Podcasts about Eutychus

Thursday, 15 May 2025   Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8   “Being feeble – you heal, leprous – you cleanse, dead – you rouse, demons – you eject. Freely you received, freely you give” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the twelve what to say when they went forth to proclaim their words to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Now, adding to the proclamation they were to make, He tells them of the authority they will possess as well, beginning with, “Being feeble – you heal.”   This is a new word, astheneó. It is a verb signifying to be feeble, coming from the adjective asthenés, to be feeble. The verb, being a present participle, literally reads “being feeble.” The word, however, is generally translated as a noun or an adverb. Jesus gives the apostles the ability to heal those who are feeble. Also, He next says, “leprous – you cleanse.”   This is something Jesus has already done. This same ability is now conferred upon them. Being a leper was something that required additional steps to be taken after a person was cleansed. This is because having leprosy was something that was determined by the priest. Once he proclaimed a person to be leprous, he was to be excluded from the community.   The specific details are found in Leviticus 13. If a person was cleansed, the instructions in Leviticus 14 were then to be followed. Therefore, only the priest could officially declare a person free from the leprosy that once afflicted him. Next come disputed words, saying, “dead – you rouse.”   These words are not recorded in some manuscripts. Even if original, there is no indication that any were raised from the dead except by Jesus. Only after the resurrection are Dorcas (Tabitha) and Eutychus restored to life by Peter and then Paul. If the words were inserted later, it was probably in connection with that thought concerning what was done through Peter and Paul.   However, that would be an inexcusable reason to insert it here. Whether the words are original or not, Jesus possessed the ability, and after the completion of His ministry, it was granted in those two instances. Next, it says, “demons – you eject.”   In Luke, not only are the twelve given authority to do these things, but seventy disciples were also sent out. Upon their return, it says –   “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'” Luke 10:17   Therefore, these gospel narratives support one another in confirming this granted ability from the Lord. Finally, Jesus finishes the verse saying, “Freely you received, freely you give.”   Here he introduces the word dórean. It is a word signifying without cause, freely, for nothing, or even in vain. Each instance requires the context to be considered. In this case, it signifies they were not to charge for their services.   Life application: In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer is said to have believed the gospel message preached to him. After that, however, it says –   “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.' 20 But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.' 24 Then Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.'” Acts 8:18-24   It is often argued that Simon was not saved because of his conduct. However, it says quite clearly in Acts 8:13 that he believed. It is the same word used when speaking of belief leading to salvation elsewhere. If he truly believed he was saved. Salvation is not conditional on knowing everything about the faith. Nor is it conditional on not adhering to proper doctrine after being saved when what is proper is known.   Rather, salvation is conditional on one thing: belief in the gospel. We do not read the hearts of others. As such, it is entirely inappropriate to say of someone, “He is not saved.” It may be true that he is not reflecting proper Christian values, but that is not a salvific issue.   Let us not be finger-pointers when we do not have all the facts. If someone is not living for the Lord as expected after being saved, there are verses that deal with what we are to do with them. However, let us not make proclamations about things we cannot truly be certain of.   “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:11   Lord God, thank You for the simplicity of the gospel. If it were up to us, none of us would continue to be saved after we first believed. But Your grace extends to all of our faults – past, present, and future. Thank You for the surety of salvation we possess. Amen.  

Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonia. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and requests that the elders of Ephesus join him for final words of encouraging and warning. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead. Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of a quick visit in to Macedonia appear to have been thwarted and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace – read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would come upon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage.

Deuteronomy chapter 25 verses 1-4 tells that for disputes between neighbours in which it becomes apparent that a crime has been committed for which there was no death penalty a judgment is made an the punishment is decided. If a beating was required than the guilty man was to be beaten with stripes from a rod – the number of hits was to be less than 40. Verses 5-11 describe laws for levirate marriages. These were to produce an heir to a family whose father had died without a child. We find several examples of the application of this rule in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Matthew 1, which we believe is Joseph – Jesus' stepfather's – ancestral line there is a levarite marriage. Verses 12-19 contains miscellaneous laws which have their focus on the morality to be evident in the lives of the LORD's holy people. These range from improper sexual practices, to just weights and measures. The nation of Israel is to continually wage war against Amalek and everything that nation stands for. Song of Solomon 5 begins with an invitation by the groom to his spouse to satiate themselves with perfume and edible delicacies. In verse 2 the companions of the bride with a strong affirmation of the benefits of doing this. From verses 2-8 the bride expresses her deep feelings for her husband which means she is sleeping lightly in the hope of his arrival. She speaks passionately of the hope of her husband's company. The bride laments her inability to find her beloved. She spoke of the hinderance, indeed the abuse, to her from Jerusalem's watchmen. This is of course symbolic of the ecclesia's ill treatment by the authorities in the first century AD. The bride weeps and mourns the absence of her Lord. Her companions in verse 9 perhaps suggest to her that she is enduring too much for her groom. From verses 10-16 she tells her companions of the greatness of her incomparable husband. We must share that longing and towering respect for our absent Master. Acts 20 records that after the riot Paul calls for and encourages the ecclesia before departing into Macedonia. Six brethren accompany him as the representatives of their ecclesias. These delegates are carrying relief funds for the poor believers in Judea who are suffering the effects of a great famine. The chapter says Paul stops at Miletus and requests that the elders of Ephesus join him for final words of encouraging and warning. The Apostle gives a very long talk, and because of the poor ventilation in the room a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in the window and he falls three storeys to the ground and is pronounced dead. Paul miraculously raises Eutychus and continues preaching until sunrise. Paul's intentions of a quick visit in to Macedonia appear to have been thwarted and he is now hurrying to Jerusalem to arrive before the feast of Pentecost. The Apostle's speech to the Ephesian elders is recorded from verses 18-35. In summary he tells them of their solemn responsibilities, warning them of a decline due to those who would seek leadership for their own advantage. On the positive side, Paul, in verse 32, commends them to God and the Word of His grace – read aloud, pause and ponder. The Apostle also quotes some unrecorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v35). The assembled group pray together on the beach and then an old prophet warns Paul of what would come upon him from the time of his arriving in Jerusalem. They greatly sorrow that they will see his face no more, but they respect Paul's resolute courage.

In this episode, we look at the fall of Eutychus from the third story window at midnight while the church was gathered listening to Paul preach. We see how his fall parallels the five foolish virgins and how it parallels the modern church of today. We look at the lessons and warnings we can take from his fall so that we can prevent ourselves and the church from falling like he did. We're called to be alert as we watch and pray, preparing for the Master's return!

I once fell asleep at the Salvos in a church service and dreamed I was dodging a football - everyone noticed.  In todays reading in Acts Ch 20 another young guy dozed off during a boring sermon, fell out of a window and died.  His name was Eutychus which in Greek means lucky!  The lovely Sue and I watched Adolescence recently.  It was very confronting.  Engaging effectively with young boys is really important and we do well to find ways to be with them without harsh judgement and simplistic solutions.  

Paul and Eutychus by First Pres Kingwood

Acts 20:7-12 7 On the first day of the week, we[c] assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, 9 and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on speaking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, embraced him, and said, “Don't be alarmed, for his life is in him!” 11 After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul conversed a considerable time until dawn. Then he left. 12 They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.

Pastor Rob Fleshman shares the story of Eutychus from Acts chapter 2; an encouragement to reach the younger generations with the Gospel of Christ.

