God said, “You shall be holy for I am holy,” Leviticus 11:44.

Welcome to our study of living messages of the Old Testament. In this series we're looking at various books in the Old Testament with an eye toward the practical. How does the book of Genesis, or Exodus, or Leviticus impact my life today? What can it do to help me live more faithful to God? Ultimately we're looking at it with an eye toward seeing Christ. Where is Christ and does that give us any view toward the New Testament?

The keyword to the book of Leviticus is the word holy or holiness. This occurs some 87 times in the book. God is teaching His people the law through the covenant, through sacrifice, and how they can be holy. The problem is God is holy and His people are sinful or unclean- which occurs 194 times in the book of Leviticus. How can we bridge the gap? How can we bring sinful man together with a holy and pure God? God's answer is through the word atonement which occurs 45 times in the book of Leviticus. Something must make a sacrifice and atonement. Its lifeblood must be shaded so that the gap between God and man can be bridged.

Now the key verse which we initially begin with is Leviticus 11:44-45. I want you to notice what God says to the people. God says ‘For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves and you shall be holy for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth for I'm the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God you shall therefore be holy for I am holy.’

God is teaching Israel how to live correctly and how to live a life that honors God. He is teaching them how to live a life of holiness. The heathen people around them for many years have been involved in ungodliness, sexual immorality, prosecuting, and idolatry of all kind. God is here teaching His people to come out of that and be pure. Key phrase God says 21 times: ‘I am the Lord your God.’ He is emphasizing to His people that if they trust in Him, follow Him, and if they don't look to the idols around the nations- God can be there. God can lead them toward that ultimate promise land.

Now as we think about keys in the book Leviticus, the key chapter I would suggest is Leviticus chapter 16. That great chapter of the Day of Atonement, that day in Israel's history, when that Lamb is offered and sacrifices offered for the sins of the people. It takes the sins of the camp upon itself. It gives its life on their behalf. It is known to the Hebrews as Yom Kippur. It's that great day when Israel sins were sent away. Friends, that suggest to us that not only did Israel have a day of atonement, but we as Christians have that great day as well-that day when Jesus made His sacrifice on the cross, that day when the gospel is preached, and the day when a person obeys the gospel and his life is made right with God.

Now the name Leviticus simply means ‘pertaining to the Levites.’ These are instructions for God's priest on things they must do during sacrifice, during worship, laws of cleanliness so that they can be a pure and holy people.

There's a New Testament companion to the book of Leviticus and would be the book of Hebrews. Hebrews makes many images or types directly out of Leviticus. The sacrifice he talks about purity and holiness much. To understand the New Testament you need to know the Old Testament better.

God is pure and holy. God cannot lie, Hebrews 6:18. God is above sin and above reproach, Habakkuk 1:13. ‘God's of pure eyes than to behold evil.’ He cannot look upon wickedness, and yet man is sinful. We have all sinned, Romans 3:23. ‘There is none righteous. No not one.’ The Bible teaches in Romans 3:10, as result of our sin and God's holiness, there's that separation. Isaiah 59:1-2 God is separated from us. We're separated from God. The Leviticus answers this- how does a sinful man

approach holy God? The answer is through sacrifice.

I want you look at the words of Leviticus 17:11 and notice that blood is key and essential in dealing with the sin problem. God says in Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” What is it that covers sin? What is it that atonement stands in the place and bears the guilt and the brunt? It's the blood. It's that life that is shed- whether it is a lamb, whether be a goat, whether be to turtledoves- something gave it’s life so that that gap, that bridge, could be made between God.

Friend there's a beautiful passage in the New Testament in the book of Hebrews that teaches us the same idea with a view toward the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Jesus made that that ultimate sacrifice that ‘once for all’ sacrifice so that that man could be brought back to God and there would be no more need for daily sacrifices as you see in the book of Leviticus.

Now there are many laws given in the book Leviticus. You have laws of sacrifice- chapters 1 through 6. There are various levels given to the priests specifically for them in chapter 6 through 10. There are laws on purity and what the people can do to keep themselves pure- chapters 11 through 22. There are laws about the feast in the special days- chapter 23 through 25. There are various special laws given to the people-chapters 26 and 27. We remember the book Leviticus is God's laws on sacrifice and purity and how to be holy.

Let's make some practical application. What are the living messages of Leviticus? A person picks up Leviticus, and reads about the sacrifices. They read about the laws and sometimes get bogged down. They may ask- how does that apply to me? What's that got to do with my life?

Leviticus is one of the most practical books in the Old Testament. Number one- we learn from Leviticus chapters one through five there is a need for a sin substitute. Trespass offering, grain offering- you have all kind of various offerings, sin offering, and in all these offerings in each something is giving its life. Something stands in the place of something else. There is the absolute necessity for a sin substitute for God and man

to be right. Now here's the important thing though- what about all those lambs? What about all those goats? What about all those bulls that were offered? Did they really fill the gap?

Listen to the words of Hebrews 10:3-4. The Scripture says, “But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year, for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sin.” What did God command? It was all predicated upon the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:15-17 teaches us that it was in keeping with the law of God at that time, but could it really take away sin? God said it's not possible. What is possible? What can take away sin? Hebrews 10:12 tells us the answer to that. The Scripture says, “But this man Jesus after He'd offered one sacrifice for sins forever sat down at the right hand of God.” What happens if you commit some sin and you have to make a sacrifice and the very next day you do that again? You have got to go to the field and start all over again. Is that the way it is today? Thank God we live in the age of Christianity where there is that once for all sacrifice for sin.

Now does that mean we want to sin and live it up? Surely not! “How shall grace abound if we continue in sin?” It won't. Romans 6:1 teaches us we need to do our best to live a life free of sin. Friends we live in the age where that one sacrifice has been made for sin. When Jesus gave His life He became a ransom for sin, Galatians 1:4. He became our redemption, Ephesians 1:7. He became are our hope, our mercy, and our grace that is seen in His great offering. There is that great need for a sin substitute and ultimately that comes in Jesus Christ.

Another living message from the book Leviticus is found Leviticus 10:1-2 and emphasizes the need for proper worship. God wants me and God wants you to worship as He's directed-not as we feel or we think or not based on what's popular or what everybody else is doing. We learn the very powerful lesson about that in Leviticus 10:1-2. The Bible says, “Then the sons of Aaron each took his censer put fire in it put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord,” notice this, “which He had not commanded them.” Fire went out from the Lord and devoured them. They died. Some may say what does it matter- to God it was a big thing. God said they offered ‘a strange’ some versions will say ‘unauthorized fire’ listen now ‘which He had not commanded them.’ What did they do? They altered God's law. They did something God did not ask for.

Friends when we worship God, we need to make sure and be very careful that we only do what God asked us to do. God doesn't want a circus. God doesn't want to a rock band on the stage. God doesn't want us to do things are not authorized.

Think about some of the acts of worship. For example- the Lord's Supper, what does God want us to do? “On the first day the week they came together to break bread,” Acts 20:7. Every week that has a first day. Christians assembled on that day, and they remembered the Lord's death. What does God want us to do this? He wants to do it on Christmas and Easter only? That’s not what you find New Testament. Does He want us to do it once, maybe two of three times? No that is not what you find the New Testament. What does He want us to do? Should we do it with something other than grape juice and for the vine and unleavened bread? No, God wants us to use the elements He chose. God wants us to do it when He chose. What about something like preaching? Can we change preaching to maybe acting? God chose the foolishness of preaching to save those were lost, 1 Corinthians 1:21. God wants us to preach the word, 2 Timothy 4:2 and to speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11.

What about maybe when it comes to music or singing? Does it really matter if we pick a guitar, beat on drums, or play a piano? Here's what God said, “Sing and make melody in your heart.” God wants us to use the instrument of the heart. When God specified how, He told us the exact instrument- that eliminates all else. 1 Corinthians 14:15, to sing with the spirit and the understanding. God expects us to do exactly what He says in worship.

Another very practical lesson comes from the Day of Atonement in Leviticus chapter 16. That great day when the offering for the camp of Israel was made, when the sins are placed on the animal, that animal is sent out into the wilderness to bear the sin. John 19:34 the Bible tells us that the soldier took his sword and be pierced the side of Jesus and out came blood and water. Look at the offering that is made. Zachariah 13:1 comments that a fountain for sin and for cleansing was opened in Jerusalem. When was that? When Jesus died on the cross. When is the Day of Atonement for Christians? It began on the cross when Jesus gave His life as that ultimate sacrifice. It culminated in the preaching of the gospel in Acts chapter 2 when they cried out ‘men and brethren what shall we do?’ The answer was ‘repent and be baptized for the remission of your

sins.’ They received that atonement. The blood of Jesus was applied to their spirit. Any person who obeys the gospel from that time forward, the sacrifice of Jesus has great effect for them as well.

Now the book Leviticus also deals with laws on purity, morality, and how to live a pure and moral life. One of the things that Leviticus speaks very candidly and very plainly about is the subject of homosexuality. We live in a world where people refer to as an alternate lifestyle. ‘Don't pick on that that's an alternate lifestyle.’ You can't say anything about two men if they want to live together or two women if they want to live together. If we say anything against that people have the idea that we're being mean or unkind. How does God handle this today? “Is there any word from the Lord?” Jeremiah 37:17. What has God said? What did He say in Leviticus about homosexuality? And what does He say today on that same subject?

It's so sad that for a TV show to make it, it has got have homosexuals on it. The more it’s promoted, the more people seem to like it. Why is that? That shows the state that we've come to in our society and how godless we are. Let's notice what God says on this sin. The Bible says in Leviticus 18:22 and in Leviticus 20:13 that it is a sin against God deserving of death. Notice these two scriptures. God says Leviticus 18:22 ‘You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.’ 20:13, ‘If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.’ When God says it's an abomination that's the fury, the red-hot fury of God that's how much God hates homosexuality. Not only that, God says if they're caught doing that, they’re deserving of death. It is a crime against God. It's a crime against marriage. Friend it is immoral and ungodly.

Someone might say: ‘Today we're living under the age of grace and isn't God going to allow people to live anyway they want to as long as they love Him?’ Friend that's a false ideology! Romans 1:26-27 could not be clearer that's homosexuality is still a sin against God. Look at these words. Romans 1:26-27 says, ‘For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.’ He says in Romans 1:26, ‘For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature, likewise also the means leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.’

Notice how God describes it. It is a ‘vile passion.’ It is ‘against nature.’ It's ‘unnatural.’ It is something deserving of punishment. God could not be clearer about homosexuality.

In the New Testament homosexuality is just as strongly condemned. In fact 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says that such people ‘will not inherit the kingdom of God.’ Homosexuals and lesbians will not inherit the kingdom. If a person lives in that lifestyle and dies in it- without repenting and getting right with God- the Scripture says they won't go to heaven. That's what God says in His word verbatim. It is a sin. It is something we need to speak out against.

Another lesson that we learn from the book Leviticus is that one must respect father and mother. Leviticus 19:3 and Leviticus 20:9 teach children to respect and to reverence their father and mother. We need today to have that same respect for parents. ‘Parents bring up your children nurture and admonition.’ ‘Children obey your parents for this is right.’ There needs to be that respect and obedience for father and mother. Just as we respect God as our Father, so children must obey and respect the parent. Young people listen carefully; you don't need to talk back your parents. You don't need to rebel against them. You don't need to say things against mom and dad around your friends. God wants you to respect and honor and obey your parents. Failure to do that is a failure to obey Him.

Then we also learn the penalty for adultery found in the book Leviticus. Leviticus 20:10: ‘If two people are caught in the act of adultery they are to be put to death.’ Adultery, meaning a relationship with another outside of the marriage bond, who are cheating or having a relationship with someone. It is against the will of God. It is in that class that we mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 part of those people who will not inherit the kingdom of God. They will not go to heaven. Adultery is a sin against the God of heaven and one must do his very best to stay away from that.

Another practical living message from Leviticus is the separation that we find for God's priests. In Leviticus 22:2 God says to Moses and Aaron ‘I want the priest to separate themselves from the holy things so that they can be used solely dedicated to My servants.’ As I think about this separation that Aaron that Moses that the Levites had to go through, it made them unique. It made them special in many ways. How true it is today the Christians are that separated, unique, and special people of God!

Look at the words of 1 Peter 2:9. The Bible says, “But you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, a holy nation His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” We’re God's chosen, special, royal priesthood and thus, our lives must be lives of separation from this old world. Paul said in Romans 12:1, “I beg you by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service, and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

When I think about the book of Leviticus, I'm also reminded of the need for us to give God our best. Leviticus 22:20 God wanted the first fruits. God wanted the best from His people as an offering to heal. How we today need to give our God the best! God doesn't want anything but first place in our life. God wants the best of everything. He deserves the best of everything that we have. The words of Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seek first- not second, not third, not last. God wants to be first in our life.

Now one last practical lesson that I want us to notice and it's a very practical one for us today- in the Bible sorcery mediums all those kinds of things are condemned by God. Look in Leviticus 19:31. God says, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits. Do not seek after them to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” God has all the answers. God is the only guide, and He's the only direction that we need. Men and women today still need to avoid palm readers and fortunetellers and opening up the paper to see what your astrological zodiac sign. Christians have all the direction we need in the Bible. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me.”

The book Leviticus teaches us Jesus and the sacrifice He made. The application is Jesus and the sacrifice He made is the permanent way to be brought back to God.

Has that substitute of the blood of Christ been applied to your spirit? If not, won't you become a Christian? Won't you hear the word of God Romans 10:17? Won't you believe that Jesus is that that sin offering John 8:24? Would you repent of your sins Luke 13:3? Would you make that

great confession ‘I believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God’ Romans 10:10? Would you be baptized in water for the forgiveness of your sins Acts 2:38?

We hope today that as we study the book Leviticus each one of us will be encouraged to be holy as our God is holy.

