Acts 20:13-16 13 But we, going ahead to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending from there to take Paul on board; for so he had arranged it, intending himself to go by land. 14 And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, we arrived the following day opposite Chios; and the next day we crossed over to Samos; and the day following we came to Miletus. 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Regrets: “I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether.” -H.G. Wells (1866-1946) (English writer, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre) “My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone.” -Lord Byron (1788-1824) (English poet) “Most men live lives of quiet desperation.” -Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) (American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, historian, and leading transcendentalist)

Regrets: “I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.” -Ralph Barton (1891-1931) (American artist best known for his cartoons and caricatures of actors and other celebrities)

Regrets: How might we deal with regrets? We can teach people how to deal with regrets; showing them the hope and forgiveness that is found in a relationship with Christ… We can teach people how to live life from this day forward without regret. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…” (The apostle Paul - 2 Timothy 4:7).

Resolve to live in the will of God (Acts 20:13-16) Those who end their lives well are those who live their lives well We evidence our commitment to the will of God by what we do (13-15) We must be willing to make personal sacrifices “You will never experience the thrill of living in the will of God without making personal sacrifices.” We must be willing to take risks for God “You will never experience the thrill of living in the will of God without taking risks for God.”

2 CORINTHIANS 11:26 “I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren…”

Resolve to live in the will of God (Acts 20:13-16) Those who end their lives well are those who live their lives well We evidence our commitment to the will of God by what we do NOT do (16) For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

JAMES 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

How Do We Determine God’s Will? (As seen in the life of Paul) In determining the will of God, we must not always equate open doors with God’s will. In determining the will of God, we often must choose between two or more “good” options. In determining the will of God, we must know for certain our purpose in life. In determining the will of God, we must make our decisions based upon convictions from God’s Word rather than upon feelings in the heart.

Discussion Questions For Home Bible Study As Christians, what is the role of regret in our lives? What Scriptures might you use to support your answer? What kind of personal sacrifices or risks have you made for God? How did they turn out? Have you seen others make personal sacrifices or take risks for God? How did that turn out? What are some “common” personal sacrifices Christians ought to make in pursuing the will of God? What are some “common” risks? What methods of determining the will of God have you employed in the past? Which ones “worked out” and why? Which ones proved not to be the best choice and why?

Assemble regularly Cultivate leadership Thrive in our mission ACTS To change the world we must be resolved to: Assemble regularly Cultivate leadership Thrive in our mission Show practical unity

Resolved to see the local church assembling together (Acts 20:7) On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. The church met on “the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7a) The church met to worship the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ - [“to break bread”] (Acts 20:7b) The church met to receive instruction from the Word of God (Acts 20:7c)

Faithful Available Teachable Resolved to see the local church cultivating godly leadership(Acts 20:3-4) 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. 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. Are you a F.A.T. Christian? Faithful Available Teachable

2 TIMOTHY 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

TITUS 2:3-5 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage [train] the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Resolved to see the local church thriving with a heart for her mission (Acts 20:2) When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece. It was while in Greece that Paul wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians as well as the letter to the Romans.

Resolved to see the local church showing practical Christian unity (Acts 20:1-16) Jesus said… 20 I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:20-21