Fishkill Baptist Church
Sunday January 18, 2026

      • Isaiah 1:18KJV1900

      • Psalm 102:19–22ESV

  • Jesus Messiah
  • One Pure And Holy Passion

      • Psalm 40:8–10NIV2011

      • Romans 8:34–37ESV

  • For The Cause
  • Abide
  • Doxology
  • Intro: Theme/Topic (What’s the problem, the question, etc.)
    Some words carry more weight than others.
    Not every sentence is created equal.
    There are words we say every day that disappear into the air as quickly as we speak them—casual, forgettable, ordinary.
    But then there are words spoken at the end. Words spoken when time is short. Words spoken when a person knows this may be their final moment.
    And for whatever reason, we’re drawn to last words—because last words strip away what’s trivial and reveal what mattered most.
    There’s a scene in the movie Braveheart that captures this.
    William Wallace has become the leader of the Scottish rebellion—fighting for freedom against English tyranny. He’s the kind of man who has rallied people around a cause, led them into battle, and given them courage to hope for something bigger than themselves.
    But eventually he’s captured.
    And he’s brought into public view—not just to die, but to be humiliated and broken as an example. He’s publicly tortured. The goal isn’t just execution—the goal is to crush the movement by crushing the man.
    And at the end, the authorities give him an option.
    He can end it quickly.
    All he has to do is cry out one word: “Mercy.”
    But what they mean by mercy is not just personal relief. It’s a declaration of surrender and allegiance.
    It’s one word that would say, “I renounce everything I stood for.”
    And the crowd is watching—waiting to see what his last words will be.
    And with what little strength he has left, Wallace doesn’t use his final breath to save himself.
    He uses his final breath to declare what he valued most.
    Not comfort.
    Not survival.
    Not safety.
    He cries out:
    “FREEDOM!”
    Last words reveal a person’s deepest loves.
    They show you what they believed was worth living for… and worth dying for.
    Now, if last words reveal what matters most—then we ought to lean in closely when we come to a passage like Acts 20.
    In Acts 20, the apostle Paul is giving his final address. He is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, and he knows this is a farewell. These are not casual remarks.
    This is a dying man’s charge.
    And what Paul says in his final words will show us what he believed was worth guarding, worth sacrificing for, and worth giving his life to.
    And I want us to feel the tension of that.
    Because we live in a time when many people don’t view the church with that kind of weight.
    Not necessarily with hatred—just… with indifference.
    The church becomes a preference.
    A service we attend if nothing else is happening.
    A place we drop in and out of depending on the season of life.
    It becomes something we evaluate like consumers:
    Did I like it?
    Did I benefit from it?
    Did it fit my tastes?
    Was it convenient?
    And if it stops meeting my expectations, I drift.
    Slowly.
    Quietly.
    And sometimes the drift isn’t because of selfishness—it’s because of pain. Some have been hurt by churches. Some have experienced hypocrisy. Some have been disappointed.
    So the heart learns to keep a safe distance: “I’ll take Jesus… but I’m not sure I want the church.”
    But Scripture doesn’t allow us to separate those.
    And Acts 20 confronts our indifference not by scolding us—but by showing us something.
    It calls us to see the church the way God sees it.
    So here is the Big Question we’re asking this morning:
    Why should we care so deeply about the church?
    If the church is messy… why commit? If the church is imperfect… why invest? If people fail… why keep showing up? Why not stay distant?
    Why should we care so deeply?
    And we’re going to find the answer in Paul’s last words— a dying man’s charge.
    Scripture
    So, grab your Bibles now and turn with me to Acts 20:28-38. If you need to use a pew Bible, you’ll find today’s text on page 1105. Once you’re there, please stand with me if you are able and follow along with me as I read...
    Acts 20:28–38 ESV
    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. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
    This God’s Word!
    Prayer
    Father, send your Holy Spirit now to impress these words on our hearts that we may know the true value and beauty of Christ’s bride, the church. That we would care for it as He does. We ask this in His name — Amen!
    Intro: Formal (give context to passage, setting the scene, big idea)
    As we come to this passage, it helps to remember where we are in Acts.
    Paul is on his way to Jerusalem—and he knows suffering is waiting for him. So he calls for the Ephesian elders to meet him in Miletus, because he knows this will likely be the last time they ever see him.
    This is not ministry as usual.
    These are his final words to these elders.
    A dying man’s charge.
    This is why their departure is described in verses 36-38 with weeping, sorrow, with heartfelt prayer, hugs and kisses goodbye.
    Last week we looked at the first half of Paul’s farewell, where he reminded them of his example—how he lived among them. And it pressed a sobering question into our hearts:
    How will we be remembered?
    What will be said of our life when we’re gone?
    And now Paul moves from example to exhortation.
    And his final charge presses directly on the tension I pointed to earlier, because we live in a time when the church is often treated casually—like an optional add-on rather than a treasure.
    So we asked this Big Question:
    Why should we care so deeply about the church?
    And here is the answer Paul gives us in this passage:
    Because the church is God’s treasured possession, bought with the blood of Christ—So, we must watch our lives, guard one another, and trust God and His word of grace to keep us faithful.
    That’s the heartbeat of this text.
    Now as we walk through this passage, I want to show you three things we learn about the church and how we should relate to it:
    Treasure the Church
    Guard the Church
    Rely on God’s Grace
    So may the Lord use Paul’s last words to these Ephesian Elders to wake us up—to see the church the way God sees it, and to live accordingly.

