Sermon Summary — "Why Are We Here?" (Our Mission Statement)

Date: September 6, 2026 (weekend of Sept 6–7)
Church: Grace Church
Length: ~28 minutes
Text focus: Matthew 28:18–20, with Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Acts 1:8; Revelation 7:9–10

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Big Idea

The church doesn’t have to guess why it exists — God has already said so in His Word, and the church’s mission statement simply crystallizes that calling:

"We exist to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ across the street and around the world."

It’s not a slogan. It’s a battle cry, a compass, and a task to fulfill. The sermon walks through the statement phrase by phrase and then calls the congregation to move "from statement to movement."

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1. Our ultimate purpose: to glorify God

• We were created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43:7; Romans 11:36).
• To glorify God means to reflect His greatness, honor His authority, and reveal His goodness to the world — to "make much of God" and help people think rightly about who He is.
• We don’t add to God — He is already perfect and full of glory. We’re a mirror reflecting His light, and a telescope that magnifies a star (not by enlarging it, but by helping people see how great it already is).
  • Illustrations: you glorify a beautiful painting by enjoying and talking about it, not by trying to improve it; you glorify a great meal by eating and thanking the cook, not by adding your own seasoning.
• Glorifying God is an all-encompassing life endeavor — "whether you eat or drink… do all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). It happens in ordinary, everyday moments.
• As a church: every song, sermon, dollar given, and hour served has one target — God’s glory. Do a thousand good things but fail to glorify God, and we’ve missed the bullseye.

2. Our shared mission: making disciples

• The church receives its mission from Scripture — it does not invent it. Matthew 28:18–20 gives five parts:
  1. Authority behind the mission — "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."
  2. Command of the mission — "make disciples."
  3. Scope of the mission — "of all nations."
  4. Process of the mission — going, baptizing, teaching them to obey everything Christ commanded.
  5. Promise sustaining the mission — "I am with you always, to the end of the age."
• The mission is not to fill seats. Attendance isn’t the finish line. "It’s not about our seating capacity; it’s about our sending capacity."
• What is a disciple? Someone who has trusted in Jesus alone for salvation, who follows, imitates, learns from, and increasingly obeys Him — and who can point to someone else they are leading along in the faith.
  • Discipleship isn’t merely accumulating knowledge; you gain knowledge so you can pass it on.
  • The goal isn’t getting someone to say "yes" to Jesus and then being done — it’s helping people follow Jesus for a lifetime and help others do the same. A "chain reaction of grace" meant to be replicated.
• Start at home. Personal example: Pastor Troy disciples his youngest son, Drake (playing basketball in Latvia, 8 hours ahead), by FaceTiming through Philippians line by line — the aim being real growth in Christ that overflows to others.

3. Our scope: across the street and around the world

• "Here, near, and far away." One day the phrase may change to "every day and everywhere."
• Both/and, not either/or: true biblical mission needs a local heart for your actual neighbors and a global heart for the nations. It’s easy to love "let’s change the world" while ignoring the neighbor next door.
• "Across the street" = the people right in front of you — neighbors, friends, coworkers, people at the game, concert, or school. Mission starts where your feet are planted — but it can’t stop at the city limits.
• Church history: Grace Church was once Edina Baptist Church (met at 53rd & France in the 1970s). The name was changed to "Grace Church" to signal a heart for neighbors and nations — not just one city, not just Baptists but lost people — "saved by grace… we want to extend God’s grace."
• God empowers the mission: Acts 1:8 — Holy Spirit power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth, all simultaneously. A healthy church has local gospel intentionality and a map of the world in its head and heart.
• Three snapshots: Matthew 28 = the command; Acts 1 = the power; Revelation 7:9–10 = the finish-line picture — a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language before the throne, crying "Salvation belongs to our God."

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The warning: consumers vs. participants

Without a clear mission, we drift into consuming church ("What does this church offer me?") instead of joining Christ’s mission ("How do I contribute?"). We must move from mission statement to movement.

A mission statement is either a blueprint or an indictment:

• A blueprint if we build our lives around it — shaping our living, giving, and going.
• An indictment if we write it down and preach about it but don’t live it — it will stand as a verdict against us on judgment day (e.g., claiming to care about the world but not putting the phone down to talk to a neighbor).

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Self-assessment: three questions

1. Does my life make much of God? Is there any area right now that reflects poorly on Christ?
2. Who am I helping follow Jesus? Who is growing closer to Jesus because God is using me?
3. Where am I engaged in the mission? Who is the one person God has already placed in my everyday life who needs the gospel — and how am I making Christ known beyond my own community?

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The call to action

• The congregation stood and looked around — including up at the balcony — to see the church not as "a crowd of random individuals" but as "a family of brothers and sisters on assignment."
• To anyone thinking a large church doesn’t need them: not true. "God brought you here because we have a weakness that you can shore up. We want you to jump in and serve."
• The best way to change culture is to make disciples. The math: if ~15,000 people at Grace (in person and online) each disciple one person → 30,000 → 60,000 → 120,000 — it spreads like wildfire, changing homes, neighborhoods, communities, and the state, one person at a time.
• Discipleship is messy — it means walking with people and encouraging them.
• Fall kickoff: get connected in a Bible study; more opportunities are coming. Grow in the Word so that you can make disciples — starting in your home.

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Closing prayer (themes)

Confession that it’s easy to sing about God’s glory but hard to live for it; repentance for choosing comfort over the Great Commission and for apathy. Asking God for courage to cross the street, boldness to open our homes, and protection from becoming consumers rather than disciples. Prayer for neighbors, coworkers, family members, global partners and missionaries, friends, and "our Nepalese brothers and sisters" — for protection, strength, and hope. "We don’t ask for an easy life, but a faithful one… may Grace Church be a movement that impacts eternity."

Refrain: "Neighbors and nations. Neighbors and nations. Neighbors and nations."

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Scripture referenced

Reference	Use in the sermon
Isaiah 43:7	We were created for God’s glory
Romans 11:36	"From Him and through Him and to Him are all things — to Him be glory forever"
1 Corinthians 10:31	Glorifying God as an all-encompassing life endeavor
Matthew 28:18–20	The Great Commission — five parts of the mission
Acts 1:8	Holy Spirit power to be witnesses locally and globally, simultaneously
Revelation 7:9–10	The finish line — every nation before the throne

Sermon Summary: The Final Word

Series: Acts
Scripture Focus: Acts 28
Date: August 23, 2026

Introduction: The End of the Story?

The final episode of a popular series often creates great excitement and expectation, but the endings frequently receive mixed reviews. Luke, the author of Acts, has taken us on a transformational journey, and his conclusion might be one of the most surprising ever written.
Last week, in Acts 27, we saw everyone aboard Paul’s ship survive a shipwreck and land safely on the island of Malta. They were wet, cold, and exhausted. They built a fire, which leads us to today’s passage.

Part I: Providence and Perception on Malta (Acts 28:1-10)

• Unusual Kindness and a Viper’s Strike
  • Scripture: Acts 28:1-6
  • Context: After the shipwreck, the travelers learn the island is called Malta. The native people show them "unusual kindness" by building a fire for them in the cold rain.
  • Example: As Paul gathers sticks for the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, bites his hand.
  • Application (The Islanders’ View): The native people immediately conclude that Paul must be a murderer. In their pagan worldview, even though he escaped the sea, "justice" (or a form of cosmic payback/karma) has caught up with him. They watch and wait for him to swell up and die.
• God’s Power and a Shifted Verdict
  • Who God Is: God’s providence is greater than any worldly "justice" or circumstance. He protects His servants for His purposes.
  • How We Are to Live: Paul models trust in God’s providence. He maintains his composure, simply shaking the snake off into the fire and suffering "no harm."
  • Example: When Paul doesn’t die, the islanders are stunned. They completely reverse their judgment, now declaring that he must be a god.
  • Key Point: First, they misread Paul’s suffering (as judgment for sin), and then they completely misread his survival (as proof of divinity). They get it wrong both times.
• Healing and Hospitality
  • Scripture: Acts 28:7-10
  • Context: The chief man of the island, Publius, entertains Paul and the others hospitably for three days.
  • Example: Paul learns that Publius’s father is sick with fever and dysentery. Paul visits him, prays, lays his hands on him, and heals him.
  • Application: This act of healing leads to the rest of the sick people on the island coming to Paul and being cured. Paul’s shipwreck becomes a source of blessing for the entire island.

