A Concerned Heart (Part Two)

This week, as we continue our study in Acts 20, we are seeing Acts 20:20-21 in order to see a concerned heart. Yesterday we saw we are to be concerned about our message, and today we build on that by seeing why we should be:

Concerned with the Method

“teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks” (vv.20b-21a)

These two phases of Paul’s personal ministry display the balance of a healthy ministry…

• Edification of the saints- “proclaimed and taught”
• Evangelism of the lost- “testifying”

Notice how he sought to implement these twin towers of ministry priority…

A. Edification of the Saints

• Method- “shown” (to proclaim, to declare in public preaching); “taught” (“didaskolos”- to instruct; not “euangelios” or “marturos” which mean to bear witness or evangelize)
• Mode- “publicly” (public worship, as was Jesus’ custom and the command of Heb 10:25); “house to house” (not evangelism, teaching!)

Remember that, although it is valid to long for a ministry that will flow from this building, it must not be confined to this building or any building. Personal care and concern will drive you from this place to where the people are!

B. Evangelism of the Lost- biblical evangelism is the overflow of a strong, maturing church. It cannot exist in a vacuum, it comes out of strong, mature, grounded believers!

• Practice- “testifying” includes both the idea of thorough and complete testimony (not shoddy or superficial) and urging, even pleading, with great earnestness.
• People- “Jews” (Paul’s brothers by birth, for whom he never lost his burden); “Gentiles” (became the apostle to the Gentiles)

This was Paul’s declaration just a few months earlier in Romans 9-11—and now he affirms it! He had grappled with the whole issue of the Jewish rejection of the Gospel, as well as the inclusion of Gentiles into the Body of Christ. All need the Savior. Sin knows no ethnic or religious barriers. It is an equal opportunity destroyer, for all have sinned. All need to be saved.

Paul’s method—plain and simple—was to train strong followers of Christ who would be able to share their faith—then share it! If you are concerned you will want to be part of both—training and sharing. If you are not grounded enough to where you are confident to share your faith, you should be concerned about that, and taking necessary steps to correct it.

Tomorrow we close this portion of Acts 20 by seeing the need for a concern for reconciliation.