Title: Church Leaders: Priority #1 Text: Acts 20:7-12 FCF: We often struggle listening and obeying church leadership. Prop: Because obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, we must consider it our highest priority by listening to and obeying our leaders' spiritual instruction. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 7. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Some have noted that last week's message was somewhat surprising. In reading what amounts to essentially an itinerary, perhaps you too did not think that there would be much to learn from such a text. Nevertheless, we see Paul's consistent desire to exhort, encourage, and teach the scriptures to believers all around the Aegean Sea. In what is quickly becoming Luke's emphasis, we will notice yet again the character of Paul in this text this morning. I dare say that as many were surprised by last week's message hidden in a seemingly empty 6 verses, many will be equally surprised by this week's message. Because many a believer has no doubt entered this text and been led to believe that Luke's primary point is the miracle of raising a young boy back to life. However… would it shock you to hear that the death and resurrection of this young boy is actually just an interruption in what is the main point of this passage? Don't believe me? Let's look. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most loving and gracious Father. You have sent Your Son to purchase us from the domain of darkness. You have sent Your Spirit to dwell in us and make us new. And to guide us in Your ways you have raised up for us godly church leaders whose primary objective is to do all that is in their power to ensure our spiritual success. Father, I pray that you might send your Spirit among us today to reveal to us the blessing of Your Dear Son's Undershepherds and their purpose which has been ordained by Christ Himself. May Your people grow in their attentiveness, submission, and love for spiritual instruction. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: Let us get right to the text this morning… there is much to cover. I.) Obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, so we must be attentive and submissive to spiritual instruction. (7-9) a. [Slide 2] 7 - And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, i. From some of the earliest writings we have of church fathers that are not the writings of the apostles, we understand that the early church met together on the first day of the week to worship God together. ii. They called it the Lord's Day. iii. On the first day of the week in creation God created the heavens and the earth. His Spirit moved upon the formless waters and brought order out of chaos. He created light and separated the light from the darkness. On the first day of the week our Savior rose from the dead and brought spiritual light to His people separating them from spiritual darkness forever, bringing them the dawn of new creation. iv. While there are many Christians who believe that the Lord's Day is the equivalent of the Christian Sabbath, there is actually very good reasons to conclude that this is, in fact, not the case. v. At some point in the near future, I plan to do a deeper dive into this matter. The title of that study will be, “Should we celebrate a Christian Sabbath on Sunday?” We'll discuss the arguments posited by both sides and see if we can't find an answer together. vi. Until then, it is important to understand that the church at this time both obyed the Sabbath on Saturday, if they were Jewish, and also gathered together on Sunday as the church, Jew or Gentile. vii. Luke points out here that gathering together to celebrate the Lord's Supper, sharing a fuller meal together, worshipping God and hearing preaching of the Word on Sunday – was all normal and common practice in the church since its beginning. b. [Slide 3] Paul began speaking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. i. Luke and Paul spent a week in Philippi celebrating the feast of unleavened bread, they traveled for 5 days to Troas and then stayed in Troas 7 days. ii. This is the seventh day of their stay in the city of Troas and Paul and Luke intend to leave the next day. iii. Paul is trying to make it to Jerusalem for Pentecost. Pentecost is on the 50th day after Passover. So, if we are tracking, we are about 14 days into that 50. iv. Given what could happen during travel, Paul and his companions are eager to press on – but not so much so that they abandon believers seeking discipleship. v. We see Paul staying up to midnight preaching a message of exhortation from the word of God to the brothers and sisters there in Troas. vi. Although church services would no doubt be held after sunset to accommodate lower class workers, it is certainly not a normal thing for services to have gone on this long. We can infer that from Luke telling us that Paul prolonged his message until midnight. vii. Paul wishes to leave them with as much teaching as possible. viii. The word for speaking here is often used of dialectic teaching where there are questions and answers. It would have been structured and ordered – but there would have been opportunities for discussion as well. ix. Because of this we can reasonably assume that the vast majority of the believers here at Troas were interacting with Paul and Paul was not droning on and on to a group of people who were bord out of their skulls. x. Inferring these details from what Luke has told us, helps us to see this narrative episode for what it is because so often people see it for what it isn't. xi. More on that as we go forward. c. [Slide 4] 8 - Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. i. I literally laughed out loud after the fourth or fifth time reading this passage through. ii. It suddenly occurred to me the potential comedy associated with this little verse. iii. Luke seems to imply that everything upstairs was well lit with many lamps. It wasn't dark. Paul was preaching, so it wasn't quiet. iv. In other words, Eutychus didn't have a lot of great excuses to fall asleep. v. Now as I turned to commentators and scholars to confirm that this is what Luke is saying, I was shocked to see how many different opinions there are on the significance of this little verse. 1. Some, but very few, saw it the way I did where these lights were meant to exonerate Paul and the church in Eutychus' falling asleep. a. There were actually punishments associated with young people falling asleep in the synagogue at that time. b. You could actually be expelled from the Synagogue for 30 days if you were a youth that fell asleep during the teaching of the Word of God. c. Therefore, Luke may be hinting that Eutychus has some of this blame as Paul and the church did not make it easy to fall asleep since it was loud and well-lit. 2. Some conclude that Luke is implying that the upper room was very warm with so many lit lamps. a. Thus, it was very conducive for sleep… in other words the opposite reading of what I saw. b. But, if it were too warm, wouldn't Eutychus have stood a better chance at staying awake at the window? 3. Other commentators, knowing that they were no doubt oil lamps, suggest that the oxygen in the room would have been in low supply. a. Again, indicating that it was conducive to sleep. b. But Eutychus being at the window has the best chance of breathing easy. 4. Still others suggest that this comment of many lamps is intended to suggest that the room was quite full of people, who have brought their torches with them. a. The strength of this interpretation seems to be in keeping with Luke's emphasis. b. Luke is emphasizing Paul and his conduct as a good church leader and with many people there and only 1 falling asleep, again Eutychus is to blame for falling asleep. 5. And even others suggest that the many lights indicate that the Christians were not hiding or meeting in secret. a. Again, a valid interpretation. b. However, if this is Luke's point, it seems to be well hidden since there is no indication of persecution by the authorities in the city of Troas. vi. When we come down to it, we must understand verse 8 in the context of the whole. The miracle, as we will see, and Eutychus' part in all this, is very… VERY small. vii. Luke is telling this story to further authenticate Paul as a servant of God like previous servants you may have seen in the scriptures including both Peter and even Jesus Himself. viii. Therefore, I conclude that this comment about the lights has to be related to exonerating Paul from any blame associated with this accident. d. [Slide 5] 9 - And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the windowsill, sinking into a deep sleep. i. Nevertheless, despite there being many lamps and despite Paul speaking with power and authority, and despite all these folks gathered and discussing the scriptures together, this young man named Eutychus, was sinking into a deep sleep. ii. Now to be fair, it is midnight. Assuming he woke that day at sunrise, and assuming that he spent all day working as a slave boy, which the word “boy” in verse 12 could also be interpreted to mean, and assuming the evening had been full of celebration with the church, feasting, many songs, and long sermons… we can see why Eutychus might have been a little sleepy. iii. And perhaps he sought the window because it WAS getting stuffy in the house and Eutychus sought the cool breeze off the Aegean to keep himself awake? We can assume noble intentions. iv. In any case, Eutychus fights a losing battle with his weak humanity. v. He does not take enough necessary steps to stay awake. e. [Slide 6] And as Paul kept on talking, he sunk into that sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. i. Paul continues to preach because the message is not finished. ii. We even get the impression that most of the church gathered there in the upper room were attentively listening and even participating in discussion. iii. Indeed, Paul seems to be the one making a great sacrifice here. Despite having to leave in the morning, he continues to preach. iv. Nevertheless, Eutychus succumbed to his human need for sleep and fell out of the third story window. v. The expression, picked up dead, is an idiom suggesting that he was dead when he hit the ground. Most likely a broken neck. vi. There is absolutely no reason to believe anything different in this text other than that Eutychus was dead. Not unconscious or appearing dead. Luke is a physician remember. He would certainly be able, with relative precision, to determine if the boy was merely unconscious or dead. vii. Luke says he is dead. f. [Slide 7] Summary of the Point: Since, as we've said, Luke's emphasis seems to be less on Eutychus and the miracle and more on Paul and his excellence as a spokesperson of God in a long line of prophets all the way back to the Old Testament, it is important to see that the message of this text is primarily rooted in a truth about obedient and godly church leadership. Paul is not an Elder of a church, although he is certainly qualified to be one. He is a missionary and an apostle. A Preacher, an Evangelist. His role encompasses various roles we still have even now in the church. Meaning Paul is able to provide an