    Treasure The Church

    Paul begins in verse 28 with a charge:
    “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock…”
    Now I’m going to unpack the nature of that work in my second point. But before we talk about what elders are charged to do, we need to step back and ask a more fundamental question:
    Why?
    Why is this work worth it? Why is it worth the time, the energy, the vigilance—and even the tears?
    Why should we not treat the church lightly… like it’s optional? Why shouldn’t we view the church as an accessory to our faith—something we can take or leave depending on our mood or schedule?
    Because let’s be honest: this is exactly where many people are today.
    I’ve had people tell me, “Pastor, I don’t really need the church. I connect with God better hiking in the woods.”
    And listen—there’s nothing wrong with hiking. Creation is a gift. It’s good for the soul to step outside and feel small under a big sky.
    But hiking is not the church.
    The woods didn’t baptize you. The trail doesn’t preach the gospel. The mountains don’t bear your burdens, hold you accountable, and help you persevere to the end.
    What we’re talking about here is not a place you go. It is a people you belong to.
    And if we’re going to break free from apathy toward the church, we have to start where Paul starts: with what the church is.
    ———————————————
    Notice the language Paul uses in verse 28.
    He doesn’t tell them to care for their church… or the church that fits their preferences… or the church they happen to attend.
    He charges them:
    “to care for the church of God…”
    That’s stunning.
    This isn’t ultimately your church. It isn’t my church.
    It is God’s church.
    The church is His treasured possession.
    The apostle Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 2:9
    1 Peter 2:9 ESV
    But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…
    1 Peter 2:10 ESV
    Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people…
    The church has infinite value because it is owned by an infintate God!
    This is just common sense. Consider a pair basketball shoes that were owned by LeBron James. You will have to pay a small fortune to buy those on eBay. But probably could get a great deal on those same exact shoes who were owned by your friend at school who rides the bench on the freshman basketball team.
    LeBron’s shoes are obviously worth more because of who owned them.
    So, one very good reason we should treasure the church is because it doesn’t belong to a pastor, a denomination, or even some celebrity athlete. We should treasure the church because it belongs to almighty God the creator and king of the universe!
    ————————————————-
    Now you might say, “Okay, but doesn’t everything belong to God?”
    In one sense… yes.
    He created the entire universe by the word of His power. The mountains belong to Him. The oceans belong to Him. The stars belong to Him.
    So why is the church such a treasured possession?
    Paul tells us at the end of verse 28: that “he obtained with his own blood.”
    In other words: God didn’t obtain the church like we obtain something cheap and disposable.
    He didn’t redeem His people like grabbing a soda McDonald’s with a coupon.
    He didn’t pick us up off the clearance rack.
    No—He purchased the church at the highest price imaginable:
    The blood of His Son.
    The price tag of the church is not gold or silver.
    It is the suffering of Christ. The cross of Christ. The blood of Christ.
    Church, do you realize what that means?
    It means the church matters to God not because we are impressive… but because Jesus died to make us His own!
    So if you ever wonder what the church is worth… don’t look at the people. Look at the cross.
    Because the value of something is measured by what someone is willing to pay for it.
    And God paid for the church with His blood.
    And when you understand the true value of something it changes how you treat it!
    For example, when your kids draw a picture, you stick it on the refrigerator—because it has sentimental value.
    But if you had the original Mona Lisa in your house— you wouldn’t stick it on the fridge with a magnet.
    You’d put it behind glass. You’d lock it up. You’d guard it because it’s priceless.
    And here’s the point:
    The church is infinitely more valuable than a million Mona Lisas.
    Because Christ did not shed His blood to obtain a painting.
    He shed His blood to obtain a people.
    He died to save sinners. He died to gather a flock.
    ——————————————
    And this is where the truth of this text confronts us.
    Because many people say today,
    “I love Jesus… but I don’t really care for the church.”
    But you can’t say that without contradicting Jesus Himself.
    How can you claim to love the Groom… while despising His bride?
    How can you claim to love the Shepherd… while treating His flock like it doesn’t matter?
    Now I want to tell you something that might be hard for you to hear but I say it because I love you and I hope it will wake you up.
    If you say you love Jesus, but you have no love for His church— no commitment, no affection, no loyalty, no patience— then something is seriously wrong.
    Either you don’t understand the church…
    or you don’t understand Jesus.
    Because the real Jesus doesn’t save people and then leave them alone. He saves people into a people.
    He doesn’t just forgive you— He adopts you into a family.
    So the issue isn’t “Are there imperfect churches?” Of course there are. Every church is imperfect.
    The issue is: Do you value what Jesus values?
    Because Christ doesn’t treat the church as optional.
    He treats the church as precious.
    He bought her.
    He loves her.
    And cherishes her.
    So we must not treat lightly what cost Jesus His very blood.
    So church, here is Paul’s first implication—before he ever tells these elders what to do:
    Treasure the Church.
    Not because the church is always easy. Not because the church is always impressive. But because the church belongs to God…
    …and the church was purchased by blood.
    If we see that clearly, we won’t be casual about the church.
    We won’t be indifferent.
    And we won’t treat as small what heaven calls precious.
    Now that we’ve established the WHY behind the WHAT, let’s look at what Paul charged these elders to do with such a priceless treasure…

