Acts 20:25-38: "Effective Leadership"
Paul had recently done many miracles throughout Ephesus as he continued to boldly and tirelessly proclaim the gospel to any he came in contact with. His efforts had nearly started a huge riot with the local craftsmen who made idols, as they saw Paul's work convert. They obviously saw his success as detrimental to their business as many were turning from idols and to Christ. Paul continued his travels through Macedonia and Greece where he spent three months. Paul was constantly on alert as many were plotting for his life. However, through all of it, he never shy's away from proclaiming Christ and encouraging the disciples. After his travels, he returns to Ephesus to bid them farewell for the last time as he was preparing to go to Jerusalem by Pentecost. He has called together the elders of the church at Ephesus and begins to exhort them one last time before he leaves. About half way through his exhortation begins verse 25.
Verse 25 makes the Ephesian leaders aware of the fact that Paul will most likely never see them again as he will be traveling to Jerusalem. Paul also shows us his dedication to the gospel as he makes it clear that he had preached the kingdom to each one of them. These were his faithful disciples which had responded to his proclamation to the gospel on his original trip to Ephesus. The gratitude which they had for this man that had shown them the way to eternal life will be seen later in their reaction to his leaving. Consider this address, Paul passing along the torch to those he had faithfully ministered to for the last 3 years. He now exhorts them in leadership. Using himself as an example of how to effectively lead and minister in his absence.
In verse 26, we can see that Paul had boldly proclaimed the whole truth to all he had come in contact with. He claims that he is, "innocent of the blood of all men". What a truly great feeling to know that you had done all you can and made the most of every opportunity with everyone you had come into contact with. I know I shrink in shame at this comment, as I cannot truly say with a clear conscious that I have made the most of every encounter to proclaim Christ. Taking the other side of this comment by Paul - we can consider ourselves guilty of the blood of those we have come in contact with and have shrunk from the opportunity to tell them about Christ.
Verse 27 shows why Paul felt he was truly innocent of the blood of all men. He did not sugar coat the gospel as so many today do. He did not tell them what would be pleasing to their ears (see II Tim 4:3), but instead boldly proclaimed, "the whole purpose of God". When evangelizing to the lost - it does no good to tell them half the story, or shrink away from the things that may offend them. We must understand the gospel is an offensive thing. The whole basis for Christ's sacrifice is predicated on the fact that man is sinful and needs a savior. Man must be faced with his horrible and deadly condition in order for him to grasp the amazing sacrifice of Christ. We must not be afraid to offend when we graciously give people the good news.
Paul could be considered the most amazing leader to ever live. That being the case it is critical that we take note of his charges to be effective leaders (taken from MacArthur's commentary on Acts)
1) We must be right with God (v. 28)
2) We must shepherd the flock (v.28)
3) We must guard the flock (vv.29-31)
4) We must study and pray (v.32)
5) We must be free from self-interest (vv.33-38)
1) This first point hits hard. In the day -in and day-out duties and hard work of ministry we can focus too much attention on others and lose sight of our own hearts. In a call to be selfless, this is one area of our walk where we must be focused on ourselves, before we can focus on others. Paul commands the Ephesian leaders to, "be on guard for yourselves". This must be our first priority. I find it so easy sometimes to tell the ones I have been put in charge of, how to effectively live the Christian walk. However, I MUST question myself to see if I am doing it as well. It is always easier to see others sin. I can always tell when my walk with the Lord is not right as my ministry will suffer. It is much harder to be effective as a leader and to exhort the young around you, when you know your own heart is not right with God. Although quite long I felt it necessary to quote such an amazing call to pastors given by Richard Baxter,
"Take heed to yourselves, lest you live in those sins which you preach against in others, and lest you be guilty of that which daily you condemn. Will you make it your work to magnify God, and, when you have done, dishonour him as much as others? Will you proclaim Christ's governing power, and yet contemn it, and rebel yourselves? Will you preach his law, and willfully break them? If sin be evil, why do you live in it? if it not, why do you tell men so? ...Take heed to yourselves, lest you cry down sin, and yet do not overcome it; lest, while you seek to bring it down in others, you bow to it, and become its slaves yourselves".
It is always humbling to know the great responsibility that comes w/ being in leadership and Paul gives us a great challenge to always, "be on guard", so that we do not discount what we say. I have always remembered I Peter 2:12 and it's great truth, "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation".
For more on this topic see Mike's Caring for one's own soul post here.