Study Questions for:

“Living Messages of the Old Testament: Lesson 3”

1. According to Leviticus 11:44, why should we be holy?

2. What is the key word in Leviticus?

3. According to Isiah 59:1-2, what separates us from God?

4. According to Leviticus 17:11, what makes atonement for the soul?

5. According to Hebrews 9:22, what must there be for forgiveness of sins?

6. What could not take away sins according to Hebrews 10:3-4?

7. What can take away sins according to Hebrews 10:12?

8. What happened when they didn’t follow God’s command in Leviticus 10:1-2?

9. What does Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13 say of homosexuality?

10. According to Romans 12:1, how should we live?

The Scripture says, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work,” 1 Timothy 3:1.

We welcome you to our study of the life and work of a gospel preacher and elders.

We hope that you get your Bible and stay tuned as we're going to study this very encouraging subject together.

The Greek word that you find in the New Testament for elder is really a combination of several different words. In fact in our English Bible there are six English words that are used to describe the office of an elder. Yet, in the Greek New Testament there are only three words.

We're going to take just a moment to discuss those words to help us understand exactly what office it is, what work it is that we're talking about in the New Testament. The first Greek word which is often translated by one of two English words is the word Presbuteros and that word means elder or it may be translated as presbyter. The meaning behind that is someone it means the idea of govern by elders or overseen by an eldership. This word is used like in Acts 20:17 when Paul writes to the elders at Ephesus. They're the overseeing body of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ in that area.

Then there is the Greek word Episkopos, and it may be translated by one of two English words. It is either the word bishop or overseer. It means those who are in charge of, those who are looking over the body of Christ. It's used in Acts 20:28. “Shepherd the flock of God among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,” one who is looking out for looking over and watching out for the flock of God's people.

The third Greek word that may be again translated by two English words one of two is the word Poimen. That is the word for Shepherd or some translations will use the term pastor and it pliers implies again leadership qualities- implies one who is leading the flock, one who is watching out for the flock of God's people- used both in 1 Peter 5:1-5 “Shepherd the flock of God,” Acts 20:28.

Now here's what's interesting, though this word Poimen which sometimes is translated pastor, doesn't apply to the preacher.

Now listen carefully. When we talk about the work of an elder, we're talking about elders being the pastors. In the New Testament you do not find in any way, shape, or form the preacher identified as the pastor. The word pastor in both the Greek and our New Testament translations refers to the work of an elder. Sometimes I hear people say ‘well who's your pastor down there?’ Wait a minute now. The elders plurality of were the pastors in the New Testament and the preacher was not used with that designation. That was not applied to the local work of the preacher. That's the work of the elders.

If you're going to have but the kind of organization that the Scripture describes, with the life and work of an elder and preacher, we need to realize what the Holy Spirit designates their function as. In the local congregation there is a plurality of elders. Acts 14:17 those elders are the shepherds. They're the overseers. The work they're the ones put in place by God as the pastor and that is the pastors.

The preacher works with a local congregation under the eldership simply to proclaim the message of God. Words like preacher, evangelist, and minister are used in the Bible to describe the work and function of a preacher. We don't find that terminology of pastor used to describe that.

Let's take just a few moments and what we're going to do in these lessons is we're going to look at Paul's address to the elders in Acts 20, as he speaks to them as elders and as he will give himself as the evangelist in that scenario. We're going to let the Holy Spirit define in those texts: what the work of elders and the work of preachers is all about.

Let's begin with the life and work of an elder. In Acts 20:28 we first learn that part of the life and work of godly elders is to be mindful about how they live their life. Look in Acts 20. I want you notice again verse 28. The apostle Paul says, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock with that encouragement take heed to yourself.” Part of the life of an elder and work of an elder is to look to his own life and make sure that he is living the way God wants him to live. We have in 1 Timothy 3, both in verse 2 and 7 that their life is to ‘be one of self-control’ life is to be lived in harm harmony with the teaching of Christ. Titus 1:6 their life is to follow the principles that you find in the Bible.

As we think about the life and work of an elder, who's going to follow or get behind somebody whose life is in shambles? Whose life is not being lived according to the teaching of Christ? We talk about their reputation; we talk about how people in the world view them. We talk about how they live. Are they trustworthy? Are they why are all those qualities and qualifications in there? Because friend if they're not living the way God wants them to live, how in the world can they Shepherd the church of the Lord Jesus Christ?

And so, we're looking for men who are going to live exemplary lives. We're looking for men who are honest, who are trustworthy, who their word actually means something when they say it, who are trying to pattern their life after the teaching of Jesus.

Now friend we're not saying these men are perfect. No, but none of us are perfect. We all from time to time fall short. They are to be above reproach. They are to be men who, when things do happen, are willing to make it right and try to get in harmony with the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So the first major thing Paul says is, “Take heed to yourselves.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul as he speaks about his own life will say this; he says

“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Every leader in the Lord's church must look to his own life first. Get your own house in order before we can begin to teach and Shepherd others as well.

A second quality that Paul will mention in Acts chapter 20, as we think about the life and work of an elder, they've got to be focused on the spiritual welfare of the church. Their priority must be the spiritual welfare of the church. Notice again Acts 20:28 Paul says, “Therefore take heed to yourselves,” now listen to this, “and to all the flock.”

What's the work and life of an elder to be about? Friend listen carefully, I understand that it may require some type of business skill. I understand that you may have to manage certain things, but that's not the top priority. What's the top priority in the work of an elder in the Lord's church? “Take heed to yourselves and the flock.” They are to be concerned about the spiritual welfare of God's people.

Now what does that imply? What does that mean? It implies and it means that they're responsible for them. I want you to notice a text from Hebrews 13 that teaches us the importance of elders in making sure that they realize their job is a very serious job. Listen to Hebrews 13:17. The Scripture tells Christians “Obey those who rule over you and be submissive,” now notice this, “for they watch out for your soul as those who must give an account. Let them do let them do so with joy not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.”

And so when you take on the work of an elder, you're taking on a serious responsibility in which ultimately you're going to be responsible for the souls you Shepherd. Now does that mean you can make him do something? No that's not what we're saying. Does that mean you can force them? That's not the idea, but you've got to do your best to give the spiritual interest of the flock top priority-meaning that we want to provide opportunities for spiritual growth. We want to provide Bible study. We want to provide encouragement. We want to provide opportunities where they can learn and grow. When somebody's life is not like it ought to be, and friend we love them. We want them to go to heaven, but when their life is not like it ought to be, steps must be taken to do our best to bring them back.

Now here's what happens. A lot of times somebody's in the body of Christ and they and for some reason or another, they their life gets caught up in sin. They just kind of drop off and nobody knows what happened. We never check on them and nobody knows what's going on. Elders, on the Day of Judgment, are going to give an account if they don't try their best to reach them. Not saying you can make. Not saying you can force them. Have you called on them? Did you talk to them? Have you encouraged them to repent? Have you talked to them about the passages in the Bible that teach dis-fellowship is necessary to save their soul and must be practiced if they continue to live in that type of lifestyle? The spiritual interest of the flock, God's people, must be top priority.

Then a third principle which we see in Acts 28 is to realize that part of the life and the work of an elder, especially their work, means that in matters of expediency, in matters of functioning and fulfilling the work of God, elders do have the authority. Listen again to Acts 20:28, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,” now listen to this, “among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” God Himself has placed elders as the overseers, those who are in charge of the matters of expediency and in charge of the local congregation. As far we're going to follow the Bible and do what the book says, God's given us commandment. We know what His law is. His word is a final. But in the fulfilling of that and in expedient matters, elders do have the authority.

I want you to look to another passage in which Peter another passage in which Peter discusses the elders and their authority. Notice 1 Peter 5. I want you to look at what is said and this is the not only their authority but this is the right mindset to approach it. In 1 Peter chapter 5:1 Peter says, “The elders who are among you I exhort. I who am a fellow elder.” He is speaking from an elder standpoint, “and a witness of the suffering of Christ also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers.” Now how do you do that? Not by compulsion because somebody forced you- but willingly. Not for dishonest gain. Not because you get a paycheck but eagerly. “Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

Is it true that elders have been given divine authority by God in these matters? Sure. How do they use that authority? Do they use it as a whipping stick? Do they use it to of force people into submit? That's not the idea. “As examples to the flock.” Must they set standards? But do they have to make decisions on how the Lord's money is going to be used in evangelism? How we're going to grow? How people are going to be reached? How the functionality of all that? Sure! They have that authority. Friend the best way you can ever do that is by leading as an example. Elders don't need to sit in the back and say ‘We've formulated this plan. You go out and do it.’ That will never work. ‘We formulated this plan. We're going to be out leading it. We're encouraging you to help us with that work,’ that's the best approach you can ever take.

They've been given divine authority by God- but that authority must be used in the right way and form- so that God and His church can ultimately be glorified in all that is said and done.

Now let's talk about a fourth aspect of the life and work of an elder from Acts chapter 20:28 following ‘Elders in the Lord's church must be good leaders of God's people.’ Listen again to Acts 20:28 “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you shepherds of God's people.” Shepherd the church of God they are told in Acts 20:28.

If you think about the idea of a shepherd you can see the leadership that's necessary. Now you’ve got to place yourself kind of in the mindset of the day and age of the people to whom Paul is talking. Many of these people may have come from that type of background. They may have been shepherds with sheep in the field that would follow them. You realize that the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He feeds them. He takes care of them. They're like his own family as it were, and where ever the good Shepherd goes those sheep are more than happy to follow him. They know safety. They know food. They know comfort. They know the best life comes from following the shepherd wherever he goes.

How true especially that must be in the work the life and work of an elder. People will get behind somebody who's a good leader- who's got their best interest at heart, who's trying to live a good life as he ought to, who's trying to provide good spiritual food for them, and who brings safety

and prosperity to that flock.

You can look and see good leaders can have an infectious, very good way of reaching out to others, and that good work can be seen among the congregation.

So we want people who were good leaders. I understand that this doesn't fit everybody. There are some people who are not leaders not designed necessarily with that type of mentality. I believe that might could grow into that, but people who just stem from that who have that quality, those are the kind of people we need in the Lord's church- who are going to try their best to lead God's people.

You see Jesus is the chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5:3-4. We can look to His life. We can look to His teaching. We can look to the sacrifices that He made. We can look to the good that He did. That type of life, it makes you want to get behind Him and follow Him. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus, 1 Peter 2:21. That's not hard when you see where those footsteps lead. Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” As I look to Christ's life, you talk about somebody you want to follow, there it is. We need elders like that in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Another quality that we mention, as it relates to Paul's address to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20, is that elders must realize the awesome responsibility and privilege of being an elder.

It is both a responsibility and a privilege. How do we know that? Listen again to Acts 20:28 “Shepherd the church of God, now listen to this, “which He purchased with His own blood.”

Now friend I just want to stop for just a moment and think about the price that was paid for the Lord's church. Jesus said “I will build my church,” Acts 20:28. One day Christ is coming back, and He's going to take with Him those who are in the kingdom, 1 Corinthians 15:24. The church is the divine eternal plan of Almighty God, Ephesians 3:10-11 and it's that place of safety where all the saved are. The Lord added to the church daily those who are being saved.

Now in view of all that elders have the high privilege and awesome responsibility of taking care of and leading people in the Lord's church. Again be reminded of Hebrews 13:17. “We're to obey those who rule over us and to be watchful for they give an account for our souls.” It is a privilege to lead God's people. In the Lord's church you can have no higher, nobler, more serious work in all the world than being an elder in the Lord's church- both teaching and encouraging and trying to help people get to heaven.

It's also an awesome responsibility you have the responsibility of trying to lead God's people to heaven. Yes, it is a very serious matter. You know we say this, and emphasize it for this reason, sometimes I think people will think it be nice to be an elder. You have to think about the seriousness of that. It is a great thing- greatest work at all the world I believe. Friend, you have to think about that seriously, are you willing to commit the effort? Are you willing to commit the time? We say this in all honesty, are you willing to commit the heart ache that may come when people don't follow the teaching of Christ? Are you willing to commit to doing your best to try to help people grow in and come to an understanding? Will you try to help fill the great commission? As Jesus said that's the work even of the local congregation. Yes, while it is a serious responsibility and privilege, friend it's the greatest work in all the world.

Let's also mention this as part of the life and work of an elder in the Lord's church. In Acts 20:29 Paul is now going to emphasize part of the work of an elder is to protect the Lord's church from false doctrine and false teachers. Look to Acts 20:29. Paul says this, “For I know this,” here's something you can be sure of, “I know this after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

When you think about a shepherd out in the field and you think about the main threat it's the wolf, the coyote, or the wolf as we would think of- is got to be the main. If you ever raised cattle, it's a big threat. Even with that you know you've got cattle, and they're having calves and those calves are vulnerable and a coyote might slip in. You've got to be watchful. You've got to be alert. You've got to be on guard. How much more so spiritually among God's people there are those who are going to be babes in Christ? There are those, who during certain times in their life may be vulnerable. What's the work of an elder? To be to make sure that those savage wolves don't come in and tear up the flock.

Now what might be some of those savage wolves? False teachers.

Friend, it is a very serious thing to stay alert and make sure that false teaching does not occur. Now let me use a type of language that won't be hard for us to understand how serious is it? Titus 1:7-10 the Bible says “Elders,” and listen to the bold, brash statement here, “are to stop the mouths of those who contradict.” Don't even let it happen. If somebody starts teaching false doctrine deal with it, and make sure that that's not taught in the Lord's church.

One of the savage wolves might be false teaching. Another savage wolf that may come in and it may be in a different look may be sin. You know we can't let somebody who's blatantly living in sin be in fellowship and act like everything's okay or that's going to spread to everybody else. You get a disease among cattle, you get a disease among sheep, and they're all going to the same water hole or the same feed trough. That disease is going to spread like wildfire. Sin is a disease, and if elders allow sin to be in the camp and go unchecked, that is a savage wolf that will destroy the Lord's church.

