THE PRIORITY OF THE GOSPEL (8 OF 8)
Scripture: Acts 20:17-38
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The Priority of the Gospel (8 of 8)
Series: Acts: The Gospel Gone Viral
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 20:17-38
''Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood'' (20:28).
WHAT MATTERS MOST?
What should matter most to a church?
[Read Acts 20:17-38.]
In Acts 20:17-38, Paul speaks to the elders of the church of Ephesus. The elders are the leaders of a church. In verse 28, we find two responsibilities of an elder: (1) to oversee the church (''in which the Holy Spirit as made you overseers'') and (2) to care for (i.e., shepherd) the church (''care for the church of God'').
In 1 Peter 5, the apostle Peter addresses another group of elders, and he mentions the same two elder responsibilities:
So I exhort the elders among you...: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (vv. 1-4).
If elders are to effectively shepherd and oversee the church, they need to know the correct answer to the question ''What should matter most to a church?''
THE GOSPEL
The thing that should matter most to the church is the gospel. Why? There is nothing people need more than the gospel.
- Paul describes the gospel as ''the gospel of the grace of God'' (v. 24). Since we are saved by grace, God deserves all the glory for our salvation.
- The gospel tells us that we matter to God. Jesus ''obtained [the church of God] with his own blood'' (v. 28).
- People accept the gospel (and are saved) by repenting (i.e., turning from sin) and believing (i.e., turning to Jesus): ''repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ'' (v. 21). Repentance and faith are two si ...
Series: Acts: The Gospel Gone Viral
Jonathan McLeod
Acts 20:17-38
''Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood'' (20:28).
WHAT MATTERS MOST?
What should matter most to a church?
[Read Acts 20:17-38.]
In Acts 20:17-38, Paul speaks to the elders of the church of Ephesus. The elders are the leaders of a church. In verse 28, we find two responsibilities of an elder: (1) to oversee the church (''in which the Holy Spirit as made you overseers'') and (2) to care for (i.e., shepherd) the church (''care for the church of God'').
In 1 Peter 5, the apostle Peter addresses another group of elders, and he mentions the same two elder responsibilities:
So I exhort the elders among you...: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory (vv. 1-4).
If elders are to effectively shepherd and oversee the church, they need to know the correct answer to the question ''What should matter most to a church?''
THE GOSPEL
The thing that should matter most to the church is the gospel. Why? There is nothing people need more than the gospel.
- Paul describes the gospel as ''the gospel of the grace of God'' (v. 24). Since we are saved by grace, God deserves all the glory for our salvation.
- The gospel tells us that we matter to God. Jesus ''obtained [the church of God] with his own blood'' (v. 28).
- People accept the gospel (and are saved) by repenting (i.e., turning from sin) and believing (i.e., turning to Jesus): ''repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ'' (v. 21). Repentance and faith are two si ...
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