example for us for all church leaders. And we see very clearly in this text, the priority that Paul puts on the spiritual growth of the church. Even though he must leave the very next day, he meets, into the late hours of the night, with these believers in Troas, ministering to them and growing them in spiritual instruction. He lingers with them, at the expense of himself. We see prophets, priests, kings, other apostles, and even Jesus Himself doing similar things. Paul then is a model for us of what Godly and obedient church leaders value most. What they prioritize most in their ministries. And it is, quite simply, the spiritual growth of the church. So, what ought to be the response of the church to such a church leader? We ought to listen attentively and submissively to our spiritual leadership. Yes, Eutychus provides for us a negative example. Even though we can excuse him for being tired – the bottom line is that to a certain degree, he allowed himself to fall asleep. Much like Jesus rebuked his disciples for sleeping while he prayed in Gethsemane, so also, we must see Eutychus' example as a rebuke to us, and recognize that we cannot passively grow in spiritual maturity. We cannot grow closer to Christ by osmosis. Instead, we must actively listen and obey instruction from the Word of God. Transition: [Slide 8(blank)] Well, we already know what happens to Eutychus. In fact, the story is so well known that there isn't a lot of suspense here on what will happen next. But after Eutychus is raised… it might be a shock to you what happens then. Let's get into it. II.) Obedient church leaders give their highest priority to the spiritual growth of the church, so we must also greatly appreciate spiritual instruction. a. [Slide 9] 10 - But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.” i. Paul, pauses his sermon for the immediate physical need of the young boy Eutychus. ii. He goes down to the street and falls upon the boy. iii. In a scene which is reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha laying upon someone in order to raise them from the dead, Paul embraces the young man and pulls him close. iv. Luke does not tell us that Paul prayed for him. He does not tell us that Paul commanded him to live again. v. Given the fact that he was dead when he hit the ground, one thing we can be sure – it was the power of God, not Paul, that raised Eutychus from the dead. vi. When Paul recognizes that life has returned to him, he assures everyone that there is no reason to be worried or troubled. The boy is alive. vii. So, what now? The boy is raised? Probably time to dismiss everyone and go home right? b. [Slide 10] 11 - And when he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left. i. In what could certainly be seen as rather unkind or lacking compassion, Paul returns inside and fellowships and speaks with the church until daybreak. ii. Some may suggest that after such a terrible tragedy being averted only by a miracle from God, perhaps that was a good time to call it a night and return home. iii. Instead, Paul continues to fellowship with the church and even speak further with them concerning the things of the Lord. iv. Probably Luke intends The Lord's Supper here when he mentions breaking bread. v. He stays until the sun rises. vi. This is a true expression of Paul's priorities. vii. Certainly, he did not ignore the physical world, as if it did not matter or was evil – like the Gnostics would later conclude. viii. Instead, he had compassion on the boy who had died, but when he was alive again, he returned to spiritual matters and matters of fellowship with the body of Christ – for these were of utmost priority to Paul before he left them for Jerusalem. ix. Perhaps because he assumed he would never return. c. [Slide 11] 12 - And they took away the boy alive, and were not a little comforted. i. And just in case there was any doubt as to the boy's condition as the night went on – he went away alive with his family. ii. He did not swoon back as if he hung on the balance between life and death. iii. Instead, he was dead, and was now alive. iv. His family left the church assembly after daybreak greatly comforted because he was as he came. Alive and well. d. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Luke again emphasizes the priority that church leadership must give to spiritual growth. Just because something is the highest priority doesn't mean other things aren't important. Paul was obviously not done instructing the congregation in Troas. But he interrupted all that he was saying to go and minister to the young man. However, once he was raised back to life, Paul went right back to breaking bread and teaching the believers again. No doubt even using the vivid death to life illustration to teach on Christ through the Lord's Supper and further explain the nature of Christianity to them. It is very clear that Paul's top priority, even in the midst of someone dying during one of his sermons, was to ensure the spiritual growth of God's children. What do we see as the response? Paul's continued ministry of the Word is met by people who have reordered their life to appreciate the instruction. Even the newly raised Eutychus stays until Paul is finished. If the church leadership is prioritizing spiritual growth, that should also be the priority of the church as well. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 13] Every episode in the book of Acts exposes the work of God to spread the gospel and the kingdom of Christ to the uttermost parts of the earth through His apostles. And in this particular context, we see the priority of those God is using to do this. The priority of church leaders, even missionaries like Paul, is to focus on the spiritual growth of the church. Paul needs to leave on Monday, but the Christians of Troas need his instruction. So, Paul stays up with them until daybreak to instruct them in the Word. Even when he is interrupted by a young man falling from a window and dying, Paul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, raises the young man back to life and then continues ministering to the spiritual growth of the believers in Troas… including the young man who had just been raised. This is a pattern for us describing what every obedient and godly church leader ought to prioritize above everything else. Namely, the spiritual growth of the children of God to be mature and Christlike people. In this little story we see two responses to the priority Paul places on spiritual growth. The first is a negative example of Eutychus. He did not remain attentive or submissive to the spiritual instruction of Paul. Second, we see that after he was raised, Eutychus stayed, proving that his priorities had reoriented around the importance of spiritual instruction. So we too much put spiritual instruction as our primary objective by attentively listening and obeying it. But let me apply this more directly to us today. Let me give you some rather toe crunching applications this morning. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that church leaders are required by God to focus on the spiritual growth of those in their charge. a. Though a miracle occurs in this text, it is very obviously an interruption in what is the priority for Paul. b. Paul sacrificially gives of himself to teach and preach to hungry believers in Troas. He has to depart the very next day, but stays up with them until midnight discussing the things of the Lord. c. They are interrupted by this tragedy, but the moment it is resolved, Paul goes right back to preaching and fellowshipping with the church there. d. The heart of Paul shows a clear priority on the spiritual instruction and growth of God's people. e. If we go back, we see this same heart found in the prophets and godly kings of Israel. We see this same heart in Jesus as he corrects Martha for working while spiritual instruction was occurring. f. No matter what your preconceived ideas of what a Pastor or Elder should be… you must come to grips with the reality that our primary role… the one for which we will stand before God to be judged… is whether or not we focused on the spiritual instruction and growth of God's people. g. Knowing this, it may require you to discard some expectations you may have of your Elders. h. Our culture expects pastors to be all kinds of things that would cause us to sacrifice spiritual instruction as our primary objective. i. Many were raised expecting their pastor to make house visits, hospital visits, go do to door evangelizing, conduct weddings, perform funerals, call on everyone in the church just to check in with them, come to people's houses and mow their lawns, fix their plumbing, and a whole host of other expectations that could require an Elder to sacrifice the one priority that the Lord has placed on his shoulders. j. Now, can an Elder do these things? Should an Elder do these things? Certainly. k. But not at the expense of our primary objective. l. It has been almost a decade, so I feel as though I can speak of it plainly without seeming like I am airing dirty laundry. m. But before I became the pastor here, I was an associate pastor of another church for about 6 years. n. About a year before I was fired, the lead pastor met with me and told me that he did not think that I was called to be a pastor. He explained that I did not seem to have a heart of compassion for others as a pastor should and suggested I become a professor at a seminary since I spent most of my time preparing to teach the scriptures. o. My friends, this pastor was deceived. He was duped to believe that compassion for others, specifically in acts of kindness, should be the primary focus of a pastor. p. And he believed it so much that he was convinced that something was wrong with me for prioritizing teaching God's people His Word. q. I bear no ill will toward him, because the Lord's hand of providence clearly led me to this church, and in June I'll have been your pastor for 9 years. r. But one of the things I have appreciated the most about you as a church family, is that you have allowed me to put your spiritual instruction as my highest priority. s. I must confess that I often feel a longing in my heart to call each of you to check in. I feel a longing in my heart to visit you when you are ill. And when the Lord allows, I do enjoy visiting or calling you and by the end of our conversations I always feel a desire to make it a more frequent occurrence. t. But among the other Elders or the congregation, I have never felt an expectation to do anything other than devoting most of my time to deep study and diligent instruction of the Word of God. u. And for this – I say, thank you. v. And also, let's keep it that way for all the Elders. w. God's primary objective for every spiritual leader, is to see to the spiritual instruction and growth of those to whom He has entrusted to us. x. But, of course, we can pendulum swing too far, can't we? 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that church leaders should only focus on the spiritual growth of the church. a. We notice in this text that in the middle of a long discussion about spiritual things, Paul is interrupted by such a petty little thing as the death of one of the church members.

