Memories of Butterworth Gospel HallThe “Glorious” Days of BWGH

• Some Corrections:

Re: Ung Gaik See

Re: Ng Swee Sin – English educated.

Re: the Chinese work, my mother was the one who initiated it.  Mr. Yee Fook Cheong came over to help.  My eldest sister was teaching the Chinese school too.  Many of her SS students are now worshipping at the Chinese Burma Road Gospel Hall.  Paik Hong too taught at the  Chinese SS at my Kg. Java house. Ofcourse, she has gone up to be with the Lord now! Yes, I cannot find the No. 1 Kg. Java house now – Ng Leong Yoke

Sidney S. Adams & Wong Kim Bee

Memories of Butterworth Gospel Hall

Re: Weddings of the Ng Family at BWGH:

Wong Koon Ming to Ng Meng Yoke (1960)

Ng Chee Meng to Oon Bong Chee

Ng Leong Yoke to Lim Yau Chuan (1975)

Butterworth Gospel HallTHE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

(3 June 2012)

Part. 1 - Her Ground and Glory

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and

grounded in love… Eph. 3:17

(10 June 2012) Part 2 – Her Reminder and Reprimand

Homepage of Website:

•www.berita-bethel-ung.com

URL of The Church in Ephesus – Part 1: Her Ground and Glory –

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/6430853/Pt.%201%20The%20Church%20in%20Ephesus%20%28BWGH%29_PPT.ppt

Part 2 – Her Reminder and ReprimandI. Paul’s Reminder to the Elders of the Church in

Ephesus, Acts 20:17-38(Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey)

A. From Ephesus to Miletus. Acts 20:1-16

1. Through Macedonia to Troas – Greece, Macedonia, Philippi, Troas. 20:1-6a

2. The Meeting at Troas. 20:6b-12

3. To Miletus from Troas. 20:13-16

A. From Ephesus to Miletus. Acts 20:1-15B. At Miletus – Paul’s Farewell Message

to the Elders of Ephesus. Acts 20:17-38His Request for the Elders of the church in Ephesus and his Reminder to them:1. Paul’s Personal Testimony – A Review

20:17-21a. He Served in All Seasons –

With all Meekness of Mind and many Tears and Trials

20:18-19b. He Showed All he knew to all he knew that which was Profitable Publicly and Privately.

20:20, 21

He Showed All he knew to all he knew…

4 Club Road

1. Paul’s Personal Testimony – A Review 20:172. Paul’s Present Task – An Overview. 20:22-27

a. His Desire to go to Jerusalem Despite forewarned Dangers. 20:22, 23

b. His Consciousness of His Lord’s Mission and Ministry for him. 20:24

c. He Counted his life not dear just that he might Complete his appointed Course.

20:24 cf. II Tim. 4:7

d. He faced Death, but he had Discharged his Duties well having Declared the whole counsel of God.

20:25-27

1. Paul’s Personal Testimony – A Review 20:172. Paul’s Present Task – An Overview. 20:22-273. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28-35• A Preview of what was to come and a Review

of the Roles and Responsibilities of Elders:

No Text Ref Character Other Refs.

a.   Acts 20:17, 28

Acts 20

Their Designation:

Tit. 1:5, 7

i.  

elders of the church

17 Elders (presbuteros). Dignity and Maturity of their Spiritual Age, not novices.

 Lit. – a senior, old.ct. Tit. 2:2, 3;

I Tim. 3:6

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28-35

ii.  hath made you overseers

28 Overseers (episkopos). Responsibility for Spiritual Activities.

Phil. 1:1; I Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7;I Pet. 5:2 – taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly;

iii. 

elders of the church, overseers

17

28

Their Plurality.

the elders …among you, I Pet. 5:1; ordain elders in every city, Tit. 1:5elders in every church, Acts 14:23

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28-35a. Their Designation. 20:17

b. 

the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.

20:28, RSV

b. Their Commis-sionAppointed by the Holy Spirit.

Appointed by Paul and Barnabas, Acts 14:23; Appointed by Titus, Tit. 1:5; Recognised by members, I Thes. 5:12

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28

c. 

The elders of the chrch, i.e. Ephesus

20:17

Their Functions(Only in the local church)

Only among you, I Pet. 5:1

i.  

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears

20:19

Govern (heegeomai) = to preside, to Lead – not to Lord.

have the rule over you, Heb. 13:7, 17, 24Do not lord it over those in your charge… I Pet. 5:3, NRSV

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17

ii. 

