Jump Start # 4143

Acts 20:27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

We are looking at the final 10 sermons I preached at Charlestown Road.

# 3 Staying the Course

Douglass Corrigan was a young and ambitious pilot who wanted to fly across the county in 1938. Taking off from New York on a foggy July morning, instead of flying west to California, which was his destination, he flew east. Heavy clouds and a faulty compass, Corrigan spotted a airfield twenty hours later. Instead of landing in California, he landed in Ireland. “Wrong way Corrigan,” became an expression of someone who had the best intentions but went the wrong way.

In Acts 20, Paul meets with the shepherds from Ephesus one last time. The apostle is headed to Jerusalem. He’s been warned by God that afflictions await him. Each stop on this journey, brethren beg him not to go. Paul is determined. Nothing will change his mind.

As Paul meets with the Ephesian elders, much tears are shed. They realize that they will never see each other on this side of life. Paul expresses four major concerns and principles with these leaders.

First, Stay on God’s Foundation. He had preached the whole counsel of God’s word. He was not rediscovering, reinventing, redefining or reshaping Christianity. We are not the masters of God’s word. We are not editors of God’s word. We are not owner’s of God’s word. We have been given the task of being stewards who carefully entrust the message to others. Preach Heaven, but also preach hell. Preach love, but also preach judgment. Preach grace, but also preach discipleship. It’s the whole counsel of God’s word. Not just our favorite parts. Not just the stuff that people like. Not the topics that will make us preachers famous and loved.

Second, Stay alert to today’s challenges. There are external and internal challenges that constantly must be faced. Among the Ephesians would arise wolves who would try to tear up the church. The warning was to be alert and be on guard. Leaders can’t stick their heads in the sand. They can’t be clueless to what is going on. As an ancient watchman on the walls around the city, the leaders are scanning the horizon to see if danger is approaching. They were to sound the trumpet when trouble was near.

Paul did not invite the entire Ephesian church to this meeting. It was just the elders. It was the elders that Paul believed could handle these challenges. Gifted. Experienced. Knowledgeable. These shepherds could keep the church on the right course.

Third, Stay faithful through coming changes. A big change was about to take place. They would not have Paul around any more. Off to Jerusalem and then to Rome and then to the Lord, was the destination of Paul. Life is always changing. Living things change. Dead things remain the same. Little trees grow into mighty trees. Kittens grow into cats. And, we change. Our congregations change. New faces in and old faces out. The demographics change. The needs change. Preachers come and go. Baptisms. Weddings. Births. Funerals.

Paul wasn’t going to be there, but God was. They would no longer have Paul, but they would always have the Lord. Stay faithful through the changes.

Fourth, Stay focused until the course is finished. Don’t stop early. Don’t quit until the job is finished. Paul finished the course. Remain steadfast when pressures come. Remain immovable when culture shifts. Continue to abound when the work becomes difficult. It’s easy to start. It takes faith and commitment to stay with something to the end. Starting a book is easy. Do you finish it? Starting college is easy. Staying with it until you graduate is hard. Starting the journey with the Lord is one thing. Many have done that. But, staying with the Lord through the storms, the troubles, the loneliness and when others drop out, that’s something else.

Wrong way Corrigan thought he was headed to sunny California. He ended up in rainy Ireland. He was a long way from where he intended to be. How about you?

Roger