    Guard the Church

    Look again at verse 28. Paul says the Holy Spirit has made these men overseers.
    That matters.
    They didn’t apply for this job. They weren’t hired by Paul. They weren’t merely elected by popular vote.
    Paul says: God Himself placed them here.
    Now in our church elders do interview candidates and the membership eventually votes. But our voting is an act of affirming that God has already called a man to serve as an elder or overseer.
    And what is their assignment? “…to care for the church of God…”
    That word “care” is more vivid than it sounds in English. It is a Greek word that means: to shepherd.
    So elders are not primarily executives. They are shepherds.
    And what does a shepherd do?
    A shepherd knows the sheep. A shepherd feeds the sheep. And a shepherd protects the sheep.
    And in this section, Paul leans heavily into that third responsibility:
    Protect. Guard. Keep watch.
    That’s why he begins with these words: “Pay careful attention…”
    That’s the language of vigilance. Alertness. Watchfulness. It’s the language of a man on the wall at night, eyes scanning the horizon.
    So if Point 1 was: Treasure the church, Point 2 is: Guard the church.
    ————————————————-
    Now before Paul tells them what dangers are coming, we should ask a basic question:
    Who exactly is the flock these elders are responsible for?
    Because “the church is the people”… yes. But which people?
    Not simply everyone who walks in the door on a Sunday.
    Not everyone who claims the name “Christian.”
    Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5 that a person who bears the name “brother” but lives in unrepentant, scandalous sin is not to be treated as a fellow believer. (1 Cor. 5:11)
    And Jesus is even more sobering in Matthew 7:21-23
    Matthew 7:22–23 ESV
    On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you…
    So how does the church know, humanly speaking, who belongs to the flock?
    Christ has given visible markers: confession of faith, baptism, and belonging to the body.
    Baptism is not a magic ritual. It doesn’t save anyone.
    But it is Christ’s appointed sign that a person is publicly identifying with Him — and with His people.
    And then, in the New Testament, that public identification takes concrete shape in membership in a local church — a recognizable flock with recognizable shepherds.
    This is why Hebrews 13:17 makes sense:
    Hebrews 13:17 ESV
    Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
    Now just think about this practically.
    Are you called to submit to every pastor and elder in the Hudson Valley? No.
    And are our elders responsible before God for every baptized Christian in the Hudson Valley? Also no.
    Which means the New Testament assumes something:
    A Christian is not a spiritual free agent.
    A Christian belongs to a particular flock — so elders know who they are responsible for… and Christians know who they are accountable to.
    That’s why church membership isn’t paperwork. It’s protection.
    It’s identification.
    It’s clarity.
    It’s saying, “This is my church family. These are my shepherds. This is my flock.”
    So, one of the most practical ways you can help your elders “watch over your souls with joy” is simply this:
    Become a member of our church.
    And if you’re a Christian and you haven’t been baptized, or you’ve never joined a local church, I want to encourage you to take that step here.
    We have a “First Steps” class beginning next week during the 9am hour. This is the best way for you to learn about our church, and to move from being an attender to being an identified member of the flock.
    Now once we know who the flock is, Paul shows us what guarding looks like. And he points to three directions threats can come from.
    ——————————-
    Paul begins here: “Pay careful attention to yourselves…”
    This shows us that shepherding begins with self-watch.