Once the riot on behalf of the goddess Artemis calms down, Paul leaves Ephesus and heads for Macedonia, then Greece, where he stays three months. Again, the Jews plot against him, so he changes plans and ends up in Troas. Paul gathers with a group of Christians and talks well into the night. A young man named Eutychus not only falls asleep but falls out of an adjacent third story window. Though dead, Paul is able to revive him, and continues teaching until dawn. Returning to Ephesus, he conducts a farewell speech amongst friends as he is certain that he will not see them again. Amongst other charges, Paul encourages them to be on guard against false teachers who are like wolves amongst sheep. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Our Bible Readings of the Day are Acts 20:1–12 and 2 Corinthians 11:22–28. After an extended stay in Greece, Paul sets off on another journey, finally arriving in Troas. There, as he preaches late into the night, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep on a window ledge and tumbles three floors to his death. Paul rushes to his side and restores Eutychus to life. Later, in his second letter to the Church at Corinth, Paul recounts in detail the numerous hardships he endured in his ministry.

Title: A Peculiar People Text: Acts 20:1-6 FCF: We often struggle pursuing what produces unity in and the victory of the church. Prop: Because the true church of Jesus is united and triumphant, we must continue in submission to the Word and the love of one another. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we will read starting from verse one in the Legacy Standard Version. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Sermon Intro: Well, I did some math this week to discover where we are in our study of the book of Acts. Today, as we begin our study of chapter 20, we are around seventy percent done with the book according to verse count. That means we have a little over three hundred verses to go. Now my average for verse per sermon is a little under 10 verses. That being said, we probably have somewhere around 30 sermons remaining in the book of Acts. Meaning that sometime before the end of the year, Lord willing, we should be finishing the book of Acts. I hope and trust you have enjoyed the study of Acts so far. I know I have. But it seems that we are in the final stretch. That being said, let's come back to chapter 19 and 20. Last week Luke recorded for us the final episode of the Ephesian mission. But unlike similar examples where riots formed against Paul and his associates, no real harm or danger even approached any of them. From this we noted that Luke records this to prove that the Christians were not purposefully trying to cause issues around the Roman Empire. The only thing causing the offense, was the gospel of Jesus Christ. We noted that one of the primary reasons that people so hated the message of the gospel spoken through Paul and his associates, was because of the gospel's intolerance or exclusivity. And the world is the same 2000 years later. Today we will see what largely amounts to the beginning of the end of the third missionary journey of Paul. In it we will see one very important truth about the church and a couple responses that flow into and out of that truth. So please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most Holy and Loving Father, we approach You today with our hearts held up to You. We come to be exhorted, to be encouraged, to be edified by Your Word. We come to hear from You and to obey. We come to feed our faith on the Bread of Life. We come to drink deeply from the Everlasting Fountain of Living Water. I pray that You would reveal to us today what You have made us to be in this thing called the church. Reveal what graces You have given us to keep us in Your purposes and reveal what responses You require from us as a church. Bind us together as one body in Your truth and for Your glory we pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: Last time we saw the narrowness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The intolerance of the gospel to any other faiths, worship, gods, or practices that it does not teach. Related to that today we will see the church being united around a very narrow set of essentials and that unity producing victory and love for one another. Let's look closer at the text this morning. I.) The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant, so we must submit to continual exhortation from the Word. (1-3) a. [Slide 2] 1 - Now after the uproar had ceased, Paul having summoned and exhorted the disciples, said farewell and left to go to Macedonia. i. Luke doesn't often give us chronological markers, and when he does, they are not typically very precise. ii. We might be irritated by this, but this irritation is probably borne from our western culture. We have somewhat of a hypersensitivity to time and chronology that those in the east do not seem to always share. iii. Still, Luke does give us a definite chronological marker here even if it is lacking in specificity. iv. After the uproar had ceased. v. From the context the uproar in question is clearly the riot or almost riot brought on by some tradesmen in Ephesus. vi. We unpacked all of this last week, but as a reminder these tradesmen feared the financial and religious impact that Christianity may have on them and the city of Ephesus. vii. Because of this they were overcome with civic and religious pride and began shouting and dragging certain companions of Paul to the theater where city disputes were often heard. viii. It all came to an end after the chief executive officer of the city warned them that they are in danger of being punished by Rome if they continue this illegal assembly. ix. With this in mind the crowd dispersed. x. We should probably not rigidly infer that the next hour or the next day is when Paul does what he does. xi. More likely we should see this as after the events and when people had moved on with their lives. xii. Now people do tend to move on shockingly fast. They get distracted by other things and what was very important one day tends to become very unimportant in a few days' time. xiii. After the dust settles, Paul says farewell to the church in Ephesus and leaves to go to Macedonia. xiv. In the process of saying farewell though, he summons and exhorts the disciples. xv. Paul does not overtly go to the hall of Tyrannus to bid farewell to the Ephesian Christians. This no doubt indicates that although he isn't leaving the city due to the recent trouble, he is not a fool. He won't flaunt a large gathering of believers right before he leaves. xvi. In this we see the heart of Paul. It is not enough to simply say farewell… he must preach to them. He must instruct and apply to them the scriptures so they can be ready to face what is coming. xvii. Paul will be giving a good number of goodbyes in the next several chapters of Acts. I think it might be good for us to observe how often he accompanies his goodbyes with some sort of exhortation, encouragement or preaching of the Word of God. b. [Slide 3] 2 - And when he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. i. Once again, we remind ourselves that Luke is not writing a history of the early Christian church. ii. Or at least we can conclude that if he is writing a history of the early Christian church, he is doing a horrible job. iii. Why do I say that? iv. He summarizes Paul's travels through Macedonia in 10 Greek words. v. What are some of the “districts” that he probably visited? vi. 2 Corinthians chapters 1-7 actually dovetail nicely with the events of these two verses, since it was probably during this time that Paul wrote the letter. vii. Taking what 2 Corinthians says we can be assured that Paul probably visited Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. And potentially spent time in several other cities and even further west into the Latin speaking region of Illyricum, which he speaks about in Romans 15. viii. Luke does not give us the where, but notice he does give us the what. ix. What was Paul doing in these districts? x. He was exhorting. xi. The same thing he did in Ephesus to the disciples there before he left. xii. Paul continues to preach the word and train believers to live in submission to all that Christ had commanded. xiii. So, if Luke is not recording a history of the early church, what is he doing? xiv. Luke describes the purpose of his two books at the beginning of his gospel. He is writing these two books to Theophilus, a wealthy and potentially powerful person involved in the government of Roman Empire, who has professed faith in Christ. xv. He writes to Theophilus to describe both the certainty and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. xvi. The certainty and the power of the gospel is on display in these 10 Greek words. How? xvii. Even though it has been years since Paul has visited these places in person – he returns not only to find believers still, but also, he returns with the authority to preach to them, encourage them, and commands their respect to listen to him. xviii. If the gospel was false and impotent, we would expect to find few if any believers here, or to find them reject Paul having wandered from his teaching. xix. Instead, he is welcomed and respected and the Word is preached again to them. xx. But how long did Paul spend in Macedonia? It is difficult to say. But some suggest that he spent as much as a year going back through these regions ministering to the local assemblies in these areas. xxi. Then, Paul goes on to Greece. xxii. There are two likely congregations that Paul visited in Greece. xxiii. The city of Athens and the city of Corinth. xxiv. We are not given any indication of how much time he spent in each city or whether he even went to Athens. We do know that he went to Corinth based on the writings of both Romans and the two books to the Corinthians. c. [Slide 4] 3 - And there he spent three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. i. So, Paul spends three months in Greece, probably most if not all of it in the city of Corinth. ii. There is a reason for that which we will talk about next. iii. [Slide 5] Now based on our timeline of the New Testament I'd like to take us on a little tangent so we can shuffle in to these events exactly when Paul wrote some of his letters. 1. Because in 1 Corinthians Paul expresses his desire to winter in Corinth before going back to Jerusalem, we can reasonably guess that while Paul was in Ephesus, and probably toward the end of his stay, he had written 1 Corinthians. 2. In 1 Corinthians there was indication that he had sent another letter to them before that. Which could have also been written from Ephesus or even before he began his third missionary journey. This is a letter that the Lord did not preserve for us. 3. In 2 Corinthians we learn of another letter that Paul had sent the Corinthians that is referred to as a harsh letter. This too could have been written from Ephesus. This is also another letter the Lord did not preserve. 4. As we have already said, 2 Corinthians covers some of the events after Paul leaves Ephesus. Paul travels north to Troas where he expects to meet Titus who will bring back word for him on the results of the harsh letter to the church in Corinth. However, Paul did not meet Titus there, so he went on to Macedonia. It was there that Titus met him with word that the Corinthians had received his harsh letter graciously and had repented. Therefore, during his time in Macedonia, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians which prepares them for his arrival in a matter of months. 