Part II: Arrival in Rome and Ministry Under Arrest (Acts 28:11-31)

• The Journey to Rome and House Arrest
  • Scripture: Acts 28:11-16
  • Context: After three months in Malta, Paul resumes his journey. When fellow believers in Rome hear he is coming, they travel to meet him, which encourages Paul greatly ("Paul thanked God and took courage").
  • Example: Upon arrival in Rome, Paul is placed under house arrest, allowed to live by himself but guarded by a soldier.
• Paul’s Witness, Not Victimhood
  • Scripture: Acts 28:17-22
  • Context: Paul meets with the local Jewish leaders and recounts his journey and the injustices he has faced.
  • Who I Am: Paul does not frame himself as a victim or find his identity in victimhood. He identifies himself as a witness for Jesus Christ. As he states in verse 20, "It is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain."
  • Example: The Jewish leaders in Rome report that they have not heard any negative reports about Paul but are eager to hear his views about "this sect" (Christianity).
• Proclaiming the Kingdom: Belief and Unbelief
  • Scripture: Acts 28:23-24
  • Context: While under house arrest, Paul’s lodging becomes a center for ministry. People come to him in "greater numbers."
  • How I Am to Live: Paul’s daily ministry consisted of proclaiming the truth about Jesus. "From morning till evening, he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." This should be our ministry, too—to convince people to trust Jesus.
  • Result: The response is divided: "Some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved."
• A Diagnosis of Spiritual Resistance
  • Scripture: Acts 28:25-28
  • Context: Paul interprets the unbelief of his listeners through a prophecy from Isaiah 6.
  • How God Responds: Paul quotes the Holy Spirit’s words through Isaiah: "You will indeed hear, but never understand; you will indeed see, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull… lest they should… turn, and I would heal them."
  • Application: The primary issue for those who reject the gospel is not ignorance, but unwillingness—a hard-heartedness and dullness to the truth.
  • Key Point: Paul declares that because of this resistance, the message of salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, "for they will listen." This is not a rejection of Israel, but a diagnosis of spiritual resistance that can afflict anyone. Israel’s resistance will not stop God’s plan of salvation for the nations.
• The Final "Un-Ending"
  • Scripture: Acts 28:30-31
  • Context: The book concludes with a simple summary of Paul’s two years under house arrest in Rome. "He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."
  • The Rub: We have been waiting for Paul’s trial before Caesar, but Luke never mentions it. We don’t know what happened to Paul. Why? Because Paul’s personal fate is not the point of the book. The point is the unhindered movement of the gospel.

Key Takeaways for Our Lives

1. Leverage Your Limitations, Don’t Be Limited by Them.
   • Who God Is: God’s calling on our lives is not nullified by our circumstances.
   • How I Am to Live: Many of us live in our own versions of "house arrest"—illness, financial strain, family conflict, etc. Paul did not see his chains as a cancellation of his calling, but as the context for it. He was physically restricted, but the gospel was "without hindrance."
   • Application: Limitations often redirect ministry rather than eliminate it. Paul’s house arrest became a theological classroom. He couldn’t travel, but people could come to him. He couldn’t move freely, but the message of Christ did. He turned his prison cell into a "content studio," writing letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians) that have shaped the church for 2,000 years.
   • Your influence doesn’t shrink in limitation; it concentrates. Deeper impact can come from what feels like diminished usefulness. No expression of faithful witness is small or insignificant.
2. See the Vision of an Unfinished Gospel Story.
   • How I Am to Live: The reason Acts ends without a definitive ending for Paul is that it is not the ending of a book; it is the handoff of a mission.
     • If it ended with Paul’s execution, it would be a human tragedy.
     • If it ended with his release, it would be a human triumph story.
     • Instead, it ends with the mission continuing.
   • Who I Am: We are not just observers of the early church’s legacy; we are the current face of this movement. The story is still being written, and we have been moved from the audience onto the stage.
   • Application: This is a call to participation. The question is not, "What happened next?" but "What happens now?"
3. Redefine Success: Substance Over Spectacle.
   • How I Am to Live: Our culture is obsessed with platforms, reach, and influence—spectacle, speed, and scale. Paul’s ministry in Rome was marked by hospitality, teaching, and one-on-one conversations.
   • Application: Acts measures impact by endurance, consistency, and the quiet refusal to stop speaking the truth. History confirms what Acts implies: Rome faded, empires rise and fall, but the gospel of Jesus Christ advances.
   • Faith is stripped of outcomes. It is obedience that doesn’t depend on guarantees. Will you be faithful today, regardless of what you know about tomorrow?

Conclusion: An Inheritance, Not an Ending

The Book of Acts doesn’t have a tidy conclusion because it’s not a finished story. It is an unfinished invitation. It closes the book but opens wide the mission field. It’s an inheritance handed to us. We are not just reading about their legacy; we are now the face of the movement.

Prayer Prompts for Reflection:

• Believe: If you have been hesitant, recognize that you know enough. It is not a matter of intellect but willingness. Say "yes" to Christ today.
• Renewed Mission: Ask God to replace any spiritual staleness with a fresh sense of ministry, mission, and urgency. The Spirit of God is still moving.
• Endurance: Pray for the perseverance to keep grinding in quiet faithfulness, just like Paul, who simply tried to convince people about Jesus every day, one conversation at a time.
• Reframe Limitations: Ask God to help you see your limitations not as a disqualification but as a redirection toward a deeper, more concentrated impact. Ask Him to show you what’s next.
• Witness for the Lost: Pray for lost family and friends. Embrace the call to be a witness (marturion), someone so committed to the gospel they would die to get the word out.
• A Legacy of Faithfulness: Pray that your life would leave a legacy marked by quiet, faithful obedience to Jesus. God cares more about substance than splash.

Sermon Summary: Acts Chapter 27

Date: August 16, 2026

Introduction

The sermon continues the series on the Book of Acts, with this week and next week concluding the study. Pastor Troy began by addressing a question from a congregant: "Why did God want Paul to make it to Rome so badly?"

• Symbolic Importance: Rome represented the "end of the earth" and was the center of the Gentile world. Getting the gospel to Rome was a key missional objective.
• Political Powerhouse: Rome was the nexus of global cultural and political power. Paul, a Roman citizen, wanted to bring the gospel to this center of influence.
• Universal Need for Jesus: By having Paul present the gospel before Caesar, the highest human authority, the narrative demonstrates that even the world’s most powerful person needs Jesus.
• Spotlight on God’s Sovereignty: Paul’s perilous journey to Rome highlights the providence and sovereignty of God, showing that no human opposition, corrupt system, or violent storm can thwart God’s ultimate plan.

Scripture Focus: Acts 27 – The Shipwreck

The primary text for this sermon is Acts 27, which chronicles Paul’s journey to Rome as a prisoner. This chapter is noted by theologians like R.C. Sproul as a literary masterpiece, with Luke (the author and an eyewitness on the ship) providing an incredibly detailed and accurate mariner’s account of a storm at sea.
The journey was extraordinarily dangerous for three reasons:

1. Terrible Weather: They set sail during a dangerous season.
2. Questionable Decision-Making: The ship’s leadership ignored Paul’s warnings.
3. Structural Failures: The storm was so violent it threatened to tear the ship apart.

The Narrative of the Storm

• A Dangerous Time to Sail: The journey began after "the Fast" (Acts 27:9), a reference to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) in mid-October, which marked the start of the dangerous winter sailing season. The ship immediately faced contrary winds (Acts 27:4, 7).
• Paul’s Warning Ignored: Paul perceived that the voyage would end in disaster and loss of life (Acts 27:10). However, the centurion in charge, Julius, listened to the pilot and the ship’s owner instead (Acts 27:11).
• The Storm Hits: A tempestuous northeaster struck the ship, driving it uncontrollably (Acts 27:14-15). The crew took emergency measures, undergirding the ship with ropes and jettisoning the cargo (Acts 27:18) and then the ship’s tackle (Acts 27:19).
• All Hope is Lost: After many days without sun or stars for navigation, and with the storm raging, the crew and passengers abandoned all hope of being saved (Acts 27:20).
• God’s Promise through Paul: Paul stood up and reminded them they should have listened to him (Acts 27:21). He then delivered a message from an angel of God:
  • The Bad News: The ship would be completely lost.
  • The Good News: Not a single life would be lost. Paul was promised he would stand before Caesar, and God had granted him the lives of everyone on board (Acts 27:22-26).
• Approaching Land and a Secret Escape: On the fourteenth night, the sailors sensed land and dropped four anchors, praying for daylight (Acts 27:29). Some sailors then tried to escape in the lifeboat, but Paul exposed their plan to the centurion, stating, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved" (Acts 27:31). The soldiers then cut the lifeboat’s ropes, letting it drift away.
• A Final Meal: Paul urged all 276 people to eat, reminding them of God’s promise that not a hair on their heads would perish (Acts 27:34). He gave thanks to God, broke bread, and everyone ate (Acts 27:35). Afterward, they threw the remaining grain overboard (Acts 27:38).
• The Shipwreck: At daybreak, they aimed for a beach but struck a reef. The bow stuck fast while the stern was broken apart by the surf (Acts 27:39-41). The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent their escape, but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, stopped them (Acts 27:42-43). He ordered those who could swim to go first, and the rest to use planks and pieces of the ship to get to shore.
• The Promise Kept: Just as God promised, "it was that all were brought safely to the land" (Acts 27:44). They landed on the island of Malta.

Application: Why Does God Take Us on Difficult Journeys?

The story is not just a travel log; it is proof that God keeps His word through storms, poor human decisions, and wreckage. God does not take us on difficult journeys to destroy us but for specific, character-forming reasons.

1. To Reveal What is Truly Unshakable

• Who God Is: God is our unshakable foundation. He allows storms to strip away the things we rely on (our strength, resources, plans) to show us that He is the only thing that cannot be broken.
• How We Are to Live: We are to build our lives on the unshakable promises of God, not on our own strength, feelings, or temporary circumstances. When the journey is smooth, we can confuse our strength with God’s. Difficult journeys wean us off of ourselves and teach us to rely completely on Him. In the storm, the cargo, tackle, ship, and food were all lost, but God’s word remained intact.

