Paul’s Example as a Preacher Wayne Burger Looking at Paul’s work in Ephesus we see that he was a wonderful example of a servant (See Meditating on the Word Vol. 10, No. 5, January 30, 2005). Again by looking at his work in Ephesus, we can see a clear example for those who want to preach. Paul’s work in Ephesus is recorded in Acts 18:19-21; 19:1-41, and 20:13-38 where he summarized his work in that city. In this article we want to examine Acts 20:13-38. First, he did not keep back anything from them that was profitable to them. That sounds simple, but not all preachers do that. In fact, most preachers probably do not do enough of that kind of preaching. Paul said to them, “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable,” Acts 20:20. The Greek word for “shrink” was a nautical term for “lowering the sails.” Preaching what is profitable is not always popular, therefore many will not do it. It is difficult to preach a profitable sermon if we know that it will “ruffle the feathers” of some. It’s easier to just “lower the sails” on that subject, not preach it, and to preach a lesson that pleases all. Good preaching deals with tough subjects in an appropriate way. Second, he preached publicly and from house to house, v. 20. There is a place for both kinds of preaching. He taught in the synagogue until the Jews hardened their hearts to his message. He then moved to the school of Tyrannus where he taught for two years, Acts 19:8-9. Although we don’t have the specific details of his “house to house” teaching, those would have been private teaching sessions with an individual or a few individuals. Today, if a preacher is going to be successive in converting the lost, he is going to have to teach “from house to house.” There was a day in the history of the church in the United States in which one could let it be known that he would be preaching at the school house or at church building, and the building would be packed with eager ears. In the early 1900’s, T. B. Larimore preached twice a day during the week and three times on Sunday in the area of Gainesville, TX from January 1 through August. The building was filled and over 100 were baptized. Such a method will not work today. People have too many other places to go and do, plus there is not the longing for spiritual messages as there was in that day. Today, preachers can’t even get members to attend several nights of a “gospel meeting.” There still needs to be public preaching, but generally speaking, conversions are going to come through private studies in homes. A preacher who is not willing to conduct one-on-one studies, will not be successful as a soul winner. Third, he preached repentance and faith. The work of any preacher is to change the lives of men and women. That is what Paul did by “solemnly testifying to the both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,” Acts 20:21. “Repentance” is a change of the mind that leads to a change in action. Sermons should call for action. Without a call for action, most people will never change their lives. Successful preaching calls for change – change in the individual’s life, as well as a change in the congregation’s attitudes and actions. Paul preached the same message to Jews and Gentiles. Today, preachers need to preach the same message of repentance and faith in Christ to everyone. The approach may be different, but the message must be the same. Fourth, he preached the gospel of the grace of God. In describing his work, Paul again used the words “testify” and “solemnly,.” when speaking about the gospel and grace. Paul said that he had received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God,” Acts 20:24. Two key words – “gospel” and “grace.” “Gospel” is “good news.” He preached good news to those who “were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience,” Ephesians 2:1-2. It was good news because they were resurrected from a spiritually dead condition to be alive and walking in Christ. It was “grace” because they could not save themselves. They had something to do, but what they did, did not merit salvation. It was the grace of God that saved them (Ephesians 2:8-9). Fundamental facts of the gospel are the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, I Corinthians 15:1-4. That message is the power of God to save everyone, Romans 1:16. That is the message that needs to be preached today. Interesting stories, no matter how fascinating the presentations, will ever save anyone. Christ’s preachers must preach Christ’s gospel so that men and women can be saved by God’s grace. Fifth, Paul preached the kingdom of God, Acts 20:25. The kingdom of God is the reign of God in the lives of individuals. The church is the visible kingdom on earth today. We must not be ashamed to preach about the church. The words “kingdom,” “church,” and “body,” are terms the Bible uses for groups of Christians. Each of those terms gives us a little different picture of God’s people. The word “kingdom” tells how we are governed. We are not a democracy – not a monarchy. The word “church” tells what has happened to us – we have been called out of the world into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The word “body” tells how we function – as the human body with a head giving directions. It is not “politically correct” today to say that there is only one true church. But, Paul told these Ephesian Christians there was just one body – church, Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:4. Too many so-called “gospel preachers” are afraid to say that there is just one church. That might offend someone, but not to say it will offend Christ who purchased the church with His blood, Acts 20:28. Sometimes, what is wrong is not what one preachers, but what one will not preach. One can sin by not saying what needs to be said, as well as saying that which is incorrect. Preaching that there is one church is one of those truths. More gospel preachers today need to preach that there is just one church. Sixth, Paul preached “the whole purpose of God,” Acts 20:27. Again, as he declared what he did, he used the phrase, “I did not shrink.” He did not “lower the sails,” but rather preached all that God wanted him to preach. God’s purpose is for all aspects of our lives. Therefore, preachers need to proclaim the truth of God that applies to all aspect of living. It is easy to always preach those messages that we like or that we know without having to study any more. Preachers, in order to be like Paul, we must preach the whole purpose of God. From time to time, preachers need to examine their preaching and preach from subjects that have been neglected. Seventh, Paul preached so that his conscience was clear. Every preacher needs to recognize that he answers to God for that great treasure (the gospel) which has been placed in his hands (I Corinthians 4:1-5). If we do not preach it as Christ has commissioned us, we will not answer to the elders, or to the church, but to Christ the judge of the living and the dead, Acts 17:30-31; II Timothy 4:1. If we fail to preach the gospel, the blood of men’s “souls” is on our hands. For this reason Paul preached what was profitable and the whole counsel of God so that he could stand before God with a clear conscience. He said, “I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men,” Acts 20:26. What a challenge for preachers today! Eighth, he preached so as to warn about coming dangers. He didn’t wait until the wolves were already among the flock. He told the Ephesians elders that they were coming. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them,” Acts 20:29-30. We are living at a time when much of our preaching must warn of dangers to come. The church today is in perilous times and unfortunately; it probably is going to get worse before it gets better. Preachers need to warn about the coming of those who lead disciples away. Again, it’s not popular to be a prophet of doom, but it must be done. By that, I’m not saying that negativism is all that one should preach. We’ve already noted the positives that Paul preached. Our preaching must be balanced. Ninth, Paul was emotional about his preaching. He said, “Night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears,” Acts 20:31. Preaching brethren, how long has it been since we shed tears because of our concern for the gospel, the lost, or the church? I’m not saying that our preaching should be dominated by emotionalism, but it should be preached from great emotion and with great emotion. Tenth, Paul’s preaching commended “men to God and the word of His grace,” Acts 20:32. All of our preaching ought to do that. The final authority was not Paul, and it surely is not us, but rather it is God and His word. People will not stand before you and and me as their judge. They will stand before God and His word. The Bible is the standard by which men and women will be judged, Revelation 20:12. Let us all look to Paul’s example in the Ephesian city as the great example of what and how preaching should be done.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:07:33 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015