How can we ensure we declare "anything that was profitable" to others? Setting the Foundation: Acts 20 : 20 “I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was profitable to you or from teaching you publicly and from house to house.” Paul, on his farewell to the Ephesian elders, reviews his ministry pattern: nothing useful withheld, every truth spoken, every venue embraced. Understanding “Anything That Was Profitable” • Profitable truths build faith, expose error, correct course, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3 : 16). • They center on Christ’s saving work, the call to repentance and faith, and the daily walk of obedience (Romans 1 : 16; Titus 2 : 11-12). • Their profit is eternal rather than merely temporal (1 Timothy 4 : 8). Principle 1 – Hold Nothing Back • Speak even the hard subjects—sin, judgment, repentance, holiness, endurance (Acts 20 : 27). • Avoid selective silence that shields people from truth they need for growth. • Remember that love fully informs (Ephesians 4 : 15). Principle 2 – Embrace Multiple Settings • “Publicly” – gatherings, pulpits, study groups, digital spaces. • “House to house” – living rooms, coffee shops, workplace lunches. • A flexible posture ensures every hearer receives the same life-giving message. Principle 3 – Speak the Whole Counsel of God • Trace every doctrine to clear Scripture, refusing speculative notions (1 Corinthians 4 : 6). • Keep the storyline of Scripture—creation, fall, redemption, restoration—before listeners. • Show how every passage leads to Christ (Luke 24 : 27). Principle 4 – Let the Word Shape the Message, Not Opinion • “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4 : 11). • Scripture’s sufficiency guards against cultural drift (Psalm 19 : 7-11). • Personal illustrations clarify but never replace the text (Nehemiah 8 : 8). Principle 5 – Depend on the Holy Spirit • The Spirit supplies boldness (Acts 4 : 31) and illumination (John 16 : 13). • Prayerful preparation invites divine guidance in both content and timing (Ephesians 6 : 18-19). • Reliance on His power, not eloquence, secures lasting fruit (1 Corinthians 2 : 4-5). Principle 6 – Live What We Teach • Consistent conduct validates the message (Philippians 1 : 27). • Shared life opens doors for deeper instruction (1 Thessalonians 2 : 8). • A pattern of good works adorns doctrine (Titus 2 : 10). Putting It All Together: A Practical Checklist • Stay immersed in the Word daily, noting truths that have sharpened, comforted, or corrected you. • Record those insights and plan venues—sermons, small groups, one-on-one coffee conversations—where each truth fits. • Prepare concise, Scripture-saturated explanations; rehearse key passages aloud. • Pray for specific people, asking the Spirit to orchestrate timely opportunities. • Speak with clarity and gentleness, trusting the inherent power of God’s Word. • Follow up, offering resources and ongoing fellowship that nurture application. • Evaluate regularly: Is any biblical theme or passage being neglected? If so, schedule it into future teaching moments. Encouragement for the Journey Faithful declaration bears eternal impact. “Your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15 : 58). When every profitable truth is shared, the church matures, the lost meet Christ, and the glory goes entirely to God. |
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