5. This is why we conclude that Paul spent most of the three months he was in Greece in the city of Corinth, because there was some needed time of reconciliation. 6. Since Paul's mind was already on visiting Rome after he went to Jerusalem, since in the book of Romans he indicates that he has not yet visited them, and since Paul greets the Roman church from individuals we know were from Corinth, we can infer that Paul most likely wrote the book of Romans from Corinth during this three month stay. 7. [Slide 6] This means that by this time, before Paul goes back to Jerusalem, he had written six of his thirteen letters that we have in our New Testament. Galatians, I and II Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Romans – in that chronological order. iv. [Slide 7] Of course, we know that the Jews had always given Paul problems. It seems that in Corinth, again, they will stir up trouble against him. v. Apparently, the plot had something to do with his travel plans from Corinth to Syria. vi. So, Paul alters his travel plans to go back through Macedonia to set sail from somewhere else. d. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Luke presents to us via the travels of Paul as his third missionary journey comes to a close the unity and victory of the true church of Jesus. Although there have been many trials and tests, although there have been betrayals and even outright failures, the church continues to thrive in unity and victory over the forces of darkness and the wicked schemes of men. The church is the kingdom of Christ spreading to the uttermost parts of the earth, waging war against the dark domain of sin. Paul revisits these churches he helped establish with a message of encouragement and exhortation. This is the fuel of the church. The church is built up, energized, and rejuvenated by submitting to continual exhortation from the Word of God. And these churches were no different. They were united and they were victorious, but they still needed and welcomed encouragement and exhortation from the Word. We too must be continually encouraged and exhorted with the Word of God. The moment we neglect the regular preaching and teaching of the Word of God, is the moment we become weak and susceptible to error and compromise which disunifies us and defeats us. You see my friends, the Word of God is the key to unity and victory. That is why it must be continually preached and taught in every church claiming to be Christ's church. Transition: [Slide 9 (blank)] The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant and the Word of God continually preached keeps it that way. But what else must continue since the church is united and triumphant? II.) The true church of Jesus Christ is united and triumphant, so we must continually love and care for one another. (4-6) a. [Slide 10] 4 - And he was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. 5 - But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas. i. Look at the brotherhood of believers that the Lord has raised up for the cause of Christ. ii. What began in Jerusalem around 20 years earlier had not only gone out to the uttermost parts of the earth, but even now there are missionaries from all over going to many other places helping with the spread of the gospel. iii. What a glorious testament to the power of God's grace and His work. iv. Let me briefly discuss each of these individuals or at least all we can about them and then I'll make some further comments about the significance of this list. 1. Sopater which is potentially a shortened form of the name Sosipater is only mentioned in this text and in Romans 16:21. From both texts we understand that he was a companion of Paul and from this text we see that he was from Berea and was the son of a man named Pyrrhus of whom we know nothing. 2. Aristarchus is no doubt the same one that was dragged to the theater by the Ephesian mob. During the riot we discovered he was a Macedonian and here we see that specifically he was from Thessalonica. We also know that Aristarchus accompanies Paul to Rome for his imprisonment because he is named in the letter to the Colossians and to Philemon, both of which were written during Paul's first imprisonment in Rome which is recorded at the end of the book of Acts. 3. Secundus is not mentioned in any other passage of scripture. He was from Thessalonica too. 4. There are four Gaiuses mentioned in the scriptures and because of what is revealed about them, it is really impossible for them to all be the same person. a. The Gaius that Luke records in Ephesus during the riot was from Macedonia. b. The Gaius mentioned here is from Derbe which is located in what is now south central Turkey. c. The Gaius mentioned in 1 Corinthians and Romans seems to be a member of the church of Corinth whom Paul baptized and whose home the church used for its gatherings. d. Finally, 3 John mentions a Gaius who is thanked personally by John for putting up traveling missionaries. John does not specify much more and this could be the same Gaius who put up the house church in Corinth, but because John is traditionally associated with the church in Ephesus after the fall of Jerusalem, we may wonder if the Gaius mentioned in his 3rd letter is the same Gaius from the riot or another Gaius altogether. e. In short, Gaius seems to be a fairly common name across the empire at this time. 5. Timothy of course is Paul's spiritual son, won to Christ in Lystra on his first missionary journey and accompanying him to various locations throughout Asia and Macedonia on his second missionary journey. Timothy is mentioned quite frequently in the scriptures, even having two books bearing his name as a recipient. We won't go into much more detail today about Timothy, but his role in the church could be the subject of an entire sermon. 6. Tychicus, besides being one of my favorite names to say in the scriptures, is found as a continual companion of Paul's. We find him being sent with the prison epistles of Ephesians and Colossians. In both letters Paul says that Tychicus, a beloved and faithful brother, will come and explain everything to them. He is also with Paul in Nicopolis and is being sent to Titus to relieve him on Crete so that Titus can come to Paul in Nicopolis. And of course, as we see here, he is from Asia, which typically means what is now western Turkey, although a city is not mentioned. 7. Finally, Trophimus. Trophimus is from Asia and has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the primary reasons that Paul is arrested when he goes to Jerusalem. Paul is seen with Trophimus in Acts 21, there noted that he is from the city of Ephesus. Because Paul is seen with this gentile and because Paul went into the temple it is assumed that Paul brought Trophimus in the temple with him. Of course, he didn't. But that didn't matter very much. Trophimus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy during Paul's final imprisonment in Rome. Paul tells Timothy that he left Trophimus in Miletus because he was ill. v. Such is the wide variety of Paul's companions. People from all kinds of origins and backgrounds joining him in the work. vi. They all go ahead of him to Troas where they await his arrival to go on from there to Jerusalem. vii. But I said that I would remark on the significance of this list and their region of origin. And that I will do, but only after the list is complete. Because for now it lacks 1 more name… b. [Slide 11] 6 - And we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and came to them at Troas within five days; and there we stayed seven days. i. In verse 6 another unnamed traveling companion joins Paul as he heads to Troas to meet all those mentioned in verse 4. ii. Did you notice it? iii. That's right. iv. Paul picks up the author of the book Luke, probably from Philippi. v. Luke traditionally has been said to have been from Antioch of Syria, but with familial ties to Macedonia. Here we see him still in Phillipi where Paul left him all the way back on the second missionary journey. Since Paul picked up Luke in Troas and deposited him just across the Aegean Sea at Philippi it is safe to assume that Luke is probably living in this area at this time – even if he was from Antioch of Syria. vi. Paul and Luke wait until after the days of unleavened bread, probably to celebrate with the small group of Jews in Philippi. They make the trip to Troas in 5 days, probably against the headwind, and then stay an additional week there in Troas. vii. That will be the subject of next week's sermon as Paul has a very well-known episode concerning a young boy named Eutychus. We'll get to that next time. viii. So, what is the significance of this list? ix. Remember that during this time after Ephesus and heading to Jerusalem, Paul is gathering a collection for the Jerusalem church. He is gathering aid for them because they are experiencing great financial hardship. x. Not only is it safer to travel with a large group, especially when you have a good sum of money on you, but also, because Luke mentions where all these men are from, we can infer from this that each of these men represent churches all across the empire who are giving this financial aid to the church in Jerusalem. Indeed, from almost every city in which Paul has preached, we find members of that city church coming with Paul to give their gift to the church in Jerusalem. xi. What a wonderful testimony to the unity, compassion, love, and care that is present in the universal church. c. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: Once again Luke presents to us a true church of Jesus Christ, from various backgrounds, that is united and victorious. In our last point we noticed that the way the church stays united and victorious is through regular exhortation from the Word of God. But, what we see here is an effect that is caused by the church being united and triumphant. We see that the church is abundant in love and sacrificial help to those who also bear the name of Christ. Even if we do not know them, even if we have never met them, those who bear the name of Christ have more in common with us than our own unbelieving family members. Those who have shared in the death and resurrection of Christ have become members of one body. That is something that family can never be. Although our family is DNA of our DNA they can never be one body with us. The unity and victory we share in the church produces a love for one another that exceeds all other loves possible from one human to another. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC, and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 13] In the process of Paul closing out his third missionary journey Luke gives us a wonderful picture of the culmination of the work the Lord has done through Paul. Paul's legacy is the same as every other apostle and missionary of the early church. The Lord has produced through His abounding power and grace a church that is united and triumphant over the deception and darkness that permeated the Roman Empire. In less the 20 years after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, the church has been established and has permeated the Roman Empire leading various cities with long histories of pagan worship to be turned upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But the nature of this status of the church and the effect of this status on the church is at the heart of these first six verses of Acts 20. The church is kept unified and victorious by continual exhortation from the Word of God. And one particular expression of church unity and victory is the unconditional and sacrificial love the church has for one another as the body of Christ. These two aspects come together to give us our application today. But let me get a little more concrete with these applications and explain how they might impact us on a daily basis. 