2. To Demonstrate His Power to Us and Others

• Who God Is: God uses our difficult journeys as a public canvas for His glory. A smooth trip to Rome would have had no impact, but the storm created a platform for God to display His power before 276 pagan sailors and Roman guards.
• Who God Says We Are: We are living, breathing apologetics for the gospel. When we remain peaceful, faithful, and hopeful while the world panics, we become a powerful testimony.
• How We Are to Live: We should understand that our difficult journeys are rarely just about us. The storm creates an opportunity for a testimony that a calm sea never could. When you pray for impact, brace yourself. A life of impact may come with scars, but those scars tell a story of God’s faithfulness that can bring others into His Kingdom.

3. To Prove That a Messy Landing is Still a Divine Victory

• How God Responds to Humans: God ensures our ultimate salvation, even if the process is messy. The journey didn’t end in a pristine harbor but with a violent wreck and survivors clinging to driftwood. Yet, every person was brought safely to land.
• How We Are to Live: We must understand that salvation doesn’t always mean avoiding the wreck; it means surviving it. A difficult landing, though exhausting and disorienting, is still a victory if it brings us safely to the shore God promised. This experience should create in us a deep gratitude and worship for a God who keeps His word.

Closing Thoughts

• God’s Word is All We Have: The entire structure of reality depends on God keeping His word. If God were not dependable, our lives would descend into chaos. Unlike humans who break promises, God is perfectly trustworthy. The sailors who tried to take matters into their own hands nearly missed God’s deliverance. We must trust His promise, not our own escape plans.
• What Are You Counting On?: What are you truly trusting in—your health, home, retirement, or family? The sermon exhorts us to recognize that anything other than Christ is too flimsy to build a life upon. Only Christ and the promises of God are unshakable.
• Prepare for the Storm: If you are not in a storm now, bookmark this message. A time will come when you will need to remember that when everything else fails, His word holds fast.
• The Power of Testimony: After the shipwreck, Paul was the undisputed leader. He was heading to Rome to share the gospel with Caesar. His harrowing journey gave him a powerful story that impacted everyone around him. Our storms do the same for us.
• Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. We are to build our lives on the eternal, unchanging words of Jesus.
  Next Week: The series concludes with Acts 28, where Paul, on the island of Malta, is bitten by a viper.

“Acts 25–26: Not Done in a Corner” — Sermon Recap

Creation Date

• August 9, 2026, 10:54:41

Series/Title

• Title inferred from repeated emphasis: “Not Done in a Corner” (Acts 25–26)

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Opening Context and Aim

• Pastor Troy set the scene: Acts Chapters 25 and 26 form one extended narrative around Paul’s hearings under Governor Festus and King Agrippa.
• Listeners were encouraged to “listen fast” as the text is rich and complex, and to recognize the repeated pattern in Paul’s ministry: mistreatment, political corruption, false accusations, death threats, imprisonment.

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Scripture and Narrative Overview

Festus Succeeds Felix; Renewed Plot Against Paul

• Passage: Acts 25:1–3
  • Chief priests and Jewish leaders ask Festus to summon Paul to Jerusalem, secretly planning an ambush to kill him en route.
• Festus shows more restraint than Felix and insists on proper procedure, returning to Caesarea within ten days for a hearing.

Paul’s Defense Before Festus

• Passage: Acts 25:7–12
  • Accusers bring “many serious charges” they cannot prove.
  • Paul responds plainly: “I’ve done nothing wrong” against the law, the temple, or Caesar (Acts 25:8).
  • Festus, wishing to curry favor with the Jews, suggests moving the trial to Jerusalem.
  • Paul reads the political moment, rejects the venue change, and asserts his right: “I appeal to Caesar” (Acts 25:11).
  • Festus must honor the appeal: “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go” (Acts 25:12).
  • Context note: “Caesar” at this time is Nero (AD 54–68). Historically infamous, but earlier in his reign more administratively stable.

Agrippa and Bernice Enter; Festus Explains the Case

• Passage: Acts 25:13–22
  • King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice visit Festus. Festus recounts the situation:
    • The accusations center on religious disputes and Paul’s claim that Jesus is alive (Acts 25:18–19).
  • Agrippa expresses interest in hearing Paul (Acts 25:22).

Formal Hearing with Agrippa; Paul’s Testimony

• Passage: Acts 25:23–27; Acts 26:1–23
  • With pomp, Agrippa, Bernice, and military officers convene the hearing.
  • Festus admits difficulty specifying charges to send to Caesar (Acts 25:26–27).
  • Agrippa invites Paul to speak (Acts 26:1).
• Paul’s defense/testimony:
  • Paul’s background:
    • Known from youth among the Jews; lived as a Pharisee (Acts 26:4–5).
  • Theological center:
    • Hope in God’s promise to the fathers; shared by the twelve tribes who worship “earnestly night and day” (Acts 26:6–7).
    • Rhetorical question: “Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8).
  • Former hostility:
    • Paul once zealously persecuted Christians until the Damascus Road encounter (Acts 26:9–11).
  • Damascus encounter:
    • Blinding light from heaven and the voice of Jesus: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14).
    • Meaning explained: Resisting Christ does not stop Him; it wounds the resister.
    • Commission:
      • “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting… Rise… I appoint you as a servant and witness…” (Acts 26:15–16).
      • Mission to Jews and Gentiles: “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God… receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17–18).
    • Application: God saves and immediately sends; salvation leads to mission.
  • Obedience and proclamation:
    • Paul obeyed the heavenly vision and preached repentance from Damascus to Jerusalem, Judea, and to the Gentiles (Acts 26:19–20).
    • Resurrection as fulfillment:
      • Paul frames the resurrection as rooted in promises to the fathers and the fulfillment of Moses and the prophets (Acts 26:22–23):
        • “Saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass—that the Christ must suffer, and that, by being first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Festus Interrupts; Paul Appeals to Agrippa’s Knowledge

• Passage: Acts 26:24–29
  • Festus shouts: “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you out of your mind!” (Acts 26:24).
  • Paul replies calmly:
    • “I am speaking true and rational words… this has not been done in a corner” (Acts 26:25–26).
  • Agrippa’s famous line:
    • “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28).
  • Paul’s evangelistic desire:
    • “I would to God… that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains” (Acts 26:29).

Final Assessment and Legal Outcome

• Passage: Acts 26:30–32
  • The officials agree: “This man has done nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.”
  • Agrippa to Festus: “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
  • Legal note: Because Paul appealed as a Roman citizen, only Caesar could legally release him.
  • Theological note: What looked like a legal setback becomes God’s providential means to get Paul to Rome, fulfilling God’s promise.

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Key Theological Themes and Applications

1) Christianity Is Public, Global, and Historically Grounded

• Passage emphasis: Acts 26:26
  • “This has not been done in a corner.”
• Teaching:
  • Christianity is not a secret sect or private philosophy; it is a global movement grounded in the public, historical reality of Jesus’ resurrection.
  • Application:
    • Do not let cultural marginalization tell you Christianity is small or irrelevant; God is advancing His worldwide plan.
    • Ultimate culmination: every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord (cf. Philippians 2:10–11).

2) Christianity Fulfills the Old Testament

• Passage: Acts 26:22–23
  • Paul did not go “beyond the text”—he taught what Moses and the prophets foretold.
• Teaching:
  • The New Testament continues and fulfills the Old Testament; both speak a unified message about Christ’s suffering, resurrection, and light to Israel and the nations.
• Application:
  • Don’t “unhitch” from the Old Testament. Read Scripture as one seamless story culminating in Christ.

3) Christianity Provokes Intellectual, Moral, and Spiritual Hostility

• Passage: Acts 26:24
  • Festus calls Paul insane; the cross and resurrection meet resistance.
• Teaching:
  • The message is “foolishness” to the perishing (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18), but the power of God to those being saved.
• Application:
  • Expect hostility over exclusive claims, moral standards, and accountability before God. Don’t be surprised; remain steadfast.

4) The Gospel’s Universal Summons to Repentance

• Passage: Acts 26:20
  • Repentance proclaimed in Damascus, Jerusalem, Judea, and to the Gentiles—“performing deeds in keeping with repentance.”
• Cross-reference: Acts 17:30
  • “God commands all people everywhere to repent.”
• Teaching:
  • No one is above the gospel. The call to faith and repentance is for everyone.
• Application:
  • Share the gospel boldly; repentance confronts autonomy and pride, but it is God’s gracious command for life.

5) God Uses Hardship as a Platform for Witness

• Narrative pattern:
  • False charges, chains, courtrooms become stages for testimony.
• Teaching:
  • God transforms pain into mission opportunities; He keeps His promises and His providence guides our steps—even through adversity.
• Application:
  • Don’t waste your pain. Ask God to use your hardships to bear witness to Christ.

6) The Resurrection Is Logical and Reasonable

• Passage: Acts 26:8
  • “Why is it thought incredible… that God raises the dead?”
• Supporting logic:
  • Old Testament prophecy points to a suffering and rising Messiah.
  • The empty tomb; eyewitnesses; the coherence of Christian hope (cf. 1 Corinthians 15; John 11:25).
• Teaching:
  • With an Almighty, Sovereign God, resurrection is not incredible—it is consistent with His power and purposes.
• Application:
  • Speak of the resurrection with confidence, not just at Easter. It is central to faith and utterly reasonable.

