The Reporter     Volume 46 # 36,  --  September 8, 2006

 

Bought With The Blood Of Jesus
– Acts Twenty –

 

   Paul traveled to Macedonia and then into Greece. It was often seen in his life that persecution might cause a Christian to move from his present location. However, this must never cause him to move from his purpose of working for God.

 

   Christians can read God's word, study, pray, and sing while they are apart from one another. Communion can only be kept when the church comes together on Sunday; the Lord's Day or the first day of the week. Each Sunday Christians should break bread as a memorial of Christ's death. (Acts 20:7)

 

   In Troas, Paul healed Eutychus, who fell from a third floor window after falling asleep. Eutychus was brought to life again. The situa-tion with Eutychus, (1) disturbed the preaching, (2) provided an opportunity to confirm the message by miracle, and (3) reminds us that we should be well rested and prepared for worship.

 

   Paul called for the elders from the church at Ephesus. He reminded them that God had made them overseers. Elders must be true to this calling. Paul told these elders that the church was purchased with Jesus' blood. They were reminded of Paul’s work at Ephesus and they were  told that  false teachers would  be found in the church there. They were to be grounded so solidly in the word of God's grace that they could protect the flock from these grievous wolves.

 

   The separation of Paul from the elder from Ephesus was painful. As He separated from these brethren, "It was a comfort to all, that the presence of Christ both went with him and stayed with them."

 

   Paul went through Macedonia and Greece – Acts 20:1-6: When the uproar that had been caused by Demetrius at Ephesus ceased Paul called for the Christians at Ephesus. He embraced them, comforted them, and exhorted them to hold fast to God. After this He separated to go into Macedonia. He visited churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. As he went from church to church he established the Christians in the faith of the Gospel.

 

   Form Macedonia Paul went to Greece and stayed there for three months. When some of the Jew plotted against him he decided to return by way of Macedonia. Through these events in Paul's life we observe God's care over his ministry, and we also observe Paul's concern for the churches that he had helped to establish.

 

   Paul and several brethren went to Troas after the days of unleavened bread. The Jewish feasts are mention only to mark the time of the year. These feasts along with the entire law had been abolished, and are not to be observed by Christians. Paul and his company stayed in Troas for seven days in order to be there on the first day of the week for worship.

 

   Paul's last visit to Troas – Acts 20:7-12: At Troas Paul and his companions came together with the church to break bread. As the disciples were gathered Paul preached to them until midnight because he was leaving the next morning. In the upstairs room where they met there were many lights.

 

   While Paul was speaking a young man named Eutychus was sitting in the window. Paul preached for a long time and this young man became very sleepy. He fell three floors to the ground and was taken up dead. Paul went down and took Eutychus in his arms. He said, "Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him." "And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." (Acts 20:12)

 

   The voyage from Troas to Miletus – Acts 20:13-16: Paul's mission work carried him to many places to preach. It seemed that he did not like to travel by ship, even though he did so at times. Here he decided to travel by land to Assos. The rest of the missionary team went on ahead by ship from Troas and sailed unto Assos.

 

   Paul told the brethren he would meet them at Assos and he did. As a Christian it is important that you keep your word when you tell someone that you are going to do something. The ship then took them to Mitylene. This was only a brief stopover but you can rest assured that someone there heard the gospel. From Mitylene they sailed the next day over against Chios. The following day they reached Samos. The day after that they sailed to Miletus. Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, because he did not want to spend too much time in Asia. He was in a hurry and wanted to be in Jerusalem in time for Pentecost in order to have an opportunity to preach the Gospel to the Jews that would come from everywhere to Jerusalem.

 

   Paul visited with the elders from Ephesus – Acts 20:17-38: Paul called for the Elders from the church at Ephesus to meet with him at Miletus. He reminded them that he had never tried to obtain the applause of men. He only tried to please God! They knew how Paul had taught in the Jewish synagogue at Ephesus, then in the school of Tyrannus and house to house. He did not hold back from telling anything that would help them go to heaven.

 

   Paul knew that danger awaited him in Jerusalem, but he was willing to go for God. He did not care what happened to him, as long as he finished the work the Lord gave him to do. Paul felt that he would never see these brethren again so he wanted to strengthen them in the faith. He had freely communicated to the church at Ephesus everything God wanted them to know.

 

   Paul warned the elders to take heed to themselves and to all the Christians that the Holy Spirit had put in their care. They were to be shepherds over this flock of God. This church had been bought with the blood of God's Son. Paul warned these elders that after he left they should be on guard for false teaches that would arise among the elders. He had warned them for three years, with tears in his eyes, about his matter.

 

   These false teachers would come in like wolves to destroy the flock. They would twist the scriptures to their own destruction. Their purpose would be to "to draw away disciples after them." Elders must watch carefully to keep the church from being carried away with the error of the wicked.

 

   At last Paul placed these brethren in God's care. He emphasized the value of God's work in building up His saints. He reminded them that Jesus had said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." After Paul finished speaking, he knelt down with the brethren and prayed. They were especially grieved because Paul had told them, that they would not see him again. After this they accompanied Paul to the ship.

 

      To become a Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17); believe in Jesus (John 8:24); repent of sins (Romans 10:9-10); confess Christ as Lord (Acts 8:37) and be baptized into Christ (I

 

 Peter 3:21). After bap­tism use your life to spread the gospel of Christ!

