Exposition of Acts: Finish the Course
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. LOOK BACKWARD AT WHAT IS PAST
A. INSIGHT
>>1. CALLING
Acts 20:17-18 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
(also Eph 4:11; I Pet 5:1,12; Heb 14:23; Phil 1:1; Rom 2:20; I Cor 12:28; I Tim 2:7; II Tim 1:11; II Pet 2:5; I Thes 2:1,5,10)
>>2. SERVING
Acts 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.
(also Rom 9:2-3; II Cor 2:4; Phil 3:18; Ps 126:6; Mt 20:28)
B. INDOCTRINATION
>>1. DECLARING
Acts 20:20a How I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable
(also Prov 29:25; II Tim 3:16; I Tim 4:16)
>>2. TEACHING
Acts 20:20b and teaching you in public and from house to house,
>>3. TESTIFYING
Acts 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(also Joel 2:12-13; Ps 51:4, 17; II Tim 2:25; Mt 5:6; Jn 6:35; 4:10)
II. LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT IS AHEAD
A. INTENTION
>>1. GOING
Acts 20:22a And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit,
>>2. KNOWING
Acts 20:22b not knowing what will happen to me there,
(also Ps 16:8)
B. INCARCERATION
>>1. CONFIRMING
Acts 20:23a except that the Holy Spirit confirms to me
(also Rom 15:30-32)
>>2. AWAITING
Acts 20:23b in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
(also II Cir 6:4-5)
III. LOOK AROUND AT WHAT IS HERE NOW
A. INTROSPECTION
>>1. EXAMINING
Acts 20:24a But none of these [things] speak to me (move me)
>>2. EVALUATING
Acts 20:24b I don’t account my life of any value nor as precious to myself,
B. INSTINCT
>>1. COMPLETING
Acts 20:24c if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,
>>2. DEMONSTRATING
Acts 20:24d to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.