7) Christianity Demands a Decisive Response

• Passage: Acts 26:28–29
  • Agrippa is “almost persuaded.”
• Warning:
  • “Almost” is spiritually fatal. To be “almost saved” is to be completely lost.
• Application:
  • Don’t delay with “later” or “almost.” Respond to Christ now—cross from conviction to conversion.

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Who God Is and How He Responds to Humans

• God is Sovereign, Just, and Faithful:
  • He oversees history and governments to fulfill His purposes (getting Paul to Rome).
  • He commands universal repentance and offers forgiveness and sanctification by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18).
• God Saves and Sends:
  • He rescues from darkness and commissions believers as witnesses to His light.
• God Is Patient Yet Decisive:
  • He provides public evidence (“not done in a corner”), but requires a real response—no neutrality.

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Who God Says We Are and How We Are to Live

• Identity:
  • Forgiven, sanctified by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18), citizens of God’s Kingdom under His authority.
• Calling:
  • Witnesses sent to family, workplaces, neighborhoods, and the nations.
• Conduct:
  • Repentance proved by deeds (a transformed life) (Acts 26:20).
  • Courage under pressure, reasoned defense, and hope anchored in the resurrection.

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Cultural Application (American Context)

• In a culture that prizes autonomy and tolerance:
  • Expect pushback against exclusive truth claims and moral accountability.
  • Embrace Christianity’s public, historical grounding; it’s not private opinion but revealed reality.
• Resist marginalization:
  • See the global, explosive scope of God’s movement. Stand confident in Christ’s lordship.
• Live missionally:
  • Use platforms created by hardship—public forums, workplaces, social spaces—to testify to Christ.

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Examples and Illustrations from Pastor Troy

• “In the pits”: A phrase describing compounding hardships—apt for Paul’s ministry narrative.
• “Kick against the goads”: Resisting God wounds the resister; it cannot stop God’s purposes.
• Festus’s interruption and “maniacal” accusation: Typical cultural dismissal of Christian claims.
• Agrippa’s “Almost persuaded”: A cautionary archetype of near-conversion that ends in loss.
• Taekwondo “energy” analogy: Emphasizing the clarity and universality of “all people everywhere” in calls to repentance.
• Baptism appeal:
  • “Waves of grace” with ninety baptisms planned this evening; an invitation to respond publicly and immediately.

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Practical Calls to Action

• Do not be intimidated by cultural marginalization; remember the global scale and inevitability of Christ’s lordship.
• Do not be surprised by hostility; stay humble and resolute.
• Remember repentance is a command from God.
• Do not waste your pain; ask God to turn it into a platform for witness.
• Keep the resurrection central and speak of it confidently; it is logical and essential to Christian hope.
• Do not be like Agrippa—move from “almost” to “yes” today. Trust in Jesus, turn from sin, go public through baptism.

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Communion Focus

• Centered on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Remember who Jesus is and what He has done; examine your life and draw close to Him.
• Pastoral prayer emphasis:
  • Approach the table with humility, gratitude, and a right heart.
  • Ask God to help us say “yes” to Jesus, no matter the cost.

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Selected Scripture References Highlighted

• Acts 25:1–3; 25:7–12; 25:18–22; 25:23–27
• Acts 26:1–8; 26:14–20; 26:22–29; 26:30–32
• Philippians 2:10–11
• 1 Corinthians 1:18
• 1 Corinthians 15 (summary reference)
• John 11:25
• Acts 17:30

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Closing Exhortation

• Respond to Jesus decisively today. Believe, repent, and publicly confess Christ as Lord.
• Remember: Christianity is not done in a corner; God’s global, historical movement continues—and He has saved and sent you into it. Amen.

Sermon Summary: Acts 24

Preached on: August 2, 2026
Primary Scripture: Acts 24

Introduction: The Trial Before Felix

The sermon begins by setting the scene in Acts 24. The Apostle Paul, after five days in custody, finally has his formal hearing before Governor Felix in Caesarea. The Jewish elders arrive with a powerful delegation, including the high priest Ananias and a skilled prosecuting attorney named Tertullus, to present their case against Paul.

The Prosecution’s Case: Tertullus vs. Paul

• Flattery and Lies (Acts 24:2-4): Before stating his accusations, Tertullus shamelessly flatters Governor Felix, praising his leadership and the "reforms" he has brought. Pastor Troy notes the irony, as Felix was historically known for his corruption, brutality, and political incompetence.
• The Accusations (Acts 24:5-8): Tertullus lays out three main charges against Paul:
  1. He is a "plague": A pest who infects people like a disease.
  2. He is a political agitator: One who "stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world."
  3. He is a ringleader of a seditious sect: Tertullus calls him a "ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes."
• Misrepresentation of Christianity: Tertullus attempts to frame Christianity not as a legitimate movement of Jesus but as a fanatical and dangerous political movement. He conveniently omits that a mob had tried to kill Paul at the temple.
• The Jews Concur (Acts 24:9): The other Jews present join in, affirming Tertullus’s accusations.

The Defense: Paul’s Cheerful Rebuttal

When the governor nods for Paul to speak, Paul "cheerfully" makes his defense (Acts 24:10), confident because his conscience is clear.

• Challenging the Timeline (Acts 24:11): Paul states he has only been in Jerusalem for twelve days, making it highly improbable that he could have caused the widespread trouble he is accused of.
• Demanding Evidence (Acts 24:12-13): Paul challenges his accusers to provide evidence or eyewitnesses, knowing they have none. He states they cannot prove their charges against him.
• The True "Crime": Faith in God’s Word (Acts 24:14-16): Paul confesses what he is actually guilty of:
  • He worships the God of his fathers "according to the Way," which they call a sect.
  • He believes "everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets."
  • He holds the same hope as his accusers: that there "will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust."
  • He strives to "always take pains to have a clear conscience before God and man."
• Addressing the Temple Accusation (Acts 24:17-21): Paul clarifies that he had been away for years and only returned to bring alms to the poor and present offerings. He was found purified in the temple without a crowd or tumult.
  • He points out that the actual eyewitnesses—the Jews from Asia who started the riot—are not present to testify, proving the weakness of the prosecution’s case.
  • Paul reframes the entire conflict, stating the real issue is theological: "It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day" (Acts 24:21).

The Verdict: Justice Delayed

• Felix Stalls (Acts 24:22-23): Felix, having a "rather accurate knowledge of the Way," recognizes the case is weak. However, for political reasons, he chooses to delay a verdict. He puts Paul under a form of house arrest, stalling for time.
• God’s Purpose in the Delay: Pastor Troy notes that while human justice delayed is often justice denied, God’s purposes are never delayed.
• Felix’s Motives (Acts 24:24-27): Over the next two years, Felix and his wife Drusilla summon Paul often.
  • Paul does not flatter Felix. Instead, he speaks directly about "righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment" (Acts 24:25).
  • Felix becomes "alarmed" by this message but does not repent. He tells Paul to go away, saying he will summon him at a more convenient time.
  • Felix’s true motive for the frequent meetings is revealed: "he hoped that money would be given him by Paul" as a bribe for his release (Acts 24:26).
  • After two years, to "do the Jews a favor," Felix leaves Paul in prison as he is succeeded by Festus.

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Key Applications for Christians Today

Pastor Troy highlighted four dynamics from this passage that every follower of Jesus must be prepared for.

1. Be Prepared for False Accusations

• It is common for faithful Christians to be falsely accused, just as Jesus and the apostles were. In today’s culture, disagreement with prevailing ideologies can lead to being labeled a bigot or a hater.
• How to Respond: We cannot let false accusations dictate our faithfulness or our commitment to the truth. Paul could have softened his message to Felix about righteousness, self-control, and judgment to make his situation easier, but he remained true to the truth, even when people didn’t want to hear it.

2. Be Prepared for Misrepresentations of the Christian Movement

• Tertullus misrepresented Christianity as a seditious political cult. This still happens today.
• How to Respond:
  • Contend for the Christian Worldview: We must remember and articulate that Christianity is not a philosophy but is centered on the person of Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection.
  • Represent Christ Well: Paul’s character—joyful, truthful, respectful, and courageous even under trial—stood in stark contrast to the accusations against him. Pastor Troy emphasized: "Living Christianly helps people see Christianity clearly."

3. Be Prepared for Political Pressure to Cave on Theological Truth

• Paul’s belief in the resurrection, which declares that all people (including rulers) will answer to God, created immense political pressure.
• How to Respond: Today, there is pressure to be quiet or change our minds on what the Bible says about creation, life, marriage, and absolute truth. We must not buckle. Pastor Troy shared a quote distinguishing between three mindsets:
  • Cowardice asks: "Is it safe?"
  • Consensus asks: "Is it popular?"
  • Courage asks: "Is it right?"
• It is not right for followers of Christ to back down on what the Bible says.

4. Be Prepared for Unjust Treatment, but Know You are Not Forgotten by God

• Felix unjustly delayed justice for Paul for two years for personal and political gain. However, God used this corrupt situation to protect Paul from assassination plots.
• Our Hope: God’s sovereignty overrules corrupt human systems. "God’s justice triumphs over earthly corruption." Even political opposition cannot stop His divine purposes. He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him.

