A Pastor's Worst Nightmare: Lessons From Acts 20

a Pastor's Worst Nightmare: Lessons from Acts 20.

After spending many years in Ephesus the Holy Spirit prompts the Apostle Paul to move on to new places of ministry service.  Before leaving, Paul charges the lay elders to protect the flock from error and half truth, to faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of God, and to lovingly care for the congregation (as he had).  In short, they were to imitate his faithful example! (1 Cor. 11:1)

As a faithful shepherd Paul hit the ground the running when the Spirit led him to Ephesus.  "From the first day" (Acts 20:18a; Col. 1:29) he shed "blood, sweat, and tears" for the sake of Christ and for the "edification of the church."  For the sake of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15), Paul was willing to "suffer hardship as good Christian soldier (2 Tim. 2:1-3; Acts 20:19, 23).  As a Word-dominated preacher, Paul "did not shrink from declaring ANYTHING that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20).  Paul did all of these things as a steward realizing that he would give an account one day to Christ for all of these pastoral functions (Acts 20:24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Cor. 3).

Having faithfully served the church at Ephesus Paul could say that "he was innocent of the blood of all men."  In other words, he had taught them, discipled them, and cared for them in such a way that his conscience was clear and his hands were clean as he prepared to sail into new ministry waters.

In verses 27-38 Paul expresses what could be described as "a Pastor's worst nightmare."  Having given his all to advance the cause of Christ by establishing a strong, Word-dominated church presence in Ephesus Paul feared what might happen after he left them.  Compromise and mission drift is a major concern of every minister of the gospel who is led to retire or transition to a new ministry setting.