The Charge
(Acts 20:17-38)
The Mission Is Still Multiplication.
Paul’s journeys were never about personal achievement—they were always about spreading the gospel. Over decades of ministry, he endured travel, persecution, and hardship so that the Word of God might be heard in cities across the Roman Empire. When Paul looked back on those years, he could say there was no place left for him to preach in that region. Why? Because he had run his race with a single aim: multiplication of the gospel. That’s the mission still today—not to build platforms, programs, or personal legacies, but to carry the message of grace to every corner of the world. The gospel was—and still is—the goal.
Leadership That Looks Like Jesus
When Paul gathered the elders from Ephesus, he didn’t just give them theology—he gave them a model. He reminded them of his presence, his service, his humility, and his tears. Leadership in the Kingdom isn’t measured by charisma or influence, but by consistent, sacrificial presence. Paul served with grit and grace, through trials and tears, because he cared deeply for the people he led. He preached in public, discipled in homes, and shepherded both Jews and Gentiles without partiality. If we want to see true multiplication, we need leaders who are shaped not by pride or platform but by humility, service, and heart.
Your Race, Your Pathway
Even winding paths can lead to transformation when the destination is shaped by grace and guided by the Spirit.
Paul knew the end was near. He had a “gut feeling” that danger awaited him in Jerusalem. Yet he pressed forward, not because his life was worthless, but because the mission was worth everything. He counted his life “of no value” so that he could finish his race and testify to the gospel of God’s grace. That same gospel is your charge. You may not be called to Miletus or Macedonia, but you’ve been given a race to run—your own unique pathway in the Kingdom. The call to follow Jesus is not passive; it’s active and intentional. And it’s not about reaching perfection—it’s about finishing faithfully.
Shepherding with Courage and Conviction
Paul’s final charge to the elders was sobering: guard the flock. Savage wolves—false teachers—would come, and the only way to protect God’s people was with the truth of God’s Word. This wasn’t just a call to pastors. It was a call to anyone who influences others spiritually: disciple-makers, mentors, leaders. Before we can shepherd others well, we must take care of our own hearts. That means saturating ourselves in Scripture, living with integrity, and clinging to grace. Multiplication happens when we faithfully teach others to obey everything Jesus commanded—not just with our words, but with our lives.
— AARON DININNY
Multiply Executive Director