2) Shepherding the flock
In the second part of verse 28 Paul calls for the leaders of the church to be on guard for the flock. After one has cared for themselves and looked into their own hearts, they are then to care for and mold the heart's of those they have been put in charge of. In today's day and age one might not know the exact role of a shepherd. The shepherd's job was to be on alert at all times, as ship are one of the most defenseless and helpless animals alive. As a shepherd the flocks well being was at stake. If an intruder were to infiltrate the flock, there would be devastating consequences. Just as the shepherd is to be mindful at all times, Paul calls the leaders to be ready for outsiders pretending to be sheep, that would come to destroy the flock. Also included in this responsibility is the ability to feed the flock. One must be able to be able to give the people the proper nourishment to remain healthy. A pastors goal is to know the scriptures, and have the ability (with help from the Holy Spirit) to feed it to the congregation in such a way as to keep them spiritually fit.
The last aspect of the "shepherding" illustration is the ability to lead the flock in the right direction. As the sheep would mindlessly follow their shepherd, it was important he would lead them in the proper direction. With God-given authority comes much responsibility, "which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers". Lastly, we must think of the preciousness of the sheep we have been put in charge of. For these are not just any sheep, but, "the church of God which He purchased with His own blood".
3) Guarding the flock
As discussed earlier, leaders will be held responsible for the protection of their congregation. It has been and will be the plan of Satan to destroy the church from the inside. Paul knew from previous experience that there would be wolves that would come in to try to destroy the church as had occurred in Corinth and Galatia. From MacArthur's commentary, "Because of the serious danger they pose to the church, the Scriptures condemn false teachers in the strongest language. Peter vividly describes them in 2 Peter 2 as, 'those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority'". Paul would not tell us to do so unless he had done so himself. He reminds them of the "period of three years [he] did not cease to admonish each one with tears". This refers to him giving counsel with a warning involved. Paul was constantly on the lookout for his people and had the discernment (through faithful study and Godly wisdom) to spot wolves in the flock. How much do we worry about the welfare of those who God has put us in charge of? Are we so focused on our own studies, and making sure we have all the right things to say, that we neglect to truly look out for the things that will harm those we have been put over? How often do we confront someone about things that we know could be harmful?
4) Study and Pray
In order for Paul to be on guard of himself and for his people, he had to have consistent time of prayer and study. This goes back to the beginning of Acts when we say in Acts 6:4, "We will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word". We must all take time out of our busy schedules to do what is necessary. It is laughable that I can come up with an excuse that says I am too busy to study and pray. It should be the opposite. I should know the necessity of prayer and study so well that I hardly have time to do the other. I believe it comes from an improper perspective of the effectiveness of study and prayer. If I truly believed the truths God tells us that can be accomplished by hearty prayer and study, that should be my focus; that should be my desire. MacArthur says, "There is no substitute for prayer, for prayer acknowledges dependence on God and lines us up with His purposes. Prayer also allows God to glorify Himself by answering".
5) Being free from self-interest
If we look at Christ's ministry we can see the sacrificial nature. He never had a place to stay. He never really owned anything. His whole life was devoted to the giving of Himself to others, culminating in the most sacrificial act of all, death on a cross. Paul denounces any leader seeking things for themselves, "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes". How often do you see the "Christian leaders" of our time making Christianity their business. The whole focus of their ministry is what you can get out of God, and what they can get from you. I have copied an excerpt from the CrefloDollarWebsite,
"Are you tired of living from paycheck to paycheck? Have you ever observed a need that you longed to meet, but you didnÂt have the finances to help? Do you yearn to sow freely into the needs of the ministry? Do you want more out of life for you and your family? If so, you need the School of Prosperity! Even though you are to Âowe no man any thing, but to love [him]Â Â (Romans 13:8), having no increase renders you useless to the kingdom of God. By the same token, you can experience financial increase, but existing debt can just as easily hinder you from kingdom advancement. Dr. Creflo A. DollarÂs School of Prosperity is a course designed to teach you how to fulfill your God-given destinyÂto be a blessing to others and by being His distribution center. Whether you are financially comfortable or head over heels in debt, you need this course! You will learn:
Why God wants you rich
How to use biblical principles to make natural principles work on your behalf
The keys to debt reduction
How to increase for kingdom advancement
The automatic systems for financial freedom
This is an obvious misuse of the gospel and a detriment toChristianityianity. Paul was very clear of his desire for, "declaring to you the whole purpose of God". Paul was caught up in saving lives for eternity, not what he could make here on earth. "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me". Paul's life was a clear testimony to selfless living.
I can often find myself being disgusted by those "pastors" who are into the prosperity movement. However, am I ever guilty of the more subtle pitfalls of being selfish in ministry. Do I only want to serve when I get credit? Am I only excited ministeringtering when the kids are responsive and paying attention? What am I seeking to "get out of it"? Or am I doing it for their salvation and my love for Christ?
In verse 36, you can see Paul's commitment to prayer, as he, "knelt down and prayed with them all". After all he says and does, he ultimately relies on the power of God, and gives all things to him in prayer.
