Paul addresses the Ephesian church elders and counsels them for the future of the church. He warns that false teachers will try to influence the congregation from both outside and inside the church. Paul emphasizes that church leaders must faithfully feed and protect the flock through teaching God's word, as Jesus is the good shepherd and they are his under-shepherds. Church leaders must always be vigilant against threats through steadfast prayer and teaching of scripture so that the congregation remains strong in their faith.

1. Stone
Creek
www.rossvillechurch.com
781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741
9-26-2012 1

2. Acts 20
Paul is headed
home.
Ephesian church elders
Counsel for the future
of the church.
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3. Acts 20:25 And
now, behold, I know that ye all, among
whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of
God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I
take you to record this day, that I am pure from the
blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to
declare unto you all the Counsel of God.
Paul would not be back to this area
to see them as a group again.
But he knew that he had told them everything that
God had given him to tell them.
No one's blood would be required at his hands.
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4. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath
made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
which He hath purchased with His Own Blood.
This is the chief responsibility of a pastor:
To guard and protect his flock from false doctrine;
And to feed them the True Word of God.
A pastor can't take care of his people
until he has his own life in order.
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5. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall
grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing
the flock. False Teachers
Wolves from without
5

6. 30 Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away
Perverting the Grace of God.
disciples after them.
Wolves from within
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7. John 10 10 The thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
12 Buthe that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the
wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and
the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and
careth not for the sheep.
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8. God's men must never have the
mindset of a hireling.
Jesus is the Good
Shepherd.
Pastors and church
leaders are His under-
shepherds.
We must never be negligent in protecting and
feeding the sheep -- the congregation.
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9. 28b the church of God, which He hath purchased
with His Own Blood.
God purchased His church with His Own Blood.
We are precious in His Sight.
Don't ever put yourself or another Christian down.
God paid a great price for us.
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10. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the
space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone
night and day with tears.
Church leaders need to always stay awake and
vigilant against the snares of the devil;
he is determined to destroy congregations.
And we must rehearse, being mindful of the Word
of God which we have to enable us live well.
Not just exist
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11. And we must always preach and
teach God's Word
So that our congregation will be
able to stand strong.
knowing
11

12. But a Christian must want to stand.
We must love God with
our whole
Greatest desire heart, mind, soul, and
strength,
And love one another
with an intensity that
surpasses all else.
That's the mindset of a dynamic assembly of
the children of the Most High God.
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