Gospel Driven Leadership | Acts 20:1-38
Paul models three commitments of gospel driven leadership that we should all make: (1) diligently encourage; (2) consistently testify; and (3) vigilantly shepherd. This sermon is part 16 of “Spreading the Faith,” Bryan Craddock’s verse-by-verse sermon series on Acts 8-20.
There’s a simplicity to running. No special gear is required. In fact, the ancient Greeks competed in the nude. There are anatomically detailed drawings on ancient pottery, but we’ll skip those pictures!
Their goal was simply to run the course faster than anyone else. So, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul uses running as a picture of his own disciplined focus in ministry. But in modern times, a team event has been added to track and field: the relay. No matter how fast the individuals are, they must work together to successfully pass the baton. If they fail to do that, they will fall behind or end up disqualified.
Paul may not have ever seen a relay race, but he clearly understood the concept. Acts 20 records the conclusion of his third missionary journey as he passes the baton of church leadership. At first glance, it may seem that the chapter includes a lot of insignificant details, but I think that they each serve a purpose. They show that Paul demonstrates three commitments of gospel driven leadership. I say “gospel driven” because these commitments reflect the truth of the gospel that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. They also prepare others to carry on the mission of spreading that message.
Why should you care about these commitments, if you’re not in a formal church leadership role? I can think of two reasons. First, as we saw earlier in Acts, church members play a part in the selection of leaders. So, we all need to make sure that our expectations of leaders are biblical. But more importantly, every Christian is called to exercise spiritual leadership. We must all strive to fulfill the mission that Jesus has given us. He wants us each to influence people through the proclamation of the gospel, and I have argued that Luke wrote Acts 8-20 as a practical guide for that. So, as he concludes this part of the book, he shows us how to influence people in a way that reflects the heart of the gospel and passes on the baton.
Diligently Encourage
Distance runners fight a tough mental battle. I’ve experienced it myself. You can worry about missing a turn or about going too fast or too slow. You can fixate on little aches and pains until they seem unbearable. It helps to have a crowd cheering you on, but the best support is when a fellow runner comes alongside to encourage you.
The Greek word for encouragement pictures something like that. Depending upon the context, English Bibles also translate it with words like appeal, beg, exhort, urge, or comfort. Jesus uses the noun form of the word in John 14:16 to describe the work of the Holy Spirit who is another Paraklete or Helper as Jesus was.
Encouragement is so integral to the gospel that in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Paul uses this word to describe the character of God and the experience of salvation in Christ. The ESV translates it as comfort. Paul says,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
The gospel of Jesus is the ultimate message of encouragement. So, gospel driven leadership must diligently encourage people, and Paul demonstrates that commitment in Acts 20:1-3 as he leaves Ephesus. Luke tells us,
After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
Now travel in ancient times was dangerous and exhausting. We are not told Paul’s exact path, but he probably retraces his second missionary journey to encourage believers in the churches that he started, ending up in Corinth. Even after facing a plot there, he still decides to head back through Macedonia. It would be much safer for him to just send letters. While he was in Corinth, he wrote his letter to the Romans, and in Romans 1:12 he talks about wanting to visit them to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. As important as his letters are, encouragement is best face to face.
So, gospel driven leadership is diligent about going to encourage people, but it also enlists others in that work. Acts 20:4 says,
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
By accompanying Paul, these men are being prepared to carry on the ministry. This is on the job training. Aristarchus and Gaius were already prominent enough that the mob in Ephesus seized them (Acts 19:29). Acts 19:22 mentions that Paul sent Timothy ahead before this trip (also see 1 Cor 4:17; 16:10). Later, he will play a major role in the church of Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). Tychicus will carry Paul’s prison epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians, and at the end of both letters he says that he is sending Tychicus to encourage them (Eph 6:22; Col 4:8).
Of course, gathering for worship and preaching the Word are central to Paul’s efforts of diligent encouragement. Acts 20:5-7 gives us a unique glimpse into local church life. Notice that it shifts to the first person plural. Luke seems to join Paul at Philippi. He says,
These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
So, they all meet at Troas, and the believers gather on Sunday, or perhaps late Saturday night after sundown. By Jewish reckoning, that is when the day starts. On a practical level, that might have been the only time that they could meet, since many believers were household slaves. They share a meal, listen to the Word, and celebrate communion.
