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Thank you for listening to an audio resource from Stanwich Church, located in Greenwich in Stanford, Connecticut. The vision of Stanwich Church is to know Christ and make him known.

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The New Testament lesson for today is from Acts chapter 20, verse 28. This can be found on page 1105 of your Pew Bible. The Apostle Paul speaks to the church in Ephesus, emphasizing, emphasizes the responsibilities of church leaders to maintain their own spiritual health and integrity while shepherding the flock with reverence and care. A reading here from Acts chapter 20, verse 28. 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. May God add his blessing to the reading of his holy word.

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Good morning, Stanwich Church. To Pastor Chuck, the elders, pastors, staff, and the entire Stanwich family, thank you for the privilege of opening God's word on such a joyful and sacred occasion. Pastor Jelani, I love you, brother. It is a profound honor to stand with you today as we celebrate the faithfulness of God. Stanwich Church, can I ask that you do one thing? I believe God is calling you to lean in today because though this is a charge for Jelani, it's also for you too. Would you stand with me for the reading of God's word? Acts chapter 20, verse 28 says, 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. Let us pray. Father, this is your church, this is your servant, this is your word. We ask that your Holy Spirit would illuminate our minds, stir our hearts, and conform us to the image of Christ. Let every word spoken bring glory to your son, encouragement to your people, and honor to this sacred moment. We pray that your will be done, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. In Jesus' name we pray, and the church says, You may be seated. If you ask most pastors to identify the greatest pastoral text in the New Testament, many would point to 1 Timothy, others might choose Titus, some would definitely say 1 Peter 5. But I would submit to you this morning that Acts 20 deserves to be in that conversation. Because here Luke gives us something remarkably rare. He allows us to listen in on a private conversation between the apostle Paul and a room full of pastors. Paul isn't addressing unbelievers, he isn't debating philosophers, he isn't even defending himself before governors and kings. People he discipled, people he cried with, people he suffered alongside, people into whom he literally poured his life. But this isn't an ordinary pastor's conference. Paul knows something they are only beginning to understand. This is goodbye. In verse 25, he says, And now behold, I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face again. Imagine that. If you knew you only had one final conversation with the people you had discipled, what would you say? What truths would you refuse to leave unsaid? Would you spend your final moments talking about attendance, budgets, buildings, leadership strategy, church growth? Paul doesn't. Instead, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gives these elders one verse that every shepherd ought to revisit for the rest of his ministry. Because in this single verse, Paul answers three questions every shepherd must continually ask himself. Well, everybody really. Thank God. We're recognizing what the Holy Spirit has been faithfully accomplishing for years. I've had the privilege of watching that truth unfold in Pastor Jelani's life. Both Pastor Gelani and I were featured on uh a music hip, a Christian hip-hop compilation CD called Gospel Blueprint. Both uh we were both featured on that project. The interesting thing is we had never met. As I listened through the album, one particular song arrested my attention. I didn't know the artist, I didn't know his story, but something about his conviction, his love for Christ, and his boldness stood out to me. The song was called Crusaders. That's all I could remember from the song. It was a long time ago, right? I remember saying to myself, man, I'd really like to meet that guy one day. That was it. No prophecy, no great vision, no audible voice from heaven, or just an ordinary thought. Just an ordinary thought, or so I thought. Church, one of the greatest mistakes we make is assuming that because God is God is silent, that He is absent. Some of God's greatest works are accomplished quietly. No fanfare, no spotlight, just the faithful providence of God directing our steps. Proverbs says, the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. I thought I was simply listening to a song. God was preparing a friendship. I thought I was admiring another artist. God was preparing a shepherd. Months later, we finally met, not at a church, not at a conference, not at a revival. It was an all-white album release party. And I'll never forget our first conversation. He smelled like weed. He smelled like cigarettes. Probably some black and miles, too. I don't know. Now listen, I don't share that in any way to judge my brother. I share it because had I judged him by what I saw and what I smelled, I would have completely missed what God was doing. And isn't that our tendency, Pastor Chuck? We evaluate people according to where they are. God sees people according to what He's making them. Samuel looked at David and saw a shepherd boy. God saw a king. And Nanias heard the name Saul and thought, murderer. Jesus said, That's my chosen. The crowd saw Simon, Jesus saw Peter. And while I saw a lost sheep that night, the Holy Spirit saw a shepherd. That night the Lord placed a prophetic word upon my heart for Jelani. Neither of us understood everything God was doing. Neither of us imagined this day. Neither of us could see where the road would lead, but that's the nature of God's providence. You don't understand his hand while you're walking through the story. You recognize his hand when you look back over the story. Today, when I look back, I don't see a random album. I don't, I see divine providence. I don't see a random conversation. I don't see a random all-white affair party. I see God's divine providence because behind every ordinary moment