Paul's Odyssey #4 - Traveling Tales
The 3rd Missionary Journey of the Apostle Paul
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet will be Sunday, July 27th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
The deacons and Grace Church are promoting a free ice cream time at Moo-ville on Saturday, August 2nd from 1:00-3:00 pm. The cost of all ice cream (cones and sundaes) ordered during this time will be provided by the Samaritan Fund at Grace Church. Spread the word and make plans to come out and build relationships with people that day. Wear your Grace gear if you have it. Let's be a blessing to our community!
Thursday, July 31st - Terry & Abigail Whitten
Saturday, August 2nd - Kyle Booher, Ed & Sherry Knauss
Saturday, August 2nd - Kyle Booher, Ed & Sherry Knauss
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Odyssey: "A long and adventurous journey or experience."
In 2023 & 2024 we spent the summer months on the life of the Apostle Paul and covered his first two missionary journeys as presented in the book of Acts. This summer we're looking at his 3rd missionary journey.
In 2023 & 2024 we spent the summer months on the life of the Apostle Paul and covered his first two missionary journeys as presented in the book of Acts. This summer we're looking at his 3rd missionary journey.
Last week we saw the Apostle Paul in the great mega city of Ephesus. Today we leave Ephesus with Paul and head North and West. His purpose is to reconnect with the churches he had started on his previous (2nd) journey and to help those believers grow in their faith.
Just because you've been on a road before, doesn't mean that your journey will be the same.
Just because you've been on a road before, doesn't mean that your journey will be the same.
Often when we set out adventuring, we encounter people, events, and places that leave lasting impressions; and sometimes having a lasting impact on us and those who we've met. When our journey is over, we have what is called "traveling tales...stories that enlighten and educate others as to our experiences.
Share about a person, event, or place you have encountered while traveling that has really impacted your life.
Share about a person, event, or place you have encountered while traveling that has really impacted your life.
Our text this morning is found in Acts 20:1-16.
But first, let's look at something from last week's message in Acts 19:21-22.
Paul had spent nearly 3 years in Ephesus. While there Paul intensified his writing of the 13 letters attributed to him in the New Testament and this continued throughout the rest of the book of Acts.
But first, let's look at something from last week's message in Acts 19:21-22.
Paul had spent nearly 3 years in Ephesus. While there Paul intensified his writing of the 13 letters attributed to him in the New Testament and this continued throughout the rest of the book of Acts.
Acts 19:21-22
BSB
21 After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
BSB
The Lord began to move within and guide Paul in several areas:
1. to collect an offering from the gentile churches and deliver it to the drought-stricken Jerusalem church.
2. to begin preparations for a future missionary journey to Rome.
3. to send his co-workers ahead to lay the groundwork for his return to Greece.
4. to encourage the Ephesian believers before leaving them.
Toward the end of the 3rd year, Demetrius, an Ephesian businessman rallied a mob against Paul and his fellow Christians. But God used a calm, rational government official to save the Apostle and his companions from the riot.
1. to collect an offering from the gentile churches and deliver it to the drought-stricken Jerusalem church.
2. to begin preparations for a future missionary journey to Rome.
3. to send his co-workers ahead to lay the groundwork for his return to Greece.
4. to encourage the Ephesian believers before leaving them.
Toward the end of the 3rd year, Demetrius, an Ephesian businessman rallied a mob against Paul and his fellow Christians. But God used a calm, rational government official to save the Apostle and his companions from the riot.
When we look at today's passage, Acts 20:1-16, we get a really good look into the heart of Paul. We see the pastor-shepherd, the selfless servant, and the relentless soldier of the Lord.
This passage wasn't just about geography, but about urgency.
- It demonstrates what it means to love God and love people.
- It illustrates what real Christian commitment looks like.
- It indicates that ministry opportunities are abundant.
- It motivates us, knowing that God can work in and through us if we will trust Him, live a life of obedience, and put one foot in front of the other.
This passage wasn't just about geography, but about urgency.
