Paul’s Parting Words

What do you say to someone you care for deeply if you’re pretty sure it’s going to be the last time you’ll talk with them? Certainly your conversation would include those subjects most important to you. Even if you knew what you would say might upset the other person, you’d probably bring it up because you would think, “I’ll never get another chance.”

Paul was finishing up his third missionary journey. Over the course of the last 20 years he had traveled over 7000 miles going from city to city, preaching about Jesus Christ and starting local churches. While God accomplished great things through this man, Paul also experienced tremendous hardship and brutal persecution. He was tired. He had aged. He was convinced that he would soon meet death because of his bold and fearless mission work. And so he called together the leaders of the church in Ephesus to say “good-bye”. Paul had spent over two years in that city growing a vibrant congregation before he was forced to leave by irate silversmiths whose sales of pagan statues had dramatically decreased due to people receiving Christ.

As the great apostle looked at these fellow Christians he had come to love over the years, he opened his heart and shared with them words that continue to impact lives today. Join us this coming Saturday evening (6:00 pm) or Sunday morning at Foster Point (10:00 am) for a time of serious reflection on what is most important in life.