the Holy Spirit was quietly making a shepherd. Church, don't miss Paul's point. He doesn't tell these elders to remember who ordained them, he doesn't tell them to remember who mentored them. He doesn't even tell them to remember who voted for them. He tells them to remember who made them. Why? Because if you ever forget who made you, you'll eventually believe you made yourself. And pride has destroyed far more shepherds than persecution ever has. Never forget, the same Holy Spirit who called you is the same Holy Spirit you'll need every single day of your ministry, every single day of your Christian existence, really. Jelani, today is not the beginning of your ministry. Today is the public recognition of what the Holy Spirit has been faithfully doing for years. And that's good news for every believer here in this room. Why? Because the same God that did it for Jelani is the same God that can do it for me, the same God that can do it for him is the same God that's been doing it in your lives. Are you a witness of that today? Shout amen. Because if the Holy Spirit can take a lost sheep and make him a shepherd or make her a shepherd, imagine what he can do with a life that is fully surrendered to him. The Holy Spirit is still in the business of making shepherds. And that is good news, which leads me to my second point. Your private life will always outpreach your public ministry. Your private life will always outpreach your public ministry. Acts chapter 20, verse 28A says, pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock. Did you notice Paul's order? He doesn't say pay careful attention to the flock. He says, Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock. That order is inspired. Because before shepherd can faithfully care for God's people, he must faithfully care for his own soul. The first person a pastor is called to shepherd is the pastor. The first congregation you're responsible for is your own heart. That almost sounds backwards, doesn't it? We expect Paul to begin with sermons, leadership, vision, church growth. But before he ever addresses what a pastor does, he addresses who a pastor is. Because God is always more concerned with the man than the ministry, the woman than the ministry. Paul understood something that every pastor eventually learns. The greatest threat to your ministry usually isn't outside the church. It isn't criticism, it isn't opposition, it isn't persecution. Many pastors survive all those things. The greatest danger is often the slow neglect of your own walk with Christ. No one wakes up one morning and decides, today I'm going to ruin my ministry. It happens slowly. Prayer becomes preparation instead of communion. The Bible becomes a book to preach instead of the bread that feeds your own soul. Serving replaces abiding, performance replaces intimacy, and before long, you're talking about Jesus without enjoying Jesus. You're preaching the gospel without marveling at the gospel. You're leading people to green pastures while your own soul is still spiritually starving. That's why Paul says, pay careful attention. The Greek word carries the idea of being continually alert. Watch yourself, guard yourself, examine yourself, because nobody can guard your heart for you. And nobody can neglect it faster than you. I've watched the Lord teach me that over the years. Years after Jelani and I first met, I was riding on a coach bus back to Rockland County. Nothing unusual, just another ride. Then suddenly the Holy Spirit interrupted my thoughts. Four simple words. Jelani is your covenant brother. I immediately picked up, I literally looked up to the sky. I was like, God, is that you? Or is that just me? I never heard the term covenant brother said ever. So I immediately picked up my phone and called Jelani. I said, Brother, I believe the Lord just spoke to me. He said, Well, what did he say? I said, He told me you're my coveted brother. And then he asked, What does that even mean? I laughed so hard and I told him the truth. I honestly don't even know. I wasn't trying to sound deep. I truly didn't know. But here's what I've learned. Sometimes the Holy Spirit gives you enough light to obey without giving you enough light to explain. That's where faith lives. Not in full understanding, but in full surrender. Three days later, Jelani called me. Bling. He said, I believe the Lord spoke to me too. Then he shared something that has stayed with me ever since. He said, The Lord showed me that my purpose was my purpose in his life was to teach him the deeper things of the spirit. And he told me that his purpose in my life was to teach me how to be a godly husband and a godly father. Today I'm the proud husband of a beautiful woman named Deborah, and I have four beautiful kids. And trust me, without Jelani, that would not be. Mission accomplished. At the time I wasn't even married. Imagine God's gonna, I wasn't even married. It made absolutely no sense. But God wasn't asking us to understand everything, He was teaching us to trust Him. Years passed, life happened, God fulfilled exactly what He promised. Church. Guard your prayer life, guard your marriage, guard your family, guard your doctrine, guard your humility, guard your repentance, guard your joy, guard your time with Christ because your congregation will hear your sermons, but they'll eventually become who you are. Your wife will know who you are, your children will know who you are, your fellow elders will know who you are. And Jesus has always known who you are. The platform can hide many things, but it can never replace holiness. Talent may build a crowd, but only Christ-like character builds a faithful shepherd. Jelani, the greatest gift you will ever give Stanworth Church will never be your preaching. It will be a life that consistently, humbly, and joyfully walks with Jesus Christ. Because your private life will always outpreach your public ministry. Paul has reminded these elders who made them. He reminded them what they must guard. Now he closes with the greatest reminder of all. Which leads me to my last point. Never forget whose church you're shepherding. Never forget whose church you're shepherding. To care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Paul