But something interrupts their gathering, and it shows us another form of encouragement. Verses 8-12 say,
There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
Paul miraculously heals Eutychus, and that is an unusual ability. Personally, I don’t think that the spiritual gift of healing is active today as it was then. But we can still learn from the care that Paul shows for someone’s physical health and well-being. We should comfort one another in our afflictions and pray for the Lord to heal. In his great power, he can still bring about miracles whenever he chooses to do so.
As we continue in Acts 20, Luke shares another detail that may seem irrelevant. But it suggests something that we must do to be diligent at encouraging people. Verses 13-14 say,
But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.
As the ship sails around a small peninsula, Paul decides to take a day to walk across by himself. Verse 6 mentions that it is a week after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. So, it’s springtime. Perhaps he prays and communes with the Lord. He is probably also just enjoying the countryside. To diligently encourage people, we all need time to rest and recharge.
In verses 15-16, Luke hints at one more encouraging effort that drives Paul to take this trip. He says,
And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
They bypass Ephesus and head straight to Miletus because Paul is hurrying to Jerusalem. Why is he so concerned about getting there? Romans 15:25-27 and 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 tell us that he was collecting an offering to help poor believers in Jerusalem. That was another reason for this trip, to gather those funds and deliver them.
So, we see Paul diligently encouraging believers by coming alongside them in person, training others for ministry, preaching the word, caring about people’s well-being, withdrawing to personally recharge, and giving to meet needs. The gospel should drive us all to be so diligent at encouraging one another. How are we doing? Are you coming alongside others? That is an essential commitment in gospel driven leadership, and it leads us to another.
Consistently Testify
When you want to measure something, you probably reach for a tape measure. But how do you know if yours is the same as everyone else’s? There must be a standard. Today those standards are very technical. But in the past governments would use a physical object, a single piece of metal, as the standard by which every other measure was judged.
As Christians, Jesus, his gospel, and the Scriptures are the standards by which our lives will be judged. So, those measurements also apply to how we lead and influence people. We should consistently testify to the truth through how we live and what we say.
As we continue in Acts 20, we see that Paul speaks of his commitment to this in his farewell address to the elders of the church of Ephesus. Verses 17-19 tell us,
Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
As Paul spread the gospel during his missionary journeys, he would appoint elders to lead the local church in each city (Acts 14:23). So, he reminds these men from Ephesus of the example that he set for them. They witnessed his consistent testimony of humbly serving the Lord through hardship and opposition. He was not perfect, but he sought to reflect the character of Christ.
His commitment to that standard was also evident in how he spoke. In verses 20-21, he says that they know,
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s preaching of the gospel was consistent. He announced it among unbelievers in public settings and explained it to believers when the church gathered in homes. He did not hesitate to witness to both Jews and Greeks, calling them to turn from idols to God and to believe that Jesus is Lord and Messiah.
In verses 22-24, Paul speaks about a different testimony, that of the Holy Spirit, and what the Spirit reveals to him tests him. He says,
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Paul is not reckless, but he is willing to accept whatever consequences may come as he faithfully fulfills his ministry. He feels constrained or bound to do so by the Holy Spirit. That reminds us that no one fulfills this commitment in their own strength. We must respond as the Spirit convicts us to act, but we must also rely upon him to give us the wisdom and strength to do so.
You might regard that sense of spiritual compulsion as something burdensome. But consistently testifying in word and deed gives us a great sense of freedom and confidence. You hear it in verses 25-27 where Paul says,
And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
Paul had no regrets about his time in Ephesus. He did everything that he could to prepare people for the time when Jesus will return to reign as king. He openly declared the whole counsel or will of God from his word, and the reason that he brings this up is that he wants these men to do the same. Later when he writes 2 Timothy 2:15, he says,
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
We should all strive to do that. How are we handling the word of truth? Do we know it? Is it evident in how we live? Can we explain it? Gospel driven leadership diligently encourages and consistently testifies. There is one more commitment that Paul demonstrates in Acts 20.
Vigilantly Shepherd
In some parts of the world, sheep are turned loose to wander over broad green fields. Their owners don’t worry about feeding them or protecting them. They just check up on them occasionally and shear off their wool when the time is right.
It was not that simple in the arid climate of ancient Israel. As the Twenty-Third Psalm tells us, shepherds had to lead the flock to still water and green pasture. They also had to be ready to fend off predators. Even though he was still a young man at the time, David told King Saul that he killed lions and bears while shepherding his father’s sheep (1 Sam 17:34-36).
Paul appeals to that shepherd imagery in Acts 20 to urge the Ephesian elders to vigilantly shepherd God’s flock. Here again this commitment is driven by the gospel. Verse 28 tells us that he said,
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.