Then we mention a third one and this is something that elders do have the power to stem the tide on. Another savage wolf that I don't think we see because it doesn't necessarily come with teeth glaring and snarling at us is that of apathy. Too many times we kind of get in a rut. Too many times if we're not careful, we just kind of do things because we've always done them. Nothing really changes, and we go to worship. We sing. We pray. We hear the word of God, and we go home. We get in that routine. We've got to make sure the people are busy in the work of God. “Be steadfast immovable,” Paul says, “always abounding in the work of the Lord.” I know they can't make anybody. But they need to provide opportunities. They need to give encouragement. They need to be out leading the way. They need to be talking to people when they're growing lax and encouraging them and doing what we can to help them with God's family. All that we do, we need to strive to make sure those things are staying true to the teaching of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All right another aspect of the life and work of an elder that we want

to mention is this: an elder or the eldership has got to kind of keep a check on one another. Now where does that come from? Look to Acts 20:30. Paul says, “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” Friend, we can see that beginning to happen in the New Testament. In 2 and 3 John you've got Diotrephes who wanted to have the preeminence. Is it very far after that and you've got people trying to rise up and be the one man over the congregation. Church history reveals that which ultimately led to the papacy. What we do to stem that tide in the local congregation? There's always a plurality of elders. Acts 14:17 those elders need to keep a check on one another. If someone's not living right inside the eldership, teaching right, and we need to encourage. They're part of the flock too, are they not? Don't elders have a responsibility to each other and to watch out for each other? If somebody's not living right or teaching right, that's got to be addressed and dealt with inside the local congregation of the Lord's people- so that the leadership does not become infected with disease and by that would become fruitless in its work.

Now friend as we thought today about the work of an elder, we mentioned that being a member of the Lord's church and a shepherd over that is the most serious responsibility- but it's also the greatest privilege.

Friend have you taken advantage of that privilege? Are you a member of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus promised “I'll build my church,” Matthew 16:18. He made the plea “let whosoever will come and drink freely,” Revelation 22:10 following. And friend Jesus says “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden I'll give you rest.”

Have you obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ? Friend, if not, we encourage you today to hear the word of God. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” Romans 10:17. Having heard that Jesus is the Savior of the world the son of God; would you believe that with all your heart? In Acts 8 Philip and Ethiopian eunuch were going down the road. ‘Hey here's water. What hinders me?’ ‘If you believe with all your heart you may,’ Acts 8:36 following. Having believed, would you confess Jesus as the son of God? Repent of those things in your life that are not right, Acts 3:19, Matthew 10:32-33. Would you do what they did in the New Testament to have your sins forgiven?

Peter said “Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and you will receive the crown of eternal life,” Acts 2:38 and 2 Timothy 4:2.

If you need to obey the gospel, we encourage you to do that and make every elder in the Lord's church truly strive to live according to God's teaching.

Study Questions for: “Elders: Lesson 1”

1. In 1 Timothy 3:1, what does it say of a man that desires the position of a bishop?

2. According to Acts 20:28, what must the elders Shepard?

3. According to Acts 20:28, the Holy Spirit has made them what?

4. What must elders do in their own lives according to Acts 20:28?

5. An elder’s life should be one of what according to 1Timothy 3:2, 7?

6. According to Titus 1:6, what must the elder’s life follow?

7. What does Paul say about his own life in 1 Corinthians 9:27?

8. According to Acts 20:28, not only must an elder’s life be about Christ, but what else?

9. What does Hebrews 13:17 tell us about elders and our own soul?

10. According to 1 Peter 5:1, who must elders be examples to?

The Bible says in Acts 20:28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to Shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

We welcome you today to our study of the life and work of an elder. We hope that you'll get your Bible handy and stay tuned as we're going to look at this encouraging study together.

When we think about the life and work of an elder one of the things that stands out as premier in his life is that an elder has got to, with love and compassion, watch out for and warn the people of God about anything that has the potential to jeopardize their souls.

Now where do we find this? Again the principles we're looking at on the life and work of an elder- and later that we'll look at on the life and work of the gospel preacher- are coming from Paul's address to the elders at Ephesus in Acts 20:17 following. We notice this principle specifically from Acts 20:31. Notice what the Holy Spirit said “therefore watch and remember.” Paul says that “for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” What is it that Paul is motivated by? By his love and compassion. The very fact that Paul is doing his warning and that he's teaching people things are going to jeopardize their soul with tears suggests that Paul has a great compassion and love for the people of God.

Friend we see that as the example of Jesus. “God so loved the

world,” He what? “He gave.” John 3:16. Elders of the Lord's church are to be motivated by love. They’re not to lord it over the flock, but rather to do it in a loving and an exemplary way, 1 Peter 5:1-5. Out of a love for souls, out of a compassion for God's people, and for purity of the Lord's church elders are encouraged to warn the flock about anything that has the potential to jeopardize people souls.

Now friend that could include a whole long list of things. We realize that that list in and of itself could take up the rest of our time today. Let's just mention some of those things that are especially important and pertinent in people's lives.

We want to warn people about certain doctrines or teachings that may cause people to go astray. Doctrines like ‘Once saved always saved’ that clearly teaches that you know although we may sin and fall short from time to time, or that we can never so sin as to be lost. What kind of doctrine is that? The Bible clearly teaches that we can so sin as to be lost. Galatians 5:4-6 the apostle Paul said “You have become estranged from Christ, you attempt to be justified by law,” listen now “you have fallen from grace.”

We want people to know that God is a God of love. That God is ready to forgive Psalm 86:5. But should we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not, Romans 6:1. We want to identify that in people's lives there certain temptations that we absolutely must steer away from. Is the devil doing everything possible to steer us toward those temptations? You look at the lust of the flesh. You look at the lust of the eyes. You look at the pride or temptation of life as well, and Satan in our world today is doing everything possible to make that very alluring for each one of us. Alcohol, drugs, immorality, gambling- all those things have such an appeal to the eye. Is it really what it's made out to be? Friend we can read the Bible and see that it is not. Those things that many people think of as alluring and pleasant end up being destructive and damning to our souls.

Elders want to warn people. They do it in love. They do it out of compassion. They must be straightforward and bold in their warning others about those things which will jeopardize their souls.

Now as it relates to the life and work of an elder, we also mention that a part of the qualities of a good elder is that here's a man who's going to

give himself fully to God and His word. Listen to Acts 20:32 the apostle Paul says to the elders at Ephesus “So now brethren, I commend you to God.” What does it mean to be commended to God? I'm putting you toward God. I'm putting God on the spotlight and making sure that your focus and your emphasis stays on God.

Friend for elders to really be what God wants them to be and what the church needs them to be, we desperately need men who are fully committed to God and His work. Now we say this with all kindness, but too many times even elders, preachers and elders they can let things get in the way. Hey wait, we all like to have fun and recreation- and there's nothing in of itself wrong with that- but if those things begin to take priority and that be begins to be our main focus, the church's got to take a backseat to that. That's not what God wants. Maybe, and friend I understand we've all got to make a living, don't get me wrong ‘if a man won't work, neither shall he eat. If a man won't take care of his own, he's worse than an infidel.’ Yeah, you've got to work. You've got to take care of your family. Friend we do that so that we can have a family and put God first.

If an elders job, listen carefully now, if an elders job requires so much time, effort, and energy for him that he can no longer do the work of an elder, he's not fit to be an elder. Now I don't say that in unkindness. We don't say that to be mean, but if he can't put the church first, the best thing for that man is to step back, get his priorities straight until he can. The church needs to be our top priority. It needs to be the thing we focus on. Yeah, we may have to spend a lot of time on the job. We may have to work, but we're doing all that so that we can support and work and function as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We want a man who is fully committed to the work of God and to the church.

Now friend, let me say this as well. We mean this with all kindness. An elder, to really be what God wants him to be, he's got to realize that the church cannot be swayed by what his family does or does not do. Here's what we mean by that. Sometimes I think people in decision, in elderships, and sometimes in the Lord's church are too often swayed by what a family member may or may not do or some kind of problem they've got. And sometimes, then that begins to feed over into the church.

We need men who will stay true to the teaching of Christ, who will stay true to the teaching of God, and are not going to be swayed to change what they think or believe. They're fully committed to the Lord and His church. I understand an elder and his family go hand-in-hand. They ought to be faithful and there's no doubt about that. Friend, you can't let the family take precedence even over the church. Now listen carefully, the two ought to go hand-in-hand. Family and working as an elder in the church ought to work beautifully together. They ought to encourage. They ought to help. They ought to work together with one another, and we all want to strive to make sure that is the way it is in the Lord's church and among the family of God's people.

Now let's talk about another quality relative to the life and work of an elder in the Lord's church. Elders must be men for the work to be what God wants it to be. Elders must be men of the book. Part of the life and work of an elder is that they must give themselves fully to the word of God. Listen again Acts 20:32. “So now brethren,” Paul says, “I commend you to God,” there's your focus on God “and to His word or and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Friend for the church to be strong, for it to grow, for it to prosper, for it to put aside the savage wolves and the error of this day and age, we need elders in the Lord's church who stand firmly behind the word of God- who recognize the Bible, this book, is our authority. “All authority,” Jesus said, “has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

We need elders who realized that a “thus saith the Lord,” is what we stand behind. We must never try to hide the word of God, but let it reign freely in our lives. You see on the judgment day the world's going to be judged by this book. Jesus said in John 12:48 “He who rejects me does not receive my word. He's got that which judges him. The word that I've spoken in the last day will judge him.” We want men of the book who realize this is the inspired word of God. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for proof for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This book is God's word. “If any man speaks let him speak as the oracles of God,” 1 Peter 4:11. We want him to realize the authority of it. We want him to recognize it’s from God. We want men in the Lord's church, who are good students of the Scripture. “Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15. “Be ready always to give

an answer,” 1 Peter 3:15.

As we think about the work of an elder and how that's uniquely tied to the teaching and the growth the congregation, we need elders, listen carefully, we need elders who will insist in our and our pulpits, in our Bible classes, in every program we've got- that the word of God is taught. If any man speaks let him speak as the oracles of God, 1 Peter 4:11. Preach the word, 2 Timothy 4:2. If someone is not willing to do that, then friend, it's the responsibility of the elders to take care of that, to remove that from the congregation, and to make sure that somebody who's going to teach and preach the Bible is put in a position where that is going to take place.

Let me share with you another passage that speaks directly to our need to have men in the eldership who will teach you exactly what God wants them to and who are willing to stand up with the word of God and defend the faith. Listen to Titus 1:9 the Bible says of the qualification of elders, “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict those who contradict for there are many insubordinate both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households teaching things they ought not to for the sake of dishonest gain.”

Friend let's make sure when elders are about to be put in, when the qualifications are examined, when the congregation looks to put men in that, we're putting in men who stand foursquare behind the word of God and stand firmly on its teaching.

Now let's talk for just a moment about another part of the life and work of an elder. It's this: elders must encourage and do their best to strengthen those who are maybe weak in the faith or babes in Christ. Where does that come from? Listen to Acts 20:35. Here's what Paul said to the elders at Ephesus he says, “I've shown you in every way by laboring like this that you must support the weak.” There were some who were weaker in the faith, maybe even some who Paul had to write about in the God in the letter of 2 Corinthians- who weren't even sure if Paul could even take a paycheck and if you and that is why he said at times, you know he didn't want to be a burden to the church. I've done like this. I've labored like this to maybe even support the weak. There's some who were weak in the faith some were weak spiritually. Paul says of the elders ‘You've got a do

your part to encourage and strengthen those who are babes in Christ.’

Part of the work of an elder is to build a work with people at every level- from those who are mature in Christ those who have excelled in a study of the Bible, to those who are maybe right in the middle, to those are all the way down at the bottom a babe in Christ someone who's just maybe obeyed the gospel. He knows what he needs to know to be saved and become a Christian, but doesn't know a whole lot else. Hey, he's going to have problems just like any other baby. He's going to have problems. He's going to make mistakes. He's going to mess up. He's going to have to be taught and learn. An elder's got to be able to work with a person like that- not run him off, not push him away. We've got to work with them in kindness and patience and that doesn't mean that we can correct and teach. You have to be able to encourage and strengthen people who are weak in the faith to bring them up where they need to be.

Think about it like this, would you talk to up maybe an older man or woman in the same way and tone that you would a baby? Of course not. You get down on that young person's level. You'd work with them on their level. You try to teach them. You try to encourage them. If someone is older mature, you can work with them in a different way. That's the way elders need to be in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Encourage and strengthen even those who are weak in the faith.

Here's an awesome part of being an elder, and this is something that is so important as we think about for just a few moments the life and work of an elder and what that requires, let's realize that part of being an elder is to they've got to realize the blessing of being a person who's willing to give of themselves for others.

Now we find that in Paul's words in Acts 20:35, Paul says this or actually speaking mentioning the words of Jesus, he says “I've shown you in every way by laboring like this that you must support the weak.” Why do all that? Why give yourself? Why support the weak? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he said “It's more blessed to give than to receive.” What's the context of those words? I understand there's to be a broad application for that. What's the immediate context under which Paul reminds them of the words of Jesus? It's the work of an elder especially working with people who are weak and who take a lot of time and a lot of effort and a lot of patience to strengthen. Hey if you're going to work with

someone, who's weaker, the faith is a babe in Christ? Is that going to take a lot of time? Are you going to have to give a lot of attention? Are you going to have to give a lot effort? Are you going to have to be a giving person? Absolutely! Why do that well? Do you remember the words of the Lord Jesus where he said “it's more blessed to give than it is to receive”?

Friend the benefit that comes from watching somebody grow as a babe in Christ, watching them mature, watching them maybe met and marry a good Christian man or woman, watching them continue develop, bring good Christian family into the world, watching them ultimately maybe even grow one day to whether a gospel preacher or an elder in the Lord's church, and watching them live faithful until their very last breath. What greater reward could you have than that? That's why Jesus said. That's why Paul references the words of Jesus. “It's more blessed to give than it is to receive.” Giving of yourself and watching that progression happened probably one of the greatest things in all the world.

