The Trails Church

Good Friday slows us down. It invites us to linger near the cross. We reflect on those final moments of Jesus’ earthly suffering: how he was mocked and scorned, tried and beaten, crowned with thorns and nailed to a Roman cross, lifted up and crucified as a man humiliated, rejected. But this death was no ordinary death. It was the death of death itself. In 1 Peter 3:18, we are not only shown the significance of Christ’s suffering, but the very purpose behind it.

In Acts 25, Paul remains in chains, not because God has forgotten him, but because Christ is forming him. Through his enemies, through their opposition, persecution, and their schemes to take his life, Paul is sustained, carried along by the presence and promises of Christ. Today, we highlight three specific comforts that Paul quietly clings to, so that as we face trials of many kinds, we would cling to them as well, as we follow the footsteps of the Savior.

Acts 24 records the Apostle Paul standing before Governor Felix in what is essentially a kangaroo court. Falsely accused by fierce opponents, Paul nevertheless seizes the moment to glorify Christ. His unshakable joy and gospel courage under pressure offer a helpful model to us today as we face trials of many kinds.

This sermon is titled, “Acts 23 in Three Acts,” and, as the name implies, we will look at three different sections of this text. Act 1 is called “Man versus Man.” Act 2 is called “Man versus Himself” and Act 3 is called “Man versus God.”

Today we have another scene of remarkable gospel courage. Here we meet the apostle Paul in Jerusalem. He’s just been delivered from an angry Jewish mob into the hands of Roman authorities. The one was surely going to kill him; the other, surely going to punish him. What does the apostle do? What does he say? How does he conduct himself in this moment? What is at the heart of all of it? And what does that mean for us?

In Acts 21:1-36, we encounter a chapter filled with a man earnestly pursuing the will of the Lord. As the Apostle Paul journeys to Jerusalem, he gains deeper insight into God’s purposes for his life: some expected others surprising. Yet through it all, one truth remains clear: Paul understood that God’s will for him was to walk in the footsteps of his Savior. What we learn in these three scenes are qualities each of us might pray for as we seek to have “The Will of the Lord Be Done” in our lives: 1. A Submissive Heart to God’s Leading, 2. A Sacrificial Love for the Church, and 3. A Steadfast Faith in All Circumstances.

As the Ephesian elders look upon Paul’s face for the last time, the weight of the moment is unmistakable. Yet beyond the emotion, this passage provides a profound model for ministry—one defined by integrity, gospel faithfulness, and deep trust in God’s sustaining grace. It’s a word we all need to hear, one that speaks directly to our church today. In this second part of our study on “Gospel Goodbye,” we will reflect on how to live, lead, and leave well, both in ministry and in life, by tracing three key elements: A Steadfast Example, A Strong Exhortation, and A Strategic Exit.

Acts 20:17–24 records Paul’s final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus. Standing on the shore, he reflects on his ministry among them, urging them to continue in the example he has set. At the heart of this passage is Paul’s deep love for the Lord Jesus, his devotion to the people of God, and his unwavering commitment to the ongoing work of the gospel. In this “Gospel Goodbye,” we hear an echo of what should be the passion of every believer throughout history: 1. A Life of Gospel Service, 2. The Labor of Gospel Ministry, and 3. A Longing for Gospel Reward.

Acts 20:1-16 helps understand that 1. Gospel Partnership Refreshes Us (1-6) 2. Gospel Power Reawakens Us (7-12), and 3. Gospel Purpose Refocuses Us (13-16)

Acts 19:21-41 tells the story of how the Gospel advanced so powerfully in Ephesus that the city’s idols could not stand against it. As people came to recognize Jesus Christ alone as the True and Living God, the idols that once held their devotion simply faded from significance. However, not everyone experienced this transformation. When the prevailing culture and its established ways of life are threatened by the Gospel, resistance is inevitable. This is “The Way of the Gospel,” and we will consider it under two headings: 1. The Gospel Transforms Lives and Disrupts Culture (21-27), 2. The Gospel Advances Despite Opposition (28-41).