You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Amen. Thank you all.
There are a lot of people here this morning who've known me a long time.
That's exciting and fun for me.
One who's known me longer than almost all of those is my dad, who is here to open God's Word for us this morning.
I got to introduce you to him this summer when he preached and told you then that he is not only the one from whom I learned what it meant to be a man and a husband and a father,
but also learned of the love of God for me and of what it looks like to share that love with others.
He's been my pastor since I was born. I guess it kind of works that way.
And delighted that he is here to open God's Word for us this morning.
Billy Spink.
I always marvel at how the service fits together, and I had nothing to do with the selection of that offertory,
but I think it was chosen for me.
I need thee every hour, and I certainly need the Lord's help as we move forward in this service.
It's a special occasion for us as a family.
Many of us have gathered to celebrate with you as Will is installed here,
and it's a special joy for us to be able to be together with you at Southwood today,
and especially for me to be able to open God's Word to you this morning.
I would invite you to turn in your Bibles or in the Pew Bible to the book of Acts chapter 20,
and I've picked somewhat of an awkward passage to use this morning,
but I hope at the end of the sermon you'll realize it's not quite as awkward as it might at first appear.
We are making history today, and it's a rare opportunity for us to actually say that we are a part of history.
History is such a special thing, and most of it happens before our time or after our time or somewhere else,
but rarely do we feel like we are actually making history.
But we are.
History is marked by special dates,
dates that are remembered because of special occasions.
Let me get some audience participation here for a moment.
How many of you recognize the date October 31, 1517?
October 31, 1517.
That's not Halloween.
That is when the Reformation was essentially started through Martin Luther's work.
How about July 4, 1776?
Anybody kind of recognize?
Oh, yeah, I figured we'd get a few that would know that.
How about in Huntsville, Alabama,
the date of July 21, 1969?
Ah, okay, when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon.
How about December 2, 1972?
December 2, 1972.
The famous Punt Bama Punt Iron Bowl.
Now, I just thrilled some of you and the rest of you have just left.
September 11, 2001.
We all recognize that date.
February 14, 2016.
A day that will go down in history,
at least Southwood history,
as the beginning of a new chapter
in your church's ministry.
Imagine you're holding in your hand a book
that tells the history of Southwood Presbyterian Church.
Well, today you move into a new chapter in that book.
What names will be included in this chapter?
What events will be described?
Whose weddings or baptisms will be celebrated?
Will a revival come to Southwood and to Huntsville
and to this presbytery during this chapter?
What staff will be added?
What new faces will appear in the Southwood family portrait?
What ministries will be offered to children and youth
and men and women?
Only God knows the answer to those questions.
But isn't it exciting to think
that we are on the cusp of history today?
We are opening a new chapter of ministry
at Southwood Presbyterian Church.
Now, if you're interested in thinking about church ministry
and church growth,
there are lots of books waiting for your attention.
Everyone seems to have his opinion about what to do
and what not to do.
What to sing and what not to sing.
What to preach and what not to preach.
Some will suggest that to reach the world,
the church must be more of a reflection of the world.
Others will vehemently disagree with that statement.
What I would like to do this morning
is let the Scriptures be our guide
to the type of ministry God desires to see
in the local church.
This local church.
Acts 20 tells the story of the church at Ephesus.
The Apostle Paul had been there for three plus years.
He had ministered effectively there,
but compelled by the Holy Spirit,
he is moving on to Jerusalem.
So as he bids them farewell,
he calls for the elders to gather
and he shares his heart with them.
And this is what happens.
Acts 20 verse 17.
Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus
and called the elders of the church to come to him.
And when they came to him, he said to them,
you yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time
from the first day I set foot in Asia,
serving the Lord with all humility
and with tears and with trials that happened to me
through the plots of the Jews.
How I did not shrink from declaring to you
anything that was profitable
and teaching you in public and from house to house,
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks
of repentance toward God
and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
And now behold, I am going to Jerusalem,
constrained by the Spirit,
not knowing what will happen to me there,
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me
in every city that imprisonment
and afflictions await me.
