Gratitude Attitude
Sermon Summary
Give Thanks for God's Blessings
I love Vancouver. It's home. It's changing all the time, but it’s still home. And change, while inevitable in this city, reminds us that in a world of flux, we need something constant. That’s why, as we look at Acts 20, we’re reminded that the local church must be a spiritual family that holds fast—not just to each other—but to Christ.
Paul, nearing the end of his third missionary journey, gathers the elders of the Ephesian church for a final, heartfelt conversation. And right from the start, we see his deep relational connection to these people. In verses 18–19, Paul talks about how he served with “all humility, with tears, and with trials.” His investment wasn’t surface-level; it was soul-deep. He walked with them, cried with them, bore their burdens.
Church is not just a place we attend. It’s a family we commit to. That means we pray for one another, step in when life gets messy, and refuse to keep our relationships shallow. Paul reminded them—and us—that real ministry happens in the context of real relationships. Our call is to be faithful to our spiritual family.
Make His Works Known
Paul didn’t just care for people emotionally. He taught them spiritually. Verse 20 says he “kept back nothing that was profitable,” teaching publicly and from house to house. He wasn’t selective with truth. He gave the whole counsel of God.
That’s our call too. In a time when people often pursue only the parts of truth they want to hear—what Paul calls “itching ears” in 2 Timothy 4—we are called to be a church that remains grounded. Not flashy, not afraid, just faithful. We preach the Bible, all of it, even the hard parts.
The temptation for any preacher is to avoid topics that may offend or challenge. But Paul didn’t shrink from declaring the truth. Why? Because the truth saves. The truth transforms. And we must be people who love the truth more than our comfort.
We live in a day where sound doctrine is counter-cultural. But we do not exist to be relevant; we exist to be rooted. May our church always be grounded in biblical truth, unwavering in its declaration, and bold in its proclamation.
Seek the Lord Continually
In verses 22–24, Paul reveals something extraordinary. He says the Spirit is leading him to Jerusalem, even though all he knows is that suffering awaits. “But none of these things move me,” he declares. What a powerful phrase. None of these things move me.
Paul’s commitment was forged in fire. He knew opposition was part of the calling. He didn’t count his life as precious, only the mission of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. The scars on his body were badges of honor, not signs of retreat.
And here’s where it gets personal. What moves you? What stops you from sharing your faith, standing in truth, or loving your church family sacrificially? Is it fear of rejection? Fear of inconvenience? Paul calls us to something higher.
We must be people who do not elevate self-preservation above gospel proclamation. The work of God requires more than part-time Christians. It requires people who will stay faithful through uncertainty, hardship, and even opposition. That’s what it means to be made for more.
Remember His Faithfulness
Paul’s consistency over the years became a testimony of God’s faithfulness. He did not swerve from the message or the mission. He served day and night with tears and with truth. It’s a picture of the steadfast, faithful love of God poured out through a surrendered life.
When we remember God’s faithfulness, it anchors us to serve with consistency. In a city full of transition and a culture that prizes novelty, faithfulness stands out. Let’s be known not just for a flash of passion, but a legacy of perseverance.
Be Mindful of His Word
Paul reminded the elders that he had not neglected to declare to them the “whole counsel of God.” This is a critical warning for every generation. We cannot treat the Word of God like a buffet—taking the parts that feel good and skipping the rest.
Faithfulness means teaching and living out the Word with integrity. Let God’s Word set the agenda. Let Scripture shape our priorities, our morality, and our mission. When we’re mindful of His Word, we stay on the path He’s laid before us.
Declare His Glory to Others
The mission Paul carried with him was not private. It was a declaration. He testified “to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is our calling too. The glory of God is not something we hoard—it’s something we herald. We declare His glory by sharing His gospel. And not just from pulpits, but in daily conversations, family meals, moments of compassion, and words of truth.
Declare His glory in how you love your neighbor. Declare it in how you forgive. Declare it in your boldness to speak the name of Jesus. We do not exist to be silent witnesses, but vocal ambassadors.
Give Generously in Worship
Paul ends his exhortation in Acts 20 with a powerful statement: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This is not just about money—it’s about life. The call to generosity is a call to Christlikeness.
Jesus gave Himself completely for us, and when we give of our time, talents, and treasures, we are entering into His joy. Worship is never passive—it’s a posture of surrender and giving. Let’s be a people known not for what we consume but for how we contribute.
Reflection
City Baptist, we’re not called to be a flash-in-the-pan movement. We are called to be faithful. We are called to be a spiritual family that loves deeply. A church grounded in truth that stands boldly. And a community unmoved by the changing tides of culture or opposition.
The Apostle Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders are a charge to us today. Give thanks for God’s blessings. Make His works known. Seek the Lord continually. Remember His faithfulness. Be mindful of His Word. Declare His glory to others. And give generously in worship.
You were made for more than comfort. More than attendance. More than a checkbox of Christianity. You were made to commit. And by God's grace, as we stand on His Word, love His people, and press forward with boldness, we will finish our course with joy.
So stand strong. Stay faithful. And don’t move.