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Final Message: The Tragedy of Delay

The sermon concluded by shifting focus from Paul’s tragedy to Felix’s.

• The Greater Tragedy: The greatest tragedy in Acts 24 is not that Paul was imprisoned, but that Felix delayed repentance for himself.
• Convicted but Not Converted: Felix was "alarmed" and "shaken" by the truth of the Gospel. He felt conviction, which is a mercy from God. However, instead of repenting, he procrastinated.
• "Later" is a Trap: The enemy does not need to convince you that the Bible is a lie; he only needs to convince you to wait until "later." Delay is the devil’s quiet killer.
• Today is the Day of Salvation: The Bible is clear about the urgency of responding to God. Conviction over sin, the truth of the Gospel, and the warning of judgment are all mercies designed to drive us to Christ. Do not send truth away. Come to Christ today.

The Invisible Chess Match of God’s Providence

Sermon Date: July 26, 2026
Scripture Focus: Acts Chapter 23

Introduction: The Master Chess Player

A master chess player makes moves that a novice might not understand. They see things the average person doesn’t, calculating multiple moves ahead with the end game in mind. Every move serves a long-term strategic purpose. In the same way, Acts 23 is a masterclass in the invisible chess match of God’s providence.
The providence of God is the way God provides for, cares for, and directs all things in the universe toward His good purpose. It is the quiet work of God behind the scenes, orchestrating His will in ways we don’t always see. God guides history, sustains nature, and is involved in every detail of our lives.
On the surface, Acts 23 appears to be spiraling out of control: Paul is punched, there is a corrupt courtroom, a theological shouting match turns violent, an assassination plot is formed, and a midnight military evacuation is required. It looks like the wheels are coming off. However, behind these tumultuous events, God is quietly calling the shots, strategically moving His plan forward. This reminds us of a crucial truth: Everything in life is providential; nothing is coincidental.
God directs all events and circumstances to fulfill His ultimate purposes and advance His gospel. This doesn’t mean everything that happens is good, but it does mean God is sovereign and can use even evil and opposition for His good purpose.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 23:1-10)

The Roman commander has brought Paul before the Sanhedrin, the 71-member loo religious and political tribunal, to determine his fate.

• Paul’s Opening Statement: Paul begins by looking at the council and declaring, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day" (Acts 23:1). He isn’t claiming sinlessness, but that his entire life, even when he was sincerely wrong before meeting Christ, was motivated by a desire to obey God.
• A Violent Reaction: This claim of integrity enrages the high priest, Ananias, who commands that Paul be struck on the mouth (Acts 23:2). To Ananias, Paul’s conversion and mission to the Gentiles were blasphemous.
• Paul’s Rebuke: Paul responds sharply, exposing their hypocrisy: "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?" (Acts 23:3). Paul points out they are treating him as guilty before a verdict has even been rendered.
• An Unknowing Apology: When told he has just reviled the high priest, Paul says, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest" (Acts 23:5), and acknowledges the law not to speak evil of a ruler.
• A Shrewd Strategy: Recognizing the council is composed of two rival factions—the Pharisees and the Sadducees—Paul makes a strategic move. He cries out, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial" (Acts 23:6).
  • Theological Divide: This was brilliant because the Pharisees affirmed the resurrection, angels, and spirits, while the Sadducees denied them (Acts 23:8).
  • Division and Defense: Paul’s statement forces their theological division to the forefront. The council erupts in dissension, and they begin arguing with each other instead of focusing on Paul (Acts 23:7). Some of the Pharisees even begin to defend him, saying, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" (Acts 23:9).
• Extraction by Force: The argument becomes so violent that the Roman commander fears Paul will be torn to pieces. He orders his soldiers to take Paul by force and bring him back to the barracks for his own safety (Acts 23:10).

God’s Promise and Man’s Plot (Acts 23:11-35)

• A Divine Visit: That night, in the barracks, Paul receives a personal visit. "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome’" (Acts 23:11). This shows that God is not a detached, cold force; He is intimately present, standing beside Paul and giving him the clarity and encouragement he needs. This is a promise: God’s people are not finished until God says they are finished.
• The Assassination Plot: The situation escalates when more than forty Jews conspire together, binding themselves by an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have killed Paul (Acts 23:12-14). They plot with the Sanhedrin to have Paul brought down for more questioning, giving them an opportunity for an ambush.
• Providential Intervention: In an example of God’s providence, Paul’s own nephew overhears the plot. He goes to the barracks and informs Paul (Acts 23:16). This is not a coincidence.
• The Enemy Foots the Bill: Alarmed by the news, the Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, assembles a small army—200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen—to escort Paul safely to the governor, Felix, in Caesarea (Acts 23:23-24). He also writes a letter to Felix explaining the situation, conveniently polishing his own actions to make himself look good (Acts 23:26-30).
• The Journey to Rome Begins: Paul is transported to Caesarea and held in Herod’s praetorium (Acts 23:31-35). Though God promised he would go to Rome, Paul would first spend two years imprisoned in Caesarea, endure multiple trials, survive a shipwreck, and get bitten by a poisonous snake. But eventually, as recorded in Acts 28:16, he does make it to Rome, just as God said he would. God used Paul’s enemies and a secular Roman army to protect him and pay for his transport.

Key Applications: Reframing Our Perspective Through Providence

The providence of God should cause us to live and think differently.

1. Reframe How You Think About Closed Doors.
   • Paul’s plan to go to Rome was shut down by a riot, an arrest, and an evacuation. It looked like a colossal failure.
   • Providentially, God used this series of events to get Paul to Rome safely. His enemies ended up providing a heavily guarded military escort.
   • When we face a hard "no" or a sudden life disruption, we must understand that these are part of God’s process. God is not frantic when our plans fail.
   • A ruined plan can be part of the plan, which opens your eyes to God’s greater plan. A dead-end road might just be a providential U-turn steering you toward a greater purpose. Don’t be anxious or angry; ask God to show you the good plan He has for you.
2. Reframe How You Think About the Mundane and the Miraculous.
   • God’s providence is not always spectacular, but it is always sufficient.
   • God worked through very ordinary means in this chapter: an unnamed nephew, a pagan centurion who listened, a commander who took action, and soldiers who marched.
   • Don’t believe God is only working when there is a loud, supernatural, emotional display. You may be missing God’s work because you are looking for a spectacular miracle instead of a simple, "nephew" moment—someone being at the right place at the right time.
   • God works in surprisingly small and ordinary ways to accomplish His purposes. Ask God to awaken you to His providential hand in the everyday details of your life.
3. Reframe How You Think About Human Opposition.
   • Forty men took an oath to kill Paul. God "one-upped" them by using 470 men to protect Paul.
   • This shows that God can use secular means and secular people to accomplish His will. God laughs at the arrogant plans of men.
   • This truth should remove the fear of human opposition from our lives. The enemies of God cannot overthrow the purposes of God; sometimes, they unknowingly advance them.
   • Opposition may change your circumstances, but it cannot cancel God’s purposes for your life.

Conclusion: Your Life is Not Random

Your life is not random, and your suffering is not wasted. Your opposition is not ultimate; Christ is. Your story is not finished until the Lord Jesus says it is finished. The same Jesus who stood by Paul still stands with His people and always keeps His promises.
Your life is marked by His providence, not by unplanned, arbitrary coincidence. We must start looking for the hidden hand of God at work. What man means for evil, God uses for good (a theme seen in the stories of Joseph in Genesis 50:20, Esther, and affirmed in Romans 8:28). Let us ask God for eyes to see His providential hand moving behind the scenes, accomplishing His perfect will and purpose for our lives.

Series: Acts
Preached at: Eden Prairie, with campuses in Chaske, Pocatello, Egan, and Online
Date: July 19, 2026

A Sermon Summary — Acts 21:37–22:30

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Opening: Welcome and Series Recap

Pastor Troy welcomed all campuses — Eden Prairie, the Chapel (Chaska), Egan, and Pocatello, Idaho — along with everyone watching online, and recognized Foundation Church in Hutchinson, Minnesota, who joined the service via stream. He noted the church is roughly ten and a half months into its teaching series through the book of Acts, now landing in Acts 21 and 22.

Pastor Troy framed the scene with a bit of humor: if Paul reviewed his trip to Jerusalem on Trip Advisor, it might read "A rich history, rough crowd… One out of five stars, do not recommend." Paul has been swept up in a case of mistaken identity, is on the verge of being flogged, and yet remains fully committed to defending his faith before an angry mob.

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1) Paul Seizes the Moment — Acts 21:37–40

Acts 21:37–40 — "As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, ‘May I say something to you?’"

• The Roman tribune initially assumed Paul was an Egyptian revolutionary who had led 4,000 assassins into the wilderness — a case of mistaken identity.
• Paul clarified he was a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, "a citizen of no obscure city," and asked permission to address the crowd.
• Paul was fluent in Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew — God had gifted him to communicate across a wide range of audiences throughout his ministry.
• When Paul addressed the crowd in Hebrew, their native tongue, the mob grew quiet — Paul deliberately used his education and background to turn a violent crowd into an audience.

