(Recent Sunday Message) To Care for the Church of God / Acts 20:13-38

“TO CARE FOR THE CHURCH OF GOD”

Acts 20:13–38

Key Verse: 20:28

1. Using the map, trace the team’s travels from Troas to Miletus (13–15); find out what you can about Miletus. Why does Paul want to meet there (16)? What does he do (17), and how long would it take for the elders to get there?
2. In Paul’s opening remarks about his life in Ephesus (18–21), what had been exemplary about his inner life, his daily life, and his message? What does he say about himself going forward (22–23)? What is the Holy Spirit’s role in this, and why is this important?
3. Read verse 24. What is the main point of Paul’s “course” and “ministry” (24b)? What is this “gospel of the grace of God” (Eph.1:7–8; 2:7–8) Why is it important that Paul received this ministry “from the Lord Jesus”? How does he view his own life, and why? In this attitude, how is he a good example for all Christians (Luke 9:23–24)?
4. What else does Paul tell the elders (25–27)? What is “the whole counsel of God” (Eph.1:9–14)? Read verse 28. What is Paul’s view of the church and its leaders? What does it mean to “pay careful attention to yourselves” and “to all the flock”? What does this word “care” mean? How can we put these words into practice?
5. What does Paul predict (29–30), and what had he done about it (31)? Read verse 32. How could this Ephesian church survive and thrive, and how can ours? How had Paul lived among them (33–35), and how can we follow his example?
6. How does Paul close this meeting (36)? How do the elders respond to all this (37–38)? What does this show about Paul’s relationships with them?