That reminds us of this principle again for an elder. You've got to realize the blessing of being a giving person. You can't be the type of person that's- and hope you'll understand the way we're saying this- but you can't be the type of person that it's all me me me and I I I and what I want. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's times for self. You're going to have to be more of a giving person than you are receiving person. You're going to have to be one who is more willing to work, than he is to be worked on, more willing to give than he is be given to, more willing to put out than he puts in. That's going to require a lot of effort. Doesn't mean you have to. Doesn't mean you have to neglect yourself. Doesn't mean you have to neglect your family. It does mean you've got to balance things. You've got to get your priorities straight. You have to work diligently with the people of God as a truly giving person.

Now let me mention another quality and aspect of an elder that is especially mentioned in Acts 20:36. Part of the life and work of an elder means that you really need to be a man of prayer. Listen to Acts 20:36. Here's Paul here's what Paul does, and this is such a really a touching scene. Paul realizes that he's probably never going to see these elders again- doesn't know that for sure but kind of has that in mind. And so here's what he does. When he had said these things, the Bible says he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they begin to even weep freely upon Paul and the things that are about to happen. But look at Paul's

encouragement to these elders. He knelt down and prayed with them all. What do we need of elders in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ? We need men who are men of prayer.

Friend I want you to think about this. I want you to think about great men of the Bible, and I want you to think about a constant quality that each one of those men possess.

For example, I want you to think about Daniel. You know we hear about Daniel. We talk about his life. We talk about you know Daniel being thrown into the lion's den and all that Daniel suffered and faced. What made Daniel such a great man of God? Daniel was a man of prayer. He knelt down three times daily as was his custom from early days- even when he was told by the people of that day ‘if you pray to your God you're going to go to the lion's den.’ Daniel said ‘there's a window that's the direction of my Jerusalem. I'm praying toward my God.’ He did that, and he wasn't afraid to.

You watch other people like Ezra and like Nehemiah. You read those books great men of God working during difficult times. Anything will happen in Ezra and Nehemiah; they were down on their knees praying to God. Then of course the chief Shepherd for every elder to follow Jesus Christ, great man of prayer. You look in Mark 1:35. “In the morning a great while before daylight Jesus departed went to a solitary place there prayed.” The time of miracles at the time of feeding the 5000, at times of great conflict, at times when He realized He just needed God's help more than He could even begin to imagine probably, Jesus prayed. Think about the greatest conflict of all maybe in the garden. Matthew 26, Jesus struggling you know and we read in Hebrews 2:14 that he can relate to us because he became flesh and blood as well and suffered the things we suffered. He suffered. He faced those things in the garden. “Father if it's possible let this cup pass from me, not My will but thine be done.” You talk about a great example of prayer! Jesus is that pattern of prayer!

When we think about elders in the Lord's church, and the great work that they are to do, they need to be men of prayer. We want people who will pray for the growth of the Lord's church. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature.” We want to hear elders who are willing to pray that evangelism will be successful, that will find good ways and means to do that, and who are really

concerned about the salvation of the lost. We want to hear men who pray when they pray for the Lord's church, elders who pray for the safety and concern of the local congregation. You know to hear them pray for you and for me, to realize they're thinking about our soul, and of that in and of itself is a motivating factor to it. That ought to encourage each one of us to strive to live and to do right and to know what God wants us to know and to do.

So we think about these qualities, and we think about the awesome work of an elder in the Lord's church. As I think about this, I'm reminded again of the words of Hebrews 13:17 except it's the last part of that that I really think about. In summation of all the life and work of an elder, I want you to listen to these words in Hebrews 13. I want you to ask yourself, if you are member of Lord's church in the local congregation, are you doing your part to make this happen? Listen to Hebrews 13:17 again. “Obey those who rule over you and be submissive for they watch out for your souls, as those we must give account.” Now listen to this. Am I doing my part to make this happen? “Let them do so with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you.” As a member the Lord's church the body of Christ, am I letting the elders do the work they need to do with joy?

Listen very carefully, we mean this with as much kindness as we can muster, but there are people in the body of Christ who are constantly complaining, who are constantly down on the elders, who are constantly a discouragement to the eldership in the local congregation- don't let that be you.

Friend I understand you may not, in expedient matters not talking about in doctrine, but in expedient matters the decision may not been made the way you thought it ought to be. That's not your decision to make. Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey those who rule over you.” We're not talking about false doctrine or teaching. We're talking about matters of expediency the functioning of God's word. It may not be exactly like I would like for it be on every decision, but you know what I'm glad there are good elders in the Lord's church. I'm glad they're putting our souls first. I'm glad they're striving to do evangelism.

Let's do our part to make their work a joy. Make it profitable. If I'm constantly complaining and murmuring and can't be satisfied, friend that work of the Lord's church is not going to be what God wants it to be.

A powerful example here. Do you remember during the times of Moses leading the people out of the land of Canaan? You know Moses begins to lead them, and they've gone through they'd seen all the miracles. They've gone through the Red Sea. They’re getting fed from heaven every night Manna. God's taking care of them. What did the people began to do? The people following the great leader Moses, they began to complain. They began to murmur, and they began to say ‘what did you do bring us out here to kill us? Oh that we were back by the flesh pots in Egypt.’ You know what happened because of that? That generation didn't see the Promised Land.

Isn't there a great lesson to be taught in that? God despises murmuring and complaining among His people.

The encouragement for elders is: do the work of God faithfully. The encouragement for the members of the local congregation is: help them to do that with joy.

Let's each strive to be the type of Christian we ought to be.

Friend we want the church to prosper. We want the gospel to be spread. We want souls to be saved.

Let's do our part to be the kind of people. God wants us to be.

Let's encourage the members and the elders in the local congregation to do the work of God with great joy.

Study Questions for: “Elders: Lesson 2”

1. According to Acts 20:28, who must elders take heed to?

2. Who made elders overseers according to Acts 20:28?

3. According to Acts 20:28, who purchased the church? How?

4. In Galatians 5:4-6, what had the people fallen from?

5. According to Romans 6:1, should we continue in sin for grace to abound?

6. What are elders commended to according to Acts 20:32?

7. According to John 12:48, what will judge man?

8. How do we reject Jesus according to John 12:48?

9. What must we do to show ourselves approved unto God?

10. According to 1 Peter 3:15, what must we always be ready to do?

To the young preacher Timothy the apostle Paul said, “Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering and teaching,” 2 Timothy 4:2.

We welcome you to our study of the life and work of a gospel preacher. We encourage you to locate your Bible and stay tuned as we're going to look at this very encouraging study together.

As we examine the life and the work of the gospel preacher, what an awesome privilege it is to proclaim the message of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Paul said, “I thank God who enabled me to preach the gospel,” 1 Timothy 1:11-12. It is a privilege, and it's an awesome responsibility to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ.

What is the life and the work of a gospel preacher all about? What makes up the qualities of a good minister of Jesus Christ? 1 Timothy 4:12-16.

We're going to think about those qualities in the life of a gospel preacher today again from the address that Paul gives to the elders in Ephesus as a preacher in Acts 20:18.

Notice the first quality from the life and work of a gospel preacher.

Paul says, “A gospel preacher first and foremost must live an exemplary life before all people.” Listen to Acts 20:18. Paul says of his own life, ‘You know from the first day that I came to Asia in what manner I always lived among you.’ You know as people thought about Paul, and as they thought about his work, as they thought about maybe some of the things he suffered, there's one thing in Asia that Paul says stood out. ‘You know the kind of life I've tried to live.

Paul's not being haughty. He's not saying he's perfect. He's not saying that he never sinned. That's not what he's saying, but he's saying ‘I've done my best. I've tried in every way to live as an example for Jesus Christ.’ Isn't that how every Christian and especially every gospel preacher ought to live? The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:12 ‘be an example to the believers in word in conduct in faith in spirit in purity.” In all those things Paul encourages the young preacher Timothy. Be an example in everything you do. Make sure you live an exemplary life before the people of God and before the world.

Now think about it this way with me. Let's say that Paul had been in Asia and let's say that Paul hadn't lived like he ought to live. Let's say that he's teaching against immorality, or he's teaching against some kind of problem sin or lying-whatever it may be-drunkenness-whatever it may be- and people in their own mind begin to think: ‘You know, I heard Paul say that, but then I saw something that didn't match up with that.’ Maybe I saw Paul do something that wasn't honest, or maybe I saw him involved in some kind of immorality. We hear him preach about it, and we hear him talk about it and that's great-but we look at his life and he doesn't even believe that.

Now we know Paul didn't do that. But can you imagine the kind of hypocritical impact something like that would have? That's why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 “I discipline my body. I buffet my body and bring it into subjection.” Why? “Lest when I've preached to others I myself should become a castaway.”

As a gospel preacher, as a Bible class teacher, as a one who is working trying to save souls and evangelist make sure that your life lines up with what you're teaching. Don't be hypocritical. Really live what you preach and what you teach. When people see that, they can see the two

match up. You know what they say. They say ‘He really believes that. We know he does because he's trying his best to live it.’

A second aspect that relates to the life and work of a gospel preacher mentioned from Paul's address to the elders at Ephesus is this: gospel preachers have got to consider themselves servants of the Lord. Listen to Acts 20:19 Paul says this little phrase, “serving the Lord with all humility.” Now we'll talk about humility in a moment. Notice he simply identifies that part of his work is serving the Lord. As a minister, as an evangelist, as a Bible class teacher- whatever it may be-you're a servant of the Lord. No greater work could you have than that. Remember: “The first will be last, last will be first.” Those who serve are going to be greatest in the kingdom.

There was some bickering in the sight of bickering and complaining among the disciples of Jesus in Mark chapter 10. They're arguing over who's going to be first and who's going to have the chief seat, and who's going to sit you know on the throne in essence. Jesus said this in Mark 10:45 to show the prime example, premier example. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”

You know if we're not careful, it's easy to think that ‘well preachers ought to be served.’ No, that's not the way it ought to be. Preachers are servants. Preachers are ministers of God designed to help God's people, designed to preach the gospel, designed to live the kind of life that they ought to live. First and foremost, they're servants. I want you to listen again to what Paul said in 1 Timothy chapter 4. I want you to listen to these words in verse number 12. Paul tells Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth but be an example to the believers in word in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.” An example let no one despise your youth. Timothy had some things against him, a little bit, already. He was young and people might've wanted to hold that against him. Paul said “Let no one despise your youth. Here's what you need to do: be an example.” Example of what? Service, word, conduct, faith, love, spirit, purity, and all those things he needed to be the type of servant that God needs.

Friend that's what God wants of me and you ultimately. I'm a servant of God. Secondarily, I'm a servant of others as well who are worshiping and trying to serve God. I want to do what I can to help them. You know sometimes I see people, and they want to exalt others especially maybe

some in places of leadership. They want to exalt them and kind of put them on a pedestal. We're servants right down there with everybody else. There is no big me and little you or little me and big you. We all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross, and all of us are servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nobody deserves to be exalted over anybody else inside the family and the people of Almighty God.

Now a third quality, and this is directly tied in to Acts 20:19, is this: the apostle Paul, as he talks about his work, says realizing that we are serving the Lord, Acts 20:19, with all humility. What's the work of the gospel preacher? What's his lifestyle? What are one of the qualities and characteristics he's to possess? Well he's to serve the Lord with all humility of heart-not to be haughty or proud. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction the haughty spirit before a fall.” We're not to think more highly of ourselves then we ought to. As Paul says in Romans chapter 12, “Rather we're to serve the Lord with humility.” You know when you think of having that humility of heart, we realize that ultimately God's the creator. Ultimately Jesus Christ is the Lord and the master and that I simply have the privilege to serve Him, and I do that out of humility. I do that out of humbleness of heart, because I know how much God's done for me. I know how much God's done for each one of us. You know look at what He gave. Look at what He sacrificed. Look at how much He loves us. Look at how He takes care of us every day. When I look at all that, you know I feel quite like the psalmist in Psalm chapter 8. Do you ever feel this way? Don't you sometimes feel like saying “What is man that you are mindful of him or the Son of Man that you care for Him?” You know when we talk about a humbling idea, it's the fact that the God, who spoke this world into existence, the God who continually provides and cares for His own has chosen to do that for me and you. Friend how humbling it is to know that the God of heaven cares for each one of us! Just as a humbling is this, to be placed in the position to given the awesome privilege to be a gospel preacher and evangelist, a mission worker. Friend you can't have a more a humbling experience than that to know you have the privilege to proclaim the words that have the power to save souls.

We desperately then need to serve the Lord with humility of heart- not proudness, not haughtiness, not ‘I'm better than others.’ No, with humility realizing it is an awesome privilege and awesome responsibility to serve God and to serve others in that capacity.

All right let's talk a little bit more about the life and work of the gospel preacher. Here's one of the things that Paul will also identify as something preachers have to realize. Realize that in serving God faithfully, you might have to do that, well you probably will have to do that, in the midst of trials each of us face. Listen to Acts 20:19 again. “Serving the Lord with all humility,” now listen to this “with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews.” Now you take yourself and put yourself in Paul's shoes for just a moment. Paul had been a ringleader of the Jews. He'd been one of the Jewish elite trained at the feet of Gamaliel. Great servant of what he thought was God trying to do what was right, and yet he was living in the wrong way. Jesus confronts him in Acts 9. He makes 180° turn. Now the one who was the persecutor is the one who is the preacher of the message of Jesus Christ. Because of that the Jews want to kill him. Because of that they bounce rocks off his head. In Acts 14 they beat him, and he's abandoned, shipwrecked. He faced a lot of trials and persecution even in prison and goes to Caesar himself. Why? Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Friend let's realize that as a gospel preacher, any Christian really, but even for preaching the gospel, it may be the case that we have to face persecution and trials. Now don't let this catch you off-guard okay, because God had already promised us that had he not. 2 Timothy 3:12 “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Here's what Paul said after they had bounced rocks off his head in Acts 14. Paul arose in essence, dusted himself up got up off, got up, and said “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God,” Acts 14:22.

