Be Shepherds of the Church of God

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Be Shepherds of the Church of God

Date: Oct. 22, 2025

Passage

Acts 20:25-38 (ESV)

25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 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 with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 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. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 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 himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 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.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 20:28

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 with his own blood.

At the time, Paul didn’t know how much time he had left on earth as he did later when he was awaiting his martyrdom in a Roman dungeon (2 Tim 4:6). However, he sensed that this would be the last time for him to meet with the elders of the Ephesian church (25). In that context, his farewell message to them was “Be shepherds of the church of God.” But how?

First, Paul reminded them of his own example. He preached the gospel with a sense of urgency that without repentance and faith his sheep would be subject to damnation (26). He proclaimed the whole will (or “counsel;” NKJV) of God instead of picking and choosing the parts of Scriptures that his Bible students’ itching ears would love to hear (27). Paul set an example of hard work, supplying his own needs and those of his sheep as well (34,35).

Second, Paul admonished them not to be complacent spiritually because “savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock…So be on your guard!” (29). They had to be spiritually alert. But also, their protection would be in God and the word of his grace, to which Paul committed them (32).

Prayer: Father, please make me a shepherd of God’s flock as you want me to be.

One Word: To give is more blessed than to receive

Jesus Remained Silent

Mark 15:1-15

Key Verse: 15:5

But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Today's Question

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