While on his way back to Jerusalem as he completed his third missionary journey, Paul stopped at Miletus to meet with the elders of the church at Ephesus. This passage captures the emotional and final farewell between Paul and the men in whom he had invested deeply for three years.
In this meeting, Paul reminded the men of how he had labored faithfully with them, teaching them in public and house to house. Clearly, Paul had built a strong relationship with these men. So much so, that Luke records these words to close this event: “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” (20:27-28).
This week’s lesson looks toward healthy church-missionary relationships. The kind of deep relationships that make it difficult to say farewell.
- Do you have similar relationships as described in this passage? Christians in whom you have invested deeply? Christians who have invested deeply in you? If not, what keeps you from developing such relationships? If yes, how are you investing in others or being invested in by others?
- Do the missionaries sent/supported by your church have deep relationships with people in your church? If no, why do you think that is the case? If yes, how do you know? What do those deep relationships look like?
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