November 1, 2026

Acts 20:17-38

Finishing the Course

Sunday Sermons

In Acts 20:17-38, the Apostle Paul gathers the Ephesian church leaders for one last farewell. It’s a moving scene with great affection between a pastor and his people. Knowing that chains await him in Jerusalem, Paul looks back on a ministry marked by grace upon grace.

Join Pastor Tommy as we consider what it means to run, stay, and finish the course God has given each of us. The greater danger is usually not sudden disaster but slow drift. Our text reminds us that grace carries us at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the race. Whatever season you are in, we are invited to finish with faithfulness and fruitfulness.

Speaker

Tommy Bailey

Series

Acts of the Apostles

Go to Series

Scripture

Acts 20:17-38

Topics
Growth & Discipleship Worldview & Culture

Sermon Notes

Acts 20:17-38

Finishing the Course

Pastor Tommy Bailey

“Most of us would say that the eulogy virtues are more important than the résumé virtues, but I confess that for long stretches of my life I’ve spent more time thinking about the latter than the former…Most of us have clearer strategies for how to achieve career success than we do for how to develop a profound character.”
David Brooks, The Road to Character

1. Running the Course

“…How I lived among you…” (v. 18)

“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.”
Acts 20:18-19

Evidences of Grace (vv. 18-37)

  • Rooted in community (v. 18)
  • Humility (vv. 19, 24)
  • Tears (vv. 19, 31, 37)
  • Attentive to the Holy Spirit (vv. 22-23)
  • Faithful to his calling (vv. 20, 27)
  • Generous (vv. 33-35)
  • A life of prayer (v. 36)

“[We are] tempted to start with ‘What would You have us do?’ We are very good at programs and movements and action plans. But let’s pull up the horses before we gallop off in all directions at once. The first question is ‘Who would You have us be?’ or, more to the point, ‘Who are we, in You?’ Our actions will always flow out of our identity. Being precedes doing. So, who are we?”
Ellen Vaughn, What Jesus Started

“I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6–8

2. Staying the Course

“…Pay careful attention…” (v. 28)

“For most of us the threat of life is not so much that we should plunge into disaster, but that we should drift in to sin. There are few people who deliberately and in a moment turn their backs on God; there are many who day by day drift farther and farther away from him…We must be continually on the alert against the peril of the drifting life.”
William Barclay, The Letter to the Hebrews

“Failure is being successful at things that don’t truly matter at all.”
Rico Tice, Faithful Leaders

“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.”
Acts 20:28

A maturing Christian will increasingly recognize their need for more grace.

3. Finishing the Course

“…He obtained with His own blood” (v. 28)

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.”
1 Peter 3:18

“If you want to see what judgment looks like, go to the cross. If you want to see what love looks like, go to the cross.”
D.A. Carson

Discussion Questions

  • If “résumé virtues” are the skills and accomplishments we bring to the marketplace and “eulogy virtues” are the qualities people will remember about us when we’re gone, which résumé virtues have you been most focused on? Over the coming year, which eulogy virtue would you most like to nurture?
  • In verse 24, Paul’s aim is to finish his course. Which stage do you most identify with right now: beginning to run the course, staying the course, or finishing the course well? Why?
  • Paul warns the Ephesian elders to “pay careful attention to yourselves” (v. 28) and to “be alert” (v. 31). What is one concrete step you can take this week to guard against drifting into sin?

Songs, Readings & Prayer

Songs

“All My Boast Is in Jesus“ by Bryan Fowler, Matt Papa, Matthew Boswell, and Keith Getty
“The King In All His Beauty“Words and Music by Matt Papa, and Matt Boswell. Arranged by Rob Stroh
“Before The Throne Of God Above“ by Charitie Lees Bancroft, and Vikki Cook
“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me“ by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson
“Christus Victor“ by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty. Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Bryan Fowler
“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

At The Cross

All: Most merciful God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus. We remember this day His redeeming death, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. Thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, to whom we belong, in life and in death. He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Most holy God, thank You for sending to us Your Son, Jesus, who became sin for us and suffered the punishment due to us, that we might stand forgiven at the cross. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.

Confession of Sin

Ambrose

All: O Lord, You have mercy upon all take away from us our sins, and mercifully kindle in us the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away from us our hearts of stone, and give us hearts of flesh, hearts to love and adore You, hearts to delight in You, to follow and enjoy You, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Classic Prayer

Thomas à Kempis

Grant me, O most loving Lord, to rest in You above all creatures, above all health and beauty, above all glory and honor, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtlety, above all riches and art, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and comfort, above all hope and promise, above all gifts and favors that You can give and impart to us, above all jubilee that the mind of man can receive and feel; finally, above all angels and archangels, and above all heavenly host, above all things visible and invisible, and above all that You are not, O my God. Amen.

TVC Prayer Ministry

TVC Ministry: Servant Leadership Council
Vocation: Tech/IT/Systems/Database Management
Missions Partner: Nashville Rescue Mission
Praying for the Persecuted Church: Azerbaijan

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