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2) Paul’s Testimony: Before, During, and After Christ — Acts 22:1–21

Before Christ: Zealous and Destructive

Acts 22:3–5 — "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel… being zealous for God as all of you are this day."

• Paul identified with the crowd first, establishing common ground before telling his story.
• He did not sanitize his past: he openly confessed persecuting the church "to the death," binding and delivering both men and women to prison, and traveling toward Damascus to do the same.

The Damascus Road Encounter

Acts 22:6–11 — "A great light from heaven suddenly shone around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’"

• Paul’s testimony is not one of gradual self-improvement — the risen Jesus Christ personally met him, confronted him, forgave him, and commissioned him.
• Paul was led by the hand into Damascus, blinded by the brightness of the encounter.

The Call to the Gentiles — and the Riot That Followed

Acts 22:21–22 — "’Depart, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth!’"

• The crowd listened attentively to Paul’s entire testimony — until the word "Gentiles." At that word, they exploded, throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air in a display of utter disgust.
• Their reaction exposed the era’s deep religious exclusivity: they did not object to Gentiles existing, but to the idea that salvation was intended for Gentiles too.

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3) Providence and Protection: Paul’s Roman Citizenship — Acts 22:22–30

Acts 22:25 — "But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?’"

• The tribune ordered Paul examined by flogging — a torturous form of beating capable of shredding flesh to the bone — to find out why the crowd was reacting so violently.
• Right before the whips came out, Paul calmly noted his Roman citizenship. Unlike the tribune, who had purchased his citizenship at great cost, Paul held his by birth.
• Two legal realities were at stake: punishing a Roman citizen without due process exposed the offender to the death penalty, and falsely claiming citizenship was itself a capital offense — so this was no idle claim.
• Providence, not luck: Paul’s citizenship was not a stroke of good fortune. God sovereignly orchestrated the details of Paul’s birth and background so that he would carry the legal protections of the empire as he preached the gospel throughout the world. The same is true for every believer — the details of our lives, including where and when we were born, are not coincidental but providential.
• The tribunal backed off, and the next day the tribune convened the Sanhedrin — the 71-member tribunal that functioned as the empire’s Supreme Court, Senate, and religious parliament combined — and brought Paul before them, setting up his defense before the highest religious, political, and legal authority in the land.

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Application: Using Your Testimony to Advance the Gospel

The Heart Behind the Text

Paul is not the hero of Paul’s testimony — Jesus is. Paul never used his story to build a platform or a following; he used it to point people to Christ. A Christian testimony is not an autobiography with a little Jesus sprinkled in — it is a Jesus-centered witness that uses the storyline of your life (birth, background, education, hardship, and pain) to magnify what God has done.

Five Things Not to Do When Sharing Your Testimony

1. Don’t say your testimony is boring. Every conversion is life-changing — you were under God’s wrath and now you’re not; you were dead and now you’re alive. Calling your testimony boring underestimates both your sinfulness and God’s kindness.
2. Don’t make it all about you. You are not the hero of your story — you didn’t save yourself. The emphasis belongs on God’s activity, not your achievements. The goal is not to impress; it is to confess Christ.
3. Don’t ignore Scripture. Your story should point to the gospel, not replace it. God’s Word gives meaning and authority to your story — wed the two together.
4. Don’t glorify sin. Acknowledge your past without making it sound entertaining or sensational. The goal isn’t to tell people how bad you used to be — it’s to tell people how good God actually is.
5. Don’t say you’ve always been a Christian. Only Jesus has always been faithful to God since birth. No one is born right with God — we are all born sinners, and it is only the moment we turn from sin and trust Christ that we are born again.

Live Practice: The 30-Second Testimony

Pastor Troy modeled his own testimony — growing up with a praying mother and grandmother, feeling conviction as a child, trusting Christ at age 12 after a guest speaker’s message, and having his entire life direction reshaped afterward (from a criminology major and probation officer into ministry).

He then had the congregation practice sharing their testimony in 30 seconds with someone seated nearby, using the three basic contours of a testimony:

1. What your life was like before you met Jesus.
2. How and when you actually met Jesus.
3. How your life is different now as a result of knowing Him.

For those without a testimony yet, Pastor Troy invited them to trust Christ that very day — turning from sin and trusting by faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross — so that they would leave the service with a brand-new testimony of their own.

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The Verse That Stood Out: Acts 21:39

Acts 21:39 — "Paul replied, ‘I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.’"

• Pastor Troy highlighted the phrase "I beg you" — Paul was not begging for a way out of a dangerous moment; he was begging for the opportunity to speak into it.
• Even facing a hostile crowd that clearly didn’t want to hear him, Paul pleaded for a window to articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Challenge: Believers are called to that same zeal — not begging to escape hard or uncomfortable moments, but begging for the opportunity to declare Christ within them.

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Key Takeaways

1. Paul used his testimony to defend and advance the gospel — not to build his own platform, but to make much of Jesus.
2. God’s providence governs every detail of your life — including your birthplace, background, and circumstances — for His purposes.
3. A genuine Christian testimony centers on Jesus, not on the storyteller — confess Christ, don’t seek to impress.
4. Every conversion is significant; none are boring — sin doesn’t make us bad, it makes us dead, and Jesus brings the dead to life.
5. Use hardship as a platform, not merely something to survive — Paul turned false accusation and the threat of flogging into an opportunity to proclaim Christ before the highest authorities in the land.

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Closing Prayer Themes

Pastor Troy closed in prayer, asking that the congregation would:

• Use their stories — their background, upbringing, and education — to build bridges toward others.
• Use their past to magnify God’s grace rather than to entertain or impress.
• Use their rights and freedoms to preserve their witness rather than merely to defend themselves.
• Use every difficult moment, hardship, and season of pain or suffering in life as a platform to share the gospel rather than let it go to waste.
• Carry the same zeal and heart Paul displayed — begging not for an exit from hard moments, but for the opportunity to share the good news of Christ within them.

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Scripture references cited: Acts 21:37–40 | Acts 22:1–21 | Acts 22:22–30 | Acts 21:39

Series: Acts
Preached at: Eden Prairie, with campuses in Chaska, the Chapel, Pocatello, and Online
Speaker: Pastor Jim Erickson
Date: July 12, 2026

A Sermon Summary — "Bound" — Acts 21:1–36

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Opening & Recap

Pastor Jim opened by welcoming worshipers across all campuses and encouraging everyone to soak in the Minnesota summer — no complaints about heat or humidity allowed. He recapped last week’s message from Pastor Troy on Acts 20, whose main takeaway framed today’s text:

"A faithful Christian life is not measured by comfort, length, or applause, but by finishing the course that God has assigned."

Acts 21 pulls many of those themes forward. The passage covers 36 verses, which Pastor Jim organized into three movements:

1. Verses 1–16 — Paul’s travel log, prophetic warnings, and return to Jerusalem
2. Verses 17–26 — Paul’s reception in Jerusalem, celebration, and a plan to preserve the unity of the church
3. Verses 27–36 — False accusations, mob violence, and rescue via imprisonment

He opened in prayer, inviting the congregation to pray for those seated near them — that God would speak through His Word and transform His people into the image of Christ.

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Movement 1 — Travel Log, Prophetic Warnings, and Return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1–16)

The Journey

• From Acts 20:16, 22–23, we know Paul was hustling to reach Jerusalem before Pentecost, having already said tearful goodbyes to the Ephesian elders.
• Traveling with a delegation of about seven men (Acts 20:4), Paul’s route: Miletus → Cos → Rhodes → Patara → Tyre → Ptolemais → Caesarea Maritima → Jerusalem.
• The full journey likely took five to eight weeks of uncomfortable travel — "this is not show up at the gate, relax, get upgraded to Comfort Plus."

First Prophetic Warning — Tyre

Acts 21:4 — "And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem."

• Paul spent seven days with the disciples in Tyre; through the Spirit they warned him not to go — the first prophetic warning in the passage. Paul remained determined.
• Verses 5–6 record a moving prayer send-off on the beach, with local believers and their families kneeling in prayer with Paul’s team.
• Verse 7: a single day with the believers at Ptolemais, then on to Caesarea.

Philip the Evangelist

• In Caesarea, the team stayed with Philip the evangelist — the same Philip from Acts 6:5, one of the seven men of good repute chosen to serve neglected widows (the beginnings of the office of deacon), alongside Stephen, the church’s first martyr.
• Fun fact: Bible historians estimate roughly 20 years (18–21 years) passed between Acts 6 and Acts 21 — a reminder that this week-by-week series covers decades of church history.
• Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied (v. 9).

Second Prophetic Warning — Agabus

Acts 21:11 — "And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, "This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."’"

• Agabus, a prophet from Judea whose prophetic voice had already benefited the church (see Acts 11:28), acted out a vivid warning of Paul’s coming arrest.
• On prophecy in the early church (per a commentator Pastor Jim cited), it functioned in two ways:
  1. Prophecy as a function of evangelism — truth-telling in the act of preaching and declaring the gospel (which may describe Philip’s daughters)
  2. Prophecy as literal prediction of future events — as with Agabus
• The believers wept and begged Paul not to go.

Acts 21:13 — "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Acts 21:14 — "And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, ‘Let the will of the Lord be done.’"

