Serving Christ’s Church

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, 14 June 2026
Sermon Series: “The Acts of the Apostles” (#33)
Sermon Text: Acts 20:17-38
Main Points:
Introduction
I. Serve Christ’s church with a faithful example
II. Serve Christ’s church with a clear conviction
III. Serve Christ’s church by guarding God’s flock
Conclusion

We’re looking at the Apostle Paul’s third missionary journey, and the passage before us comes near the end of that journey. Paul is making his way toward Jerusalem, knowing that this stage of his ministry is drawing to a close.

As he sails along the coast of Asia Minor, his ship bypasses Ephesus and docks at Miletus, a city about 70 kms south of Ephesus. From there, Paul sends for the elders of the Ephesian church. He is eager to reach Jerusalem by a certain date and does not have much time to visit Ephesus and back. But he longs to see the leaders of the church one last time. So he summons the elders, those who are entrusted with the ministry of teaching and overseeing.

Now, picture the scene in your mind. Paul stands before these elders whom he had served for three years. What should’ve been a joyful reunion is overshadowed by the knowledge that they will never see one another again. That is why the chapter closes with tears, embraces, and prayer.

That scene helps us appreciate the weight of the message we’ve just read. These are not casual remarks. These are not ordinary instructions. Paul is giving his final charge to elders whom he dearly loves. The elders listen carefully, wanting to miss nothing, because every word from the apostle is precious. And we should listen in the same way. As we read this passage, we should place ourselves among those elders and hear these words as though we were standing before Paul himself.

At its heart, this passage answers a simple but important question: ‘How are we to serve Christ’s church?’

Paul is speaking directly to church leaders, but the principles he gives are not limited to elders and ministers. They’re rooted in Paul’s own example of following Christ. Elsewhere he says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Therefore, while this charge is addressed to overseers, its central lessons belong to every believer who serves in Christ’s church.

In fact, this speech is unique in the book of Acts. It is the only recorded speech of Paul addressed specifically to believers rather than unbelievers. For that reason, it deserves our careful attention.

In this farewell address, Paul highlights three essential principles for serving Christ’s church: first, serve Christ’s church with a faithful example; serve with a clear conviction; and serve by guarding God’s flock. Let us consider each of these in turn.

I. Serve Christ’s Church With A Faithful Example

The starting point for serving Christ’s church is a faithful example. Paul begins by reminding the Ephesian elders of something they already know. Listen to his words in v. 18, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time.” Paul appeals not to his reputation, but to their personal observation. For three years, they had watched him closely. They had seen his conduct, heard his teaching, and observed his character. Paul’s ministry was transparent. He did not merely preach truth; he lived it before them.

What exactly did they know about the apostle? First, they knew his humility. Paul says in v. 19, “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials.” Though he was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, he describes himself primarily as a servant. The Greek word translated ‘serving’ is ‘douleuo,’ a word that refers to the service of a slave. Paul’s ministry was not about personal recognition, influence, or prestige. It was about serving Christ.

This is remarkable when we consider who Paul was. He had been personally appointed by the risen Christ to the office of apostles. He possessed authority that no ordinary minister possesses. Yet, Paul does not emphasise his privilege. Instead, he emphasises his responsibility. He had been entrusted with the gospel, and he devoted himself entirely to that calling. Though he faced opposition, persecution, and even plots against his life, he continued steadfastly in his mission of bringing the gospel to all people.

Such humility before the Lord and His calling is foundational to all Christian service. It is the attitude every church leader must cultivate and every church member must pursue.

Yet, humility does not come naturally to us. It is easy to become proud when entrusted with responsibility. It is easy to measure ourselves by our position, title, achievements, or influence. But, Paul directs our attention away from ourselves and ultimately to Christ. The Son of God humbled himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient even to death on a cross. If Christ served His people with such humility, how can we serve His church in any other way? Serving Christ’s church must be grounded in Christlike humility!

But the Ephesian overseers knew more than Paul’s humility. They also knew his faithfulness and integrity. Throughout his ministry, Paul never shrank back from declaring what God had revealed. He withheld nothing that was profitable for God’s people. He taught publicly and house to house. He proclaimed the whole counsel of God. He did not avoid difficult doctrines, nor did he edit God’s truth to make it more acceptable. His ministry was not motivated by financial gain, social status, influence, or popularity.

That kind of faithfulness is increasingly rare. Many truths taught in Scripture are unpopular in our day. The seriousness of sin, the necessity of repentance, the essence of church discipline, the reality of God’s judgment, and the call to holiness are often unwelcome subjects. When such themes are preached regularly, people may complain that the church is too negative or too gloomy. As a result, many pulpits have replaced the hard truths of Scripture with messages that merely satisfy people’s desires and soothe their consciences.

When churches avoid difficult truths, God’s people are not nourished but weakened. Paul did the opposite. He faithfully proclaimed the whole counsel of God. He dug deeply into the riches of God’s Word. His aim was not to entertain hearers but to build them up in Christ.