It is going to be the case if you stand for truth; certain people are not going to like that. If we stand up against false teaching, people may say things about us that are not true. People may try to do things that are not right if we stand up against certain moral sins. Hey the immoral world's not going to like that, and you've got to know it ahead of time. If we oppose things even inside the body of Christ that are not like they ought to be, you're going to ruffle some feathers sometimes. Friend if you teaching truth, you're doing it with humility of heart, you're trying to serve the Lord and stand behind the word of God, let's realize I know ahead of time as a gospel preacher serving God faithfully means I've got to do that in the midst of the trials. Here's the key idea here. When Paul faced those trials, he

didn't throw in the towel. Hey you know he was beaten. Paul was a he was stoned. He didn't die, but he was he was taken put in prison multiple occasions. Why? Because he taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet in all of that Paul didn't give up. There could've been moments where Paul felt like throwing in the towel. There could've been moments where Paul felt like it was too much. Hey he may have at times could've felt like Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:9. Where Jeremiah's put in the dungeon. Jeremiah is beaten, and he says to himself ‘I'm not going to speak about the Lord of God anymore, not going to speak in His name anymore.’ Jeremiah said, ‘His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I was weary of forbearing it, and could not.’ It couldn't be contained. Friend you can see that in the life of Paul. Just make a note ahead of time. Yeah, I'm going to have to suffer. I might have to face some things. There may be trials and persecutions that come from being a servant of the Lord, but friend that's okay. If that's all I have to do on behalf of my Lord, then I can chalk that up as something good.

How do we know that? Do you remember Acts 5:42? Here Peter and John and they've been beaten. They've been put in prison for preaching the name of Jesus. They're now let out, and the Bible says and they counted themselves worthy. They counted it a joy to suffer in the name of Jesus. From in every house and from in the temple and from house to house, they ceased not teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. They counted a mere joy to suffer for their Lord and God and their teacher and Master Jesus Christ and so must we today.

Alright another principle that relates to the life and work of a gospel preacher is mentioned from Paul in Acts chapter 20. We have got to teach and preach the whole counsel of God. Listen to Acts 20:20. Paul says to the elders at Ephesus, “I want you remember this how I kept back nothing that was helpful but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house.” Then he says in Acts 20:27 “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

What makes a good gospel preacher? Friend, anybody can stand up and say the things that are popular, the things that are fun to talk about, the things that everybody agrees with, but preaching the whole counsel of God is a lot different. Oh people may stand behind when we preach on things like prayer and know that we need to pray. People may stand behind it

when we preach on encouraging one another and joy in Christianity and things that everybody in the world agrees with. When we begin to preach against sin, began to preach about immorality, when we preach about ungodliness, or false doctrine, and begin to point out the specifics of that may not be quite as easy to preach the whole counsel of God then. That's what's required of us. If I'm going to be a preacher, I can't be a hireling. If I'm going to be a preacher, I can't be somebody who's just going to say everything that makes-it's not we're not talking about a good after dinner speech. Okay? We're talking about the whole counsel of God.

Listen again to 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word.” What do you mean Paul? “Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” You know that phrase ‘in season and out of season,’ I believe it was gospel preacher of preacher Marshall Keeble who said it this way: that means when they like it and when they don't like it. Friend we've got to preach the whole counsel of God regardless of how people may feel or not feel about that. We've got to preach it anyway. You know you think about the prophets Isaiah. He wasn't always received well. Ezekiel wasn't received well. Jeremiah, Daniel a multiple of the Minor Prophets faced severe persecution. But those men are held up as prime examples for us, because they preached the whole counsel of God.

That's what we must do as well. 1 Peter 4:11 “Speak as the oracles of God.” Don't say to yourself ‘You know I will be the type of preacher that everybody likes me.’ “Woe to you when all men speak well of you,” Jesus said in Luke 6. ‘I going to be the type a preacher that's popular, and nobody ever disagrees with me.’ That's not possible. You know, you may be popular. People may like the preaching the gospel, but they're going to be times when people may not appreciate the whole, the totality. Some things that hit on you know right in the heart and changes need to be made, and sometimes they take it out on the messenger instead of actually dealing with the message.

Now let's mention this also part of the life and work of the gospel preacher is that he has the responsibility to teach God's word publicly and from house to house. You know when we think about a preacher, we're not necessarily talking about somebody standing behind a pulpit. That may be part of it, but the word for preacher is more than wearing what we think of

as a suit and tie and standing behind a pulpit twice a week and delivering a 30 25 30 minute speech, sermon. It's more than that. Preachers and teachers of God's word and all Christians really need to teach God's word publicly and from house to house. Listen again to Acts 20:20 Paul says “I have proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly and from house to house.” Again we're reminded of the example Acts 5:42. “They counted themselves worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus and daily in the temple,” there's publicly, “and from house to house they ceased not preaching and teaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Friend don't get me wrong, I believe in the power of the spoken word of God at any time. But sometimes, not always, but sometimes the most effective work you can do is sitting across the table from somebody on a one on one level and studying the Bible- opening up the Scriptures, talking about the message of Jesus, and trying to make practical application right there in a one-on-one setting. We see multiple conversions throughout the New Testament that happened just that way. So let's not think to ourselves, ‘I'm going to be a preacher. I'm going to have a big library. I'm going to have an office. I'm going to sit in there all week, and I'm going to prepare sermons. I'm going to teach Bible.’ That may be part of it, but let's realize outside the walls of that office and on many times outside the walls of the Lord's church, the building anyway, there's a whole world that desperately needs to be saved. They may not want to some of them may not do it, but I've got the responsibility or privilege of trying to do just that.

Another aspect in the life and work of a gospel preacher is that he has the responsibility to preach and teach God's plan of salvation to all people. Listen to Acts 20:21 as part of Paul's work both publicly and from house to house he says this “testifying or proclaiming to Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” What is it Paul is proclaiming here? The gospel plan of salvation. Friend there's a whole lot of things we could preach, but if we never get down to the nitty-gritty, if we never get down to the real nuts and bolts of it, we're not teaching the gospel plan of salvation like we ought to.

You know I've heard a lot of I've heard a lot of good sermons, but I've heard some that fell short of telling people exactly what they needed to do to get their life right with God. I understand that may not be the case that every sermon that can work out that way. You can surely try can surely try,

especially when there are people in the audience who've never heard about the plan of salvation. We sure want to try to work that into God's message. We want to try to preach the gospel as far and as wide as we can.

Romans 1:16 Paul said “I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Why? “It's the power of God unto salvation to all those who believe to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Mark 16:15 Jesus said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel unto every creature.”

Friend as we think about God's message of salvation, as we think about that plan of salvation, what a wonderful plan it is! Have you thought about how much our God loves you? How deeply He loves you? The Bible says, listen to this, “God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” That's how much God loves you and me- so much so He sent His Son to die so that we could have the hope of eternal life. “He, Himself, Jesus himself bore our sins in His own body upon the tree, that we having died to sin might live for righteousness by whose stripes we are healed,” 1 Peter 2:24.

Friend we ask you today, have you taken advantage of the salvation that Jesus has made available?

When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper in the passing of the fruit of the vine He said this to His disciples, He said “This is my blood of the new covenant shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Have you had your sins forgiven? If not, then friend the Bible clearly teaches exactly how to do that. On the great day of Pentecost they heard about Jesus as the Messiah. Then they were taught what to do to make that right. Peter said in Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins.” To people who heard it, believed in the message, no doubt acknowledged Jesus as Savior. They were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.

Friend we encourage you today do exactly the same thing they did in the New Testament. If you're not a child of God, we want you to know how much God loves you. We want you to know that that God has a way to save you. That way is Jesus Christ. Jesus said “I'm the way the truth and

the life no man comes to the Father except by me.”

Maybe there are things that are keeping you from doing that. Friend whatever those things are maybe it's maybe it's some problem you're dealing with, maybe it's maybe some family issues you're struggling with,: friend I promise you: you'll find more help when you become a Christian, when you decide to change your life in Christ than you ever have outside of Him.

Help is offered to God's people. If there are things are keeping you from obeying the gospel, we're urging you today get those things out of the way, whatever it may be, so that your life can be right with God.

Listen carefully; Jesus made the great promise in Matthew 11:28 and what an encouraging promise it is! Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden. I'll give you rest. My yoke is easy my burden is light.”

Friend have you come to Christ to have those burdens relieved? Have you really found that rest that Jesus wants to offer?

If not our plea is very simple, we're begging you in view of the love of God in view of the brevity of life, won't you become a child of God?

If you've never done that and you'd like to study more, you'd like to talk about it, we’d love to help you with that.

Whatever your need is we beg you to make it right while we have time and while we have opportunity.

Study Questions for: “Preachers: Lesson 1”

1. How did Paul tell Timothy to preach in 2 Timothy 4:2?

2. What did Paul thank God for in 1 Timothy 1:11-12?

3. How must a preacher live before all according to Acts 20:18?

4. According to 1 Timothy 4:12, how should the preacher be an example?

5. Why did Jesus say He came in Mark 10:45?

6. According to Acts 20:19, preachers are to serve the Lord with all what?

7. What does Proverbs 16:18 tell us about pride and the haughty spirit?

8. According to 2 Timothy 3:12, what will those who desire to live Godly suffer?

9. Must we teach the whole counsel of God according to Acts 20:20?

10. According to Romans 1:16, why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

To the young gospel preacher Timothy the aged evangelist Paul said, “Take heed to yourselves and to the doctrine continue in them, for in so doing you will save both yourself and all those who hear you,” 1 Timothy 4:16.

We welcome you to our final study in the life and work of a gospel preacher.

As always we encourage you to locate your Bible and let's study together as we think about this good subject.

What is a gospel preacher really like?

In our previous lesson we noted some of the principles Paul laid out in his address to the Ephesian elders.

Today we continue with that idea identifying what makes a good evangelist, a good preacher of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We began with this very important principle gospel preachers must realize: don't let the trials and tribulations we face keep us from preaching the gospel.

Look at Acts 20:24. Paul has talked about some of the things he's dealt with, some of the persecution that's going on in, and as he thinks about that here's what he says. He says “But none of these things move me.” What do you mean Paul? ‘I'm not giving up on Christ because of

them. I'm not going to quit preaching the gospel. I'm not going to say it's too much. I'm throwing in the towel. None of these things move me.’ Move you away from what Paul? From standing foursquare for Jesus, from proclaiming with boldness: ‘Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life,’ from standing up to error, from preaching to the Jews that no longer the law of Moses, but it's through Christ you can be saved. Paul says ‘I don't care what happens to me. I'm not going to move away from teaching Jesus as the truth and the only way of salvation.’

Friend regardless of what happens to us, we may be mocked. Don't get me wrong people, are going to you stand up and preach the truth on certain things people are going to make fun of you? They’re going to say you’re weird. Your way’s outdated. They're going to say that's no longer up-to-date. They're going to say that's crazy. They're going to say that's wrong. Just stand up and preach the truth. You may be mocked for preaching that. Worse may even happen. There may come a point in time where we face physical persecution. There may come a point time in our country, if things continue at the rate down the path they're going now, where we're actually have to face prison time for preaching the truth about Jesus and God's principles about morals. How should I look at all that? None of these things move me in essence. So what if that happens? I want to keep preaching and keep doing what I'm preaching and doing.

Let me share with you a passage in which Paul really illustrated this idea. 1 Corinthians 9 I want you to listen to what Paul said in verse 16. Here are Paul’s words 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul said “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of for necessity is laid upon me yes. Woe is me if I preach not the gospel.” Why is it that Paul could say none of these things move me? Paul said in essence ‘woe is me if I preach it not.’ I'm not going to give up preaching it. I need to consider what'll happen if I don't preach it as a Christian. I have been commissioned to tell others about Jesus.

Now let's say I get in a difficult situation. Let's say, I know if I say this persecution is coming. Because of cowardice, I don't say it. “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel.” Hey I'm way more-don't take this the wrong way-but I'm way more respectful and fearful of God than I am of anything men could do to me. We think about the power of God and the blessing of preaching the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let's not let tribulation and

trials keep us from preaching that,

Second principle we want to emphasize today is that as a gospel preacher as an evangelist we must never value the physical and the worldly things of this day over the spiritual and important things of this life.

Let me illustrate it this way. Paul says again in Acts 20:24 “None of these things move me.” Now listen to this “Nor do I count my life dear to myself.” Paul did not value the physical over the spiritual. Now friend I'll assure you, Paul meant exactly what he said. His life was proof of that. Paul was imprisoned. He was beaten. He was stoned. He was shipwrecked in the sea. He was even willing to go all the way to the Roman Caesar himself and stand and give a defense of Christianity. He didn't care whether his head was taken off. He didn't care whether he was stoned or beaten or even had to face death. Paul didn't value the physical and the worldly over the spiritual and the really important matters of this life.

Now let me illustrate it another way. In Philippians 1:19-22 the apostle Paul would say ‘I'm in a rock and a hard place in essence. I'm caught between the two.’ He said here's what I'm in between he said “I desire to be apart I desire to part and be with Christ, which is far better, but to stay with you is more helpful.” He said ‘I really can't tell exactly what going to happen, but I know this for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.’

Friend as a gospel preacher, as an evangelist, and really as any Christian we've got to realize the physical and the fleshly must never take precedence over the spiritual matters of this life that are so important. You know the sad thing is sometimes for all of us, it does sometimes. We let, you know, things of this world the allurements, the attractions, the desires, the things are so much fun, the fleshly lust sometimes, sometimes we let those become our focus. We've got to realize what's really important in this life.

Now here are two questions I think that will really help us that will really help us set our house in order. I want to listen to Jesus’ words in Mark 8:36-37. Here are two rhetorical questions He asked: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world loses his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Have you ever stopped and really analyzed those questions? What is it going to profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul, in essence? Let's say you had the wealth of, you know whoever Bill Gates and Ross Perot combined, and on the judgment day you heard these words “Depart from me you worker of iniquity. I never knew you.” What would all that wealth really matter at that moment in time? At that second when God said “Depart from me,” and you are ushered into eternal fire in hell, how much would that wealth and stuff and junk matter at that moment in time? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Let's say you get to the judgment scene of God and maybe you've not lived or I've not lived like we ought to. God says to us “No you didn't live this way. You didn't obey the gospel. You didn't stay faithful. You say it ‘God hold on just a minute now. I've got all this gold back here. I can trade you for it.’ What will a man give in exchange for his soul? The point is nothing! Our soul, the spiritual, must take precedence over the physical and especially in the life and work of a gospel preacher.

