Acts Part 32: Guarding Truth and Mission Scripture: Acts 20:17-38.
1. We are to Be Examples of Truth and Mission
1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Philippians 3:17 (ESV)
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
2. We Must See the Value of Truth and Mission
Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
John 14:6 (ESV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Acts 4:12 (ESV)
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
(The Office of Elder)
3. We Must Guard Truth and Mission
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
John 10:11-13 (ESV)
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
4. We are Transformed by Truth and Mission
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the messafe of reconciliation.
