Conversion
tragedy to triumph…
anxiety to peace…
trial to joy…
sorrow to serenity…
doubt to assurance…
sin to righteousness…
anger to forgiveness…
chains to freedom…
prejudice to love…
blindness to sight…
death to life…
by Brian Shivers
Shepherds of the Flock; Messengers of Grace
Acts 20:25-38 – Second at Six - August 25, 2013 In our passage for tonight, we drop into Luke’s recollection of an important speech given by Paul to the leaders of the church in Ephesus. The church in Ephesus was a church Paul had a hand in establishing and nurturing. He had spent three years with these people teaching, preaching, and living in their community. This was the longest that Paul had spent in any place on his missionary journeys. Therefore, the people of Ephesus held a special place in Paul’s heart. Our text for tonight is a part of Paul’s speech to the leaders of the church he had gathered some 30 miles south of Ephesus in Miletus. This was not just any speech. This was his farewell address to the people of Ephesus with whom he had so much history and many important memories. Just prior to our text, Luke tells the hearer, now us, the reader, how Paul spoke of the nature and character of his ministry and time spent among them. ...
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