1. Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ!
We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM
Check the bulletin for various announcements

2. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)
Carlos and Priscila Rodriguez; Oct. 1, 2017

3. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)

4. Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. and let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalms 90:16-17 NKJV)

5. Take Heed to . . .
Acts 20:28
“(figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.” (Strong’s Dictionary)

6. Take Heed to . . . God, first (Acts 20:28)
The Holy Spirit makes overseers
The church is of God
I. Implied, to God
A. The Holy Spirit makes overseers (bishop)
1. The Holy Spirit revealed the idea of overseers in every church
2. The Holy Spirit revealed the words that prepare a man to be an elder
3. The Holy Spirit revealed the essential personal and family traits of pastors/shepherds
4. The Holy Spirit revealed the duties of overseers
5. Without the Holy Spirit, there are no overseers---He still makes overseers today, even among us.
B. The church is of God
1. God revealed the idea of the church (one, churches)
2. God sent His Son to teach, die, and rise, on which the church was built (brought into existence)
3. God forgives sinners, who believe, repent and are baptized (Acts 2:38) = the one body of Christ
4. God teaches saints to make a commitment to each other = a church of Christ
C. There are no overseers or churches unless men take heed to God—the rest of this lesson details what taking heed to God involves---

7. Take Heed to . . . myself, next Lk. 8:18, how I hear
Calvinism says man cannot choose to change:
“Fallen man is born with a sin nature. He is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins He is unwilling and unable to repent and turn to God.”
I. All, to ourselves
A. Lk. 8:18 to how we hear
1. Every time we privately read or publicly hear teaching, there is an internal process
a. tune-out: boredom, “I already know this” (like it or don’t like), the speaker = lose what have
b. tune-in, knowing whoever has, to him more will be given = learn or be reminded of things I need
c. seeking the bare minimum or seeking to give my best
d. whether I am a sheep or a shepherd, I must constantly re-examine how I hear
2. Calvinism (“Reformed”) claims you cannot heed how you hear unless the HS miraculously changes your heart
“Fallen man is born with a sin nature. He is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. He is unwilling and unable to repent and turn to God.” (
B. Js. 1:22 to what we do with what we hear and know
1. James describes a variety of ways some might fail to be doers
a. not control tongue (1:26)
b. no attention to people we know need/want our help or be spotted like the world (1:27)
c. show favoritism, when we assemble or anytime (2:1 rich-poor, family, race)
d. claim we are justified by faith alone (2:24) “I believe the truth!”
i. Many people and churches celebrated Reformation Day last Tuesday—the 500th Anniv of the Protestant Reformation, and part of that motto is “Salvation [justification] by faith alone.”
ii. If I comfort myself thinking I believe the truth while not practicing it, I’m as lost as the Protestants.
2. Having elders will only contribute to our growth if each of us take heed to what we do after we hear.
-- Paul told the elders to take heed to themselves, and this is what he taught all the saints to do.

8. VS Take Heed to . . . myself, next Lk. 8:18, how I hear
Js. 1:22 what I do with what I hear, know
I. All, to ourselves
A. Lk. 8:18 to how we hear
1. Every time we privately read or publicly hear teaching, there is an internal process
a. tune-out: boredom, “I already know this” (like it or don’t like), the speaker = lose what have
b. tune-in, knowing whoever has, to him more will be given = learn or be reminded of things I need
c. seeking the bare minimum or seeking to give my best
d. whether I am a sheep or a shepherd, I must constantly re-examine how I hear
2. Calvinism (“Reformed”) claims you cannot heed how you hear unless the HS miraculously changes your heart
“Fallen man is born with a sin nature. He is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. He is unwilling and unable to repent and turn to God.” (emph. by author)
B. Js. 1:22 to what we do with what we hear and know
1. James describes a variety of ways some might fail to be doers
a. not control tongue (1:26)
b. no attention to people we know need/want our help or be spotted like the world (1:27)
c. show favoritism, when we assemble or anytime (2:1 rich-poor, family, race)
d. claim we are justified by faith alone (2:24) “I believe the truth!”
i. Many people and churches celebrated Reformation Day last Tuesday—the 500th Anniv of the Protestant Reformation, and part of that motto is “Salvation [justification] by faith alone.”
ii. If I comfort myself thinking I believe the truth while not practicing it, I’m as lost as the Protestants.
2. Having elders will only contribute to our growth if each of us take heed to what we do after we hear.
-- Paul told the elders to take heed to themselves, and this is what he taught all the saints to do.
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (Js.2:24) VS

