Sermon Summary
Big Idea: We gather to be comforted by Jesus’ resurrection, not to become comfortable Christians.
This week’s message argues that Jesus’ resurrection should comfort us, but not the modern sense of “comfort” or “comfortable.” Instead, the original meaning of the word “comfort” means to strengthen or fortify. Acts 20:1-16 comforts us with resurrection words, resurrection food, and resurrection time.
Sermon Outline
Comforted by Resurrection Words
Comforted by Resurrection Food
Comforted by Resurrection Time
Sermon Text: Acts 20:1-16
After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.
And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.
But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
Applications Questions
How does knowing the biblical definition of comfort help us know what God offers to us and encourage our hearts?
How does this passage help us see the message being shared and what we should follow?
How do the story and words of this passage encourage your soul?
How could you have more teaching of God’s Word in your life?
What is the importance of breaking bread throughout Scripture and in our lives on a regular and weekly basis?
How do 1 Corinthians 11, Jude, and Acts 2 help us further understand the purpose of breaking bread?
How does this passage encourage intimacy within the body of Christ?
How does this passage challenge you to change your plans and to live for the resurrection of Jesus?
