The Kind of Pastor I’m Praying for | Acts 20 | Nov 2, 2025

We walked through Acts 20 and listened in on Paul’s final words to the Ephesian elders—words that reveal the heart of a faithful shepherd and the kind of leader we’re praying for. Paul wasn’t a celebrity or a superhero; he was a servant who embraced people, traveled back to strengthen churches, and lived among the flock with humility and tears. He kept nothing back that was profitable, teaching publicly and from house to house. He preached repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and he was bound by the Spirit to finish the course God gave him, even when it meant hardship.

Paul’s charge centers on the Word and the flock. He insisted on the whole counsel of God, not popular opinions or fables. He called elders to feed and guard the church God purchased with His own blood—because the church is that valuable. He warned that savage wolves would come from outside and even from within, twisting truth to draw disciples after themselves. So vigilance, courage, and tenderness are essential.

We also saw Paul’s integrity: accountability with companions, hard work with his own hands, and a refusal to serve mammon. He reminded us it is more blessed to give than to receive. Then there were the tears and prayers—real love expressed in real time. Paul led by example; he didn’t demand what he wouldn’t do. That’s the kind of leader we’re asking God for, and the kind of disciples we want to be—serving to please God, not people; guarding the flock, not ourselves; proclaiming the gospel clearly and compassionately.

Finally, I invited anyone who has not yet turned to Christ to respond. The good news is beautiful because the bad news is real: we have all sinned and need mercy. Jesus paid our debt. Repent and believe—receive the grace that is freely offered in Him. As we wait for the shepherd God is preparing for us, let’s prepare our own hearts: pursue Scripture, guard one another, give generously, pray earnestly, and finish our course with joy.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Lead with humble availability Paul embraced the disciples and traveled back through familiar places to strengthen souls. Spiritual authority in Scripture is never aloof; it is approachable, accountable, and affectionate. Humility is not weakness—it’s the posture that keeps a leader near enough to bind wounds and correct drift without posturing. The flock grows when leaders are close enough to care and courageous enough to correct. [37:59]
• 2. Preach the whole counsel of God Paul kept back nothing that was profitable and resisted the pull to scratch itching ears. A church’s health rises or falls with its appetite for Scripture—doctrine that instructs, corrects, and trains us in righteousness. Selective teaching produces selective disciples; whole-counsel teaching produces whole-life obedience. Truth may wound before it heals, but it is the only medicine that cures. [70:13]
• 3. Shepherd the blood-bought flock vigilantly The church is precious—purchased with Christ’s own blood—so feeding, guarding, and guiding aren’t optional; they’re sacred. Wolves attack from outside and arise from within, often speaking Bible words while bending Bible meaning. Love for people and loyalty to Jesus require watchfulness, clarity, and sometimes confrontation. To protect the flock is to honor the price that bought it. [73:08]
• 4. Embrace costly obedience to finish Paul did not count his life dear to himself; he aimed to finish the ministry he received from the Lord. Faithfulness often walks straight into discomfort, misunderstanding, and loss—and calls that path “joy” because Christ is at the end of it. Success isn’t safety; it’s obedience. The race is short, the stake is eternal, and the finish line is worth the scars. [67:11]
• 5. Call to repentance and faith in Jesus The gospel is good news because we face a real and just judgment. Repentance is not self-loathing but a clear-eyed turn from sin to the Savior who has already paid our debt. Faith is empty hands receiving Christ’s finished work. Today’s invitation is urgent, sincere, and open to all. [64:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:01] - Worship: Oh Praise the Name
• [28:19] - Children dismissed; opening question
• [29:04] - “Last words” and Acts 20 focus
• [31:37] - The kind of shepherd we need
• [33:10] - Acts overview: birth, growth, spread
• [35:42] - Ephesus riot and gospel impact
• [37:59] - Paul’s affection and availability
• [46:54] - First day gathering and the Table
• [49:55] - Preach the Word, not trends
• [51:14] - Eutychus restored; comfort and care
• [56:43] - Elders gathered at Miletus
• [62:41] - Scripture’s profit and whole counsel
• [71:26] - Shepherd the blood-bought church
• [73:08] - Wolves without and within
• [76:39] - Generosity, work, and integrity
• [77:19] - “More blessed to give”
• [78:14] - Tears, prayer, and farewell
• [85:47] - Closing song: Blessed Be Your Name

Bible reading (ESV)
Acts 20:17–38
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I sought no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Observation questions

1. Paul reminds the elders how he “did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable” and that he taught “publicly and from house to house.” What specific words or actions in the passage show how Paul taught and cared for people? [01:02:41]
2. Verse 28 calls the elders to “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock” and says the church was purchased “with his own blood.” What images or phrases in the text explain why Paul treats the church as so valuable? [01:11:26]
3. Paul warns that “fierce wolves” will come and also that people “from among your own selves will arise” to draw disciples away. Where in the passage does Paul describe how he prepared them against those dangers? [01:13:08]
4. Paul models integrity by saying he “sought no one’s silver or gold” and that his own hands labored. What concrete details in the text show the way Paul balanced preaching, work, and accountability? [01:16:39]

Interpretation questions (third‑person/objective)

1. How does Paul’s claim that he “kept back nothing that was profitable” redefine the elders’ responsibility for teaching—does it imply comfort-first ministry or candid, whole-counsel teaching? What tensions does this create for a leader tasked with both truth and care? [01:02:41]
2. Paul tells the elders to “pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock.” In what ways might self-care and oversight of the flock be inseparable for a shepherd? What risks arise when a leader neglects either side? [01:11:26]
3. Paul warns of wolves from outside and false teachers from inside. How should the church judge whether a corrective action is faithful protection of the flock or an unnecessary fracture that harms unity? [01:13:08]
4. Paul deliberately emphasizes working with his hands and refusing to make the gospel about money. What does this reveal about the relationship between a pastor’s means of support, his public teaching, and the congregation’s trust? [01:16:39]

Application questions (specific and personal)

1. Paul was available, affectionate, and willing to travel back through the churches to strengthen them. Who in your life or in our church needs a season of your availability this month? What concrete step will you take to be present for that person? [37:59]
2. Paul said he “kept back nothing that was profitable.” Is there a truth you have avoided speaking in love—either to a friend, a family member, or a leader—because it might be uncomfortable? What is one compassionate, truth-filled sentence you could say this week? [01:02:41]
3. The elders are told to “feed and guard” a flock purchased with Christ’s blood. Where do you see the church’s spiritual health slipping (apathy, false teaching, moral compromise)? Name one clear, small action you can take to help protect or encourage the flock. (Examples: invite someone to study Scripture with you, correct a false idea kindly, bring a concern to leadership.) [01:11:26]
4. Paul warns about wolves who “speak twisted things.” How would you, personally, verify a teaching you’re unsure about? List two specific resources or steps you will use before accepting or sharing a controversial idea. [01:13:08]
5. Paul modeled labor, generosity, and refusal to serve mammon. Is your giving and work-life shaped more by reputation or by stewardship? Identify one practical change you will make (increase regular giving, cancel a recurring purchase to free funds for missions, set clearer work/home boundaries) and say when you will start it. [01:16:39]
6. Paul counted finishing his race more valuable than safety. What is one “costly obedience” (a difficult conversation, a time commitment for ministry, a change of habit) God is calling you to that you have been avoiding? What is one concrete step you will take this week to begin it? [01:07:11]
7. Paul closed by kneeling and praying with them, and they wept together. Who is one person you need to pray for and show tears/compassion toward—practically—this week? How will you follow up after praying (a call, a visit, a note)? [01:18:14]

(End — no closing prayer included.)