…have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house…to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

20:20    20:27

Steward (oikonomos) = discharge through…Public Edification;Private Visitation;Perfect Declaration. 

the steward of God, Tit. 1:7; Heb. 13:17 Apt to teach, I Tim. 3:2

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17iii  I kept

back nothing … but have showed you

20:20

Lead (proisteemi) = to stand before (as examples)

…are over you in the Lord, I Thes. 5:12; …elders that rule well, I Tim. 5:17…one that ruleth well his own house, I Tim 3: 4; examples to the flock, I Pet. 5:3, NRSV

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17

iv. 

Take heed…unto yourselves, and to all the flock

20:28

Heed (proschete) = attend to They need to be on guard for themselves first.

As give attendance (prosecho) to reading, I Tim. 4:13– Elders need to read to heed!

v.  

Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.

20:28

Oversee (episkopos) = to look after, to care for

…serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. I Pet. 2:2, NIV

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17

vi 

…feed the church of God,(i.e. owned by) God… purchased by blood of His own.

20:28    

Feed (poimaino) = shepherd the Flock, i.e. the church, the church of the Lord purchased with His own blood.

Feed the flock, I Pet. 5:2 cf. Jn. 21:15-17As Pastors, Eph. 4:11; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, I Pet. 5:3It is God’s/the Lord’s church, not theirs!

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17vii Watch and

Remember:Grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise… to draw away disciples…

3129  

30

Watch (agrupneo) and Warn Shepherd and Shelter the Sheep from Savage wolves from outside (they will not Spare the Sheep), and those wolves in Sheep’s clothing from inside.

they watch for your souls, Heb. 13:17

3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17

i.  Labouring… to support the weak;These hands have ministered unto my necessities, and... them that were with me. I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel… remember 1Jesus…said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

35a 34   33  35b 

Labour hard (kopiao) = toil. Paul Worked hard to support the Weak, himself, his colleagues. He did not serve for material gain; He was motivated by the Lord.

Know them which labour among you, I Thes. 5:12; I Tim. 5:17I Pet. 5:2, NIVnot greedy for money, but eager to serve not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to. 

Notes on Eldership:1. Paul’s Personal Testimony – A Review. 20:17-212. Paul’s Present Task – An Overview. 20:22-27 3. Paul’s Parting Talk – A Preview. 20:28a. Their Designation. 20:17b. Their Commission 20:28c. Their Functions 20:17

i.  

Note: Elders’ duties are primarily connected with the spiritual welfare of the saints (I Tim. 3:5), and only secondarily with temporal things. Cf. The Elder’s Qualifications in I Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9

4. The Prayerful Farewell: 20:36-38a. It was Tearful –

all wept Sore…Sorrowing…that they should See his face no more. 20:37, 38

Note the warm Admiration and Attachment on the part of the Ephesian elders for Paul.

b. It was Touching – an Indelible Impression of rare ministerial fidelity and affection. 20:36

Part 2 – Her Reminder and ReprimandI. Paul’s Reminder to the Elders of the Church in

Ephesus, Acts 20:17-38

II. The Lord’s Reprimand of the Angel of the Church at Ephesus: Rev. 2:1-7

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write…

A. The City and the Church. Rev. 2:1

B. The Character of Christ. 2:1,

C. The Condition of the Congregation.Rev. 2:2, 3 cf.

I Thes. 1:3

D. The Complaint and Commendation. Rev. 2:4, 6

1. The Complaint. v. 4 thou hast left thy first love

•a. The Laxity of their first Love for Christ in Devotion and Commitment. cf. Eph. 3:17-19 i) Because of Money? I Tim. 6:10 ii) Because of Materialism? II Tim. 4:10iii) Because of Marriage? I Cor. 7:34b

ct. Eph. 1:15•b. The Lack of their first Love for Christians in Degree and Concern.

thou hast left thy first love!

E. The Command and the Counsel, Rev. 2:5

1. Remember (present imperative) your first Love.

2. Repent (aorist imp.) and do (pre. imperative) your first works or be

3. Removed - the testimony of the church was Removed!

CHURCH Building IN EPHESUS IN RUINS!!!

F. The Challenge and ConclusionRev. 2:7

• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

• I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

• Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;

• or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev. 2:4, 5

Paul’s Prayer for the Church at Ephesus, Eph. 3:17-21

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.