9. Take Heed to . . . the flock, shepherds Acts 20:19-32
the shepherds, flock Acts 20:19-32
II. Elders, to the flock
A. In Acts 20, though many of Paul’s words are about his work in Eph as an apostle & evangelist and not as a pastor (Paul was not thus qualified), they provide a good summary of what it means to take heed...to all the flock.
1. serving the Lord with humility v19 Here is the motive for and attitude toward taking heed to the flock
2. kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you v20 = plant and water, knowing God gives...
3. proclaimed it to you publicly and from house to house v20
a. no successful leadership is exclusively public or private---both!
b. the communication that can take place privately is irreplaceable and unavailable in the assembly.
4. not knowing the things that will happen v22
a. there is a high degree of unknowns when leading ppl--ask Moses!
b. we need leaders who always watch for by age/maturity they are among the most prepared for unknowns
5. innocent of the blood of all v27 (1 Thess. 5:14)
a. unruly must be warned in wisdom, marked if they persist (2 Thess.3:6 disorderly=unruly, near exact same wd)
b. fainthearted must be encouraged
c. weak must be strengthened
d. patient with all—the unruly, fainthearted, weak and even the strong sometimes require our patience
6. men will rise up speaking perverse things
a. perverse: to distort, i.e. (figuratively) misinterpret, or (morally) corrupt:--perverse(-rt), turn away. (Strong #1294)
b. come in among you As we have studied Rev. 2-3, it has reminded me that error can spread regionally requiring elders to know, and make no assumptions about, those around us—incl brethren.
- since I’ve moved here, I have been told or seen by brethren that Jesus is not God, a spouse who commits adultery may remarry if put away, that we can invite ppl known to teach sin to teach us other things.
c. from among yourselves There is nothing “among them” that cannot find its way “among us.”
III. Flock, to the elders
A. Before any man can be a shepherd, the church must first “heed” their life to see if they are prepared for the work---but that attentiveness does not end when they are appointed.
B. Acts 20 is written about duty of leading, but it also shows what the ones being led should take heed to
1. serving the Lord with humility v19
a. Paul could say this was because he knew the elders knew (took heed to) him
b. God intends for our leaders to show us what humility looks like (Heb. 13:7)—both the willingness to listen and an unwillingness to move away from the Lord’s will.
2. kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you v20
a. when they urge us to do what is right, it is obviously helpful/profitable
b. when they guide us in decisions which God left to man’s best judgment, pay attention to the benefit
i. whether a church would gather on Wednesday night, is left to each church to decide
ii. if that continues to be our practice, whether you prefer it or not, pay attn to the benefit
a. we also must seek the kingdom of God first so we are available to hear them publicly and privately—they are already working to make themselves available in a variety of ways (“open communication”).
b. no one who “took heed” to Paul thought that the assembly was all that mattered or that it didn’t matter.
a. they have lived long enough to witness and face things they did not know would happen (death of a spouse, things that can strain a church—false teaching, divisiveness, tragedy).
b. pay attention to the ways that they try to prepare us for the unknown
a. can they know every person equally well and always id the unruly, faint, and weak without our help?
b. pay attention to their need for your help---do not assume “its getting done” but ask how you can help.
a. likewise, will they always know of every real danger?
b. when you see dangers outside and inside, take heed to the need for our elders to know of that too.

10. Take Heed to . . . Acts 20:28 God, the gospel Mk. 16:15
Your soul Mk. 16:16; 1 Jn. 1:9
Eternity Heb. 9:27