- It demonstrates what it means to love God and love people.
- It illustrates what real Christian commitment looks like.
- It indicates that ministry opportunities are abundant.
- It motivates us, knowing that God can work in and through us if we will trust Him, live a life of obedience, and put one foot in front of the other.
Acts 20:1-16
BSB
1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
2 After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
11 Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
12 And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15 Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
2 After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
11 Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
12 And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15 Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
BSB
As Paul left Ephesus, he understood that his time was running out. His opportunities to impress and impact people for Jesus were dwindling and that he needed to reproduce his life in others.
This text shows how Paul leveraged the people, events, and places that he encountered for the glory of God and the good of men.
We should be challenged when we read the traveling tales of Paul. This text shows how each and every one of us can make an eternal difference in this world.
Today we'll look at four ways we can make a difference as we travel through life.
This text shows how Paul leveraged the people, events, and places that he encountered for the glory of God and the good of men.
We should be challenged when we read the traveling tales of Paul. This text shows how each and every one of us can make an eternal difference in this world.
Today we'll look at four ways we can make a difference as we travel through life.
1. LOOK for opportunities to encourage others.
Acts 20:1-3
Encourage comes from the word Parakaleo which means to strengthen, comfort, and exhort. It implies coming alongside someone to offer support, confidence, and hope. It's the same word that Jesus used four times in John to describe the Holy Spirit, who He referred to as The Comforter.
Acts 20:1-3
Encourage comes from the word Parakaleo which means to strengthen, comfort, and exhort. It implies coming alongside someone to offer support, confidence, and hope. It's the same word that Jesus used four times in John to describe the Holy Spirit, who He referred to as The Comforter.
Acts 20:1-3
BSB
1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
2 After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
2 After traveling through that area and speaking many words of encouragement, he arrived in Greece,
3 where he stayed three months. And when the Jews formed a plot against him as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia.
BSB
2. OPEN our lives to include others.
Acts 20:4-6
Paul was living the same kind of life that Jesus did...a rabbi with his disciples. The purpose was to have spiritual replicas, not just social friends.
Acts 20:4-6
Paul was living the same kind of life that Jesus did...a rabbi with his disciples. The purpose was to have spiritual replicas, not just social friends.
Acts 20:4-6
BSB
4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas.
6 And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
BSB
3. INVEST in the well-being of others.
Acts 20:7-12
Paul was well-meaning. We see him joining with other believers, worshipping, teaching, and helping. He wanted to invest in the lives of people to help grow their faith and to reach their potential.
Acts 20:7-12
Paul was well-meaning. We see him joining with other believers, worshipping, teaching, and helping. He wanted to invest in the lives of people to help grow their faith and to reach their potential.
Acts 20:7-12
BSB
7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
11 Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
12 And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
8 Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
9 And a certain young man named Eutychus, seated in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell from the third story and was picked up dead.
10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
11 Then Paul went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. And after speaking until daybreak, he departed.
12 And the people were greatly relieved to take the boy home alive.
BSB
4. MODEL strategic living to others.
Acts 20:13-16
We see that Paul walked 20 miles alone while the ship and all his co-workers sailed some 40 miles. There could be many reasons for this but it seems he was modeling how to strategically live a spiritual life in a secular world. We have to spend time with God to know our marching orders in order to accomplish the goals He has for our life.
Acts 20:13-16
We see that Paul walked 20 miles alone while the ship and all his co-workers sailed some 40 miles. There could be many reasons for this but it seems he was modeling how to strategically live a spiritual life in a secular world. We have to spend time with God to know our marching orders in order to accomplish the goals He has for our life.
Acts 20:13-16
BSB
13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed to Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard. He had arranged this because he was going there on foot.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15 Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene.
15 Sailing on from there, we arrived the next day opposite Chios. The day after that we arrived at Samos, and on the following day we came to Miletus.
16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
BSB
These four insights show us how we can make a difference in someone's life. Choose one and get busy!