But I do not count my life of any value
nor as precious to myself.
If only I may finish my course
in the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
And now behold, I know that none of you
among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom
will see my face again.
Therefore, I testify to you this day
that I am innocent of the blood of all,
for I did not shrink from declaring to you
the whole counsel of God.
Pay careful attention to yourselves
and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers,
to care for the church of God
which he obtained with his own blood.
I know that after my departure,
fierce wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock.
And from among your own selves
will arise men speaking twisted things
to draw away the disciples after them.
Therefore, be alert,
remembering that for three years
I did not cease night or day
to admonish everyone with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to the word of his grace
which is able to build you up
and to give you the inheritance
among all those who are sanctified.
I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
You yourselves know that these hands
ministered to my necessities
and to those who were with me.
In all things I have shown you
that by working hard in this way
we must help the weak
and remember the words of the Lord Jesus
how he said himself,
it is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had said these things
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
And there was much weeping on the part of all.
They embraced Paul and kissed him
being sorrowful most of all
because of the word he had spoken
that they would not see his face again.
And they accompanied him to the ship.
Let's pray together.
Father, these are your words
and we believe they are living and active
sharper than any two-edged sword
and we pray that by your Holy Spirit
you would take the truth contained therein
and write it upon our hearts and minds
as this new chapter of history
at Southwood Presbyterian Church unfolds
that it would unfold according to
your words prescription
and not our own desires.
Do a mighty work here we pray, oh God.
To your glory through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
There is plenty in this text.
It's a very long text
and there is plenty that we could
spend lots of time on
but I would like to take from this text
four principles that I feel are critical
for the next phase of history
for Southwood Presbyterian Church.
Four things that I believe
the word of God would tell you
that you need to remember
as you move forward
and make the kind of history
that brings glory to God.
The first of those
is that we are to be alert
to the reality of spiritual warfare.
And I had to decide
which of these principles to put first
and I didn't originally plan
to put this first
but I thought this provides the context.
This provides the environment.
This establishes the climate
in which everything else comes
and it is my friends
that ministry happens
in the midst of spiritual warfare.
My wife and I enjoy receiving
our monthly copy of Branches.
We love to see and read
about what's going on here
at Southwood
and it is really a wonderful place to be
whether it's Trunk or Treat
or a Half K
or Falla Lodge
or Hay Day.
If I were living in Huntsville
this is where I'd be.
You all know what it is
to have a really good time.
But don't forget
that true biblical ministry
is done
in the context
of spiritual warfare.
It is a battle
to do ministry
not a picnic.
Paul didn't know
exactly what would happen
when he left Ephesus
but he says
I know this
verse 29
I know
that after my departure
fierce wolves
will come in among you
not sparing the flock
and from among your own selves
will arise men
speaking twisted things
to draw away the disciples
after them.
He says
I can't tell you
what's going to happen
specifically
but I know this
I know this
from the outside
and from the inside
ministry
is going to be all about
spiritual warfare.
It may be the consequence
of disobedience
or it may be
in the very midst
of obedience
but it will come.
Adam and Eve
didn't have to wait long
before the tempter
came to them.
The Lord Jesus
began his ministry
in the wilderness
being tempted
by the devil.
Paul will later
write a letter
back to these Ephesians
in which in the 6th chapter
he will talk about what?
Spiritual warfare
and the armor of God.
In fact
in this particular passage
he says
the Holy Spirit
testifies to me
in every city
that imprisonment
and afflictions
await me.
Spiritual ministry
happens in the context
of spiritual warfare.
Most of us would agree
that 9-11
has changed a lot
about the way we live.
The threat of terrorism
of the unknown
the unforeseen
the unexpected
is now just a way
of life for us
in this world
and safety
and security
are on our radar
all the time.
But if that's how we live
in a general way
how much more
should the church
of the Lord Jesus Christ
understand
that as we move forward
in ministry
we should expect
anticipate
prepare for
and respond to
any form of opposition
that should come to us
from the outside
or again
from the inside.
