This month's memory verse

Ephesians 4:11-12

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

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Monday, Sep 14 Mon
Sep 14
Acts 20:17-24
 Tuesday, Sep 15 Tue
Sep 15
Acts 20:24-30
 Wednesday, Sep 16 Wed
Sep 16
Acts 20:30-35
 Thursday, Sep 17 Thu
Sep 17
Acts 20:35-38
 Friday, Sep 18 Fri
Sep 18
Titus 1:5-9

Paul says goodbye to Ephesus.

Key Verse | Acts 20:19

serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

Acts 20:17-24

17But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

18When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

22“And now I am bound by the Spirit* to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Footnotes

20:22 Or by my spirit, or by an inner compulsion; Greek reads by the spirit.

Paul leaves Ephesus

After spending several years in Ephesus, it was time for Paul to continue in his journey toward Jerusalem. In Acts 20:17-24, Paul said goodbye to people he loved and gave them final instructions for how they should live after he left. He started his instruction by showing himself as an example.

Read Acts 20:17-24 together as a family.

As you read, look for the answers to these questions:

  • Who is Paul talking to when he says goodbye?
  • In verse 19, find and underline three words Paul used to describe how he served. (Hint: one is a feeling, one is about how he treated people, one is about hard times.)
  • Why do you think Paul brought up his tears? What does that tell you about how much he cared about the people in Ephesus?
  • Paul says he doesn’t know exactly what will happen to him in Jerusalem, except one thing. What does he say he does know?
  • Paul says his life isn’t the most important thing to him. What does he say matters more?
  • Paul uses the word “finish” in verse 24. What was he trying to finish?

Discussion Questions

  1. Look back at your three words from verse 19. Which one is hardest for you to live out, and why?
  2. Paul’s tears show how much he cared about the Ephesians. Has caring about someone ever made you feel sad or worried for them? What did that feel like?
  3. Paul didn’t know exactly what was ahead, but he didn’t let that stop him. Has there been a time you weren’t sure what would happen, but you did the hard thing anyway?
  4. What has God given you to do right now, at school, at home, with friends, that might take courage to finish?
  5. Who do you know who leads the way Paul describes: caring, humble, willing to push through hard things? What do you notice about them?
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