Sacrifices of the Servant of Christ

transcript

I. His Heart for the Sake of the Churches

I. His Heart for the Sake of the ChurchesA. Loyalty and Faithfulness - Corinth

1. Paul establishes the church (Fall 50-Spr. 52)2. Paul hears of problems3. Paul writes the “corrective” lost epistle (1 Cor.

5:9)4. In Ephesus, he hears of more trouble (1 Cor.

1:11)5. The Corinthians write to Paul (1 Cor. 7:1)6. Paul writes 1 Corinthian epistle from Ephesus

(AD 55), not willing to leave (1 Cor. 16:8-9); sends it with Timothy

7. New threat: false teachers from Jerusalem; wooing their loyalty away from Paul

Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthians

8. Paul leaves Ephesus for a shortened visit to Corinth (“painful visit”; 2 Cor. 2:1)

9. Returned to Ephesus 10. Wrote the “severe” letter (2 Cor. 2:4); sent to

Corinth with Titus11. Leaves Ephesus for Troas (2 Cor. 2:12-13)12. To Macedonia; finds Titus; good news

reported (2 Cor. 7:6-7)13. Writes 2 Corinthian epistle 14. Formal 3 month visit to Corinth (Winter 57)

Paul’s correspondence with the Corinthians

I. His Heart for the Sake of the ChurchesA. Loyalty and Faithfulness - CorinthB. Unity and Mutual Care - Jerusalem

II. His Life for the Sake of the Call

II. His Life for the Sake of the CallIII. His Own Comfort for the Sake of

Communion

1. Sabbath was given for Israel as a sign of the Mosaic Covenant

Sabbath for Christians?* From John MacArthur Acts Commentary

2. No command in the New Testament

Sabbath for Christians?

2. No command in the New Testament3. During the Mosaic economy, Gentile

nations were not commanded to observe Sabbath; nor were they condemned for failing to do so

2. No command in the New Testament3. During the Mosaic economy, Gentile

nations were not commanded to observe Sabbath; nor were they condemned for failing to do so

4. The first command to keep Sabbath appears at the time of Moses on Mt. Sinai

5. The Jerusalem Council did not impose Sabbath-keeping on Gentile believers

6. Paul, in warning believers about many sins in his epistles, never warned them about breaking Sabbath

7. Colossians 2:16-17; Sabbath is a shadow of Christ

8. Galatians 4:10-11; Paul rebukes Galatian Gentile believers for thinking that God expected them to observe special days, such as Sabbath days

9. Romans 14:5 declares observing Sabbath as a matter of personal preference among Christian Jews

10. Acts and subsequent writings of the early church fathers make it clear that the church from earliest times met for worship on Sunday, not Saturday

Epistle of Barnabas (1st Cent.): “Your present Sabbaths are not acceptable to Me, but that is which I have made, [namely this,] when, giving rest to all things, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day, that is, a beginning of another world. Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead.”

Early Church Fathers

Ignatius (2nd Cent.): “Let every friend of Christ keep the Lord’s Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days.”

Justin Martyr (2nd Cent.): “On the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits…Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because…Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.”

Tertullian (3rd Cent.): referred to Christians as those “to whom Sabbaths are strange” (On Idolatry, XIV)

CommunionIV. His Time for the Sake of Concerns

CommunionIV. His Time for the Sake of ConcernsV. His Freedoms for the Sake of His

Countrymen

Parting Words of a Faithful Pastor

“elders”; presbyterous – spiritual maturity “overseers”; episkopous – function “pastor”; poimen – shepherd, commitment

and responsibility for the care of the flocka. Plurality of elders over the church (sing.)b. They all had equal responsibility for the “flock”

“elders of the church”

I. Motive

Paul’s Personal Testimony (20:18-24)