    Because the first danger to the flock is sometimes the shepherd’s own heart.
    Jeremiah says:
    Jeremiah 17:9 ESV
    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
    Jesus says sin comes not merely from outside pressure, but from within:
    Mark 7:20–21 ESV
    “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
    And in Gethsemane Jesus tells His disciples:
    Matthew 26:41 ESV
    Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
    And James says temptation often hooks us through our own desires:
    James 1:14 ESV
    But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
    So elders — and really every Christian — must learn this: the greatest threat is not always “out there.” It is often in here.
    That’s why Paul later warns them about greed and reminds them that ministry is not about using people — it’s about serving people, especially the weak. (vv. 33–35)
    So elders must guard their hearts:
    against pride,
    against secret sin,
    against the love of comfort,
    against bitterness,
    against the craving to be liked,
    against the desire for control,
    and yes, against the love of money.
    Because when the shepherd falls, the sheep suffer.
    So the first direction elders must watch is inward.
    ———————————————————
    Next Paul charges elders to guard against threats from outside the flock.
    Paul says: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you…”
    Wolves don’t always come in wearing a sign that says “wolf.”
    False teaching often comes wrapped in spiritual language… with Bible verses sprinkled on top.
    Today, wolves don’t only knock on your door. They show up in your pocket.
    A steady stream of — podcasts, TikToks, Instagram reels, YouTube sermons — some of it helpful… much of it dangerous.
    And it especially threatens those who are young in the faith.
    So elders must be discerning.
    They must protect the flock not only from what is obviously heretical… but also from what is subtly distorted.
    Sometimes the wolves are cults and heresies. Sometimes the wolves are “Christian” movements that keep the vocabulary but redefine the gospel.
    So the second direction elders must watch is outward.
    ————————————
    Next Paul charges elders to guard against threats from within the flock.
    Here Paul says something sobering:“From among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things…”
    In other words, sometimes the danger doesn’t come from outside.
    It rises from within.
    This is why the New Testament calls elders to be men of character, men of sound doctrine, men who can handle the Word rightly — because at times they will have to correct, confront, and even rebuke.
    Not harshly. Not suspiciously. Not with a witch-hunt mentality.
    But with sober realism.
    Truth must be protected.
    And unity must be guarded.
    And the flock must not be drawn away.
    This is especially relevant for us right now as elder nominations are open.
    Paul’s words to Titus are a vital guide for us:
    Titus 1:9 ESV
    He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
    Why?
    Because elders are not guarding a man-made institution.
    They are guarding the church of God — the church purchased with Christ’s blood.
    So church family, this matters.
    What kind of leaders we recognize… what kind of teaching we tolerate… what kind of doctrine we shrug at…
    This affects the health and safety of the flock.
    So the third direction elders must watch is inward among the flock.
    So here is Paul’s charge:
    Guard the church.
    Guard it by watching your own life. Guard it by recognizing the wolves outside. Guard it by being vigilant against distortion inside.
    And with a treasure this costly in our care, the question becomes:
    How can anyone be faithful to a charge like this?
    Paul answers this in verse 32 — and that brings us to our final point:
    Rely on God’s grace.

