Not-So-Quiet-Time: Acts 20
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 2/15
Day 1: Verses 1-6
Notice that Paul was an encourager. He often experienced difficulties and pain as a result of following Jesus. He knew the importance of encouragement in the life of believers. Who has encouraged you most in your faith? And who are the people that you have the biggest opportunity to encourage? As we press on, let’s do it with an attitude of encouragement.
Day 2: Verses 7-12
This is one of the places in Scripture that we see Christians gathered for worship on the “first day of the week” (20:7). And Paul, like many preachers, “prolonged his speech” (20:8). “Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer… he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead” (20:9). Although these people were living out God’s exciting story, it felt like “normal” life to them. We must remember that our normal lives are also part of God’s eternal plan. Ask God to help you live your chapter of his story with faithfulness.
Day 3: Verses 13-27
Paul made an impact in Ephesus at this time, not by stopping there, but by meeting with the Ephesian elders as he passed by. Paul’s mission was taking him elsewhere, but God’s mission in Ephesus would continue. God’s church is not dependent on any person other than Christ Himself. As Paul moved on, he shared what God had called him to. And every believer should share Paul’s goal that we “may finish [our] course and the ministry that [we] received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (20:24).
Day 4: Verses 28-35
We are not called to follow Jesus alone. We need a church, we need church leaders, and we need the church to hold on to sturdy summaries of the Scriptures. Why? Paul knew that in time “fierce wolves [would] 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” (20:29-30). Churches keep us from wandering off alone. Church leaders protect us from wolves. And sturdy summaries keep us from “twisted things” that “draw away” God’s people. This is one of the reasons our church uses the Westminster Standards. Thank God for our church and for faithful summaries of his teachings.
Day 5: Verses 36-38
Christians love one another. The church is meant to be a family where we truly care for one another. As Paul prepared to leave, the church prayed, embraced, and wept. Thank God for putting you into a church family. Consider what it looks like for our church to love each other well.
Catechism Connection: 7-8
We are living out God’s plan in the world today. We live where He has placed us (Acts 17), and on the mission to which He has called us (2 Cor 5). He is working out his “eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will… for his own glory” (WSC 7). He is providentially working in his creation (WSC 8). You are part of his plan; live for Him.
Monthly Memory: Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
Day 1: Verses 1-6
Notice that Paul was an encourager. He often experienced difficulties and pain as a result of following Jesus. He knew the importance of encouragement in the life of believers. Who has encouraged you most in your faith? And who are the people that you have the biggest opportunity to encourage? As we press on, let’s do it with an attitude of encouragement.
Day 2: Verses 7-12
This is one of the places in Scripture that we see Christians gathered for worship on the “first day of the week” (20:7). And Paul, like many preachers, “prolonged his speech” (20:8). “Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer… he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead” (20:9). Although these people were living out God’s exciting story, it felt like “normal” life to them. We must remember that our normal lives are also part of God’s eternal plan. Ask God to help you live your chapter of his story with faithfulness.
Day 3: Verses 13-27
Paul made an impact in Ephesus at this time, not by stopping there, but by meeting with the Ephesian elders as he passed by. Paul’s mission was taking him elsewhere, but God’s mission in Ephesus would continue. God’s church is not dependent on any person other than Christ Himself. As Paul moved on, he shared what God had called him to. And every believer should share Paul’s goal that we “may finish [our] course and the ministry that [we] received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (20:24).
Day 4: Verses 28-35
We are not called to follow Jesus alone. We need a church, we need church leaders, and we need the church to hold on to sturdy summaries of the Scriptures. Why? Paul knew that in time “fierce wolves [would] 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” (20:29-30). Churches keep us from wandering off alone. Church leaders protect us from wolves. And sturdy summaries keep us from “twisted things” that “draw away” God’s people. This is one of the reasons our church uses the Westminster Standards. Thank God for our church and for faithful summaries of his teachings.
Day 5: Verses 36-38
Christians love one another. The church is meant to be a family where we truly care for one another. As Paul prepared to leave, the church prayed, embraced, and wept. Thank God for putting you into a church family. Consider what it looks like for our church to love each other well.
Catechism Connection: 7-8
We are living out God’s plan in the world today. We live where He has placed us (Acts 17), and on the mission to which He has called us (2 Cor 5). He is working out his “eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will… for his own glory” (WSC 7). He is providentially working in his creation (WSC 8). You are part of his plan; live for Him.
Monthly Memory: Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.
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