I. Motive1 Corinthians 4:6-13

I. Motive1 Corinthians 4:6-13II. Manner

A. Empathy (19b., 31)

A. Empathy (19b., 31)B. Endurance (19c.)

A. Empathy (19b., 31)B. Endurance (19c.)C. Energy (33-35)

III. Message

III. Message1. Publicly (20)

III. Message1. Publicly (20)2. Privately (20)

III. Message1. Publicly (20)2. Privately (20)3. Prevalently (21)

III. Message1. Publicly (20)2. Privately (20)3. Prevalently (21)4. Pointedly (21)

III. Message1. Publicly (20)2. Privately (20)3. Prevalently (21)4. Pointedly (21)5. Profoundly (25-27)

Parting Words of a Faithful Pastor

I. His MotiveII. His MannerIII. His Message

Paul’s Personal Testimony, Part 2

I. His MotiveII. His MannerIII. His MessageIV. His Mottos

Paul’s Personal Testimony, Part 2

Mottos of the servant of God

1. Accountant

1. Accountanta. Loving Compulsion

1. Accountanta. Loving Compulsionb. Sovereign Confidence

1. Accountanta. Loving Compulsionb. Sovereign Confidencec. Eternal Computation

2. Runner

2. Runnera. Uncompromised

2. Runnera. Uncompromisedb. Committed

2. Runnera. Uncompromisedb. Committedc. Endurance

3. Steward

3. Stewarda. Accountability

3. Stewarda. Accountabilityb. Productivity

3. Stewarda. Accountabilityb. Productivityc. Responsibility

4. Witness

4. Witnessa. Life and death

4. Witnessa. Life and deathb. Truth

4. Witnessa. Life and deathb. Truthc. Light of Christ’s glory

4. Witnessa. Life and deathb. Truthc. Light of Christ’s gloryd. Belief

5. Herald

5. Heralda. The King is coming

5. Heralda. The King is comingb. He extends His mercy in the gospel

5. Heralda. The King is comingb. He extends His mercy in the gospelc. He will judge the wicked

6. Watchman

6. Watchmana. Duty to warn of coming danger

6. Watchmana. Duty to warn of coming dangerb. Duty to warn the wicked of the consequences of their sin

6. Watchmana. Duty to warn of coming dangerb. Duty to warn the wicked of the consequences of their sinc. Duty to speak unpleasant words to the hearer

6. Watchmana. Duty to warn of coming dangerb. Duty to warn the wicked of the consequences of their sinc. Duty to speak unpleasant words to the hearerd. Duty to impart everything profitable to the believers

I. Paul’s Personal TestimonyA. Motive (v. 19)B. Manner (v. 19, 34)C. Message (v. 20-21)D. Motto (v. 22-27)

Shepherding God’s Church

Matthew 20:20-28

Jesus instruction on leadership

Matthew 20:20-28 What it is not…

Jesus’ instruction on leadership

Matthew 20:20-28 What it is not…1. Political power play (v. 20)

Matthew 20:20-28 What it is not…1. Political power play (v. 20)2. Self-serving ambition (v. 24)

Matthew 20:20-28 What it is not…1. Political power play (v. 20)2. Self-serving ambition (v. 24)3. Dominant dictatorship (v. 25-26)

Matthew 20:20-28 What it is not…1. Political power play (v. 20)2. Self-serving ambition (v. 24)3. Dominant dictatorship (v. 25-26)4. Charismatic control (v. 25b.)

I. Paul’s Personal TestimonyII. Elder’s Pastoral Task

II. Elder’s Pastoral TaskA. Sacredness of the Trust

1. Lead the sheep

1. Lead the sheep2. Feed the sheep

1. Lead the sheep2. Feed the sheep3. Equip the sheep

1. Lead the sheep2. Feed the sheep3. Equip the sheep4. Encourage the sheep

1. Lead the sheep2. Feed the sheep3. Equip the sheep4. Encourage the sheep5. Protect the sheep

1. Lead the sheep2. Feed the sheep3. Equip the sheep4. Encourage the sheep5. Protect the sheep6. Multiply the sheep

B. Seduction of the Flock

What are the sheep drawn away from ?

The church and its fellowship of godly people

The proper biblical interpretation

The proper biblical interpretation Jesus shepherding care

The proper biblical interpretation Jesus shepherding care From true spiritual sanctification

Vigilant Shepherds

I. Paul’s Personal Testimony (v. 18-27)II. Elder’s Pastoral Task (v. 28-35)

A. The Sacredness of the Trust B. The Seduction of the FlockC. The Sins of the Overseer

Acts 20:17-38

The Sins of the Overseer

1. Carelessness (v. 31)

1. Carelessness (v. 31)a. Clearheaded caution

1. Carelessness (v. 31)a. Clearheaded cautionb. Corrective care

2. Shallowness (v.32)

2. Shallowness (v.32)a. Powerful resources

2. Shallowness (v.32)a. Powerful resourcesb. Permanent results

2. Shallowness (v.32)a. Powerful resourcesb. Permanent resultsc. Potential regress

3. Covetousness (v. 33)

3. Covetousness (v. 33)a. Pastor’s contentment

3. Covetousness (v. 33)a. Pastor’s contentmentb. Pastor’s corruption

1. Carelessness (v. 31)2. Shallowness (v.32)3. Covetousness (v. 33)4. Laziness (v. 34-35a.)

a. Sacrificing privileges

a. Sacrificing privilegesb. Serving others

1. Carelessness (v. 31)2. Shallowness (v.32)3. Covetousness (v. 33)4. Laziness (v. 34-35a.)5. Selfishness (v. 35b.)

a. Example of Christ Jesus

a. Example of Christ Jesusb. Encouragement of Christ Jesus

I. Paul’s Personal Testimony (v. 18-27)II. Elder’s Pastoral Task (v. 28-35)

A. The Sacredness of the Trust B. The Seduction of the FlockC. The Sins of the Overseer

III. Apostle’s Prayerful Trust (v. 36-38)

Acts 20:17-38

Sacrifices of the Servant of Christ

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