKJV)
- He was single-minded:
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20.22 – 24, NKJV)
A worthy example for us all.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. (Philippians 3.13 – 15, NKJV)