Key Teaching: Discernment in Seeking God’s Direction

• Both prophetic warnings turned out to be accurate — suffering, persecution, and arrest did await Paul.
• But the application drawn from them was suspect: the believers in Tyre and Caesarea concluded Paul shouldn’t go, yet God was still calling Paul to proceed.
• Takeaway: When seeking specific direction from God, we need discernment — accurate information about the future does not automatically tell us what obedience requires.
• Verses 15–16: Paul and his team travel to Jerusalem, lodging with Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple.

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Movement 2 — Reception, Celebration, and a Plan to Preserve Unity (Acts 21:17–26)

A Joyful Reunion

Acts 21:17–19 — The brothers received them gladly. Paul went in to James and all the elders and "related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry."

• Church historians estimate four to five years had passed since Paul and James had last connected.
• Imagine being in that room: stories of thousands upon thousands of Gentiles coming to Christ, near-death experiences, miracles, imprisonments, beatings — "and when they heard it, they glorified God."

From Celebration to Consternation

Acts 21:20–22 — "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses… What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come."

• Many Jewish believers remained zealous for the law, and a rumor had spread that Paul was teaching Jews to abandon Moses entirely.
• The elders understood that this misunderstanding could create a fissure in the fragile bonds between Jewish and Gentile believers.
• The commentator’s summary Pastor Jim read: The relationship between the believing Jew and the law is biblically complicated. A Jewish believer cannot find salvation in Jewish traditions — but Scripture does not forbid Jews from continuing their customs. Jewish Christians could integrate into Gentile lifestyle while respecting their heritage, or continue in Jewish customs — so long as they understood that salvation comes through Christ and Christ alone.
• Headline: The elders wanted to keep the gospel front and center while respecting individual consciences — protecting the unity of the church.

The Elders’ Plan: The Nazirite Vow

Acts 21:23–24 — "We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you."

• Paul was asked to sponsor the purification of four men under a Nazirite vow (see Numbers 6 for background).
• Important clarification: Paul did not take the vow himself — he participated in the purification rites and paid the men’s expenses.
• Verse 26: Paul complied the very next day — submitting himself to the elders’ proposal for the sake of unity.

The Irony of Acts 21

• Paul arrived in Jerusalem in part to deliver an offering collected from Gentile churches over months and years to help impoverished Jewish believers.
• A mission designed to foster unity between Jewish and Gentile believers became the setting for intense conflict — a powder keg of tension: differing Jewish convictions, Gentile integration, and persecution from unbelieving Jews under Roman rule.

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Movement 3 — False Accusations, Mob Violence, and Rescue via Imprisonment (Acts 21:27–36)

Acts 21:27–28 — "The Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, ‘Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’"

• These Jews from Asia were most likely not Christians — diaspora Jews from Ephesus and other cities who had come to Jerusalem for the feast. Throughout Acts, this same opposition had tried to jail Paul, beaten him, and tried to kill him.
• Two accusations, both considered punishable by death under Jewish tradition and law:
  1. Teaching against the people, the law of Moses, and the temple itself
  2. Bringing a Gentile into the temple
• The second charge was false: they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city and merely supposed Paul had brought him into the temple.
• The elders’ plan to debunk the rumors had failed. The city was stirred up; Paul was seized, dragged from the temple, and the gates were shut. Verse 31: "they were seeking to kill him." No ambiguity — violence, shouting, motive to kill.

Rescue via Imprisonment

• A Roman commander (a garrison was stationed right beside the temple) deployed soldiers and centurions, separated Paul from the mob, and arrested him with two chains.
• Verse 34: the commander "could not learn the facts because of the uproar" and ordered Paul into the barracks.
• Paul had been beaten so badly and the mob was so violent that the soldiers had to carry him up the steps, while the crowd followed crying, "Away with him!"
• And that’s the cliffhanger. The prophetic warnings proved accurate — Paul is bound in Jerusalem. Come back next week.

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Application: Three Questions to Bring Before the Lord

1. How can you better embody the gospel relationally, like Paul?

• Paul was a bold preacher, a pioneering missionary, a sacrificial church planter, and a heresy-confronting Bible teacher — "you betcha." But even more, this passage reveals Paul as a loving spiritual father known for the quality and depth of his relationships.
• Key statement: Paul was not planting Christian organizations — he was planting local churches that were spiritual families, where relationships were central, not peripheral.
• Paul did not simply proclaim the gospel; he embodied it in his relationships — and in this we see so much of Jesus in Paul.
• Two challenges:
  • If you’re a natural relationship builder: ask the Lord how to intentionally include a demonstration, proclamation, and explanation of the gospel in your relationships.
  • If you’re a natural truth teller: consider Paul’s example and ask the Lord how to grow in demonstrating and modeling the gospel through deep, authentic relationships.

2. What personal preference are you willing to set aside for the sake of church unity?

• (This might mean moving out of your assigned seat — "you only laugh because it’s true.")
• We live in a divisive, polarized culture, and the opportunity for disunity within the church is prevalent. Yet Pastor Jim declared himself 100% convinced the church can protect its unity — not 80%, not 99% — for two reasons:
  1. Jesus prayed for it: > John 17:11 — "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." Jesus prayed that His church would be unified to the same degree the Trinity is unified. That is the standard — and the power is there.
  2. A practical example — sports: Elite teams unite players of different upbringings, socioeconomic realities, cultures, ethnicities, and languages — all willing to lay down personal preferences for a trophy that will be forgotten and never mentioned in eternity. How much more can followers of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, lay down preferences for the unity of the church?
• Paul’s example: He was all-in for unity at the cost of his own safety and freedom. He could have said, "Let the haters hate — I’ll do what I want." Instead he humbly submitted to James and the elders’ proposal in hopes of unifying the church and advancing the gospel. Odds are, laying down your preference won’t get you arrested.

3. What specific way might Jesus be asking you to obey — even if it costs you comfort or reputation?

• Paul would not be derailed: despite gut-wrenching goodbyes and prophetic warnings, he went to Jerusalem.
• A word especially to older believers: Paul was eagerly and increasingly committed to Christ’s plan rather than coasting to the finish line. The challenge for the American man and woman as we age: coast to the finish line, or charge to the finish line?
• Parents and grandparents: it is incumbent upon us to set the pace so those behind us can see it’s possible to be more passionate about God’s work at 60 or 70 than at 16 or 17. "Coasting is off the table."
• If God has been challenging you to a greater, deeper, fuller obedience — yield to Him.

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Closing Illustration: Adoniram Judson

Pastor Jim closed with a snapshot of Adoniram Judson — with one instruction: don’t put him on a pedestal. He’s just a dude who obeyed God.

• Likely the first missionary sent from America, Judson sailed for Burma (Myanmar) in 1812 and served there 38 years.
• His first six years produced one convert.
• He was imprisoned 17 months under brutal, torturous conditions; his wife Ann kept him alive by bringing food and begging for his release — then died shortly after his release. Six months later, their young daughter Maria died. Several of his 13 children died in infancy or childhood.
• Heartbroken and depressed, he asked God for grace — and God restored his heart to ministry.
• By his death, Judson had translated the Bible into Burmese, with roughly 100 churches and 8,000 believers established. Today, hundreds of thousands of Christians in Myanmar trace their spiritual heritage back to him.

"There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice, it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success, it is because someone will succeed after you." — Adoniram Judson

• Let’s play the long game. Paul didn’t see all the fruit; we won’t see all the fruit.
• Whatever sacrifice Jesus asks of you, He has paid it and then some: He left perfection and glory, wrapped Himself in a human body — remaining God and becoming man — lived a perfect life, was beaten within an inch of His life, unjustly murdered, and hung naked on a cross. His mission was the redemption of all who would turn to Him.
• Now we are on mission with Him — and one day in heaven we may huddle up like the believers in Jerusalem, telling stories one by one of what God has done, meeting faces we never saw come to the Lord.
• The question: Are you willing to make that what your life is about — or will you be distracted? Our culture offers infinite distractions from glorious obedience to Christ, who loves us and gave His life for us.

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Key Takeaways

1. Accurate information is not the same as God’s direction. The prophetic warnings about Jerusalem were true, but the application ("don’t go") was wrong. Discernment is essential when seeking God’s specific will.
2. Paul planted spiritual families, not organizations. Embody the gospel in genuine, deep, authentic relationships — whether you’re a natural relationship builder or a natural truth teller.
3. Unity is worth your preferences. Jesus prayed for the church’s unity (John 17:11); Paul sacrificed his safety and freedom for it. What preference will you lay down?
4. Charge — don’t coast — to the finish line. Like Paul, grow ever more committed to Christ’s plan with age, setting the pace for the generations behind.
5. Play the long game. Like Paul and Adoniram Judson, we may not see the fruit — but Christ is worth the sacrifice, and someone will succeed after us.