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the true church of Jesus is united and triumphant. a. Once again, every word in this application sentence is very important. If you remove one word here it could miscommunicate a few things. b. But if I had to draw your attention to the most important word in this application it would be the word “true”. c. I would love to use a word that is found in the ancient creeds. The word Catholic. However, today the word Catholic is only associated with the Roman Catholic Church. And it is probably so associated to it that to change it would be nigh unto impossible. Therefore, I use true here. d. By true church I mean the universal church. The invisible church. The church of people who are actually believers in Jesus Christ, the elect of God, called out from all the nations to be His people and do the works for which He has created them. e. The total of the true church of God is not found in one local assembly nor is each local assembly comprised solely of the true church. Every church is a mix of those who are actually believers and those who are not. f. Because of this, there are local assemblies that are not united and they are not triumphant. g. There are even entire regions where the visible church is not united or triumphant. h. So it is important for you to understand what I am saying here. i. We do not need to affirm that every single visible church is united and triumphant. Because that is, simply, not true. j. But we must affirm that the true church is united and triumphant. k. We are united and triumphant because we have been given true faith which unites us to Christ. Upon this true faith we receive the core essentials of the gospel of Jesus Christ which is found both in the early creeds and in the 5 Solas of the Reformation. l. In this the true church is united by doctrine and practice and we are triumphant because we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the work of God and be heralds of His Kingdom. m. The Scriptures tell us that we will not fail in this. If we are the true church, we will be united in what we believe and if we are the true church we will not fail. n. Therefore, we must affirm that the true church is united and triumphant. o. Unity is a much desired and often used buzz word in Churchianity today. Everyone wants unity. But we remain in disunity over how to be unified. p. And there is a reason for that… 2.) [Slide 15] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that in order for the church to be united we must compromise essential doctrine or practice. a. The call of many pastors, priests, bishops, reverends, apostles and whatever other titles there are out there in broad Christendom, is for us to be unified on what we agree on and discard the rest. b. The only problem is that this is NOT how we see the church unite in the scriptures. c. They do not unify over what they hold in common and then discard every thing else. d. Instead, they unify on all the essentials of the Christian faith and practice and show love in the areas that are not essential. e. There are some churches in broader Christendom that if we had to unify with them by discarding everything we don't hold in common, we would have to discard salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. f. There are some churches that we would have to discard the Deity of Jesus Christ. g. There are some churches that we would have to discard the inerrancy of the Scripture and its final authority over us for doctrine and practice. h. There are some churches that we would have to discard definitions of righteousness, holiness, and upright lifestyles, taking what the Scriptures call deeds of the flesh, and even celebrating them. i. You see the problem, I hope. j. If we would unify right now… today… every single church in broader Christendom with the one rule that anything we do not share a common belief on would be discarded… My friends there would be nothing left. k. The folks that are begging for unity pursue unity based on a cause. The cause is to come together to love and serve humanity. l. But the church is not supposed to be united in cause only… but also in identity. Indeed, our cause is only unified when our identity is unified. What happens when we unite over cause but sacrifice identity? m. We would lose unity because we would lose doctrinal clarity. In fact, we would be a unified group of nobodies who believe nothing and do nothing. n. We would lose victory because we would discard godly lifestyles in favor of a vague notion of loving people… which is only the second greatest command and not the first. o. These folks that want unity under these conditions have left their first love in order to pursue their second and in so doing have lost both. p. No, my friends, unity is only established when we demand that the essentials of our faith and practice are held in common… and if they are not – we do not discard the belief or the practice… we discard the church who does not conform. q. In the Athanasian creed it boldly declares that any who do not believe it cannot be not saved. r. Any church that does not hold to the creeds and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone – also cannot be called the church in any sense of the word. s. There is no unity if we must compromise on doctrine or practice. t. But as the united and triumphant church… what must we do with this text today? 3.) [Slide 16] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must submit to regular exhortation from the Word of God. a. One motto that came from the reformation is Semper Reformanda. b. Always be reforming. c. This is essentially a recognition of what song writers have pointed out. We are individually and generationally prone to wander. d. We often go through spells of ups and downs and we as a race of man go through cycles of reformation and darkness. e. The church is called to continue to reform and purify itself. f. How do we do that? g. By submitting to regular exhortation from the Word of God. h. The Word of God is the foundation of all that we believe. It is the final authority for what we believe and how we live. And the Word of God never changes. i. It is not our only authority – but it is our final authority. j. We need constant reproof, rebuke, correction and instruction from its pages. k. It is only then that we will be complete and thoroughly equipped to do everything God has commanded us to do and be everything God has commanded us to be. l. Paul as he visited these churches… exhorted them. He may have eaten with them, fellowshipped with them, enjoyed the Lord's Supper with them, talked with them for all hours of the night… but the one thing Luke chose to record for us under inspiration of the Holy Spirit… is that Paul preached to them. m. If we are to stay united and triumphant, we need the constant reformation that only the Scripture can bring. 4.) [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must love the universal church unconditionally and sacrificially. a. This universal church is comprised of all those who are believing on Jesus Christ alone for salvation. b. We are called one body. c. Our friends and our families are close – but compared to any unbelieving family member, our brothers and sisters in Christ are much closer. They are united not by their own blood, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. d. Even our love toward our spouse is amplified because they are believers. e. And those who have spouses that are unbelievers understand the disconnect of that. They desire greatly for their spouses to know the Lord for they know that will truly bind them much closer together with their spouse. f. In our text we see members of churches from everywhere around the Aegean taking money to Jerusalem with Paul. What a glorious testimony to the love they shared with those whom they had probably never met. Those with whom they shared only their faith in Christ. g. We too must be unconditionally and sacrificially loving of the global body of Christ. h. We must weep with those who have been killed in Syria. We must mourn with those persecuted in India. We must help those impoverished in Africa. We must rejoice for those who come to Christ in Asia Pacific. These are our brothers and sisters. And one day we will be united with them in one body – a bride prepared for her groom. And we all will be with Him forever. i. Look around you and mark those whom you know to be a true believer. Now hear me… you will be living with these folks forever. We better start loving each other now. 5.) [Slide 18] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God will not allow the true church of His dear Son to fail. a. God is doing a work through us. b. It doesn't depend on us… it depends on Him. And that is why it will not fail. c. He will uphold us and ensure that the work that He has commissioned for His church to accomplish, is accomplished. d. Knowing the end does not spoil our desire to work hard for His Kingdom. e. In fact, knowing the end means we have no fear of failure. f. We can press on and continue to share the gospel and disciple one another, preparing for that coming Kingdom – knowing that we won't fail. Christ will not lose even one that the Father has given Him. g. And all that the Father has given Him will hear His voice and follow. h. So let us take heart and set out to the work knowing that the Lord is faithful and will ensure that His church is united and triumphant to the very end. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the English Puritan Ezekiel Hopkins Lead us not into temptation, nor allow us to be assaulted and buffeted by the wicked one. Or if, in your all-wise counsel and purpose, you permit us to be tempted, yet deliver us from the evil to which we are tempted. Let us endure temptations as our affliction, but let us not say yes to them, nor make them our sins. Thy kingdom come, Lord! Raise, Lord; enlarge, Lord; establish your kingdom! For yours is the glory. And unless you want your glory confined only to heaven, or account the praises and eternal hallelujahs of saints and angels enough adoration for your great name, Lord, have regard to this your poor decaying kingdom. For only in it, and in heaven, is your glory celebrated. And if you leave this kingdom to be overrun by the agents and ministers of the devil, or if idolatry and the profane gain ground here so as to push you off the throne, would that not be giving your glory to another-which you have promised not to do? Lord, you are still the same God. Your essence is eternal. Your attributes will never change. Your power, wisdom, and mercy are the same as ever. So in your mercy, grant us the same favor. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May the Lord, Who longs to be gracious to you, Who waits on high to have compassion on you, Plant you firmly in the faith, established, steadfast and unmovable Through the hope of the Gospel, proclaimed to all the creation under heaven. Until we meet again, go in peace.