    Rely on God’s Grace

    After Paul charges these elders to treasure the church and guard the church, he does something incredibly wise in verse 32.
    He doesn’t leave them with a burden and a handshake.
    He doesn’t say, “Alright men… dig deep. Try harder. Be strong.”
    Paul knows something we often forget:
    Human strength is insufficient for supernatural work.
    So he commends them—not to their grit, not to their resolve, not to their leadership instincts. He says…
    “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace…”
    That’s the only place to stand when the task is too heavy for your shoulders to bear:
    God. And the word of His grace.
    And Paul says this word of grace does two things.
    First, Paul says the word of grace…
    “…is able to build you up…”
    In other words: the church is Christ’s treasure, the threats are real, and the responsibility is massive.
    And the good news for these elders is that God uses the word of His grace to shape ordinary, weak, sinful men into faithful shepherds.
    And church, if you ever wonder whether God’s grace can really change people—look at the men Jesus handed His ministry baton to.
    The twelve disciples were not exactly impressive.
    They were often confused. Selfish. Arguing about who was the greatest.
    Peter—bold one minute, cowardly the next—denies Jesus three times.
    And after the cross, what do we find them doing?
    Huddled in fear behind locked doors.
    If Jesus had entrusted the church to them based on natural qualifications, we’d say, “What is He thinking?”
    But then something happens.
    They encounter the risen Christ.
    And the grace of God grips them.
    And those trembling men became courageous witnesses.
    The fearful became fearless. The weak became steady. The selfish became servants. The silent became heralds.
    Most of them will die because they would not stop preaching one message:
    Christ crucified and risen again for the forgiveness of your sins!
    The reason they could do this is because the grace of God doesn’t just save us… it transforms us!
    Paul writes to Titus saying:
    Titus 2:11–12 ESV
    For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
    Grace doesn’t just forgive you.
    Grace forms you.
    Grace doesn’t just pardon you.
    Grace changes you.
    So if you feel inadequate for what God has called you to…
    If you look at the charge and think, “I’m not enough”—
    Good.
    You’re right where you need to be.
    Trust God’s grace to build you up.
    ————————————————
    The second thing Paul tells these elders about the grace of God is that it gives them an inheritance.
    Grace strengthens you to keep going when the work is hard by reminding you of what waits for you at the finish line!
    Because ministry is hard.
    Guarding the church is costly.
    Loving people is exhausting sometimes.
    Doing the right thing can be lonely.
    So what keeps a shepherd faithful?
    What keeps Christians from drifting?
    What keeps us from giving up?
    Grace lifts our eyes beyond the difficulties of today…
    to the inheritance of tomorrow.
    Paul could pour himself out—even suffer—because he knew what waited at the finish line.
    An inheritance.
    A home.
    And not merely a place—
    a Person.
    Jesus.
    The One who loved him. The One who saved him. The One he would soon see face to face.
    And this inheritance is unlike anything else you can ever receive in this life.
    Because everything in this life can be taken from you:
    Your health. Your wealth. Your reputation. Your relationships. Even your very breath.
    We enter the world with empty hands, and we leave the same way.
    But Peter says the inheritance Christ secured for His people is:
    “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” “…who by God’s power are being guarded through faith…” (1 Peter 1:3–5)
    Do you hear that?
    God doesn’t just save you.
    He keeps you.
    He doesn’t just bring you into the flock.
    He guards you all the way home.
    Which means the ultimate guardian of the church is not the elders.
    It’s God.
    ————————————————
    And here’s where I want to speak to anyone this morning who is outside the flock.
    Maybe you’re here and you’ve been around church.
    You know Christian language.
    You might even admire Jesus on some level.
    But you aren’t His.
    You’re not trusting Him.
    You’ve never come to Him by faith asking Him to forgive you.
    I want you to hear something clearly:
    The church is not built on good people.
    And the door into the flock is not improving yourself.
    It is trusting Christ.
    Jesus said:
    John 10:11 ESV
    I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
    Friend, the reason the church is treasured…
    the reason the church is blood-bought…
    is because our Shepherd doesn’t just guide us.
    He bled for us.
    He laid down His life to rescue wandering sheep like us.
    He went to the cross for sinners.
    He died to forgive sin.
    He rose to give life.
    So if you are outside the flock, hear the invitation of Christ today:
    Come in.
    Not by cleaning yourself up.
    Not by proving yourself worthy.
    But by turning from sin and trusting the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep.
    Today you can become part of God’s people.
    Today you can be forgiven.
    Today you can belong.
    And today you can have an inheritance that will never fade.