Paul wanted the Ephesians
to remember that
and to tread
carefully
and prayerfully.
I love the words
of the hymn
lead on
O King Eternal
the day of March
has come
henceforth
in fields of conquest
thy tent
shall be our home
through days
of preparation
your grace
has made us strong
and now
O King Eternal
we lift
our battle
song.
May that be
the theme
of Southwood
as it goes forward
in the days ahead.
Principle number two
be convinced
of the centrality
of the gospel.
What the heart
is to the body
the gospel
is to the ministry
of the church.
Neglect your physical heart
and you will pay
the consequences.
You will reap
the benefits
or the lack
of benefits.
Nurture it
treasure it
preach it
live it
the gospel
and the power
of God
may be unleashed
among you.
Listen to what
Paul says
in verse 24.
He says
I don't account
my life
of any value
nor as precious
to myself
if only I may
finish my course
in the ministry
that I receive
from the Lord Jesus
to testify
to the gospel
of the grace
of God.
Why was he
on this planet?
Not to accumulate
a portfolio
of funds
and resources
and mutual funds?
He was on
this planet
to testify
to the grace
of God
the gospel
of the grace
of God.
It was the gospel
that consumed
his focus
and his energy
it was the gospel
that burned
in his heart
it didn't matter
what else he accomplished
if he failed
to herald
the gospel.
And so when he
writes to the Romans
he said
it's the gospel
that's the power
of God
unto salvation
to the Jew first
and also to the Greek.
When he writes
to the Corinthians
and he talks
about all the issues
that they're dealing
with in Corinth
he says
I determined
to know nothing
among you
except Jesus Christ
and him crucified.
When he writes
from a Roman prison
to the Philippians
he says
I'm surrounded
by people
that speak
the gospel
from envy
or selfishness
but hey
I rejoice
that the gospel
is going forth.
And to those
same Philippians
he says
only let your manner
of life
be worthy
of the gospel
of Christ
so that whether
I come and see you
or am absent
I may hear of you
that you are standing
firm in one spirit
with one mind
striving side by side
for the faith
of the gospel.
What a glorious
statement to make
as those of us
who leave town today
we go back
our separate ways
we say
I pray
that you will stand
arm in arm
side by side
hand in hand
for the message
of the gospel.
Sometimes we take
the gospel for granted
and act as if
we can graduate
from gospel application
to deeper things
and higher things.
I can assure you
when we think that way
the devil
smiles.
Principle number three
never forget
the identity
of the people
you serve.
Never forget
the identity
of the people
that surround you.
Look around you
at the people
in this congregation
this morning.
Who are they?
How many times
do we distinguish
ourselves
or identify
ourselves
by age
or vocation
or background
or college allegiance
or something else?
Sometimes we want
to be defined
by our successes
and sometimes
unfortunately
we are defined
by our failures.
But in the ministry
of God's church
all of that
is secondary.
Paul tells
these elders
in verse 28
pay careful attention
to yourselves
and to all the flock
in which the Holy Spirit
has made you overseers
to care for the church
of God
which he obtained
or purchased
with his own blood.
The people around you
are a flock.
Psalm 100 says
we are his people
the sheep
of his pasture.
Jesus saw people
as sheep
without a shepherd
and he had compassion
on them.
He said he was
the good shepherd
and he would lay down
his life for his sheep.
Verse 28 says
that he would purchase
the church of God
with his own blood.
We are not to be defined
by our job
or our age
or our position
or our allegiance
to this school
or that school.
We are to be defined
by our relationship
to God
through the gospel.
These sheep about you
will need tenderness
and patience
but they will also need
instruction
and correction.
They will demand
all the time
that you can give
to them
but they will then
bless you
in ways
that you could
never anticipate.
You know
it doesn't really matter
where you come from
in Huntsville.
What part of Huntsville
you've come from today
to be here at Southwood.
It doesn't matter
if you're still
an intact nuclear family
or whether that family
blew up some time ago.
It doesn't matter
if you appear
squeaky clean
on the outside
or have battle scars
on your faces.
