Lesson Date: October 9, 2011

Focal Scripture Passage: Acts 20:1-38 

AIM: To lead adults to name and describe the warnings Paul gave the elders of the Ephesian church, and to identify and apply spiritual warnings they have received from their spiritual leaders.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Before class: Gather some warning labels from various products.  Nowadays, most everything comes with a warning label, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, electrical appliances, toys, and even mini blinds.  Such warning labels should be readily available around your home.  Write the word “Warning” on the white board or chalkboard.  Familiarize yourself with the locations named in this lesson so you can point them out to the class on the map.

When class begins: Read the class the warning labels you have brought in.  While some of the warnings might seem obvious and almost unnecessary (don’t use the electric hair dryer while you are submerged in the bath tub), all of them are printed on our products because someone has actually been hurt doing that very thing.  In other words, there is real danger or there would not be a warning.

Tell the class about some warnings you received as a young person (or warnings you have given your child or grandchild.  Examples might include: “Be careful – that stove is hot;” “Don’t touch the power saw – you could cut your finger off;” “Drive carefully;” “Don’t text while you are driving.”  Ask the class to share similar warnings they have either received or given.  You might also tell (and invite the class to tell) about warnings you receive (or give) at your place of business.

After talking about all these different sorts of warnings, ask: “Why do people give us warnings?” (so we won’t get hurt).  Tell the class that in today’s lesson they are going to discover some warnings Paul gave to some of his loved ones.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Review.

a.     Briefly review the book of Acts (you can use the lesson titles from the Sunday School Member Quarterly to do this).

b.     Remind the class that Paul was on his Third Missionary Journey.

c.     In last week’s lesson we learned that a riot broke out in Ephesus.

d.     The riot was caused by the silversmiths, whose idol-making businesses were losing money.  This was because many people were being saved under Paul’s preaching and turning away from idolatry.

2.     Paul’s Travels.

a.     Read Acts 20:1-6,

b.     Briefly explain Paul’s travel plans.

c.     As you read the verses point out the following places on the map: Ephesus, Macedonia, Greece, Syria, Asia, Berea, Thessalonica, Derbe, Troas, and Philippi.

d.     Tell the class that Paul was in a hurry because he wanted to be in Jerusalem in time for the feast of Pentecost (see verse 16). 

3.     At Troas – Eutychus.

a.     Because of his love for the believers in Troas, Paul suspended his trip long enough to preached to them.

b.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 20:7-12.

c.     Tell the class that Paul spent his entire last night in Troas preaching to the church.

d.     Ask: “According to verse 9, what happened to Eutychus?” (he fell asleep, fell out of a third story window, and died).

e.     Remind the class that this account was written by Luke, who was a physician.  Luke was there and saw Eutychus fall to his death.  Since Doctor Luke said Eutychus was dead we can be assured he was actually dead.

f.      Ask: “What did Paul do?” (he went down to him, fell on him, embraced him, and then told everyone that Eutychus was alive).

g.     Ask: “How was Eutychus when Paul left him?” (he was alive).

h.     The people were comforted and encouraged by this miracle.  They stayed to listen to Paul preach through the rest of the night.

i.      The believers in Troas were so hungry for the Word of God that they gave up a night’s sleep to hear Paul preach.  Are we that hungry for God’s Word?

4.     The Journey Continued.

a.     Read Acts 20:13-16.

b.     Locate Assos, Mitylene, and Miletus on the map.

c.     Explain that Paul and his companions worked their way south along the west coast of Turkey, but Paul decided not to go to Ephesus because he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem.

d.     Read Acts 20:17.

e.     Ask: “Who did Paul send for when he was in Miletus?” (the elders of the Ephesian church).

f.      Tell the class that the rest of this chapter contains Paul’s address to these beloved church leaders.

5.     Paul’s Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders.

a.     Paul first reminded the Ephesian elders about how he had served among them.

b.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 20:18-21.

c.     Ask the class to describe Paul’s service in Ephesus (faithful, humble, compassionate, enduring afflictions, whole-hearted).

d.     Next, Paul told what awaited him in Jerusalem.

e.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 20:22-24.

f.      Paul said he expected “bonds and afflictions” in Jerusalem, and that he was willing to give his life for the gospel.

g.     Read Acts 20:25-27.

h.     Ask: “Did Paul anticipate ever coming back to Ephesus again?” (no).

i.      Ask: “Why do you think he felt this way?”

6.     Paul’s Warnings to the Ephesian Elders.

a.     The next several verses contain Paul’s warnings to the Ephesian elders.

b.     Remind that class that Paul did not expect to ever see the Ephesian elders again, so these warnings were his “last words” to these men he loved so dearly.

c.     Ask the class to listen for the warnings as you read Acts 20:28-31.

d.     Ask the class to identify the warnings contained in those verses (watch out for themselves and the church, feed the church, watch out for attacks from outside the church, watch out for attacks from within the church, be alert and remember the things Paul taught them).

e.     As each warning is named, explain what it means.

f.      For each warning ask the following three questions:

·       “Why was it important that the Ephesian elders heed that warning?”

·       “Is this a warning that modern church leaders should still heed?”

·       “What might happen if that warning is ignored?” 

7.     Paul’s Last Words to the Ephesian Elders.

a.     Paul’s closing words to the Ephesian elders are in the next verses.

b.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 20:32-38.

c.     Ask: “In whose care did Paul place them?” (God’s).

d.     Note that in verse 32 Paul said the Word of God was sufficient to grow them spiritually to maturity.  The same is true for us today; but it will not happen if our Bible lies untouched on a table or shelf from week to week.

e.     Ask: “How would you describe Paul’s departure from the Ephesian elders?” (very sad and emotional).

f.      The thing that made them the most sorrowful was that Paul said they would never see him again.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Briefly review the warnings Paul gave the Ephesian elders.  Ask: “What are some spiritual warnings you have received?” (hopefully members will name things Bro. Wayne has warned them about in his sermons, things you have warned them about in Sunday School lessons, and other warnings they have discovered in God’s Word).  As the class members name each warning, ask them how we can apply that warning to our lives.

Remind the class of the various warning labels you showed at the beginning of class.  Ask: “What happens when we heed these warnings?” (we usually avoid harm).  Ask: “What happens when we ignore these warnings?” (we often get hurt; we can’t blame the ones who warned us, because they tried to keep us from harm).  The same is true for spiritual warnings from our spiritual leaders.  If we heed those warnings, we usually avoid harm.  But if we ignore those warnings we often get hurt, and we can’t blame anyone but ourselves.

Urge everyone to heed the spiritual warnings they have received.  Encourage them to make a commitment to God to do this.  Lead a closing prayer of commitment.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Acts 20:28.  Offer your services to give advice and counsel to your class members as they make significant changes to their behavior in obedience to spiritual warnings.  Promise to pray for them.  Encourage everyone to follow through on his or her commitment this week.  Ask them to read and study their Sunday School lesson, and to attend Sunday School next Sunday.