October 25, 2026

Acts 20:1-16

The Edge of Expectation

Sunday Sermons

A travel itinerary. A murder plot. A young man raised from the dead. There is more to Paul’s journey than meets the eye.

After three years of fruitful ministry in Ephesus, Paul sets his eye on Jerusalem. Along the journey, Paul and his steadfast friends encounter danger, miracles, and twists and turns that are neither mundane nor ordinary. Underneath it all lies the faithful guidance of a Sovereign God.

Join Pastor Matt as we study Acts 20:1-16 and learn to live with eager expectancy that this same faithful God will act in the details of our lives as well.

 

Speaker

Matt Pierson

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 20:1-16

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 20:1-16

The Edge of Expectation

Pastor Matt Pierson

 

“A Christian congregation is a group of people who decide, together, to pay attention.”
Eugene Peterson, On Living Well: Brief Reflections on Wisdom for Walking in the Way of Jesus

1. Traveling companions are a gift from God

Paul’s traveling companions

Sopater, Berea  | Romans 16:21
Aristarchus, Thessalonica | Acts 19, Col 4:10
Secundus, Thessalonica | Acts 20
Gaius, Derbe | Acts 19
Timothy, Lystra | Numerous
Tychicus, Ephesus | Eph 6:21, Col 4:7, 2 Cor 8:16-24, Titus 3:12, 2 Tim 4:12
Trophimus, Asia | Acts 21:29, 2 Cor 8:16-24, 2 Tim 4:20
Titus, Achaia | Numerous
Luke, Antioch/Philippi | Numerous

“The fruits of mission…became the agents of mission.”
John Stott, The Message of Acts

“When God set about His great project of world redemption in the wake of Genesis 12, He chose to do so not by whisking individuals off up to heaven, but by calling into existence a community of blessing.”
Christopher J.H. Wright, The Mission of God’s People: A Biblical Theology of the Church’s Mission

2. The Sovereign God goes before us

“I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.”
Martin Luther

“Our God will go before us
And guide us by His presence
What confidence this promise is
We will never walk alone.”
Matt Boswell, Keith Getty, and Matt Papa, Our God Will Go Before Us

3. Living on the edge of expectation

“The word Christian means different things to different people. To one person it means a stiff, uptight, inflexible way of life, colorless and unbending. To another it means a risky, surprise-filled venture, lived on tiptoe at the edge of expectation.”
Eugene Peterson, Traveling Light

“Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.”
-Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

“We can rejoice in God’s sovereignty, for He is both mighty and gentle, the Shepherd seeking to bring in the lost and accomplish His mission.”
Alistair Begg, Sovereign Lord, Gentle Shepherd

Discussion Questions

  • Read the passage together: Before today’s sermon, what did you already know or believe about this passage? Did anything in your understanding shift after hearing the message?
  • Challenge and Reflection: Was there a part of today’s message that was particularly challenging or surprising for you? Why?
  • Unpacking the Message: Pick a quote from today’s sermon notes. Discuss what it means to you.
  • Personal Impact: What’s one specific way you feel called to change or grow after hearing this message?
  • Practical Application: What’s one step you can take this week to put today’s message into practice?
  • Connecting Scripture: Are there other Bible passages or stories this message reminds you of? How do they expand or confirm this teaching?
  • Gratitude: What aspect of God’s character stood out to you in today’s message? How does it inspire praise or gratitude?
  • Pray the Scripture: After hearing the message, is there a specific area where you feel led to pray? How can we pray for one another in light of today’s teaching?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous)“ by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel
“O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing“ by Charles Wesley
“Take My Life And Let It Be“ by Frances Ridley Havergal
“Revive Us Again“ by John Jenkins Husband, and William Paton MacKay
“Doxology” by Thomas Ken and Louis Bourgeois
All songs are used with permission. CCLI License no. 2003690

Looking for our Hymns of the Week or resources to worship anytime? We’ve curated a playlist of hymns TVC Worship has led on our YouTube Channel!

Call To Worship

Give Thanks to The Lord

Leader: Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Women: Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Tell of all His wondrous works!
Leader: Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Men: Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His presence continually!
Leader: Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He has uttered.
Women: O offspring of Israel His servant, Children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
All: Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His steadfast love endures forever!

Confession of Faith

Treasuring God’s Word
Psalm 103:11

Leader: What does the Psalmist mean when he says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him?”
People: God’s steadfast, unconditional, faithful love reaches farther than the incalculable distance of the cosmos. As vast as the created universe is, God’s love for us in Christ Jesus is greater still. Grace without merit, mercy beyond measure, love that will never fail. We need not live in dread or be afraid of God; rather, we can fully trust, worship, and give our lives to the One who gave His life for us.

Classic Prayer

John Wycliffe

Lord, give us grace to hold righteousness in all things that we may lead a clean and blessed life and prudently flee evil and that we may understand the treacherous and deceitful falseness of the devil. Make us mild, peaceable, courteous, and temperate. And make us steadfast and strong. Also, Lord, give Thou to us that we may be quiet in words and speak what is edifying.

*Lightly edited for public reading

TVC Prayer Ministry

TVC Ministry: Administration & Operations
Vocation: Small business owners & independent contractors
Missions Partner: Nashville Rescue Mission
Praying for the Persecuted Church: Algeria

Join Our Prayer Team

Do you have a heart for prayer or a desire to lift others before the Lord? Sign up for our weekly prayer email, and you’ll receive trusted prayer requests from within our church family, our community, and around the world. At TVC, we believe it is a privilege to carry one another’s concerns to our Heavenly Father. Join us as we pray faithfully and walk with one another.

Join Us In Prayer