Acts 20--A Manifesto for Ministry

This chapter offers foundational teaching on ministry. All who minister should commit verses 17-38 to memory. It gives us timeless truths around the call to minister (which is everybody).

1. Never teach so long that people fall asleep and fall out windows--unless you are confident that you have enough spiritual power to raise them from the dead.
2. Paul is clearly following the lead of the Spirit. All who minister must have an awareness of the movement and call of the Spirit in their life and be aware of His activity for their ministry.
3. There is no disconnect in Paul's mind over the fact that following the Spirit means great hardship and suffering.
4. Suffering is not an obstacle to what God has called Paul to. Suffering is a part of what God has called him to. Paul is called to testify to the gospel of God's grace. His suffering opens the door to that goal. He is not discouraged as long as he is able to fulfill his goal.
5. Paul ministers with a clear conscience. He has taught the entire word of God and he has modeled a Spirit-filled life through humility, tears and hard work.
6. As we minister, we should not be surprised but prepared that our greatest obstacles to the work of the ministry will not come from outside of the body but from within the body.
7. Our goal in ministry is not to constantly feed people but train them and release them to feed themselves and others. Paul doesn't stay but releases the elders in Ephesus and commits them to Word of God's grace. He commits them to scripture and a vision of scripture that teaches the grace of God.
8. There was clear evidence of the affection that Paul shared with the elders of Ephesus. All ministry is motivated out of love with love as its greatest fruit.