In Acts 20:9 Eutychus fell asleep during Paul's sermon, fell from a third-story window, and died. Paul brought him back to life. It's easy to condemn Eutychus, but what about us? Week after week, we hear the Word, yet how many of us are spiritually asleep? We may be awake physically, but are we truly alive to the Father's business? If not, it's time to WAKE UP! Just as Paul revived Eutychus, God's Spirit is here to awaken us to His purpose and reignite our passion. The time for complacency is over!

Hast du dich schon mal gefragt, warum der Sonntag für Christen so besonders ist? Und warum legen wir so viel Gewicht auf den "Gottesdienst"? In dieser Predigt tauchen wir ein in eine Geschichte, die zeigt: Gottes Kraft ist nicht nur eine Theorie, sondern Realität. Ein langer Gottesdienst, ein junger Mann, der im Fenster sitzt – und dann passiert das Unerwartete. Eutychus schläft ein, stürzt drei Stockwerke in die Tiefe und ist tot. Doch die Geschichte endet nicht dort. - Wunder trifft Gottesdienst. - Wort trifft Kraft. - Tod trifft Leben. Das Christentum ist Wort und Kraft. Und genau das feiern wir am Sonntag!

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas 7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “He's alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (01/27/25), Hank shares on the fine-tuning of the universe as evidence for a sovereign Creator.Hank also answers the following questions:Acts 20 tells of Paul raising Eutychus from the dead. Does this contradict Hebrews 9:27 which says, “It is appointed for man to die once”? Dan - El Dorado, KS (3:07)How should we understand the separation of church and state, why cannot both be joined, and is it necessary for them to be separate? Daniel - Farmington, NM (6:11)What are the dangers of the International House of Prayer and Mike Bickel's ministry? Alex - Summerville, NJ (9:14)I am dating a lady who believes in baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues, which I disagree with. Should I continue to date her? Mike - Austin, TX (15:11)What are your thoughts on the Rapture and the Tribulation? Hubert - Dodge City, KS (22:08)Can you elaborate on binding and loosing in Matthew 16? Dennis - Langley, BC (24:24)

Scripture Reading: Acts 20:1–27 20 After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left to go to Macedonia. 2 After he had gone through those regions and spoken many words of encouragement to the believers there, he came to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. Because the Jews had made a plot against him as he was intending to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, as well as Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These had gone on ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. 6 We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and within five days we came to the others in Troas, where we stayed for seven days. 7 On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. 8 (Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.) 9 A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and said, “Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!” 11 Then Paul went back upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them a long time, until dawn. Then he left. 12 They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted. 13 We went on ahead to the ship and put out to sea for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way. He himself was intending to go there by land. 14 When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene. 15 We set sail from there, and on the following day we arrived off Chios. The next day we approached Samos, and the day after that we arrived at Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him. 18 When they arrived, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. 24 But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace. 25 “And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom will see me again. 26 Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. 27 For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.OutlinePaul's Journey to Jerusalem and RomePaul's final voluntary journey beginsPaul organizes a collection for the Jerusalem church (mostly omitted in Acts)Back to a “we” sectionStill celebrating Jewish festivalsThe Revivification in TroasSomething remarkable happened in TroasSpeaking all nightMeeting on the first day of the weekMeeting in the upper roomEutychus falls from a third-story windowPaul's Time in MiletusMiletus, faster than Ephesus?Paul's Speech: A FarewellPaul's Speech: A CommissioningPaul: A Suffering ServantPaul preached openly and privately, withholding nothingRepentance and faithPaul knows of his upcoming “passion”Paul wishes to finish wellPaul's diligent faithfulness keeps him innocent

This week, Pastor Jeremy continues our series in Acts with this sermon from Acts 20. He shares that preaching the Gospel is an opportunity to encourage, but that preaching can also become an exhausting experience if we aren't careful.

In our reading of Acts 20, Fr. Mike reflects on the healing of Eutychus, Paul's willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and Paul's tender affection for the people he ministered to. In 2 Corinthians, Fr. Mike also highlights Paul's encouragement to hold onto the hope of beholding the glory of God with unveiled faces and to persevere in our afflictions as they prepare for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Today's readings are Acts 20, 2 Corinthians 3-5, and Proverbs 28:25-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In this Bible Story, Paul says goodbye to the Ephesian church. He knows that danger awaits him in Jerusalem. The threat of danger and death is present, but Paul is determined to preach the gospel to his kin. So with great tears, Paul leaves Ephesus to Jerusalem. This story is inspired by Acts 20:1-21:17. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 20:35 from the King James Version.Episode 236: As Paul was teaching late into the night, a young man Eutychus seated on the ledge of a third-story window, fell asleep and fell to the ground. The fall killed poor Eutychus, but God had a plan for him and used Paul to speak healing over the boy, and life was restored to him. As Paul and Luke traveled along the Asian sea teaching, his mind was constantly turned toward Ephesus. At last, he decided to visit them one last time before going to Jerusalem where he would be beaten and brought before the courts.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Scripture passages are Ezekiel 33:1-20 | Psalm 137 | Proverbs 29 | Daniel 4:1-18 | Acts 20:1-12.Read by Ekemini Uwan.Get in The Word with Truth's Table is a production of InterVarsity Press. For 75 years, IVP has published and created thoughtful Christian books for the university, church, and the world. Our Bible reading plan is adapted from Bible Study Together, and the Bible version is the New English Translation, used by permission.SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of this podcast, use the code IVPOD25 for 25% off any IVP resource mentioned in this episode at ivpress.com.Additional Credits:Song production: Seaux ChillSong lyrics written by: Seaux Chill, Ekemini Uwan, and Christina EdmondsonPodcast art: Kate LillardPhotography: Shelly EveBible consultant: JM SmithSound engineering: Podastery StudiosCreative producers: Ekemini Uwan and Christina EdmondsonAssistant producer: Christine Pelliccio MeloExecutive producer: Helen LeeDisclaimer: The comments, views, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and/or the guests featured on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of InterVarsity Press or InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Send us a textWhat can we learn from a man who embraced danger with unwavering resolve? Join us as we uncover the riveting adventures of Paul in Acts, Chapter 20. Feel the tension of hidden plots as Paul navigates the perilous roads of Greece and Macedonia, accompanied by his loyal companions. Experience the awe of witnessing the astonishing revival of Eutychus, a young man who fell from a third-floor window, only to be brought back to life by Paul's embrace. This incredible moment serves as a testament to Paul's relentless dedication to his mission, no matter the obstacles he faced.As we journey through this episode, we pause to reflect on Paul's emotional farewell to the elders of Ephesus. His words resonate with urgency and wisdom, urging vigilance and devotion among the early believers. With humility and clarity, Paul prepares for his fateful journey to Jerusalem, knowing full well the trials that await him. His farewell is not just a goodbye but a powerful legacy of leadership and selflessness. Dive into these poignant moments and let Paul's story inspire you to reflect on the impact of dedication and service in your own life.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Imagine a church service in a home late on a Sunday night. People have shared a good meal together, the room is warm and stuffy, and the apostle Paul is preaching late into the night. As Paul speaks on and on, a young man named Eutychus falls asleep in a window and plummets three stories to his death. But Paul went down and took the man in his arms and his life came back to him. This extraordinary miracle sets the stage for us to explore 1. Passion, 2. Love, and 3. Power. Discover what gave Paul the passion to speak about Christ through the night. Encounter the love that led Paul to embrace the dead. Finally, experience the power of Christ that raises the dead! Join us cefc.church

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. He travelled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days. On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third storey and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms round him. ‘Don't be alarmed,' he said. ‘He's alive!' (Acts 20.1-10, NIV)

Drop us a text message to say hi and let us know what you think of the show. (Include your email if you'd like us to reply)In which John and David explore the story of Eutychus in Acts 20, discussing the early church's gathering practices, the significance of discomfort in spiritual growth, and the "naturalness" of miracles within the community. They emphasize the importance of maintaining focus on spiritual practices rather than becoming distracted by miraculous events, highlighting the need for a balance between the supernatural and the routine aspects of faith.Episode 167 of the Two Texts Podcast | Disruptive Presence 110If you want to get in touch about something in the podcast you can reach out on podcast@twotexts.com or by liking and following the Two Texts podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you enjoy the podcast, we'd love it if you left a review or comment where you're listening from – and if you really enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend?Music by Woodford Music (c) 2021________Help us keep Two Texts free for everyone by becoming a supporter of the show John and David want to ensure that Two Texts always remains free content for everyone. We don't want to create a paywall or have premium content that would exclude others. However, Two Texts costs us around £60 per month (US$75; CAD$100) to make. If you'd like to support the show with even just a small monthly donation it would help ensure we can continue to produce the content that you love. Thank you so much.Support the show

0427 猶推古 Eutychus by 靈修廣播站

In Acts 20, we learn that Paul was a little long-winded on his sermons. Paul is so passionate about the gospel that he preaches until midnight! What does he say in his sermon? What does he warn the Ephesians to do? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ferncreekcc/support

Zach, Lance, and Craig discuss the unique worship service found in Acts 20 and what we can learn from it, and they also share their own experience with unique worship services. 

In Acts 20:1-16, Paul's journey through Macedonia and Greece is marked by challenges, including a life-threatening plot and a young man named Eutychus falling from a window. Yet, God's hand is evident as Eutychus is miraculously revived, underscoring that every event has a purpose in God's plan. This sermon, "God Allows Everything to Happen for a Reason," teaches us to trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He orchestrates even the most difficult moments for our good. Subscribe to our podcast for more biblical teachings like this!  

[teaching text]26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord…And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. 2 Samuel 11:26-27, 12:15-20It requires faith and patienceIt can be boring and awkward40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.Matthew 26:40-459 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.Acts 20:9It is easily misunderstoodSome prayers are like a fire escape, used only in times of critical emergency—never very enjoyable, but used as a way of terrified escape from danger. They do not represent the regular life of the one who offers them; rather they are the unusual and uncommon acts of the spiritual amateur.A.W. Tozer16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Now Jesus[a] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to prayLuke 11:1"Prayer at its best is the expression of the total life."A.W. TozerPRAYING IN OBEDIENCEWhat is prayer?11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”Luke 17:11-19Remember that only one Samaritan wanted more than cleansing from leprosy. He wanted to know the Savior. He came back glorifying God, worshipping Him, and giving thanks. The other nine lepers just had the thing they wanted but the one leper got much more; the Savior and increased faith.W.L. SeaverThere was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God's work within the man's heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.David GuzikPrayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the “get” element mainly.A.W. TozerPRAYER IS COMMUNIONCommunion: the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.Prayer is a shared life with GodBut he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.1 Corinthians 6:17I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20IN PRAYER, GOD DESIRES TO REVEAL HIMSELF, HIS POWER, AND HIS KINGDOM TO US.WHAT CAN HINDER GOD'S ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER?DISOBEDIENCE13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”2 Samuel 12:13-14And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. 2 Samuel 12:13-14The act of committal to Christ in salvation releases the believing man from the penalty of sin, but it does not release him from the obligation to obey the words of Christ.A.W. TozerHave you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late—and how little revival has resulted? Considering the volume of prayer that is ascending these days, rivers of revival should be flowing in blessing throughout the land. That no such results are in evidence should not disc...