You know you may not have the nicest things in this life. You may not have the finest home. You may not have the finest cars. You may not have as much stuff as you know some people in and in you may not saying you won't but in those things and so is not wrong. That's not where our focus needs to be. We need to make sure that we stay focused on the spiritual-not on the physical-which is indeed a challenge for each and every one of us. The devil and this old world and the temptations of it make it very alluring. I've got to make sure I keep my priorities right where they need to be.

Then as a part of the life and work of a gospel preacher, we must never ever give up on the ministry of the word of Almighty God. Listen to Acts 20:24 again. Why is it that Paul would say none of these things move me nor do I count my life dear to myself? Why'd Paul say that? Here's why: “So that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul could say those things because he didn't want to give up on the ministry of the word and the end result that came with that. Friend it's the preaching of the gospel that really ought to take precedent. “Preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season.” Paul could say all those things because he knew that he was going to have that home in heaven that God had promised him as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Don't give up on the ministry of the work. Yeah there may be difficult times. Yeah there may be challenges. It may not always be easy. People may not stand up for you. You know you may have to face certain things, but will it be worth it in the end?

Friend it absolutely will! To hear those words “Well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord,” nothing could compare with that. Paul said “I consider the sufferings of this present day there are not worthy be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” in Romans chapter 8. That's a beautiful idea! For Paul said, “Heaven is really going to be worth it all.”

Another principle that we want to emphasize about the life and work of a gospel preacher is these people, these ministers, these gospel preachers, those of us who preach the word, we've got to make sure that we're innocent of the souls of all men by teaching the whole counsel of God to them. Now let me illustrate it this way. Acts 20:26-27 Paul says this “Therefore I testify to you this day. I am innocent of the blood of all men for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Now friend I understand as well as you do the people are going to give an account for themselves on the Day of Judgment. Romans 14:12, “So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.” But I also realize this “Let not many of you become teachers knowing we shall receive a stricter judgment,” James 3:1. Why are we going to receive a stricter judgment? Because we're proclaiming the word of God and the way and attitude and means in which we do that will also be brought into effect. If I know somebody, if I know that I ought to be teaching all this, and I only teach parts of it because of the persecution or the pressure that it might bring, can I really say I'm innocent of the blood of all men?

Let's illustrate it this way. Do you remember two texts in the book of Ezekiel? You got it in Ezekiel chapter 3 and in Ezekiel chapter 33. You've got this illustration and the illustration is a very vividly or vivid one. There's a man who's given the position of the watchman. During the time of military conquest and conquering, you have the walled city and in that city you've got a tower, and there's a man placed in that. His responsibility is to stay up whenever body goes to bed and to watch and make sure that the enemy and their armies aren't approaching. If they are, he's to ring the bell.

Everybody wakes up and be ready for war. Now you got this watchman, let's say he sees the enemy coming, and he knows there's about to be an attack. He does nothing. Well the person, the people, who die are going to die in their own sin and iniquity, Ezekiel 33 says. You know what God said about that watchman? “His blood I'll require at your hand.”

Now look at the positive side of that. Let's say the watchman's up there he sees the enemy coming. He rings the bell. He sounds the sound. People still die in their own sin. They're going to give account of their own blood, but the watchman's been freed of that. What's the principal there? If we don't say and preach and teach the whole counsel of God, friend there'll be a lot of reckoning on the Day of Judgment we'll have to give an account for. Now do we do it unkindly? That's not what we're saying. We want to preach the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15. We want to say with compassion, with kindness, with goodness, and with the right motive and attitude exactly what God wants us to say and speak and to do the totality of that. Friend if we don't say it, that's when we need to fear.

Now let's say I know somebody. Let's say we're teaching on the subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. I know there's a situation where somebody's not in a right marriage. That situation begins to play itself over and over in my mind to the point that I'm know will not willing to say what Jesus taught and said about marriage, divorce, and remarriage. If I don't preach and say that, can I really say I'm innocent of the blood of all men, if I don't say what God has said? Have I warned? Have I taught? Have I tried to encourage those who might be in sin?

The practical applications may be myriad, but we need to realize that's the responsibility. Maybe many ways we can apply this, but the responsibility first and foremost is to be innocent of the blood of all men by proclaiming the whole counsel of Almighty God.

Another part of the life and work of a gospel preacher is we must never be covetous for other people's belongings.

Listen to what Paul said in Acts 20:33. Paul said very simply “I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.” You know as we've already mentioned the wound we have been all blessed by God. God here's what God's promised, God's promised to take care of us. We recognize that

Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Now everybody may not have the same thing. It's possible that somebody may have something that I think I need, or something that I want, or maybe even something that I think would make life easier for me; and because they've got that and I don't it could be easy to begin to get jealous or began to be covetous. Why isn't my house that good? Why don't I have a nice car? Why don't I have these things? It could come to the point where you think ‘hey I deserve that, and I need that. I want that, and I ought to be able to get that.’ Paul didn't feel that way. Paul said “I've coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.” A gospel preacher must be careful that he doesn't say to himself ‘Why hasn't God blessed me like so-and-so? Or why hasn't God given me these things?’

Friend if we're really serving the Lord, we need to do as Paul did and say “I've learned to be content in whatever state I'm in,” 1 Timothy 6.

Now let me give you the backdrop to not being covetous. And here's the really the key idea and it's found in Hebrews 13. I want you to notice what the Scripture says in verse 5 following. The Bible says “Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have.” Why? “For He Himself, God Himself has said ‘I'll never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Now when you think about that passage, let your life be without covetousness. Be content with such things as you have. For the Lord said “I'll never leave you nor forsake you.” Here's the here's really the emphasis that the Hebrew writer's trying to make.

Why is it I must never be covetous of anything anybody else's got? Because I have the one thing that is more important than all else. You know for long time I think I missed the point that passage, and I think it's this: Christians should never be covetous because they have one thing that is supreme to all else. What do we have? The Lord. The Lord has said “I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. Therefore we can boldly say, ‘Here's what I've got.’ Here's what I can say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

If you've got God, what else can you have? What else can you not have maybe is the right question? If God is for us who can be against us? With God all things are possible. I can do all things through Christ who

strengthens me, Philippians 4:13. There's no need to get caught up in the that the stuff in the and the junk and the things of this life that often have the potential to pull us away from God. If we've got God we've got it all. “Cast all your cares upon Him. He cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:7.

Let's mention another principle that is identified as part of the life and work of a gospel preacher. It's also found in this address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:34. Paul says to himself, as a gospel preacher and all preachers everywhere really, ‘Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty.’

Listen to these words. Paul said, “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me.” What in essence is Paul saying? Paul's saying I wasn't afraid to work. I wasn't afraid to get hands dirty. There's a shovel that needs to be picked up and worked with these hands can do it. There's a hammer that needs to be used. I can do it. He was not afraid to get his hands dirty whether it meant physical work to support himself or physical work that was required in service to our God.

As a Christian we've got to realize, and as especially gospel preachers, we've got to realize that we shouldn't be lazy that you know work might need to be done. If there's work that needs be done, hey let's do it. I'm here to help. I'm here to serve. I can work just as good as anybody else. Let me get out there and help as well, that's the mindset and the attitude that we ought to have. Listen to 2 Thessalonians 3. I want to show you how God feels about the person who is lazy and who really isn't willing to work. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says this. Paul said “Even when we were with you we commanded you this, if anyone will not work neither shall they eat.”

You know if somebody's hungry-what's the let me ask you this-what's the cure to hunger? I don't think a lot of people know the answer to that question. What's the cure to hunger? People say well the cure to hunger might be government cure to hunger, might be family, no you know what the cure to hunger is? Work. If man won't work neither shall he eat. If you're hungry, get a job and especially as it relates to the work of a gospel preacher-get your hands dirty go out and do the work of God. Get busy. Don't be afraid to help people and do things that might open doors for evangelism. Hey somebody who's lazy, who wants to be around a person

like that? Somebody always wants to bum off you. I knew a gospel preacher one time was real bad to want to bum of other people, who was real bad to think people kind of owed him something, and he'd go over and show up at people's house wanting a free meal all the time, and just kind of think people owed him that. Somebody's cooking and say ‘I ought to show up over there and eat because they ought to feed me.’ Wait minute now. If you want to eat, work. You know take care yourself, work with your own hands. Don't be lazy and expect that from other people. Do the work of God and stay busy in the kingdom of our God.

Just a couple of other things that Paul mentions that are extremely important as it relates to the life and work of a gospel preacher. We mention this: as gospel preachers we want to be encouragers and strengtheners of those who may be weak in the faith. Just like with the work of an elder, gospel preachers have the ability and privilege to encourage and strengthen those who may be weak in the faith. Paul says in Acts 20:35 “I've shown you in every way by laboring like this that you must support the weak.”

Friend let's do what we can do to encourage. Hey there's a whole lot of discouragement in the work. You want to see discouragement? Turn the news on today. You know you don't have to look very far to see a lot of problems, a lot of things that are discouraging, a lot of calamity, and trouble in the world.

As gospel preachers, let's do our best to encourage and strengthen those who need help.

Another principle to notice is we want to realize that as a gospel preacher we also need to recognize the privilege of being a very giving person. Remember again the words of Jesus in Acts 20:35. He said “It's more blessed to give than it is to receive.” You know, as we've said, you may not have every nice thing or ever fine thing or everything anybody else's got. But if you've given yourself to the Lord, you've given yourself to the preaching of the gospel, and you have given your life in the service of the salvation of souls- my friend what greater reward could there be on the day of judgment than to know that the impact of the preaching of the gospel through you, as a human tent as an individual, has helped people go to heaven? What a great joy that in and of itself would be!

Then we mention this: just like with the elders, gospel preachers need to be men of prayer.

Remember what Paul did as he closed with the elders in Ephesus? There on the beach they knelt down and Bible says and when he'd said these things when he'd said all these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all, Acts 20:36. You know when we think about again, people in the Bible who stand out those are men and women of prayer. As we think about gospel preachers, Bible class teachers, evangelists, missionaries, you've got to be a person of prayer. Luke 18:1 said “Men ought always to pray and never lose heart.” James 5:16 says “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man overcomes much.” “Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-21. Realize this: we can come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find grace and mercy to help in time of need.

We don't always know exactly how every situation's going to work out. We might not know how every need is going to be met. We might not know exactly you know the wisdom with which we ought to approach something. But here's what we do know: the Bible says we can approach God in prayer and He can help. “Cast all your cares upon Him. He cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:7.

Friend what we want to close with today is fruit for each of us to know this: The God who wrote this Bible cares deeply for me and He cares deeply for you. He wants you and He wants me to live in heaven with Him for eternity. He wants that so much that He gave His most precious gift His own Son. The Bible says “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ though He was rich yet for your sakes, He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich.”

Jesus left that beautiful place called heaven, came to this land of sorrow and sin, lived among men, suffered as a man, died as a man, was resurrected, and now is reigning at the right hand of God. He said this: that each of us who are willing to follow Him, can have a home in heaven with Him one day. He's coming to claim His own.

Are you one of His own? Have you obeyed the gospel of Christ?

Do you believe Jesus is God's Son, John 8:24? Would you be willing to change your life and repent of things you know are not right and turn to God, Acts 3:19? Would you confess the beautiful name of Jesus before men, Romans 10:10? Would you to have your sins washed away be immersed in water, Acts 2:38?

Here's the clarity with which Jesus spoke on the plan of salvation: Jesus said “He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that does not believe shall be condemned,” Mark 16:16.

Friend if you've never obeyed the gospel, we're begging you today become a Christian.

Get your life right so that one day you can live in heaven for all eternity with Almighty God.

Study Questions for: “Preachers: Lesson 2”

1. In 1 Timothy 4:16, what did Paul tell Timothy to take heed to?

2. According to 1 Timothy 4:16, who will be saved by doing this?

3. According to Acts 20:24, did the trials move Paul?

4. What did Paul say about not preaching the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 9:16?

5. What did Paul say about dying for the cause of Christ in Philippians 1:19-22?

6. What 2 questions did Jesus ask in Mark 8:36-37?

7. In Romans 8 what does Paul say about the present sufferings?

8. According to Romans 14:12, who has to give an account of their life on the Judgment Day?

9. According to Ephesians 4:15, how shall we preach the truth?

10. What shall we do according to Matthew 6:33?

"And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man," Luke 2:52.

Welcome to our study of the gospel of Luke. As we think today about Luke and his message of Jesus as the ideal person, we think about Jesus' humanity and His deity combined as the Son of Man and Son of God, bringing salvation to the world.

The Gospel of Luke is unique from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on several different levels.

As you remember, the New Testament can be broken down into four unique categories. Matthew through John is what we refer to as the Gospel accounts. They tell us about the life of Christ, who He is, what He did, and how He ultimately suffered, died, and was resurrected for us.

The second category is the book of Acts. Acts is all about “what must I do to be saved?” and how one becomes a Christian, a child of God.

Then that third category, Romans through Jude, tells one now that you are a Christian, how do I live faithfully to the Lord? What is my daily life? What are my decisions? How do I live for Jesus each and every day?

Then that fourth category Revelation tells one how to die victoriously, and to ‘be faithful unto death’ (Rev 2:10).

Among the four accounts of the life of Christ, each of those is even unique. For example, Matthew is written to a Jewish audience which he is trying to convince, mainly from the Old Testament scriptures, that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy and King of the new kingdom. Mark is unique in that he is writing to a Roman audience and a Roman mind which is all about action and power and majesty. Mark tells us that Jesus has done all things well, He is that majestic one, Mark 7:37. John is different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in that it is not a chronological picture of the life of Jesus. It's more of a didactic. That is teaching gospel with the main theme; Jesus is the Son of God and then hand-picked evidence to prove that.

