Acts 20:17-38 Paul’s Farewell Message to the Ephesians

“As I am ashamed of my dull and careless heart, and of my slow and unprofitable course of life, so, the Lord knows, I am ashamed of every sermon I preach; when I think what have I been speaking of, and who sent me, and that men’s salvation or damnation is so much concerned in it, I am ready to tremble lest God should judge me as slighter of His truths and the souls of men, and lest in the best sermon I should be guilty of their blood. Me thinks we should not speak a word to men in matters of such consequence without tears, or the greatest earnestness that possibly we can.” Richard Baxter, 17 th century pastor

Acts 20:17-38: 1.What a genuine preacher of God’s Word must be. 2.What the key message the preacher of God’s Word must be. 3.He warned them of the certainty of false teachers within the church. 4.He demonstrated his love and affection for the congregation.

John Bunyan, writer of Pilgrims’s Progress: After he had done preaching, a brother came to him and said, “You have preached admirable sermon.” “Ah,” said Bunyan, “you are too late! The devil told me that before I got down the pulpit stairs.”