Acts: Part 6
Chapter 20 - What is in your pocket?
Pastor Heath Beard
October 16, 2024

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October 16th & 20th


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.

—Acts 20:7-9 NIV

“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. 25 Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.”

—Acts 20:22-25 NIV


I Cried For The Right Things

19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

—Acts 20:19 NIV

1. He cried about lost people
2 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief 3 for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.

—Romans 9:2-3 NLT

2. He cried over casual Christianity
 I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

—2 Corinthians 2:4 NLT

3. He cried about believers tearing apart other believers
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

—Philippians 3:18 NLT

…weep with those who weep.

—Romans 12:15b NLT


I Did Everything I Knew To Do

20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

—Acts 20:20, 26-27 NIV

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“This generation of believers is responsible for this generation of souls all over the world.” —Keith Green

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19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

—1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV

When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.

—Ezekiel 33:8 NIV


I Invested Seriously Into The Church

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

—Acts 20:28 NIV


I Gave More Than I Took

33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

—Acts 20:33-34 NIV

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  • Giver vs. Taker
  • Rent vs. Own
  • Fight vs. Flight
  • Flirt vs. Follow
  • Safety vs. Risk
  • Consumer vs. Contributor
  • Convenience vs. Commitment

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36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

—Acts 20:36-37 NIV


FILL OUT YOUR CONNECTION CARD HERE
Next Steps:
1. Today, I make a decision to know Jesus and follow Him for the first time.
2. I will make the pledge that Private Treptow made … I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.
3. I am going to read one chapter of Acts for the next 28 days straight.
4. I will pray about making room for ONE MORE by moving for 6 months to the 11:30 Sunday Gathering.