Luke is unique in that Luke is writing to what we believe is a Greek audience. The Greeks had this mentality of the ideal man. The Greeks were searching for ideal human being in every way. Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Homer's The Oddysey, and many of the Greek statues all depict great human specimens. The ideal human being for the Greeks was considered in perfection as intellect or wisdom, stature or physique, and is socially acceptable. Luke now adds another dimension to that. Luke writes to show Jesus, not only meets their criteria, but exceeds them and adds another dimension to the ideal human being. Jesus increased in favor with God.

Listen again to Luke 2:52: "Jesus increased in wisdom," there's intellect or wisdom, "stature," physically, "favor with God," there's that fourth dimension, "and man," socially. Luke adds that spiritual dimension in just as well to show that Jesus exceeds the ideal human being from the Greek standpoint and adds that spiritual dimension as well.

The keyword to the book of Luke is the word “Son of Man”. This occurs 23 times. Jesus is often referred to as the “Son of Man” showing His relationship, His humanity, and that "He was tempted at all points as we

are, yet without sin," Hebrews 4:15. Luke writes to show an orderly account so that men may know the certainty of the life of Christ.

Luke 1:1-4, much like the beginning of Acts 1, here we have the writer, writing to Theopolis to convince him of the certainty of the things Jesus said and did, to prove His humanity and His deity for all mankind.

Key verses, Luke 2:49. Jesus has got lost from the crowd, separated from the crowd, and even separated from his parents. They go searching for Him. They find Him in the temple. In Luke 2:49, when they question Jesus, in essence, ‘where have you been, why did you leave the family and your parents?’ Jesus said, "Did you not know I must be about my Father's business." That verse shows us the great mission and mindset of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In Luke 19:10, Luke records Jesus saying, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which is lost." Combine these two ideas; Jesus said I've got to be about the Father's business. Well what is the Father's business? Seeking and saving the lost.

Friend aren't you glad today that Jesus was about the Father's business? Aren't you thankful that Jesus came to seek and save the lost because that includes you and me? All of us at one time or another have indeed been lost.

For just a few moments, let's highlight some of the ideas; let's show some of the powerful passages, main images, and things that we find in the book of Luke. The rest of the lessons we'll go in more in detail some of these ideas.

What are some of the main ideas from Luke? Luke presents Jesus as the eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One who is of David, and fulfilled prophecy. Look in Luke 1:32-33. The scripture says of Jesus, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end." Here we see Jesus, of the lineage of David, this is the fulfilment of prophecy, (2 Sam

7:12-14). God promised and prophesied to David that one of his seed would reign over the house of Jacob forever. Well who is that?

Friend it's none other than the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is of the lineage of David, from Matthew 1; His Kingdom is that eternal Kingdom, Revelation 11:14-15. "And currently, presently, He is King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords," Revelation 19:16. "He is reigning at the right hand of the throne of God," Hebrews 1:4. Luke presents Jesus from the outset as that eternal King of the eternal Kingdom which is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mathew 16:18-19, Acts 2:47, and Mark 9:1.

Another powerful lesson that we learn from the Gospel of Luke is about the power of the Christian and his giving back to God. Stop for just a moment and think about all that God has done for us.

James 1:17 puts it like this, "Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of Lights with whom there is no shadow or variation of turning." Everything we have comes from the hand of almighty God, and in view of that Luke encourages us to be good givers to God. Luke 6:38 records Jesus as saying, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Here's a very graphic image about how we should give. The image may be that of some farmer out with a bushel about to go pick something in the field. For example, maybe you've been to a farm or a place where you bought a bushel of peas, and when you go out to buy those peas they tell you up front, "You take this basket, this bushel, and as much as you can get in it is this price." Well how would you do that? Would you just fill the bottom of it up? Well of course not, not and get your money's worth there. Would you fill it halfway up? No, that wouldn't be right either. Would you just put it almost to the top? No, you'd take that basket and you'd fill it up, you'd press it down, you'd shake it together, and you'd get as much in there as you can. That's the sense of how we ought to give.

“Give.” What do you mean? “Give and it'll be given to you. Press down, shaken together, running over, but put back into your bosom.” This is not a health and wealth gospel, but it shows that if we have the heart and the attitude that we want to give as we've been prospered, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Be a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7. Friend, you couldn't find any better cause in the world to give to than the cause of Christ and God's going to take care of his own who seek first the Kingdom, Matthew 6:33. They're not going to have to worry about food, shelter, and clothing. Luke encourages us to be good givers to the cause of Christ.

As we think about the book of Luke, we're also introduced to a very unique passage about baptism. One that I rarely hear used when we think about what about all these people who aren't baptized. What about those who reject baptism? I hardly ever hear this passage used, but it is a powerful one.

Look at Luke 7:28-30, the Bible records these words, "For I say to you among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him."

What do I learn about baptism and its significance and importance here? To fail to be baptized, correctly, for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38, in the right way by emersion, Mark 1:9-11, or to be baptized at all is a rejection of the will of God. Those who fail to be baptized, in this text we're told, that they rejected the will of God. God had said it and in essence they said, ‘no we're not going to do it.’ They were viewed as rebellious and rejecters of God's will.

Friend, baptism is indeed an essential part in God's plan of salvation. Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that does not believe shall be condemned," Mark 16:16. Jesus said, "Unless a man is born of water in the spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven," John

3:5. Peter said, "Baptism does now also save us," 1 Pet 3:21. In view of all that the scripture teaches, and these are just a sampling of the passages, but in view of everything the New Testament teaches, someone who says, "I was saved before baptism," or, "Baptism has no significance," or, "You can be baptized or not baptized, it doesn't make any difference." According to Luke 7:30, just like the Pharisees, that person is rejecting God's will from on high and will have to give an account of that on the day of judgement.

Let's turn our attention to another unique passage in the book of Luke and this is where we learn about the power of God's word.

You know when you think about the Bible, there are several images that show its power. For example, Hebrew 4:12 says, "The Word of God is alive and powerful." Well what do you mean living and powerful? Sharper than any two-edged sword, take a knife or a sword and sharpen that and it'll shave the hair right off your arm, the Word of God's sharper than that spiritually. The Word of God is that which by we're born again, 1 Peter 3:21-25. James said in James 1:21,"we're to receive with meekness the planted Word, here's the power of it, which is able to save your soul." Paul said the Gospel is God's power unto salvation.

Well how is it that the Word of God is so powerful? Here's how, the Word of God is that seed from which the Christian and Christianity springs forth. The scripture records of the Word of God very simply in Luke 8:11, "Now the parable is this, the seed is the Word of God." We're talking here about that which from life springs, that which from growth comes, that which from something that was maybe dead springs up again. How does someone who's lost in sin, Romans 3:23, someone who's headed down the path, "You who were dead in trespasses and sins, he has made alive," Ephesians 2:4- How does that happen?

It happens by the seed being planted in a good and honest heart. That's the context of Luke 8. You've got the four soils. The seed is the Word of God. It must have a good and honest heart, and then it can bring forth fruit to God in this life.

As we think about the Word of God, let's realize its power and potential. Let's also realize we've got to have the right soil. I've got to have a good and honest heart. I've got to be ready to receive it. I've got to be willing to make changes. I've got to break up any fallow ground. I've got to decide to put God first in each and every way in my life. Are we accepting the Word of God, are we putting it to use in our lives, is our soil ready to receive that which God gives?

Another powerful text in the book of Luke that kind of highlights one of the great messages in this account we ask, "Are you a Mary or are you a Martha?"

Now you're thinking what is a Mary or a Martha? Well let's hear the story from Luke 10:38-42. Notice Jesus uses this example. The Bible says, "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.’"

I hear this story, and I can see it from both sides. If you knew Jesus was coming to your home, I know what we would need to do first. We might want to straighten up. We might want to get something ready to serve Him. We might want to make a jug of tea or have some cookies there, or make sure everything's picked up in the house. Here you've got Martha, and she is distracted with much serving. It's almost humorous. We learn that Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus learning. Martha has the audacity to come to Jesus. Here you've got the sibling rivalry and some bickering going on. Martha comes and she says, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me - in essence - in the kitchen alone? And I'm out here doing all this serving. Tell her to help me also.’

Can you imagine saying that to Jesus? ‘Tell my sister to get up and come in here and help me fix these cookies or help me straighten up a little bit.’ Jesus said, " Martha, Martha, you're worried and distracted about many things," now listen to this, "one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her."

Both of these things were good. It's good to serve. It's good to sit at the feet of Jesus and study. If you could chose, which would you pick?

Jesus emphasized, "Martha, Mary's chosen the good part." Sitting here, studying, learning about salvation, not being busy and distracted with many things, that's not what's important. You need to focus on learning about me, learning about the way of salvation, and really giving yourself to the Word of God. Don't get so distracted by life, don't get so distracted maybe even with good things, serving others that you forget to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. That's the really important thing in this life.

Let's turn our attention now to another man in the Bible. There is another individual in the Bible who made a very poor choice. We learn about the rich fool in Luke 12:15-21.

Listen to these words, "Jesus said to him, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’” Then He spoke a parable to them saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. He thought within himself, saying, ‘what shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' So he said, ' I will do this: I will pull down, my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.’ I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’ But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

You can imagine this scenario. Well what's the problem with this man? His failure to factor God and his own soul into his decisions. He said, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger barns." What did God say to him? "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you."

What was the point? Like Martha, this man was distracted. He was distracted by his farming. He was distracted by his great crop year. He was distracted pulling down barns and building barns. You know what he forgot to do? Take care of his own soul. Here's the point Jesus makes, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God."

Friend, there's a very, very powerful lesson here, and it's this: my soul, your soul, Martha's soul, the rich man here's soul- that's the most important possession and treasure you've got.

Do you remember what Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37? "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" or, "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Friend, let's think honestly for a minute, I believe some people like Martha and like the rich fool intentionally busy themselves with so much stuff and junk in their lives that they just say: ‘I don't have time to think about that right now. I don't have time to study the Bible. I don't have time to think about my soul. I don't have time to think about eternity.’ God says to them, "You fool. And how do you know your soul won't be required of you tonight?" James 4:14 says, "What is your life? It's but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

We desperately need to make sure that we're right with God. The things of this world cannot please us in the end.

Do you remember the rich, young ruler in Mark 10? He came to Jesus and he said, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Great question in essence, what do I need to do to be saved? Jesus said, "Keep the law. Do not murder, do not steal, do not commit adultery, honor your father and mother.” "All these I have done since my childhood." "One thing you lack." What is that? "Go sell what you have, give to the poor, and

come follow me." You know the rest of that story? The Bible says the rich young ruler went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. He let his stuff, junk, and possessions keep him from having eternal life.

Friend, don't let that be you today, don't let the things of this world, the joys, the pleasures, the busyness that we all have, don't let that get in your way of going to Heaven.

More than anything God wants you, we want you, and Christians want you to obey the Gospel.

I want you to think about yourself- Are you a Mary, who's ready to sit at the feet of Jesus, put everything aside, put first things first and learn from him? Or are you like Martha? Martha was a good person. She was serving. She was doing good things. She was so distracted by serving and life and all the other busy things that she overlooked the most important. Or are you like the rich fool so busy building up treasure here and taking care of stuff here and busy with the day to day tasks here that you fail to think about your own soul?

Friend, I can promise you this, if the time is not made now to think about your soul, when will you make it? You won't make it on the other side, eternity is forever, and this is your one and only chance. We urge you to make it right.

What does the message of Luke teach us? It teaches us the power of Jesus' humanity, what He did for us, and how that we can have the hope of eternal life through Him.

If Jesus came to seek and save that which is lost, I need to realize that I am, you are, we are that which was lost.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. There is none that is righteous no not one and thank God that he came to save us, and friend let's think about our own soul.

What must I do to be saved? You've got to hear the word of God (Rom 10:17). You've got to believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) (John 8:24). You've got to be willing to repent and turn back to God (Lk 13:1-5). You must make that good confession and be immersed in water for the forgiveness of your sins.

On the day of Pentecost they asked, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" And here's the answer, "Repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

If you've never done that, why not do it today? Why not put first things first, take care of your soul, let the rest fall into place, and make sure more than anything make sure that you're right with God.

Study Questions for: “Luke: Lesson 1”

1. According to Luke 2:52, what 4 things increased in Jesus?

2. How many times do the key words “Son of Man” occur in Luke?

3. According to Hebrews 4:15, how did Jesus respond to temptation?

4. In Luke 2:49 when Jesus was questioned by his parents, how did He respond?

5. According to Luke 19:10, why did Jesus come?

6. What does Luke 1:32-33 tell us of Jesus’ reign?

7. Where is Jesus according to Hebrews 1:4?

8. According to James 1:17, where do good things come from?

9. What does Luke 6:38 tell us to do? Why?

10. According to Luke 7:28-30, how do we reject God’s will?

The psalmist said, "My sins have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they're too heavy for me to bear" Psalm 38:4.

Welcome to our study of man's sin and God’s forgiveness. This is a topic that is especially relevant for every person who's of an accountable age and wants to please God.

We encourage you to get your Bible as we study this very important subject together.

From the Garden of Eden to the present time, man has had to deal with the sin problem. Thankfully God has made a way of salvation. It's sin that from that time in the garden that has plagued man as a result of his choices. The Bible teaches in Genesis 3:1 that when Adam and Eve chose to eat of that tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they became separated from God. They felt the burden and the sting of sin. You remember in that context they hid themselves from God and were ashamed because of their own sin. Friend, that's something that every person of an accountable age has to deal with today. I have to deal with the sin problem. If you're of the accountable age, you have to deal with the sin problem as well. It plagues mankind.

