And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

Saying goodbye is difficult, but it has some obvious benefits. It allows us to reflect on

where we’ve been together. It helps us to appreciate one another & reminds us not to take

our relationships for granted. I can’t begin to tell you how hard it’s been the last 2-3 weeks

as my time here comes to an end!

Saying goodbye can be difficult, but the apostle Paul models for us what it means to say a

healthy goodbye. We see Paul caught in the very difficult process of saying goodbye to

loved ones in the church at Ephesus, maybe for forever. He was traveling to Rome and

passed near Ephesus. He couldn’t pass by without calling for the leaders of the Ephesian

church for a very emotional farewell.

This morning’s text contains the Apostle Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders. I

think it’s an appropriate text for a pastor’s final sermon to his congregation! Paul says 4

important things to the Ephesian elders that I also want to say to you today. Paul’s speaks

of the past, the present, and the future!

Saying goodbye is difficult, but it has some obvious benefits. It allows us to reflect on

where we’ve been together. It helps us to appreciate one another & reminds us not to take

our relationships for granted. I can’t begin to tell you how hard it’s been the last 2-3 weeks

as my time here comes to an end!

Saying goodbye can be difficult, but the apostle Paul models for us what it means to say a

healthy goodbye. We see Paul caught in the very difficult process of saying goodbye to

loved ones in the church at Ephesus, maybe for forever. He was traveling to Rome and

passed near Ephesus. He couldn’t pass by without calling for the leaders of the Ephesian

church for a very emotional farewell.

This morning’s text contains the Apostle Paul’s farewell address to the Ephesian elders. I

think it’s an appropriate text for a pastor’s final sermon to his congregation! Paul says 4

important things to the Ephesian elders that I also want to say to you today. Paul’s speaks

of the past, the present, and the future!

And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Acts 13:1

5 characteristics of healthy church community from the church in Antioch:

1. Ordinary people are empowered

2. There is a commitment to Jesus

3. The community looks outward

4. Diversity is reflected

5. The people are prayerful

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Acts 13:1

5 characteristics of healthy church community from the church in Antioch:

1. Ordinary people are empowered

2. There is a commitment to Jesus

3. The community looks outward

4. Diversity is reflected

5. The people are prayerful

Christian community is sharing a common life in Christ. It moves us beyond the self-interested isolation of private lives & beyond the superficial social contacts that pass for "Christian fellowship." The biblical ideal of community challenges us instead to commit ourselves to life together as the people of God.

What are the attitudes we must develop in order to have unity in GNBC?

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice giving up our rights (6)

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice servanthood (7)

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice humility (8)

In Order to Be Unified, we must have an eternal perspective (9-11)

Christian community is sharing a common life in Christ. It moves us beyond the self-interested isolation of private lives & beyond the superficial social contacts that pass for "Christian fellowship." The biblical ideal of community challenges us instead to commit ourselves to life together as the people of God.

What are the attitudes we must develop in order to have unity in GNBC?

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice giving up our rights (6)

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice servanthood (7)

In Order to Be Unified, we must practice humility (8)

In Order to Be Unified, we must have an eternal perspective (9-11)