Verse 37-38 is a clear example to the impact of Paul in their lives. "And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more". It must be rewarding for Paul to know the deep care he felt for them was reciprocated. All he had poured into their lives, had come to fruition as they wept for his departure. I want to know someday that my leadership has affected those around me enough to be bitterly missed.
Verse 25 makes the Ephesian leaders aware of the fact that Paul will most likely never see them again as he will be traveling to Jerusalem. Paul also shows us his dedication to the gospel as he makes it clear that he had preached the kingdom to each one of them. These were his faithful disciples which had responded to his proclamation to the gospel on his original trip to Ephesus. The gratitude which they had for this man that had shown them the way to eternal life will be seen later in their reaction to his leaving. Consider this address, Paul passing along the torch to those he had faithfully ministered to for the last 3 years. He now exhorts them in leadership. Using himself as an example of how to effectively lead and minister in his absence.
In verse 26, we can see that Paul had boldly proclaimed the whole truth to all he had come in contact with. He claims that he is, "innocent of the blood of all men". What a truly great feeling to know that you had done all you can and made the most of every opportunity with everyone you had come into contact with. I know I shrink in shame at this comment, as I cannot truly say with a clear conscious that I have made the most of every encounter to proclaim Christ. Taking the other side of this comment by Paul - we can consider ourselves guilty of the blood of those we have come in contact with and have shrunk from the opportunity to tell them about Christ.
Verse 27 shows why Paul felt he was truly innocent of the blood of all men. He did not sugar coat the gospel as so many today do. He did not tell them what would be pleasing to their ears (see II Tim 4:3), but instead boldly proclaimed, "the whole purpose of God". When evangelizing to the lost - it does no good to tell them half the story, or shrink away from the things that may offend them. We must understand the gospel is an offensive thing. The whole basis for Christ's sacrifice is predicated on the fact that man is sinful and needs a savior. Man must be faced with his horrible and deadly condition in order for him to grasp the amazing sacrifice of Christ. We must not be afraid to offend when we graciously give people the good news.
Paul could be considered the most amazing leader to ever live. That being the case it is critical that we take note of his charges to be effective leaders (taken from MacArthur's commentary on Acts)
1) We must be right with God (v. 28)
2) We must shepherd the flock (v.28)
3) We must guard the flock (vv.29-31)
4) We must study and pray (v.32)
5) We must be free from self-interest (vv.33-38)
1) This first point hits hard. In the day -in and day-out duties and hard work of ministry we can focus too much attention on others and lose sight of our own hearts. In a call to be selfless, this is one area of our walk where we must be focused on ourselves, before we can focus on others. Paul commands the Ephesian leaders to, "be on guard for yourselves". This must be our first priority. I find it so easy sometimes to tell the ones I have been put in charge of, how to effectively live the Christian walk. However, I MUST question myself to see if I am doing it as well. It is always easier to see others sin. I can always tell when my walk with the Lord is not right as my ministry will suffer. It is much harder to be effective as a leader and to exhort the young around you, when you know your own heart is not right with God. Although quite long I felt it necessary to quote such an amazing call to pastors given by Richard Baxter,
"Take heed to yourselves, lest you live in those sins which you preach against in others, and lest you be guilty of that which daily you condemn. Will you make it your work to magnify God, and, when you have done, dishonour him as much as others? Will you proclaim Christ's governing power, and yet contemn it, and rebel yourselves? Will you preach his law, and willfully break them? If sin be evil, why do you live in it? if it not, why do you tell men so? ...Take heed to yourselves, lest you cry down sin, and yet do not overcome it; lest, while you seek to bring it down in others, you bow to it, and become its slaves yourselves".
It is always humbling to know the great responsibility that comes w/ being in leadership and Paul gives us a great challenge to always, "be on guard", so that we do not discount what we say. I have always remembered I Peter 2:12 and it's great truth, "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation".
For more on this topic see Mike's Caring for one's own soul post here.
2) Shepherding the flock
In the second part of verse 28 Paul calls for the leaders of the church to be on guard for the flock. After one has cared for themselves and looked into their own hearts, they are then to care for and mold the heart's of those they have been put in charge of. In today's day and age one might not know the exact role of a shepherd. The shepherd's job was to be on alert at all times, as ship are one of the most defenseless and helpless animals alive. As a shepherd the flocks well being was at stake. If an intruder were to infiltrate the flock, there would be devastating consequences. Just as the shepherd is to be mindful at all times, Paul calls the leaders to be ready for outsiders pretending to be sheep, that would come to destroy the flock. Also included in this responsibility is the ability to feed the flock. One must be able to be able to give the people the proper nourishment to remain healthy. A pastors goal is to know the scriptures, and have the ability (with help from the Holy Spirit) to feed it to the congregation in such a way as to keep them spiritually fit.