The lesson is clear. Paul reminds these elders of what they have already seen. A shepherd’s credibility comes not merely from his words but from his life. Faithful ministry rests upon proven character. And this principle extends beyond church leaders. Every Christian serves Christ’s church through the example of his or her life. The church is strengthened when its leaders possess proven character. The church is strengthened when its members possess the same proven character! A proven character gives weight to faithful ministry.

II. Serve Christ’s Church With A Clear Conviction

Once our service is grounded in faithfulness and integrity, it must also be strengthened by clear conviction.

Notice the repeated language Paul uses in vs. 22, 23 and 25: he says, “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit …. [I know] that imprisonment and afflictions await me. … I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.” The emphasis is striking. Paul speaks repeatedly about what he knows. In the first section, he reminded the Ephesians overseers, ‘you know.’ And now, he speaks about what he knows.

Paul is moving toward suffering with his eyes wide open. He’s not confused about his calling. He possesses a clear conviction concerning what Christ requires of him. He knows that hardship lies ahead. He knows that imprisonment and afflictions await him. He even knows that this meeting with the Ephesian elders will likely be their last.

But, none of these things causes him to turn aside. Why? Because obedience is more important than comfort. Paul’s conviction is seen most clearly in v. 24, “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.” What a remarkable saying! Paul does not measure success by safety, popularity, or personal fulfilment. His supreme ambition is to finish the race Christ has given him. His concern is not self-preservation but faithful perseverance! Paul is convinced about his duty.

But he is also convinced about his message. V. 24 speaks of “the gospel of the grace of God” and v. 25 speaks of “the kingdom.” V. 27, “the whole counsel of God.” All these reveal the substance of Paul’s ministry. His convictions are not vague, not undefined. He knows what he believes; he knows what he must preach. He knows what must never be compromised.

And that kind of conviction remains essential for Christ’s church today. A church without conviction soon loses its direction and eventually its purpose. A leader without conviction will soon bend to the pressures of the culture. A Christian without conviction will soon lose the joy of serving Christ and begin seeking satisfaction in the things of the world.

Brothers and sisters, Christ’s church is served best by people who know what they believe and why they believe it. So, the church does not need uncertainty from its leaders. Nor does it need members who are constantly carried along by the opinions of the day. The church needs men and women whose minds are anchored in God’s truth and whose hearts are committed to Christ’s calling. Christ’s church needs biblical conviction joined with humility and courage.

III. Serve Christ’s Church By Guarding God’s Flock

Then, Paul’s final charge concerns the guarding of God’s flock. This is not a gentle suggestion but a solemn warning. Unless the ministers and elders diligently and vigilantly guard Christ’s church, danger will surely come. Paul warns them plainly, saying this in v. 29, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

The seriousness of the warning is illustrated by the later history of the Ephesian church itself. Though it became one of the most influential churches in the ancient world, the risen Christ later rebuked it for abandoning its first love, and eventually the church disappeared altogether. Paul’s warning was not theoretical. Churches that fail to remain vigilant can decline, regardless of how strong they once appeared.

Notice first, that the elders must guard themselves before they can guard the flock. The order is important. They must guard their doctrine, their character, and their personal holiness. A shepherd who neglects his own soul cannot faithfully care for the souls of others. Only then, can they guard the flock entrusted to them.

Why is this responsibility so important? Because the flock belongs to God. Paul reminds them that the Holy Spirit has made them overseers. They are stewards of the church. Furthermore, this church is precious beyond measure because it was purchased at an infinite cost. V. 28 declares that God obtained the church “with His own blood.”

This is one of the most profound statements in the NT. The blood that purchased the church was the blood of Jesus Christ. Because the One who shed that blood is truly God, Paul can speak of the church as having been purchased with God’s own blood. No higher price could ever have been paid. No greater value could ever be placed upon the church. Every believer sitting in the pew today has been purchased by the blood of Christ. Every congregation belongs to Him. Every sheep in the flock is precious to the Chief Shepherd.

That’s why the elders must remain vigilant. The danger, Paul says, will come not only from outside but also from within. Wolves outside the church are dangerous, but at least they are visible. The greater danger is often the wolf disguised as a sheep. False teaching, spiritual pride, ungodly ambition, and divisive influences can arise from within the very fellowship of God’s people.

Such wolves do not strengthen the flock; they scatter it. They do not feed the sheep; they devour them. This is why godly elders are such a gift to the church. Together with the minister, they watch over the spiritual health of the flock, preserve sound doctrine, provide stability during times of change, and help protect the church from error. For that reason, elders themselves must be mature in both doctrine and godliness. A weak eldership leaves gaps in the fence around the flock. A strong and faithful eldership helps protect the church from error, and guides God’s people in the paths of truth.

Yet, Paul’s final emphasis is not on the strength of the elders but on the faithfulness of God! Ultimately, the church is preserved not by human strength but by divine grace. God builds His church, protects and keeps His church. Elders are faithful only because God is faithful.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, one word summarises Paul’s charge in this passage – that is, faithfulness. Faithfulness in our character. Faithfulness in our convictions. Faithfulness in guarding Christ’s precious flock.

May God grant such faithfulness to our leaders and every one in this church, for the church belongs to Christ and was purchased by Christ. And He will preserve us, His church! ***