A Sad Farewell, Part One
Acts 20:13-38
Pastor Marv, Grace Bible Church
1-23-22

Good-byes can be difficult…whether it involves dropping child off at school for the first time, or a job relocation across country, or a military deployment…or that final farewell when a loved one’s life on earth has come to an end. The Bible contains many examples of sad good-byes. Abraham, at the loss of his wife, Sarah (Genesis 23:1-2). Or Moses, removing the garments of the high priest from his brother, Aaron, and placing upon Aaron’s son, Eleazar…and then watching the former breathe his last (Numbers 20:23-27). Or the whole nation of Israel, watching their sons and daughters being carried away as POW-slaves by invading armies, never to be heard from again (Jeremiah 31:15). Today we’ll see another sad farewell…Paul’s last visit with the elders of the church at Ephesus (see Acts 20:37-38). Today we’ll look at the first half of his final message tot them…the example he had sought to set before them in his 3 years of ministry among them.

Paul – Homeward Bound

• At the end of his third missionary journey…
• With men that he had come to love over his three years of ministry in Ephesus (verse 31).
• A message of the example he had set (verses 17-24)…and an exhortation for their future ministry (verses 25-35).

Paul – Lessons fromHis Example (verses 17-24)

#1 – We need to the right standard to live by. Jesus said we must choose. Paul did. So must we. See Matthew 7:13-14, 24-27; Proverbs 14:12.


#2 – The right standard includes doing the right for the right (verses 18-19). Two parts here…knowing what the right things are…and doing them for the right reason.


#3 – The right standard is the way of total upon the . “…with all humility…” (verse 19)…


#4 – The right standard is the way of genuine for others (verse 19). “…with tears…” (verse 19)…


#5 – The right standard is the is the way of through life’s trials (verses 19-24).