The last aspect of the "shepherding" illustration is the ability to lead the flock in the right direction. As the sheep would mindlessly follow their shepherd, it was important he would lead them in the proper direction. With God-given authority comes much responsibility, "which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers". Lastly, we must think of the preciousness of the sheep we have been put in charge of. For these are not just any sheep, but, "the church of God which He purchased with His own blood".
3) Guarding the flock
As discussed earlier, leaders will be held responsible for the protection of their congregation. It has been and will be the plan of Satan to destroy the church from the inside. Paul knew from previous experience that there would be wolves that would come in to try to destroy the church as had occurred in Corinth and Galatia. From MacArthur's commentary, "Because of the serious danger they pose to the church, the Scriptures condemn false teachers in the strongest language. Peter vividly describes them in 2 Peter 2 as, 'those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority'". Paul would not tell us to do so unless he had done so himself. He reminds them of the "period of three years [he] did not cease to admonish each one with tears". This refers to him giving counsel with a warning involved. Paul was constantly on the lookout for his people and had the discernment (through faithful study and Godly wisdom) to spot wolves in the flock. How much do we worry about the welfare of those who God has put us in charge of? Are we so focused on our own studies, and making sure we have all the right things to say, that we neglect to truly look out for the things that will harm those we have been put over? How often do we confront someone about things that we know could be harmful?
4) Study and Pray
In order for Paul to be on guard of himself and for his people, he had to have consistent time of prayer and study. This goes back to the beginning of Acts when we say in Acts 6:4, "We will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word". We must all take time out of our busy schedules to do what is necessary. It is laughable that I can come up with an excuse that says I am too busy to study and pray. It should be the opposite. I should know the necessity of prayer and study so well that I hardly have time to do the other. I believe it comes from an improper perspective of the effectiveness of study and prayer. If I truly believed the truths God tells us that can be accomplished by hearty prayer and study, that should be my focus; that should be my desire. MacArthur says, "There is no substitute for prayer, for prayer acknowledges dependence on God and lines us up with His purposes. Prayer also allows God to glorify Himself by answering".
5) Being free from self-interest
If we look at Christ's ministry we can see the sacrificial nature. He never had a place to stay. He never really owned anything. His whole life was devoted to the giving of Himself to others, culminating in the most sacrificial act of all, death on a cross. Paul denounces any leader seeking things for themselves, "I have coveted no one's silver or gold or clothes". How often do you see the "Christian leaders" of our time making Christianity their business. The whole focus of their ministry is what you can get out of God, and what they can get from you. I have copied an excerpt from the CrefloDollarWebsite,
"Are you tired of living from paycheck to paycheck? Have you ever observed a need that you longed to meet, but you didnÂt have the finances to help? Do you yearn to sow freely into the needs of the ministry? Do you want more out of life for you and your family? If so, you need the School of Prosperity! Even though you are to Âowe no man any thing, but to love [him]Â Â (Romans 13:8), having no increase renders you useless to the kingdom of God. By the same token, you can experience financial increase, but existing debt can just as easily hinder you from kingdom advancement. Dr. Creflo A. DollarÂs School of Prosperity is a course designed to teach you how to fulfill your God-given destinyÂto be a blessing to others and by being His distribution center. Whether you are financially comfortable or head over heels in debt, you need this course! You will learn:
Why God wants you rich
How to use biblical principles to make natural principles work on your behalf
The keys to debt reduction
How to increase for kingdom advancement
The automatic systems for financial freedom
This is an obvious misuse of the gospel and a detriment toChristianityianity. Paul was very clear of his desire for, "declaring to you the whole purpose of God". Paul was caught up in saving lives for eternity, not what he could make here on earth. "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me". Paul's life was a clear testimony to selfless living.
I can often find myself being disgusted by those "pastors" who are into the prosperity movement. However, am I ever guilty of the more subtle pitfalls of being selfish in ministry. Do I only want to serve when I get credit? Am I only excited ministeringtering when the kids are responsive and paying attention? What am I seeking to "get out of it"? Or am I doing it for their salvation and my love for Christ?
In verse 36, you can see Paul's commitment to prayer, as he, "knelt down and prayed with them all". After all he says and does, he ultimately relies on the power of God, and gives all things to him in prayer.
Verse 37-38 is a clear example to the impact of Paul in their lives. "And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more". It must be rewarding for Paul to know the deep care he felt for them was reciprocated. All he had poured into their lives, had come to fruition as they wept for his departure. I want to know someday that my leadership has affected those around me enough to be bitterly missed.
posted by amesfam | 5:01 PM
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