CCC Worship Gathering 6.2.24

Learning from Paul’s Consistent Witness

Acts 20:17-38

Intro: leaving a spiritual legacy

1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

John Paton’s Father’s legacy

‘Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, or blotted from my understanding, my soul would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, 'He walked with God, why may not I?'’

Consistency is the key to a gospel legacy.

1. Marks of Consistency (v.17-27)

• Proximity

Philippians 3:7–11 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. [8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (ESV)

• Faithfulness

2. Passing the Baton (v.18-38)

Careful Attention

to Shepherds

1 Timothy 4:16 - Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (ESV)

to Flock

Vigilance

Ephesians 5:14–16

[14] for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

Trust the Word of Grace

Generosity

Trust the Lord with the Future

3. The Big WHY (v.28)

Conclusion: Jesus is worthy of our lives