A Pastor’s Farewell(20:1-12)

The apostle Paul changed the world as few other men have ever done. He lived in a day before jet airplanes or cars and paved highways. He had to go everywhere by foot, on donkeys, or by sailing vessel, none of which were very speedy. He did not have a telephone to call and talk with the leaders of churches that he had founded around the Roman Empire. He couldn’t even call someone across town. If he wanted to see the person, he had to walk across town and hope to find him at home.

He didn’t have computers, email, copy machines, or other modern tools that make communication easier. He spent many years of his ministry in prison, unable to move about freely. He contended with fierce opposition both from outside and inside the church. And yet, after 25-30 years of ministry, he left a lasting impact on the world, not only in his time, but also for all times.

--Steven Cole

A Pastor’s Farewell

Paul was committed:

1. …to the church

2. …to raising up godly men

3. …to the Word of God

A Pastor’s Farewell

I. Paul was committed to the church

Ephesians 6:12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Acts 11:23When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose

Acts 14:22…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers,

danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

2 Corinthians 2:12-13When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

2 Corinthians 7:5-7For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn— fighting without and fear within. 6

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

2 Corinthians 1:15-16Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.

A Pastor’s Farewell

I. Paul was Committed to the church

II. Paul was Committed to Training Men

Ephesians 6:21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

Colossians 4:7Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:2 …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Looking for a few “FAT” men:

• Faithful

• Available

• Teachable

“FAT” men:

• FAITHFUL – They must be faithful in their walk with God.

• AVAILABLE - They must have the time to get together.

• TEACHABLE - They must have teachable hearts.

A Pastor’s FarewellI. Paul was Committed to the

ChurchII. Paul was Committed to Training

MenIII. Paul was Committed to the

Word

Acts 2:42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

“Sleeping in Church will Kill You”

2 Timothy 4:1-5I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own…

passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

“the decadent periods and eras in the history of the church have

always been those periods when preaching has declined” --D.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

…the next most important thing in a church, next to godliness, is

oxygen! --Spurgeon

1 Kings 17:21Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”

2 Kings 4:34Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.

Ezekiel 34:2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?

Sermonettes produce Christianettes

Acts 20:20I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house

Acts 20:32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Revelation 1:10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

Pliny the Younger"They had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day to chant verse alternately among themselves in honor of Christ as if to a god. . . . After this ceremony it had been their custom to disperse and reassemble later to take food of an ordinary, harmless kind" (Pliny the Younger to Trajan; Epistles 10.96.7).