When you come
through these doors
we all come
as sinners
in need of a savior
as sheep
in need of a shepherd
as broken
in need of healing
as strugglers
in need of help.
The diversity
that we see
among us
is trumped
by our common need
grace
and our common hope
Christ.
And so Paul said
to the Galatians
in Christ Jesus
you are all sons
of God
through faith.
There is neither
Jew nor Greek
slave nor free
male nor female
for you are all
one in Christ.
To the Corinthians
he would say
for just as the body
is one and as many members
and all the members
of the body
though many
are one body
so it is with Christ
for in one spirit
we were all baptized
into one body
whether Jew or Greek
slave or free
and all were made
to drink of one spirit.
The unity
that we have
in Jesus Christ
trumps all the diversity
that would separate us
from one another.
And Southwood
Presbyterian Church
needs to move forward
with that sense
of unity
where rich
and poor
black
and white
young
and old
tied
and war eagle
all find
in Jesus Christ
a unity
that propels you
forward
in ministry
to one another
and through this church
to the community.
Finally
principle four
remain devoted
to the priority
of faithful
biblical
instruction.
There are always
temptations
in ministry
to bounce
from one
contemporary issue
to the next
to always want
to sound relevant
and in touch
and to make
the congregation
feel like
they're on the
cutting edge
of current debate.
I confess
the fear
that I have
in my own heart
after 34 years
in the same place
is that someone
would describe
my ministry
as miles wide
and inches deep.
Miles wide
inches deep.
Paul certainly
seemed devoted
to faithful teaching.
He says in verse 20
I did not shrink
from declaring
to you anything
that was profitable
and teaching you
in public
and from house
to house.
I didn't back off
from anything
whether it was
public or private.
He says in verse 27
I did not shrink
from declaring
to you
the whole
counsel
of God.
That's a strong
statement.
The whole
counsel of God.
There wasn't anything
I was afraid
to talk about.
No issue
that I wouldn't raise.
He didn't hesitate
to demand
that people think.
He didn't apologize
for apologetics.
He valued
sound doctrine
and he appealed
for a response
to biblical truth.
Notice verse 21
testifying both
to Jews
and to Greeks
of repentance
toward God
and of faith
in our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Repentance
toward God
and faith
in the Lord
Jesus Christ.
He said I pounded
that over and over
again.
Why?
Because it is
through repentance
and faith
that one comes
into the kingdom
and it is true
that through repentance
and faith
one walks
and travels
in the kingdom.
we cannot assume
that a busy church
is necessarily
a solid church.
There are lots
of churches today
that are keeping
their people
very busy
and very tired
but building
on a very sandy
foundation.
Theologian David
Wells recently
examined the weaknesses
of today's
evangelical church
and prescribed
some steps
toward renewal.
Listen to what
he says.
We must recover
the lost word
of God.
If we do not
recover the
sufficiency
of the word
of God
in our time
if we do not
relearn what it
means to be
sustained by it
nourished by it
disciplined by it
and unless our
preachers find
the courage
again to preach
its truth
we will lose
our right
to call ourselves
Protestants.
We will lose
our capacity
to be the people
of God
and we will
set ourselves
on a path
that leads
right into
the old
discredited
liberal
Protestantism.
we have to
recover a vivid
otherworldliness
by making
ourselves once
again captives
to the truth
of God
regardless of
the cultural
consequences.
That is
the first
thing.
May Southwood's
reputation be in
this next chapter
of its history
that this is
where the word
of God
is faithfully
thoroughly
and carefully
taught
and if people
want to come
and leave
because you
take the word
of God
too seriously
let that not
distract you
from the call
to make disciples
presenting everyone
mature
in Christ.
So Paul
leaves Ephesus
wondering
what's going
to become
of his beloved
Ephesian church
but he does
not wonder
without hope.
In verse 32
it says
and now
Paul says
I commend
you to God
and to the
word of his
grace
which is able
to build you
up and to
give you
the inheritance
among all
those who
are sanctified.
