TITLE: Confronting the Wolves among us.

TEXT: Acts 20:17-30THEME: Believers must confront people with selfish motives.

“If I am nice to people then they will be nice to me.”

How do you confront people with different motives?

I. Understand the responsibility of leadership (17-21)

17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the

church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came

into the province of Asia..

19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe

testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would

be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks

that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns

me that prison and hardships are facing me.

24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and

complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me —the task of

testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever

see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of

you

27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of

God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of

the church of God, which he bought with his own blood

29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and

will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and

distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of

you night and day with tears.”

I. Understand the responsibility of leadership (17-21)

A. Leadership is to instruct the flock

I. Understand the responsibility of leadership (17-21)

A. Leadership is to instruct the flockB. Leadership is to direct people to God

I. Understand the responsibility of leadership (17-21)

A. Leadership is to instruct the flockB. Leadership is to direct people to GodC. Leadership is to protect the flock

Who Are These Wolves?

• Some of these wolves are self-deceived

Who Are These Wolves?

• Some of these wolves are self-deceived. • They believe in the cause no matter how

wrong it is.

Who Are These Wolves?

• Some of these wolves are self-deceived. • They believe in the cause no matter how

wrong it is.• Some of these wolves want the status

Who Are These Wolves?

• Some of these wolves are self-deceived. • They believe in the cause no matter how

wrong it is.• Some of these wolves want the status. • Some these wolves want power

How do you confront people with different motives?

II. Recognize the different kinds of people you will encounter

II. Recognize the different kinds of people you will encounter

A. The Wise: Wise People learn from instruction and experience.

II. Recognize the different kinds of people you will encounter

A. The Wise: Wise People learn from instruction and experience.B. The Fool: The fool rejects feedback and instruction and is never wrong.

II. Recognize the different kinds of people you will encounter

A. The Wise: Wise People learn from instruction and experience.B. The Fool: The fool rejects feedback and instruction and is never wrong.C. The Evil: They do it for personal gain and want to bring you down.

How do you confront people with different motives?

III. Recognize you do not approach all three the same way.

III. Recognize you do not approach all three the same way.

A. To the Wise provide instruction and guided experience opportunities.

III. Recognize you do not approach all three the same way.

A. To the Wise provide instruction and guided experience opportunities.B. To the Fool you must set limits and provide consequences.

III. Recognize you do not approach all three the same way.

A. To the Wise provide instruction and guided experience opportunities.B. To the Fool you must set limits and provide consequences.C. To the Evil you must protect and yourself and others through legal force.

APPPLICATION

1. Don’t be naïve into thinking that everyone has your best interest in mind. Realize there are people who think nothing of stealing from you, lying to you or hurting you. Do not give them opportunity and if you can help get away or get protection.

APPPLICATION

2. If someone is wise you will quickly know it because they want to work with you and treat you well. The motives of a con-artist usually become clear after a short time. Learn to read the red flags.

APPPLICATION

3. In leading the fool make sure you define you limits, expectations and consequence.

Psychiatrist Scott Peck

• "The central defect of evil is not the sin but the refusal to acknowledge it."

Psychiatrist Scott Peck

• "The central defect of evil is not the sin but the refusal to acknowledge it."

• This definition is reflective of Jesus' far greater severity in dealing with religious leaders than with prostitutes and tax collectors.