Jesus is both the chief shepherd and the spotless lamb. The church belongs to him. In John 10:27, he describes believers as sheep who hear his voice and follow him. But apart from him we are all trapped in bondage to sin and the curse of the Law. So, he redeemed us by laying down his life to die in our place, shedding his precious blood as the perfect sacrifice.
The death of Jesus shows us the inestimable value that he places on the church, and he gives the elders in a local church the responsibility of overseeing his precious flock. As I mentioned earlier, church members have a part to play in selecting leaders and so do other church leaders. But ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who places them in that role and enables them to fulfill it. They are supposed to care for the church, or we could say shepherd or even pastor.
Now every believer has a vital connection with Jesus and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. So, why does anyone need oversight from local church leaders? Paul explains the threat that we face in verses 29-30. He says,
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Most Christians today seem to worry most about ungodly influences in society while being quick to trust and follow any influential person who claims to be a Christian. But there is a fundamental problem with that outlook. From a biblical standpoint, it should not surprise us when lost people do sinful things. Satan holds them captive and blinds them to spiritual truth (2 Tim 2:26; 2 Cor 4:4). The surprise is how much their conscience still restrains them (Rom 2:14-15). Believers can be influenced by the unbelieving world, but when they are it is usually obvious.
Paul says that the more serious threat comes from within the church. In fact, the phrase “among you” suggests that it may even arise within the leadership of the church. That explains why he told the elders to pay careful attention to yourselves. There will be wolves in sheep’s clothing who speak twisted things and draw people away.
There are countless ways to distort the gospel and exploit people. What should church leaders do about this threat? In verses 31-32, Paul reveals two responses. He says,
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And 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.
As we often see in the Bible, we must recognize both human responsibility and divine sovereignty. On the human side, leaders must be alert, vigilant, and watchful night and day. When they see problems in belief or behavior, they must admonish people as Paul did. The term that he uses here speaks of putting truth into someone’s mind, soberly warning them about how they are going astray. Communicating concerns like that can be emotional. Paul says that he did it with tears.
This responsibility can seem overwhelming, but, thankfully, we can also trust the Lord to work in people’s lives. Paul speaks of commending them to God and the word of his grace. The Lord cares for people more than anyone else ever could. He is the one who ultimately builds us up and helps us grow. He is the one who sanctifies us and keeps us safe until we receive our eternal inheritance.
How can you identify trustworthy leaders who can bear this responsibility? Later when Paul writes 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, he gives a helpful list of character qualities. Here he simply reminds the Ephesian elders of the example that he set for them in handling money. In verses 33-35, he says,
I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
False teachers often exploit people to gain wealth or prestige. So, contentment, diligence, and generosity are key qualities to look for. Peter also highlights these qualities as he addresses church elders in 1 Peter 5:2-3. He says,
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.
When people lead this way, strong relationships are formed. After Paul concludes his farewell message, Acts 20:36-38 says,
And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
So, we all need vigilant shepherding, even those of us who serve as elders. Are we alert to the danger of wolves in sheep’s clothing? Are we willing to share and accept admonition? Are you seeking to build the kinds of relationships with others in the church that allow for that to happen?
__________
The book of Acts shows us a cycle. Chapters 1-7 are about building the church, and chapter 8-20 about spreading the faith. Building the church should lead to spreading the faith which should lead back to building the church, and that is what gospel driven leadership is all about. As we have seen in Acts 20, we must commit to diligently encourage, consistently testify, and vigilantly shepherd.
We began this series with the church fleeing from Saul of Tarsus. But we have seen the amazing power of the gospel of Jesus that transformed his life and led him to spread the faith through his missionary journeys as the Apostle Paul. The Lord still wants to do things like that. It all begins with an individual placing their faith in Jesus. That is the only way to escape from the bondage and condemnation of sin. So, if you’ve never done so, I invite you to start following him today. If you would like to learn more about how people are spiritually transformed, I encourage you to read what Paul says in 2 Timothy 1 and 2.
If you are already a believer, what kind of influence are you having on people? Are you pointing them to Jesus? Can they see the gospel at work in you? Do you need to focus on one of these commitments that we have considered today?
I conclude with the words of Hebrews 13:20-21.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Reflect
What kind of influence have you had on others? How does it reflect or fail to reflect the gospel of Jesus?
Which commitment do you most need to focus on? What could you do to grow in that area?
What could you be doing to “pass the baton” to others?