Dan Doriani on Acts 20 on Christian leadership

This week's pastors day article is by Dan Doriani on Christian leadership from Acts 20.

'Paul spent time with the elders of Ephesus. They knew his life, but he wanted to remind them of his ideals: His humility, emotions, endurance, preaching.

a) His humility (Acts 20:19)
The Bible says leaders can't be quarrelsome, conceited or overbearing, i.e. they should be humble (1 Timothy 3:3-6; Titus 1:7). Pride, the opposite of humility, is a great danger for leaders. Why? Leaders have skills, that's why they're leaders. Many admire that skill. Others hope to gain access or favors by fawning over leaders.

George Whitfield was the greatest preacher of the 18th century. Beyond his content and delivery, Ben Franklin, using precise observation, concluded that 25,000 standing close together, could hear his voice in an open field. After great orations, people would say, "You were so wonderful, so eloquent." He would reply, "Yes, I know that. The devil just told me the same thing as I stepped from the pulpit."

The key to humility: We must know we are no different, no better than anyone. All are sinners saved by grace. Paul says that all we have we received as a gift from God. How then can anyone boast? (1 Corinthians 4:7)

b) His tears (Acts 20:19)
Paul says he wept in Ephesus. He wept because he had passion for his cause and empathy for his people. He grieved when people shunned his gospel. Francis Schaeffer said, "If we speak a truth that hurts, it must be with tears". We must empathize with anyone who hears a hard message. There is a time to be bold and forthcoming but never smug or combative.

c) His endurance (Acts 20:19)
Paul endured in every way. He kept traveling and kept teaching. He kept working as a tent-maker by day – teaching at night – so no one could say he profited from the gospel or question his motives. Paul persevered despite plots on his life. He knew prison lay before him, but he kept on preaching and teaching.

The animated film Ratatouille won the Oscar for best animated film in 2008. At the award, Brad Bird, the director, thanked his junior high school guidance counselor, "He asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I said, 'Make movies.' He asked me what else I wanted to do. And I said, 'Make movies.'" Paul would have understood Bird.

d) His preaching – passionate, fearless, thorough
Paul also endured as a preacher. He says five things about his preaching. First, he preached anything that would be helpful. He held nothing back.

Second, he preached publicly. He was no elitist who tried to dazzle people with inside knowledge to be revealed to initiates in secret places. If he spoke to one, he said it to all. The principle is if something is worth saying in private, it's worth saying in public. We should sound the same in public and in private.

Third, Paul also taught privately – from house to house (Acts 20:20). We don't know how large the church at Ephesus became, but Paul knew everyone at the beginning. He spent time alone or in small groups with people. Paul isn't saying he visited each person in his home. But church leaders should get to know the people under their care - one by one as much as possible.
If it's true in the church, it certainly seems wise in business, in schools, or other volunteer organizations. Leaders should know their people as much as possible.

Fourth, He preached to everyone, both Jews and Greeks, to those who had a background and those who didn't (Acts 20:21). Later he says he spoke "to Greeks and barbarians" - sophisticated and unsophisticated people (Romans 1:14).

Fifth, he preached comprehensively. He preached the basics of repentance and faith in the Lord Acts 20:21). He proclaimed "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). I was taught: this meant Paul addressed hard topics such as interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. OK, but it’s more than this.

The whole counsel is that the whole gospel of God is offered to the whole flock of God: Jew, Greek and barbarian. That is why Paul keeps on moving. He proclaims all he knows:
Repentance to God and faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21); the gospel of God's grace (Acts 20:24)
The reign of God (Acts 20:25). The word of God's grace (Acts 20:32).

He taught "all possible truth with all possible people in all possible ways".
That's why Paul is "innocent of the blood of all men" (Acts 20:26). He spoke the word. If they reject the message, the responsibility is theirs.

Paul does not say, "If you follow my example, all will be well." We should follow Paul's example, but obedience doesn't guarantee blessing. The elders themselves will be threatened! Betrayal will arise within! Therefore Paul commits them to God's grace (Acts 20:32). '

(HT Monergism)