saves the greatest truth for last. Notice he doesn't simply call it the church, he calls it the church of God. Those three words remind every pastor or even every leader or even every lay member of something that is both deeply comforting and deeply humbling. This church does not belong to you. It doesn't belong to the elders, it doesn't belong to the denomination, it doesn't belong to the members, it belongs to Jesus Christ. Can I get an amen? Church that changes everything. Because ownership determines authority. If it's his church, then he establishes the mission. If it's his church, then he defines success. If it's his church, then he determines what faithfulness looks like. Pastors don't own churches, we steward them. We're not CEOs, we're we're under-shepherds. There is only one chief shepherd, and his name is Jesus. And every pastor, including the one standing behind this pulpit this morning, will one day stand before him and give an account for how we cared for what never belonged to us in the first place. Paul makes that truth even heavier. He doesn't merely say this is God's church, he tells us why it belongs to God, which he obtained with his own precious blood. That phrase should stop every pastor, every leader, every member of this church in their tracks. The church is valuable because of what it cost. The price of this church wasn't silver, it wasn't gold, it wasn't buildings, it wasn't offerings, it wasn't years of labor, labor. The price was the blood of Jesus Christ. Every believer sitting in these pews, every child in the nursery, every senior saint, every new believer, every struggling marriage, every prodigal son, every Broken heart, every soul Christ has entrusted to your care has already been declared infinitely valuable by the cross. Jesus thought that they were worth dying for. So never treat casually what Christ purchased so daily. Jelani, there will be days when you'll be tempted to measure ministry by the numbers, attendance, budgets, programs, influence, platforms, but heaven has never measured the church that way. Jesus measures his church by faithfulness because he didn't die to build an organization, he died to redeem a people. Remember that when criticism comes, remember that when expectations feel overwhelming, remember that when you feel inadequate, these aren't your sheep, they're his. He knows every name in this congregation. He hears every prayer that's ever been prayed from the beginning of this church to this very day. He sees every tear that you've ever cried in this room, and he placed it in a bucket and he keeps a record of every single one of them. He carries every burden. You're not called to be the savior of this church, Jelani. Jesus already has that job. You're simply called to faithfully point people to him. That's one of the greatest freedoms in ministry. Actually, that's one of the greatest freedoms in my ministry. Thank God I don't have to be a savior. You don't have to carry what only Christ can carry. You don't have to fix what only Christ can fix. You don't have to save what only Christ can save. Your assignment isn't to replace the chief, the chief shepherd. Your assignment is to faithfully represent him, Jelani. Love the sheep, feed the sheep, protect the sheep, pray for the sheep, weep with the sheep, rejoice with the sheep, walk with the sheep, but never forget they belong to Jesus. Because when you remember whose church this is, you'll lead with humility, you'll serve with joy, you'll suffer with hope, and you'll finish with faithfulness. Let me tell you something that I didn't share in the first service, but I have to share now. I turned Crip at the age of 12. Crip is one of the most notorious gangs in literally in the world at this point. I was indoctrinated at a young age. They even gave me a Crip Bible. Guess what? I knew my Crip Bible very well. I knew all the verses, I knew what to recite. And I didn't know that it was in that time at 12 years old that the enemy was calling me to be a demonic evangelist. I was recruiting kids, 11, 10, 12, 13, into the Cript gang. Some of them are still Cript to this day, but many have also come to Christ. I share this to show you that when God is making a shepherd, he doesn't always start in the church. Sometimes he'll start on the block. Sometimes he'll go in the hood. Sometimes he'll find a mafioso guy and says, I want you. What is your story today? I know my story is one of God's goodness, his faithfulness, and his glory on full display. From Crypt to Christ. Pastor Jelani, today this church laid hands on you. The elders affirm you. Your family rejoices with you. The congregation celebrates you. But long before any of us recognize God's work, the Holy Spirit had already begun it. Brother. Never forget who made you. Never stop guarding your own soul. Never forget whose church you're privileged to shepherd. Preach Christ. Love his people, walk humbly, repent quickly. Pray continually. Shepherd faithfully. And when the chief shepherd appears, may he find you faithful. And to the people of Stanwith Church, such a beautiful church. My first time here was for Gina's wedding. I met Gina at Nye College. She was the first face that God sat in front of me. And it was the first time I heard a Korean woman speaking in tongues. It shocked the daylights out of me. And I said, God, if you could use a Korean woman to prophesy over my life, then everything you said to me has to be true. I wouldn't have made it without you, Gina. Thank you. And to the people of Stanwith's Church, love your pastor. Pray for your pastor. Encourage your pastor, follow him as he follows Christ. Give him the freedom to be a man, be a man before he is ever expected to be a minister. Extend grace as readily as you receive it, because while God has called him to shepherd Stanford, the Stanford campus, God has also called you to care for him. And as you do, may this church continue to pray, proclaim Christ with clarity, love one another deeply, and glorify God in this community until the day Jesus returns. Amen.

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To learn more about the mission and vision of Stanwich Church and how you can get involved, please visit Stanwichchurch.org.