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Closing Prayer Themes

Pastor Jim prayed that the congregation would:

• Recognize that none of this is possible apart from Christ’s sacrifice, enabling grace, and the indwelling Holy Spirit
• Walk in what God has called us to do and be
• Be a church fully devoted to Jesus, putting the unity of His church above personal preferences
• Stay on mission with Him

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Scripture references cited: Acts 21:1–36 | Acts 20:4, 16, 22–23 | Acts 6:5 | Acts 11:28 | Numbers 6 | John 17:11

Sermon Summary: Acts Teaching Series — Acts 20

Eden Prairie | Chapel | Chaska, Eagan, Owatonna & Online
July 5, 2026

Opening Prayer

Pastor Troy opened with a prayer of thanksgiving for the 250th anniversary of the United States, acknowledging God’s faithfulness to the nation. Key themes of the prayer included:

• Dependence on God, not government, for freedom and hope
• Unity as a nation under God, bowing to King Jesus
• Gratitude for military men and women
• Rejection of political fracture, hatred, cynicism, division, and ingratitude
• A call for humility, truth, kindness, and hopefulness as a nation

Sermon Series: Acts Teaching Series

Passage: Acts 20

Pastor Troy noted four distinctives of this chapter before diving in:

1. The only sermon Paul preaches directly to the Christian community
2. A dire warning for those who fall asleep during preaching ("Sleeper, beware!")
3. The first New Testament mention of Christian worship on the first day of the week — Sunday
4. A unique, emotional, tear-filled farewell by the Apostle Paul

Part 1: Paul’s Encouragement Tour — Acts 20:1–6

• After the uproar in Ephesus ended, Paul launched what Pastor Troy called his own "encouragement tour"
• Acts 20:1–2 — "After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece."
• Paul’s ministry was never less than preaching but always more than preaching — he also strengthened and built up believers
• He circled back to churches, walked alongside people through hard seasons, and partnered with a diverse array of people (a lengthy list of names is given in Acts 20:4)
• Pastor Troy noted that these specific names, cities, timestamps, and destinations bolster the historical reliability of Scripture — the Bible is full of verifiable details that authenticate it as God’s Word

Part 2: Eutychus — The Most Relatable Man in the Bible — Acts 20:7–12

The First Day of the Week — Sunday Worship

• Acts 20:7 marks the first New Testament reference to Christian worship on Sunday
• The early church shifted from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) to the Lord’s Day (Sunday) to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ
• While gathered in Troas, they celebrated communion together, remembering the death and resurrection of Christ — then Paul preached

The Long Sermon

• Acts 20:7 — "He prolonged his speech until midnight."
• Acts 20:8 — "There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered."
  • Oil lamps provided both light and heat — the room was hot and stuffy, making it difficult to stay awake

Eutychus Falls

• Acts 20:9 — "A young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead."
• Pastor Troy noted the irony: the name Eutychus means "fortunate" or "lucky" — he was neither in this moment
• He called Eutychus "the most relatable guy in all of the Bible"

Paul Restores Eutychus

• Acts 20:10 — "Paul went down, bent over him, taking him in his arms. He said, ‘Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.’"
• Paul sprinted downstairs, embraced the boy, and restored him to life, then went back upstairs, ate, and resumed his conversation until daybreak
• Acts 20:11–12 — "They took the youth away alive, and they were not a little comforted."

Old Testament Echo

• This scene mirrors 1 Kings 17, where Elijah stretched himself over a dead boy — eyeball to eyeball, nose to nose — and restored him to life

Key Theological Point

"This was not a miracle service interrupted by a word of preaching. This was a preaching service interrupted by a miracle — because the ultimate miracle flows from the power of God’s Word itself to raise spiritually dead men and women back to life."

Part 3: Paul’s Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders — Acts 20:17–38

Paul summoned the Ephesian elders to Miletus for a final charge. Pastor Troy framed this entire section as:

"We are watching a man who knows his time is short, spending it on what matters most: strengthening believers, preaching the Word, investing in leaders, and reminding everyone how valuable the Church of Jesus Christ actually is."

Paul’s Personal Testimony — Acts 20:17–21

• Acts 20:18–21 — "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia Minor, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears… How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable… testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ."
• Paul modeled:
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Humility — a lifestyle that echoed the gospel
  • Faithfulness to the truth — he did not back away from it
  • Preaching that salvation comes through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

Finish the Course — Acts 20:22–24

• Acts 20:22–23 — "I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me."
• Acts 20:24 — "I do not account my life of any value, nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
• Paul was led by the Spirit, not by comfort — he pressed forward into difficulty because he was fixed on finishing the race

A Clean Conscience — Acts 20:25–27

• Acts 20:25–27 — "I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God."
• Paul preached the whole Bible — he did not skip hard doctrines, did not avoid sin, wrath, judgment, or hell
• He told the full story

Charge to the Elders — Acts 20:28–30

• Acts 20:28 — "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood."
• Acts 20:29 — "I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock."
• Elders are charged to:
  • Watch yourselves first — you cannot lead others if you cannot lead yourself
  • Watch the flock — remember the flock belongs to God, not to you
  • Expect wolves from outside and distortion from within

Financial Integrity — Acts 20:35

• Acts 20:35 — "By working hard in this way, we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"

The Tearful Farewell — Acts 20:36–38

• Acts 20:36–38 — "He knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word that he had spoken, that they would not see his face again."
• Pastor Troy’s observation: what they loved most about Paul was that he preached the truth and explained the Scriptures to them
• They would miss that as much as they would miss him
• They accompanied him to the ship and said their goodbyes

Application: What Faithful Christian Living Looks Like

Pastor Troy drew three numbered applications from Paul’s example:

1. Live With a Finished Vision in Mind

• Paul did not view his life as a random collection of days — he viewed it as a completed course with a specific finish line
• He considered the ministry Jesus gave him more important than his own life — that singularity of purpose produced incredible intentionality
• Acts 20:24 — "If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus to preach the gospel of God’s grace."
• Pastor Troy’s challenge:
  • A faithful Christian life is not measured by duration, but by completion
  • Not measured by comfort, length, or applause — but by finishing the course God designed
  • You are not an autonomous individual doing your own thing — you are an ambassador carrying out a mandate
  • God has a race mapped out for every believer, using your specific talents, gifts, time, resources, and suffering

"Stop seeing life as a random bunch of days. Zero in with laser focus on the race set before you and run your race."

2. Live With Incredible Deference to the Bible

• Paul did not pick and choose comfortable parts of Scripture — he proclaimed the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27)
• Pastor Troy warned against selective truth, showing how imbalanced doctrine creates spiritual vulnerability:

Imbalance	Consequence
Sovereignty without responsibility	Fatalism, passivity, lack of urgency
Responsibility without sovereignty	Legalism, despair when life falls apart
Love without justice	Cheapened grace; the cross becomes a "massive overreaction"
Justice without love	Cold, legalistic dogmatism that repels people from the gospel

• The phrase "shrink back" in Acts 20:27 is a military term meaning to retreat — theological retreat means losing biblical ground
• Pastor Troy cited three reasons people shrink back from the full counsel of God’s Word:
  1. Fear of rejection — cherry-picking verses so as not to offend
  2. Complexity — difficult doctrines feel too hard to hold in tension
  3. Pragmatism — swapping truth for strategy; filling seats over fidelity to Scripture

Spurgeon quote:

"A true Christian knows that he is not at liberty to pick and choose. You’ve got to take the whole Word as you find it and preach the whole Word as it is."

Pastor Troy’s application:

• "The Bible is not a smorgasbord or a salad bar — you don’t get to pick and choose."
• "It’s all or none — not some you like and some you don’t."

3. Live With an Incredible Love for the Church

• Acts 20:28 — "To care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood."
• Jesus Christ purchased the church with His own blood — this is the measure of how much He loves it
• The church belongs to God, not to pastors, elders, donors, or influencers
• Pastor Troy directly challenged the trend of "churchless Christianity," calling it:
  • Not New Testament
  • A violation of Scripture
  • A rejection of what Christ loves and died for
  • An avoidance of real accountability and discipleship
  • Something that produces no spiritual fruit and weakens the gospel witness

"You cannot be an obedient, thriving Christian in isolation."

Spurgeon quote:

"The church is not perfect, but woe to the man who finds pleasure in pointing out her imperfections."

Pastor Troy’s challenge:

"Jump in, get involved, make it better, and stop all the sniping from the cheap seats."

Closing Summary

Pastor Troy concluded by noting what Paul did and did not talk about in his farewell:

• Did not mention: buildings, budgets, platforms, or personal achievements
• Did mention: the gospel, the grace of God, the whole counsel of God, the church of God, and the danger of wolves

"Paul was leaving — but God wasn’t. Paul’s voice would be gone, but the Word of God would remain. Paul couldn’t protect them forever, but the Chief Shepherd could."

God’s Three Calls to His Church

1. Run your race faithfully — life is not a random collection of days; there is a finish line
2. Believe His Word fully — all of it, not just the comfortable parts
3. Love Christ’s Church passionately — participate in it, invest in it, make it better

Closing Prayer

"Help us to run faithfully. Life is not just a random collection of days — it’s a race, and there is a path in front of all of us. Help us to believe Your Word fully, not just parts of it — all of it. And help us, Lord, to love the Church passionately, knowing that Christ bled and died to found this movement. Help us to love it passionately, participate in it fully, and make it a better place. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

Scripture References: Acts 20:1–2, Acts 20:4, Acts 20:7–12, Acts 20:17–21, Acts 20:22–24, Acts 20:25–27, Acts 20:28–30, Acts 20:35, Acts 20:36–38, 1 Kings 17