This podcast covers Paul's journeys after leaving Ephesus. His goal is ‘get to Jerusalem' but there are many detours and threats along the way. Why? Because he is carrying money from all the Gentile churches. Listen to hear about Paul's adventures and how Paul saves Eutychus. 

July 28, 2024, The Rev. Dana Riley, Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:12–15; Acts 20:7–12

The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. — Acts 20:12 Have you ever fallen asleep in a public place, like during a long talk by a speaker or a preacher? Maybe your eyes began drooping, and your head started to nod. Then, despite your best efforts, you dozed off. Though falling asleep like that can be embarrassing, it's not usually fatal. But it was for Eutychus, who fell three stories from an open window to the ground. What should we make of this strange story? Should we judge Paul for being insensitive to his audience? No, Paul was doing just as he was commanded, teaching the good news about Jesus everywhere. Should we criticize Eutychus for falling asleep in “church”? Probably not, since it was midnight and Paul had been talking “on and on.” In fact, this story isn't mainly about Paul or Eutychus; it's about the power at the center of the book of Acts, the resurrection of Jesus. The Greek name Eutychus means “fortunate,” and Eutychus was fortunate that Paul was able to raise him from the dead. But Paul performed this miracle only through the power of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. This story and everything the apostles say and do in Acts points to the resurrection. In Jesus' resurrection, God decisively defeated sin and death. The power of the resurrection of Jesus still resounds in the world today as we wait for Jesus' return and our eternal resurrection. Father, through Jesus, you have defeated sin and death for our sake. Help us to live victoriously as we look forward to Jesus' return. Amen.

In this compelling sermon, Pastor Brian unpacks the story of Eutychus from Acts 20:7-12, drawing powerful lessons for modern believers. He explores the dangers of spiritual sleep and the world's desperate need for Christians filled with the life of Jesus. Pastor Brian emphasizes three key characteristics: being filled with God's love, power, and peace. This message challenges listeners to wake up spiritually and become agents of transformation in a troubled world, offering practical insights on living an impactful Christian life.

This is message 16 in The Seven Churches of Revelation. Acts 20:6-12 The First Day of the Week, observed on Sunday, signifies the Church's shift from the Jewish Sabbath to honoring Christ'a resurrection. Key scriptures show this transition, with Jesus appearing to His disciples and early Christians gathering on Sundays. Paul's meeting in Acts 20:6-12 , where Eutychus was miraculously revived, highlights the importance of this day. Christians are encourages to honor the Lord's Day with reverence, rest, remembrance, and rejoicing, reflecting the principles of the Fourth Commandment. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through Pushpay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

It is sermon recap time. Bible Study Girl and Bible Study Brother discuss Acts 20 which recounts the story of Eutychus. While sitting in a window, Eutychus goes to sleep during Paul’s teaching and falls to his death. But that is not how the story ends. Listen and be revived. #wepreach #bsgpodcast #biblestudygirl #season4 Read Blog Posts Every Day https://www.biblestudygirl.com Follow BibleStudyGirl Here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_biblestudygirl/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/biblestudygirl2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biblestudygirl2019 Email: Biblestudygirl2019@gmail.com Follow BibleStudyBrother Here: Music: https://lnk.to/icarusgray YouTube: www.youtube.com/icarusgray Twitch: www.twitch.tv/icarus_gray Instagram: @GrayAreaAnime  @Icarus_Gray Twitter: @IcarusGray  @GrayAreaAnime1 Freedom Book: https://citycentral.org/shop Saprea Retreat (for adult women who have survived childhood sexual abuse): Saprea.org/saprea-retreat/

Join hosts Wayne Heins and Jeremy Griffin in this thought-provoking episode as they explore the concept of worship as a lifestyle rather than a Sunday morning event. Drawing from the passage in Acts 20:7-16 where Paul miraculously resurrects Eutychus, the hosts delve into the topic of supernatural interventions in the modern Western church. Through a candid discussion, Wayne and Jeremy address the lack of overt miracles in comfortable, prosperous societies and contrast it with the reliance on God's power seen in developing nations. They challenge listeners to reevaluate their spiritual practices and cultivate a deeper, unwavering connection with God to experience the supernatural as a natural part of their Christian walk. Tune in to this episode to be inspired to move beyond mere praise and embrace a lifestyle of worship that honors God in all aspects of life. Get ready to be encouraged to strengthen your "faith muscle" and step into a deeper, more vibrant relationship with the supernatural power of God. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reduxchurch/support

Acts is heating up as Paul is preaching the Word late through the night in Troas and a young man named Eutychus gets sleepy and falls from a third story window, dies, and is raised from the dead.  We hear more about the pagan Artemis and how this little g god is related to Easter and what the Nazarite vow is.   Finally, Paul prepares to go to Jeruselum as many try to disuade him because it is too dangerous but Paul fears God more than man and knows that if God send him into the fire there is a great purpose!Join us as our special guest, Courtnay Suter (wife of Pastor Brian Suter) gives wisdom and insight into Acts 20 and 21.Want to be part of what God is doing through the Revelations Podcast? You can contribute here!ResourcesRevelations Podcast:WebsiteInstagramApple PodcastBranch Church: https://www.branchchurchmn.orgThis Episode is brought to you by Advanced Medicine AlternativesGet back to the active life you love through natural & regenerative musculoskeletal healing: https://www.georgekramermd.com/     

The Eutychus Opportunity.

Acts 20:1-16 | Andrew Murch | Continuing from last week, the uproar in Ephesus has come to nothing. The mob does not take Paul to court, so it gives him time to plan his next move. He sends Titus to Corinth, which is where he longs to go next, but it has not been smooth sailing with that church. He has had a contentious relationship with them since his first letter and subsequent visit. He now sends Titus to test the waters to see where things are there. The report he receives from Titus is positive and so, while Paul is in Macedonia he writes the Corinthians a second time. Paul then journeys to Corinth where he stays for three months.

Phil remembers encountering a woman in a rehab center who had a disturbing and possibly demonic reaction to the name of Jesus, and Jase is intrigued by how his relationship with late-night Bible studying has evolved over the years. The guys discuss the incident when Paul preached a young man named Eutychus to his death before resurrecting him in the street. Al points out the differences between Western church culture and other church cultures that treat church gatherings as all-day marathon events. In this episode: Acts 20; Romans 16, verse 23; Revelation 2, verses 2-7 “Unashamed” Episode 899 is sponsored by:  https://www.patriotmobile.com/phil — Get a FREE activation when you enter code PHIL or call 972-PATRIOT. https://preborn.com/unashamed — SAVE babies with your tax-deductible donation today! https://philmerch.com — Get your “Unashamed” mugs, shirts, hats & hoodies! https://ICouldBeWrongButIDoubtIt.com/ — Get your copy of Phil's best-selling new book now! -- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered, how well do teachers preach? Phil Campbell, an author and preacher, from Melbourne, Australia is on the podcast! They are going to answer, "What is good preaching?" Even if you are not a preacher or teacher, this episode is for you. Wyatt and Phil make this conversation accessible for those in various walks of life. Whether you teach at a local church or attend, this one is for you. Native Exiles, a podcast from Alderwood Community Church, where we talk about following Jesus in the tension of being in the world but not of it. We want to help you think through how to walk with Jesus in a world that is seemingly walking the opposite direction. We want to equip you to engage the world without disengaging from Jesus.For more questions and inquiries, reach us at reachus@amcc.org or visit us on our website at nativeexiles.com.

Adam Cooper Confirmation Sunday: Eutychus is NOT the Problem website: jacobswell.church facebook: jacobswellkc twitter: @jacobswell

In our reading of Acts 20, Fr. Mike reflects on the healing of Eutychus, Paul's willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel, and Paul's tender affection for the people he ministered to. In 2 Corinthians, Fr. Mike also highlights Paul's encouragement to hold onto the hope of beholding the glory of God with unveiled faces and to persevere in our afflictions as they prepare for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. Today's readings are Acts 20, 2 Corinthians 3-5, and Proverbs 28:25-28. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.