Title Principle of Serving (Acts 20:28-38)
Hymn 356
[Acts 20:28-38]
After serving the church in Ephesus for 3 years, the Apostle Paul asks them to serve the church well by appointing overseers such as elders and deacons. And the principles of service are presented.
First, the principle of service that can be discovered through the Word is that we all have the office of stewardship. And in verse 28 he says, “Be on your own or for the whole flock, for the Holy Spirit has made you overseers among them, to shepherd the church, which God bought with his own blood.” A steward, as a shepherd, must be hesitant for himself and for the flock he bought with his blood. You must be awake to keep your spirituality and take good care of your sheep. We must lead well the sheep purchased with blood, purchased with blood, and redeemed with blood. You can see that Paul's spirit of service is to do our best to save souls and care for those who have been saved. We should be able to edify the church by serving as stewards of the church purchased with blood. Don't try to be served. It is also said that service is not through the hands of elders or deacons, but in the Lord and in the word of His grace. Verse 32 says, “The word will build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” These are the words of the covenant.
Second, it also teaches us that we should live a life of giving and giving. 'It is more blessed to give than to receive,' and it is said that giving and giving is the principle of service. The Lord showed great love for us, sinners, until he gave up his life. Not because of our merits. This was completely accomplished through the love and grace of the Lord.
Lastly, serving is a life of prayer. Serving must begin with prayer. Verse 36 says, 'After he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with all of us.' He says the importance of prayer in serving.
Now we must be able to serve the church purchased with the price of blood as we would to the Lord. The Lord also said, 'The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45). We want to remember the principle and meaning of serving well and look back at ourselves. In our service, we should always be alert and pray with humility, giving full glory to the Lord and giving as we would to the Lord. We must serve the Church of the Lord, which was bought with the price of blood.