Pastor Terry Ciona’s Farewell (Acts 20:17-38)

Big Idea: Saying goodbye well means appreciating the past relationship, trusting God's guidance for the future, and obeying the Spirit's leading.

It seems like there's always good news and bad news for a youth pastor. The exciting news: You had the privilege of baptizing three individuals during a youth retreat. The bad news: You lost one of them in the current. The good news: The youth committee sent you a get-well card. The bad news: The vote passed by 4 to 3. The good news: Mrs. Jones thinks you're a great youth pastor. The bad news: Mrs. Jones is also wild about the Gong Show and the Bay City Rollers. The good news: Your youth have come to your house for a visit. The bad news: It's midnight and they're armed with toilet paper and shaving cream. The good news: The senior pastor accepted your job description the way you wrote it. The bad news: He's formed a search committee to find somebody capable of filling it. The good news: God has moved you on. The bad news: You have to listen to what I have to say before you leave.

Terry, it's time to say goodbye. Saying goodbye has some obvious benefits. It allows us to reflect on where we've been together. It helps us to appreciate one another, and reminds us not to take our relationships together for granted. It reveals the true nature of the relationship we've had together. And it allows both of us to stand on our own, to see what we're really made of.

Saying good-bye can also be difficult. I guess it all depends on who you're saying goodbye to. But Paul tells us how to say goodbye. Please open your Bible to Acts 20. Paul traveled to Rome, despite the concerns of early Christians, and passed near Ephesus, a city he had previously visited. He called for the leaders of the Ephesian church for a very emotional farewell. In this passage, I've identified two qualities of a goodbye relevant to our situation today. Two lessons, if you will, on how to say a good goodbye.

Saying Goodbye Means Appreciating Our Past Relationship.

When Paul meets the Ephesian elders, he reflects on their past relationship, emphasizing the sincerity of his ministry with them. Read with me:

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 that 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. (Acts 20:18-21)

When saying goodbye, it's easy to look back at the past. Paul emphasizes that he was eager to jump in from the very first day he began ministering to them. His motive was simple: he wanted to serve the Lord (verse 19). He wasn't in it to make money, and he wasn't in it for his ego. His only motive was to serve the Lord.

The manner of his ministry was also simple. The entire time he was with them, he lived a consistent life, and served the Lord with humility and tears. His message to the Ephesians (verses 20-21) was clear: he boldly preached repentance and faith in the Lord to sinners. He ministered to Jews and Gentiles, preaching a balanced message and including anything beneficial for the congregation.

In short, Paul had an exemplary ministry while he ministered in Ephesus. The thing I like about Paul is that he didn't have to hang his head in shame when he left them. Paul could look back and praise God for an effective and credible ministry while he was among them. Were there problems? Of course! Just read Acts 19. I guess you could call a riot a bit of a problem! But Paul could look back without shame or regret, and praise God that his motives, manner, and message were beyond question while he was among them.

I learn from Paul an important lesson here. It's important, Terry, to appreciate the past we've had together. You can see tonight that you've been appreciated, and we'll continue to appreciate you as we move forward. But Paul also teaches us a second lesson.

Saying Goodbye Means We Accept God's Leading Above Our Own Desires

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 account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and 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. (Acts 20:22-27)

Paul says in verse 22 that he is "compelled by the Spirit" to leave for Jerusalem. It didn't make a lot of sense. Everywhere he visited, the Holy Spirit told him through prophesies that jail was waiting for him ahead. I don't think anyone really wanted Paul to leave. Even Paul likely encountered moments of doubt from time to time. But I love verse 24: "But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love."

Paul is saying, in effect, "I don't care if I end up in jail – I have to go where the Spirit takes me. I don't know what is going to happen, but I know I'm following Jesus." Paul is subtly reminding the Ephesian elders that, even if they wish for him to stay, they must accept God's will for his departure.

I could preach a whole sermon on sensing God's will, but what I know is this: when God calls, you had better listen. Terry, you have been called away by God. Just as you sensed God calling you here, you have sensed God moving you away. We know God is preparing you for something.

Jumping ahead for a minute to the end of Paul's message, we see how the people reacted.

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. (Acts 20:36-38)

Nobody wanted Paul to leave, but if Paul is compelled by the Spirit, he had better go. And if we are compelled by the Spirit as well to move on, we had better go! Paul teaches us quite a bit about saying good-bye. He's reminded us to appreciate the time we've had together, and to accept the Spirit's leading.

I'm excited, because we're both on the threshold of a new adventure. With God's help, and God's future leading, who knows what blessings lie ahead? Saying good-bye isn't easy, but with the lessons we learn from Paul's good-bye, it's a little bit easier.

Please pray that Terry's ministry here reflects the words from an old burial plaque made 300 years ago:

In the year of 1653, when all things sacred were throughout the nation destroyed or profaned, this church was built to the glory of God by Sir Robert Shirley, whose singular praise it was to have done the best things in the worst times.

Like the Apostle Paul and Sir Robert Shirley, may we be remembered for building our ministries for God's glory by doing our best in difficult times.