INTRODUCTION

Acts 5:28 Reminder → Call to Action

“What better thing could we be known for than filling our city with Jesus?”

As we come to the end of Acts, we’re reminded:

This story isn’t over.
We are still part of it.

CONTEXT

After years of ministry, Paul gathers the Ephesian elders for a final conversation.

This is not a sermon to a crowd—
it’s a farewell to people he deeply loves.

And in this moment, Paul gives us a picture of what ministry that truly matters looks like.

He looks:

• Back (how he lived)
• Around (what’s happening now)
• Ahead (what’s coming)

BIG IDEA

Ministry that matters is not measured by activity…
but by the depth, truth, and faithfulness of our lives in Christ.

1. Ministry That Matters Is Relational

(v.18)

“You yourselves know how I lived among you…”

Paul didn’t just preach to them—
he lived with them.

• Shared life
• Built trust
• Loved people personally

Gospel ministry happens in proximity.

→ You can’t impact people you don’t actually know.

2. Ministry That Matters Can Be Painful

(v.19)

“Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials…”

Ministry is not always easy—it’s costly.

Two types of pain:

• Tears (emotional pain)
  • Loss, conflict, brokenness, burden for people
• Trials (testing pain)
  • Opposition, sacrifice, spiritual pressure

Following Jesus will cost you something.

→ But you don’t walk through it alone—God gave us the Church.

3. Ministry That Matters Must Be Truthful

(v.20–21, 27, 31)

“I did not shrink…”

Paul refused to hold anything back.

Three marks of truthful ministry:

• Profitable truth
  → Teaching what people need, not just what they want
• Whole truth
  → Not picking and choosing parts of Scripture
• Admonishing truth
  → Loving people enough to correct and warn

It is not loving to avoid the truth.

→ Truth spoken in love is what actually transforms lives.

4. Ministry That Matters Is Insightful

(v.29–31)

“Fierce wolves will come…”

Paul gives a warning:

• False teaching will come
• Division will rise
• People will be led astray

So what’s the response?

Be alert.

Mature ministry sees danger coming and speaks up.

→ Insight comes from walking with God and learning through experience.

5. Ministry That Matters Must Be Faithful

(v.33–35)

“I coveted no one’s silver…”

Paul models integrity and generosity.

Two key ideas:

• Live above reproach
  → No hidden motives, no personal gain
• Live generously
  → “It is more blessed to give than to receive”

Faithfulness is seen in how we steward what God has given us.

→ Our time, energy, and resources all belong to Him.

6. Ministry That Matters Is Grateful

(v.36–38)

“They wept… embraced… kissed him…”

This is a gospel goodbye.

Why so emotional?

Because something real was built.

Where there is deep love, there is deep gratitude.

→ If it doesn’t hurt to say goodbye, something may have been missing.

SUMMARY

So ask yourself:

Am I part of a ministry that actually matters?

• In my home
• In my relationships
• In my church

Because ministry that matters is:

• Relational
• Painful
• Truthful
• Insightful
• Faithful
• Grateful

FINAL CHALLENGE

A ministry that matters…

Makes a difference for God
in the lives of people.

And that kind of ministry doesn’t just happen on Sundays—

It happens through people who are fully surrendered to Jesus every day.