Romans 3:23 teaches us the universal nature of sin. Listen to this verse. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” How many? All. “The soul who sins shall surely die”, Ezekiel 18:4 and Romans 3:23. Isaiah tells us about the horrendous consequences of our sin. Isaiah said in

Isaiah 59:1-2 that the ‘Lord's ears are not heavy.’ God doesn't have a hearing problem. ‘The Lord's arms are not shortened that He can't save.’ God doesn't have a defect in His arm. He's not crippled in His arm. God doesn't need a hearing aid. What's the problem then? ‘The Lord's ear is not heavy that He cannot hear. His arm's not short that He cannot save. But your sins and your iniquities,’ my sin and my iniquities, ‘have separated us from our God.’ Sin has plagued mankind because of the consequences of being separated from Almighty God.

Friend, as we think about the nature of sin and consequences of it, let's realize that even the most righteous have to deal with the sin problem. Notice this verse. Ecclesiastes 7:20. In the long ago the wise Solomon said, "There's not a righteous man on the face of the Earth who does good and does not sin." Even righteous people from time to time, those who are trying to live right and trying to walk in the light 1 John 1:7, we make mistakes. We break God's laws, and we feel the sting and the plague of sin.

Friend, are you remembering Romans 6:23 where the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death”? This is a problem that's relevant for every person today. Thankfully God has made a way of salvation so that we can be delivered and saved from sin. I'm reminded of the beautiful words of 1 Peter 2:24: The cure, the antidote, the remedy to sin is given when the Bible says of Jesus, “He, Himself, Christ himself bore our sins in His own body upon the tree that we having died to sin might live for righteousness by whose stripes we are healed.” God made the remedy to sin through His Son Jesus Christ. Thank God that Christ went to the cross to deal with the sin problem.

You see it is said of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “That God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” “He, Himself, is the propitiation for our sins not for ours alone but for the sins of the whole world,” 1 John 2:1-2. I remind you of the text where the Lord instituted His supper. In Matthew chapter 26 as He told His disciples to drink of that fruit of the vine, He said in verse number 28, "This is my blood of the new covenant shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." Jesus tasted death for every man, Hebrews 2:9, so that I don't have to. Yes, man has to deal with the sin problem, but God has made a remedy and a cure for that through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Friend, as Christians, we need to realize God's plan and God's way is the only way to be saved.

Now as we think about man's sin and God's forgiveness, I want you to understand that the God of the Bible is a loving, kind, and forgiving God and that He wants every man to be saved from sin. Our God, the God of the Bible, is a forgiving God who loves you and who wants you to be forgiven of sin and saved.

Sometimes people present the idea of God, and there's no doubt God gets angry at sin, but sometimes the idea of God is that He's seen as angry and vengeful and full of wrath and just ready to destroy man for his sin. While it's the case that God will punish sinners, friend, let's realize the God of the Bible is a forgiving God who is seen as ready to forgive sin. I want you to notice this passage with me in Psalm chapter 86. Here's the heart of God. Here's how God really feels about sin. The psalmist says in Psalm 86:5, “For you, Lord, are good,” notice this, “and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you.” What's the heart of God as it relates to sin? Listen to these words. The God of the Bible is good. What do you mean? He's ready to forgive. God stands ready. He stands waiting is the idea. His desire, His want, His longing is to forgive man of sin based on the plan that He's made. The psalmist said in Psalm 103:10-12, “As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” If we got what we deserved, we'd all be lost in sin. God is making that way, and He wants to remove sins from us.

Psalm 130:3-4 are some of my favorite verses that show the readiness the willingness of the God of the Bible to forgive sin. The psalmist asks this question: “If you, O Lord, were to mark iniquities, who could stand?” Think about it this way, if every time I sinned and every time you sinned God made a mark. He kept a mark, He kept a record. He wrote it down, He penciled in a book. On the day of judgment if that was God's mindset who could stand? Well, nobody. We'd all be guilty multiple times and deserve the punishment we've incurred. Listen to verse four, “But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared.”

What's God's thinking and mindset about forgiving man? God's ready for forgive. Let's also notice this from the scripture, not only is God ready to forgive- the God of the Bible wants to forget our sin. He wants to put sin in

the past where it can't hurt man and cannot effect their relationship with God. There's a passage that I would direct your attention to in the book of Hebrews which so clearly shows that God is indeed wanting and willing to forget our sins. Listen to Hebrews 8:12. This is a quote from the Old Testament in Jeremiah 31:34. The Hebrew writer applies that to forgiveness in the new covenant. Hebrews 8:12 God says, "For I will be merciful to their sins, and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now friend, it's not as though God can't remember. It's not as though the memory of God has been erased. When we obey the gospel and when people submit to God's plan of salvation and access the saving blood of Jesus, God chooses to forget; to not hold that against them. How wonderful of an idea that is about God! Isaiah 1:18 God said, "Though your sins be as scarlet, I'll make them white as snow. Though they're red like crimson, they shall be as wool." From red and stained and full of sin to forgiven and clean and white! That's the picture that God paints of His forgiveness and His willingness to forget our sin.

Aren't we thankful that when we mess up people are willing to forgive and forget? Maybe you've said something to someone that hurt them. Maybe you've done something to someone that was mean or unkind or that you even know you shouldn't have done. Aren't you glad when people forgive and forget about that and let that go and don't hold it against you? Friend, there's the picture of God and His forgiveness in the Bible.

A third quality about God, as a forgiving God, is that our God is also long suffering. God's patient. God's long suffering. He is willing to wait with man to give him time and to be patient with man. That's a clear picture of God that you see in the Bible. Listen to this beautiful verse. 2 Peter 3:9 the Bible says this: Concerning God's coming, “The Lord's not slow concerning His promises as some count slowness.” What's the holdup then? “But He's long suffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Aren't you glad God's long suffering? When we talk about the forgiveness of God, we're talking about the character of being long suffering. He's patient. He's willing to forgive man, and He gives man time and opportunity to make that right with Him. Christ demonstrates so beautifully how God wants to forgive man. “Yet while we were still without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely, for a righteous man will one die. Yet perhaps for a good man someone might

dare to die.” Now listen to this, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” How forgiving is our God? So much so that Romans 5:6-8 says God made a plan. That plan's available and it is a clear demonstration of God's love for me and you.

Let's make it as crystal clear as we can. How much does God want to forgive me and you? “God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Friend, does that not illustrate in some of the most beautiful language and beautiful ideas how much God is a forgiving and loving God?

You can see the examples of that of God's forgiveness in both the Old and the New Testament. For example, I want you to think with me to one of the great kings of the Bible likely the greatest under the Old Testament- King David. David is a prime example of God's forgiveness. Do you remember in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 David had an adulterous relationship with a woman by the name of Bathsheba? 2 Samuel 12 Nathan comes to David, and he convicts him of sin. He committed adultery. He lied. He eventually had Bathsheba's husband murdered in the battle field. Then Nathan convicts him of sin. David was ready to be forgiven. He saw the heartbreak of sin. From this example I want you to notice how ready our God was to forgive David. Listen to Psalm 51. I want you to notice what David says about God's forgiveness. Psalm 51:1-2 David says, “Have mercy upon me, O God according to your living kindness according to the multitudes of your tender mercies blot out my transgression, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from sin.” Maybe you've done things like unto David. Maybe you've done things that aren't that bad or maybe things that are even worse in other's eyes. Friend, know this- if David could be forgiven, we can be forgiven as well. That's the wonder, the beauty, and the splendor of God's forgiveness.

Another example of course is Adam and Eve. In Genesis chapter three where they break God's law, they failed to do what God wanted them to do, and as a result they're cast out of the garden. Even there a plan was made. Genesis 3:15, “The seed of woman is coming. He's going to bring salvation. He's going to bruise the head of Satan going to bruise the serpent,” and an ultimate way was even made for Adam and Eve.

Think about people like the Apostle Paul. Paul did some pretty bad

things. Acts chapter six and seven he's holding the coats of those who stone Stephen. Acts chapter eight he's wreaking havoc on the church dragging men and women to prison. Yet Paul said later in the beautiful verse of 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptance Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.”

Look at the beauty of God's forgiveness in these examples. David, Adam and Eve, the Apostle Paul and a host of other people could be drawn up from the Bible to show, yes not only does the Bible say God is a forgiving and loving God- but these examples confirm that I have hope and that you have hope based on these teachings.

Now friend as we think about the forgiveness of God let's realize that that forgiveness does indeed come at a high cost. I cannot take sin lightly. I cannot have a flippant attitude towards sin and say, ‘God will take care of it. I can sin; it's okay.’ No. God's willing to forgive. We've seen man’s sin. We've seen the heart of God in wanting to forgive man- but realize today that forgiveness comes at a magnitude, at a level, at a cost that we really can't even begin to imagine. It is man's forgiveness that caused Jesus to leave the beauty and splendor of Heaven.

Think about the words of 2 Corinthians 8:9. What's the cost of sin? “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What do you mean? “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” Why? “That we through His poverty might be made rich.” ‘Out of the ivory palaces,’ the psalmist said. That's the very thing Jesus did. Jesus the cost of my forgiveness and the cost of your forgiveness demanded a sacrifice demanded that blood be paid. Hebrews 9:22, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.” Jesus left the beauty and splendor of Heaven. He came and lived as a pauper. No place to lay His head. He gave up all that so that I could have the hope and the joy of Heaven.

Forgiveness also demanded that that sacrifice be perfect. Friend, this meant that Jesus had to live a perfect life for us to have salvation. How wonderful it is that He did that? Hebrews 4:15 says, “He was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” “He committed no sin, nor was guile or deceit found in His mouth”, 1 Peter 2:21-22. This is why John would rejoice when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God

who takes away the sins of the world." Can you imagine doing that? Coming to this Earth, leaving Heaven, coming to this Earth, facing every temptation, the devil throwing everything at you and never once sinning. Imagine what Jesus had to do. Imagine what He had to face. Imagine what He had to deal with here. He lived that perfect life so that we could have the hope of Heaven.

Then friend don't overlook this, Jesus Himself because of the cost, the high cost of forgiveness, Jesus had to suffer a horrible death for me and you. Take your mind back if you would to Jesus' preparation of His disciples for His upcoming departure as He instituted the Lord's Supper. He said, "This is My blood of the new covenant shed for many for the forgiveness of sins." What did the cost of forgiveness demand? The blood of Jesus the sacrifice of our Lord and savior because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Think about what the Lord went through for me and for you. While He was here people said He was of the devil and that He did these things by Beelzebub. That wasn't true. They laughed at Him. "If you're the Son of God come down from the cross. Show you're the Son of God", they mocked Him. They spit in His face. They placed that crown of thorns and embedded them into His head. They took Jesus and they scourged His back over and over again with whips. They took His hands and feet. They nailed Him to a cross. That cross was embedded in the ground, and Jesus hung in agony and struggled for every breath that He breathed. Why? That's the cost, my friend, of salvation.

Do you remember Jesus' words on the cross? "My God, my God why have you forsaken me" Matthew 27:46. You know the answer to that? I'm the answer and you're the answer. “He, Himself bore our sins in His own body upon the tree that we because of His death and sacrifice might be forgiven by whose stripes we are healed.”

As we think about how God's ready to forgive and how man needs that forgiveness and the high cost of it, we also need to realize today what God has required of man to be forgiven of sin.

Friend, the Bible teaches to be forgiven of sin; we've got to be willing to own up to, to recognize and to come to terms with our sins. Sometimes we use the word as the Bible does we need to ‘confess sin.’ 1 John 1:7-9 says this, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son Jesus Christ cleanses us from

all sin. If we say we have no sin now we make God a liar and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.”

What does that word confess mean? When we say confess what are we talking about? God has a divine record. When I confess sin, I am laying alongside of what God already knows. I'm owning up to. I'm acknowledging. I'm admitting and recognizing I have sinned and I need God. This is why the Bible says ‘confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.’ “The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man overcomes much.”

To be forgiven of sin, I've got to realize I have sin in my life. I'm going to acknowledge that I need God. I've got to believe Jesus is the only way of salvation. John 8:24 Jesus said, "Unless you believe that I'm He, you'll surely die in your sins." Once I believe Jesus is the Son of God I also have to be willing to repent of sin. Luke 13:3 Jesus said, "Unless you repent you'll all likewise perish." I've got to make up my mind that to the best of my ability I'm going to turn from sin. I'm going to turn from the ways of evil, and I'm going to turn to God and do His will. Acts 3:19 Peter preached, “Repent and turn that your sins may be blotted out. That seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Friend, once I have confessed and realized I do sin, I believe in Jesus, I'm willing to repent of sin; I also have to acknowledge Christ as Lord and Savior. Romans 10:10 “With the heart, one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Then the Bible clearly teaches to get into Christ. It's the blood of Jesus that saves. It’s the death of Jesus that saves.

At what point does man access the blood in the saving death of Jesus? “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death?” Romans 6:3-4. To be forgiven of sin, friend the Bible says God's terms for forgiveness is that one must be baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins. Now that's not what man says. That's what the Bible says. Listen to Acts 2:38. The very first time salvation was preached in the New Testament the Bible says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” Why? “For the remission of your sins.” Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved." Saul of Tarsus was told in Acts 22:16, “Why are you waiting

Saul? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.”

You put all this together and there is no doubt God's ready to forgive. There is no doubt man needs that forgiveness. We must meet God's terms. God's made the plan of salvation available through the death and blood of Jesus, but I've got to access that in obedience to the gospel.

Friend, if you've not done that we beg you today. Obey the gospel. I need forgiveness. You need forgiveness.

Let's meet God's terms for forgiveness.

May God help each of us to do just that.

Study Questions for: “Great Bible Lessons: Lesson 1”

1. What are too heavy to bear in Psalm 38:4?

2. Who has sinned according to Romans 3:23?

3. What separates us from God according to Isaiah 59:1-2?

4. According to Romans 6:23, what are the wages of sin?

5. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, who was sin on our behalf?

6. What does Psalm 86:5 say of God?

7. What does Psalm 103:10-12 say about the removal of our sins?

8. What does 2 Corinthians 8:9 say of Jesus?

9. According to 1John 1:7-9, what cleanses us?

10. According to Acts 2:28, what should we do for the remission of our

sins?