As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning I will continue my series on The Book of Acts with a sermon on the subject “Why are we here?” It is easy to get lost in the details of The Book of Acts and forget why Paul was called and sent in the first place… We are here today for the very same reasons for which he was there: to reach lost people with the gospel and enable them to become fully-devoted followers of Jesus!

Paul tells us in 1^st Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” He was there to imitate Christ and we are here to imitate Paul! If we are committed to doing that, we must understand Paul’s reasons for where he went and what he did while he was there:

What does it mean to serve the Lord, and what does that look like in the context of our daily lives?

What is the ONE THING (more than any other) that we are supposed to be doing?

As we consider both the “Context” and “Content” of Paul’s ministry, what impact will that have on the ministry that God has given each of us to do in our homes, at work, and through the life and work of our Church?

Is it always God’s will for His people to prosper? Is there not a price to be paid for obeying the Great Commission? Can we truly expect to be loved and honored by a culture that is more and more adamant and vocal in their hatred of Jesus and His authority over them?

While it is interesting to think about these things now, what will we say to Jesus when we stand before Him at the Judgment Seat?

We not only have a responsibility to lost people, we have at least two great responsibilities to God’s people. In the context of Acts 20:28-32, what do you believe are those responsibilities?

And, by the way, how has God “ordered” that we pay for the work and ministries of our Church?

Finally, Paul goes back to one of the most basic of Christian characteristics. His broken heart at the thought of not seeing the Ephesian believers again in this life reminds us of the depth of his relationships with them; and, how deep our love and care ought to be for one another.

Dig in to God’s Word! I hope you will read over this exciting portion of God’s Word and ask HIM to prepare your heart for the message this week.! I hope you will get studied up, prayed up, and fired up over the opportunity to worship God together with your Church Family!

I hope to see you Sunday Morning with a Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!

REMEMBER: Saturday and Sunday, April 21^st and 22^nd, we will host our “Spiritual Renewal Weekend” with Dr. Bobby Boyles of Oklahoma City. We will begin with a Banquet at 6pm on Saturday (4/21) after which Bobby will preach; and then we will give the Lord all day Sunday (4/22) to speak to our hearts through His man as he preaches His Word!

Bobby will also speak to the Combined Adult SS Classes on Sunday (4/22) at 9am and at the morning service at 10am and also at 6pm. This is something new we are trying this year – a two day meeting instead of a four day meeting… I hope you will set aside these two days to attend these meeting, focus on God and His Word, and seek a true time of transformation in your own walk with God.