    Application: rely on grace (elders + every believer)

    So elders—and every believer—
    when the charge feels heavy…
    when the threats feel real…
    when you feel tired…
    when your heart is tempted to drift…
    do not look inward for strength.
    Look upward.
    Paul doesn’t say, “I commend you to yourselves.”
    He says, “I commend you to God…”
    Because this work has never been sustained by human grit.
    It is sustained by divine grace.
    Conclusion/Response (Gospel & Repent/Believe)
    We began thinking about last words—how they strip away what’s trivial and reveal what matters most.
    In Braveheart, Wallace could have used his final breath to beg for comfort… but instead he used it to declare what he valued most.
    And here in Acts 20, Paul does the same. These are not casual words. These are final words—a dying man’s charge—and they reveal what mattered most to him: the church of God, bought with blood.
    So we asked this Big Question:
    Why should we care so deeply about the church?
    And Paul’s answer is clear:
    Because the church is God’s treasured possession, bought with the blood of Christ—so we must watch our lives, guard one another, and trust God and His word of grace to keep us faithful.
    That’s what we’ve seen in three simple charges:
    Treasure the Church—because it belongs to God and it cost Christ His blood. Guard the Church—keep watch: over your own heart, against wolves from outside, and against distortion from within. Rely on God’s Grace—because human strength is insufficient for supernatural work; but God’s Word will build you up and God will guard you all the way home.
    So church family, let Paul’s last words do what they were meant to do: wake us up.
    Don’t be casual with what heaven calls precious. Don’t drift from what Christ died to obtain.
    And if you are outside the flock today, hear the voice of the Good Shepherd: Come in. He laid down His life for the sheep. Turn from your sin and trust Him—and you will be forgiven, you will welcomed in, and you will receive an inheritance that will never fade.
    And for those who are already His: treasure the church, guard the church, and rely on His grace—until the day you see the Good Shepherd face to face.
    Prayer
    Father in heaven, thank You for Your church—Your treasured possession, bought with the blood of Christ. Forgive us for the ways we’ve treated lightly what You call precious. By Your grace, help us to treasure and guard the church.
    And for any who are still outside the flock, draw them to the Good Shepherd today—grant them repentance and faith, and bring them into Your people with joy.
    Now as we sing, let this song be our prayer. We ask this in Jesus’ name — Amen.
    Church family, let’s stand and sing, “Oh How Good It Is.”
    Closing Song: Oh How Good It Is
    Closing Words:
    Church family, what we’ve just sung is not wishful thinking—it’s the gift of God’s grace:
    “Oh how good it is when the family of God dwells together in spirit.”
    And that’s exactly what Acts 20 has shown us today: the church is God’s treasured possession, bought with the blood of Christ. So we must treasure the church, guard the church, and rely on God’s grace.
    —————————————
    Before we go, I want to speak to anyone who may still be outside the flock.
    You can be near the church and still not belong to Christ. You can know the language, sing the songs, and yet never have trusted the Savior.
    The door into the flock is not cleaning yourself up. It’s not becoming religious. It’s not trying harder.
    The door is Jesus Christ—the Good Shepherd—who laid down His life for the sheep.
    So I urge you: come to Him today. Turn from your sin. Trust in Christ crucified and risen again. If you want to talk more about what that means, there will be people available up front here after the service. They would love to talk and pray with you. Don’t leave today without making peace with God through Jesus Christ.
    Invitation to Take a Next Step:
    And for those who are believers—what is your next step of obedience?
    If you’ve trusted Christ but you’ve never followed Him in baptism, what’s holding you back? Baptism is how we publicly identify with Christ and His people.
    If you’ve been attending but you’re not yet a member, I want to encourage you: move from attending to belonging. Membership isn’t paperwork—it’s protection, accountability, and commitment to this flock.
    Remember: our “First Steps” class begins next week during the 9am hour. That’s the best pathway to baptism, membership, and getting connected in service.
    Missional Charge:
    And now, as we go:
    May we do so as a people who are sent. Because our community needs the Shepherd.
    This week the Lord is placing you in homes, workplaces, classrooms, neighborhoods, coffee shops and grocery stores—so that you would live as a witness to Christ.
    You are ambassadors for Christ.
    So pray for open doors. Look for opportunities. Love your neighbors. Speak of Christ. Invite someone to church. And be ready to give a reason for the hope you have.
    BENEDICTION: Hebrews 13:20–21
    “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

      • Acts 20:28–38KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 2:9KJV1900

      • 1 Peter 2:10KJV1900

      • Matthew 7:22–23KJV1900

      • Hebrews 13:17KJV1900

      • Jeremiah 17:9KJV1900

      • Mark 7:20–21KJV1900

      • Matthew 26:41KJV1900

      • James 1:14KJV1900

      • Titus 1:9KJV1900

      • Titus 2:11–12KJV1900

      • John 10:11KJV1900

  • Oh How Good It Is
Fishkill Baptist Church
lori@fishkillbaptist.org
845-896-9386
http://fishkillbaptist.net
15 members