The Life & Work of a Preacher

ü      Live an exemplary manner of life before all people.  "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you” (Acts 20:18; 1 Tim. 4:12).

ü      Consider yourself a servant of the Lord.  “serving the Lord” (Acts 20:19; 1 Cor. 4:1).

ü      Serve God with humility of heart.  “serving the Lord with all humility” (Acts 20:19; 2 Tim. 2:25; Titus 3:2)

ü      Serve God faithfully in the midst of the trials you face.  “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews” (Acts 20:19; 2 Tim. 3:12; Acts 14:22)

ü      Preach/Teach the whole counsel of God. “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.”  “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:20, 27).

ü      Teach God’s word publically and from house to house. “ …proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house” (Acts 20:20; 5:42)

ü      Preach God’s plan of salvation to all people.  “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21; Rom. 1:16; Mk. 16:15).

ü      Be willing to go where the gospel needs to be proclaimed.  “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” (Acts 20:22-23; Mt. 28:18).

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ü      Don’t let these trials and tribulations keep you from preaching the Gospel.  “But none of these things move me” (Acts 20:24; 1 Cor. 9:16)

ü      Don’t value the physical/worldly life over spiritual matters/life.  “nor do I count my life dear to myself” (Acts 20:24; Phil. 1:21).

ü      Don’t give up on the ministry of the Word of God.  “so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24; 2 Tim. 4:2)

ü      Be innocent of the souls of all men by teaching all of God’s Word to them. “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27: Ezek. 33:1ff).

ü      Don’t be covetous for others belongings.  “I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel” (Acts 20:33; Heb. 13:5ff).

ü      Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.  “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me” (Acts 20:34; 2 Thess. 3:10).

ü      Encourage/Strengthen those weak in the faith.  “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak" (Acts 20:35; Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 8).

ü      Realize the blessing of being a giving person.  “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' " (Acts 20:35; Lk. 6:36; Jn. 3:16).

ü      Be a man of prayer.  “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all” (Acts 20:36; Mk. 1:35).