Acts 20:7-16: Looking for Opportunities
Pastor Phil Moser
December 10, 2023
Looking for Opportunities
- Be an encourager
- Be an investor
- Be a faith-stepper
Acts 20:7-16
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
Be an encourager - Use your words to help others
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
Be an encourager - Use your words to help others
- SPEAK them face-to-face (20:1-2)
Acts 20:1-2
1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. 2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
- WRITE them for repeated encouragement (20:3)
Acts 20:3
3 There he spent three months [in Greece writing Romans], and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
- Romans is written during a 3 month stay in Corinth.
3 There he spent three months [in Greece writing Romans], and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
- Romans is written during a 3 month stay in Corinth.
- INVITE them to participate with you (Phil. 4:15)
Philippians 4:15-16
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only... 18 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Be an investor - Use your relationships to grow others
- The apostle Paul does not work alone. He is a team player and team developer. He is constantly investing himself into the lives of other people who will share in the work of the ministry with him and continue in his absence. (Clinton E. Arnold)
Acts 20:3-4
3 ...as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only... 18 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Be an investor - Use your relationships to grow others
- The apostle Paul does not work alone. He is a team player and team developer. He is constantly investing himself into the lives of other people who will share in the work of the ministry with him and continue in his absence. (Clinton E. Arnold)
Acts 20:3-4
3 ...as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
- Seek out those who are STUDYING (Sopater)
Acts 17:11, NIV
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
- Seek out those who are SUFFERING (Aristarchus)
Colossians 4:10
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you...
Philemon 24
23 Epaphras... sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you...
Philemon 24
23 Epaphras... sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
- Seek out those who are SERVING (Tychicus)
Colossians 4:7
7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose...
Be a faith-stepper - Use your opportunities today for others
7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose...
Be a faith-stepper - Use your opportunities today for others
- Get out TOGETHER - Do you make it a habit to gather with others? (20:7)
Acts 20:7-8
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered
- Get out of OVERSCHEDULING - Is your life too busy for the apostle Paul? (20:7)
Acts 20:7-8
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
Acts 20:11-12
11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.
Acts 20:11-12
11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
- Get out of your COMFORT ZONE - When did you last try something that would fail miserably without God's help? (20:10)
Acts 20:9-10
9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."
Looking for Opportunities
9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."
Looking for Opportunities
- Be an encourager - Use your words to help others. (20:1-2)
- Be an investor - Use your relationships to grow others. (20:3-4)
- Be a faith-stepper - Use your opportunities today for others. (20:7-12)