He says
I commend
you to God
because after
all it is
God who
bought his
church
and it's
God who
builds his
church
it's God
who makes
things grow
it is God
who works
in us
both to will
and to do
for his good
pleasure
it is God
who is able
to do exceeding
abundantly
above all
that we
ask or
imagine
it is God
who is able
to make
all grace
abound to
us
Paul says
I commend
you to God
and to
the word
of his
grace
not just
to the
word
grace
we're
great
at taking
the word
grace
and throwing
it around
all the time
using it
all the time
so that it
means relatively
nothing
but Paul
says I commend
you to the
word of his
grace
for it
is the
word of
his
grace
that
revives
the soul
and makes
wise
the simple
and rejoices
the heart
and enlightens
the eyes
and endures
forever
it is the
word of
his grace
which is
living and
active
sharper
than any
two-edged
sword
the word
of his
grace
does not
eliminate
spiritual
disciplines
like prayer
and bible
study
it promotes
those
disciplines
not in a
have to
mentality
but in a
want to
mentality
not to
satisfy
somebody's
list
of
do's
and
don'ts
but to
build a
relationship
that satisfies
you
in the
Lord Jesus
himself
how does
that happen
because the
word of his
grace always
points us
in one
direction
not to
ourselves
and not
to each
other
but to
the word
of grace
made
flesh
the lamb
of God
who takes
away the
sin of the
world
the one
from whom
we have
all received
grace
upon grace
God
and his
word of
grace
are able
to build
you up
and give
you an
inheritance
among all
those
who are
sanctified
February
14th
2016
a day
in history
you were
here
you were
here when
it began
this new
chapter of
Southwood
Presbyterian
Church history
is to
begin
to be
written
today
and I
would
hope
that the
pages
of this
chapter
will be
stained
by the
same
thing
that
marked
Paul's
labor
among
the
Ephesians
see if
you can
detect
it
Paul said
you
yourselves
know
how I
lived
among you
the whole
time
from the
first
day
that I
set
foot
in
Asia
serving
the
Lord
with
all
humility
and
with
tears
therefore
be
alert
remembering
that
for
three
years
I
did
not
cease
night
or
day
to
admonish
everyone
with
tears
and when
he had
said all
these
things
he knelt
down
and prayed
with them
all
and there
was much
weeping
on the
part
of all
as they
embraced
Paul
and kissed
him
tears
you see
Paul's
warnings
were
sounded
in
love
the
gospel
was
declared
in
love
the
church
identity
was
cultivated
in
love
his
instruction
was
given
and
received
in
love
the
important
thing
is not
ultimately
how
big
Southwood
becomes
but
how
deep
not
what
the
community
thinks
about
you
but
how
much
love
the
community
sees
in
you
not
who
rises
to
lead
but
who
bows
to
serve
not
how
much
truth
you
accumulate
but
how
much
love
you
demonstrate
not
even
how
much
recognition
you
gain
in
the
community
but
how
much
glory
God
receives
may
this
chapter
end
as
Paul's
did
with
tears
of
joy
for
all
that
God
did
by
his
power
and
for
his
glory
in
the
lives
of
ordinary
people
who
met
an
extraordinary
savior
in the
classrooms
and
hallways
and
nurseries
and
youth
rooms
and
sanctuary
of
Southwood
Presbyterian
Church
and in
the hearts
of each
of you
as you
begin
today
to write
the next
chapter
in the
history
of your
church
write
well
my
friends
write
well
with the
gospel
before
you
let's
pray
father in
heaven
thank you
for
this
special
day
as we
mark
a new
chapter
in the
history
of
Southwood
Presbyterian
Church
a history
that we
are all
excited
to see
develop
before us
may it
be a
history
that is
marked
by the
gospel
of the
grace
of God
may it
be a
history
that is
marked
by impact
for the
glory
of God
and the
extension
of God's
kingdom
may it
be a
history
in which
ordinary
people
fall in
love
with an
extraordinary
savior
and tell
the world
all about
him
for we
pray this
in Jesus
name
amen
for more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org