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: Stabler Hospital: Floyd Smith. Baptist East Hospital: Abbie, Austin, and Andrew Herring. In Need Of Prayers: Nikki Bennett, Dannie Box, Janice Box, Gene Buck, Emily Cain, Roy Goodwin, Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Montine Hardin, Evan Hartsell, Brenda Herring, Jimmy Hobbie, Ann Jackson, Frank Johnson, Mary Lawrence, Joyce Massey, Clay Newton, Curtis Newton, Hunter Owens, Mary Powell, Meg Sellers (mother of Stacie Davis), Roger Strange, Doris Taylor, Leroy Waller, and Gladys Warren. Crowne Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps, and Iva Lou Wright. Homewood Greenville: Marie Walton. Pine Needle: Mildred Johnson. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Wilmer Howell. Shut-Ins: Ethel Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Mary Lou Phelps.

 

2. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Elizabeth Perdue and her family in the death of her brother, James Edward Mitchell.

 

3. Please Pray For: (a) Alan Jackson as he serves in Iraq. Address: SPC Nathan A. Jackson, B-BTRY 1/117^th FA, APO AE09378, 3^rd PLT. (b) Sam Sanders, son of Jerry Sanders is serving in the Iraq area. (c) Danny Payne, son-in-law of Donald & Nell Davis is serving in the Iraq area. (d) Jason Godwin will go to Iraq on September 10^th. 

 

4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays this week are: September 10^th Tyler Clark, and Erin Taylor, September 12^th Mixon Till, and September 16^th Jennifer Grace Arnold and Brittany Till.

 

5. Calendar Correction: On the September calendar Tyler Clark’s birthday appears on the 20^th. His birthday is actually the 10^th. Sorry about that. Happy birthday Tyler!

 

6. Ladies Bible Class: All ladies are invited and encouraged to attend Ladies Bible Class which meets Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. The class will be studying from the New Testament workbook on the “Life of Christ” lesson 8, page 15. If you need a book please see Joan Barr.

 

7. Thank You: Dear Church Family, Thank you for the flower’s and all the wonderful food! Thank you for all your thoughtful prayers.  Rebecca West & The Family of Freddie West May God bless you all!

 

8. 50^th Anniversary Announcement: Celebrate a 50^th Anniversary with Dennis and Virginia Lowery on September 16, 2006, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the Walnut Street Church of Christ. Hosted by their children and grandchildren. RSVP – Telephone 334-382-6451

 

9. Church Directory: If you have not received your copy please stop by the visitor’s desk after services. Someone will be there to give you your directory.

 

10. Secret Pal Program: Ladies that are interested in participating in the 2006-2007 Secret Pal program please pick-up a form on the table in the foyer. The forms need to be handed back to Nell Daughtry by September 27^th. Drawing for the coming year and revealing for the past year will be done on October 1^st at the home of Nell Daughtry at 2:00 p.m.

 

11. Kitchen Sign Out Sheet: There is a sign out sheet in the kitchen for all kitchen and all-purpose room items. Please help us keep up with things.

 

12. Area Events: (a) September 15^th – Acapella Singing – Colvin Street Church of Christ, Anniston (b) September 16^th – Ladies Day – College Street Church of Christ – Speaker Charlynda Pierce – Theme “Women, Are We There Yet?” (I Corinthians 6 & Proverbs 20:24) – Time 9:00 a.m. (c) September 25-27 – Spiritual Enrichment Forum at Embassy Suites Hotel – Southern Christian University. (d) September 26-30 – Heritage Christian University – 35^th Annual Evangelism Workshop – Theme “A Future and a Hope”

 

“Love One Another”

Some Things To Expect From The Church You Attend:

 

   Abraham Lincoln said, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he is living; and I like to see a man live so his place will be proud of Him.” I’d like to mention some things that every church member should expect from the church that they attend. Then, next week, I hope to follow up with some things that the church should expect from you. 

 

   You should expect a loving bond of fellowship from the church. In Acts 2:42-47, we read about the first-century church and the daily fellowship and union they shared. The picture here is of a real church “family” that did common, everyday things together…and then they stuck together when the not-so-common things came along. The church is a lot like an earthy family that should spend a great deal of time together, but when they don’t, the whole group suffers.

 

   You should expect to grow because of the edification you receive from the church.  Paul described a healthy, growing body that was such because everyone was doing their share of the work and building one another up in love (Eph 4:15-16). Even when this edification comes in the form of a rebuke or correction, when it is done in love, the body will grow.

 

   You should expect spiritual and scriptural worship. God has commanded, and we have biblical examples of different worship acts in His word.  We are to remember the death of Christ with a memorial each Sunday (I Cor 11:23-26), preach the gospel of Christ (Acts 20:7), sing and pray (I Cor 14:15), and give of what we have back to God (I Cor 16:2). God expects these commands and examples to be followed, but also expects our hearts, or spirits, to be willingly involved in the actions (John 4:23-24).

 

   You should expect the Bible to be in the church. Yes, it should be in the pews, but it should also be in the hearts of its members, it should be evident in the organization of the church, and evident in all practices and beliefs of the church. The Bible is God’s truth, and His authority for all religious matters (John 17:17). 

 

- - - - Darrell Powell