On the first day of the week, when we were gathered
together to break bread, Paul began talking to
them, intending to leave the next day, and he
prolonged his message until midnight. There were
many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered
together, and there was a young man named Eutychus
sitting on the windowsill, sinking into a deep
sleep. And as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome
by sleep and fell down the third floor and was
picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon
him. And after embracing him, he said, Do not
be troubled, for his life is in him. When he
had gone back up and had broken the bread and
eaten, he talked with him a long while. until
daybreak and then left. They took away the boy
alive and were greatly comforted. As we continue
our journey in the book of Acts, it's always
a good reminder to remember what the book of
Acts is about and what's happening and what's
taking place and why it's written. So the book
of Acts is really A record of the Lord's work
in establishing and building and growing the
church in the world. It's a record, we could
say, of the result of the gospel in the life
of God's people. How Christians live faithfully
in a fallen world. As part of God's kingdom.
As part of the heavenly kingdom. How Christians
live faithfully in a hostile society and culture.
As they progressively near their heavenly home
and their heavenly destination. Today we get
a beautiful glimpse into the life of the early
church. we get a beautiful glimpse into the gathering
of the early church. We see in this text that,
and we'll consider in this text, the day on which
they met, a distinctly Christian day of worship,
the first day of the week. We'll consider the
substance, or what they were doing as they gathered
together. To worship God. And we'll see. What
the preeminent thing was. As they gathered together.
In this. In the midst of this gathering. We find
Eutychus. This young boy. Who falls out the window.
And dies. But we also find. That the apostle
Paul. Who was present. Revives him. or brings
him back to life, so we can say he died and he
was raised, brothers and sisters. And then Paul
returns to the gathering after comforting the
people and continues to preach and teach to them
after breaking bread. So first, let's consider
today, the day on which the early church gathered
for worship. Notice in verse 7, the text begins,
on the first day of the week. Now, this phrase,
I'm guessing for many of you, will stand out.
You'll think to yourselves, now I know I've seen
that text elsewhere. That phrase, that terminology,
I know that I've witnessed that. And you have,
brothers and sisters. The exact phrase, the first
day of the week, is used in every single one
of the Gospels. It's used in Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John. Specifically, it's Matthew 28 .1, Mark
16 .21, Luke 24 .1, and John 20 .1. Now, those
sections of Scripture probably sound familiar
as well because it's at the end of the Gospel
account and it's at the beginning of the resurrection
account. So here we find the exact phrase that
is used by the author of the Gospels to describe
the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ rose from
the dead. This phrase is a distinct contrast
with the Jewish Sabbath, which was the last day
of the week, or Saturday. The reason we find
this significant is because the first day of
the week is the consecrated day It's because
on that day, the Lord Jesus Christ rose from
the dead in all His glory, in all His grandeur,
in all His greatness. And this is the day that
the Christian church gathers together to worship
that glorious Savior in all His power. So the
first day of the week is uniquely and distinctly
associated and identified with the resurrection
of Jesus Christ. We could think about this quote
from Matthew Henry, the great Bible commentator.
Listen to what he says. It's simple and straightforward.
He says, The Lord's day, or the first day of
the week, is the Christian Sabbath. In remembrance
of the resurrection of Christ. So, the Lord's
Day, the first day of the week, the Christian
Sabbath, is in remembrance of what, brothers
and sisters? The resurrection of our Lord. Or
we could think about Justin Martyr, one of the
earliest church fathers. Listen to what he says.
The day called Sunday. The day called Sunday.
On all who live in the cities or in the country
come together because it is the day on which
Jesus our Savior rose from the dead. So here's
one of the earliest church fathers stating that
Sunday, the Lord's Day, The first day of the
week is the day that everybody from the cities
and everybody from the countries come together
to worship and praise God. And why is that, brothers
and sisters? Because on that day, the Lord Jesus
Christ rose from the dead. This is significant,
brothers and sisters. Because we are not the
first to worship on this day of the week. We
are not the only ones that worship on this day
of the week. Why do we as believing Christians,
as evangelical Christians who believe in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, worship on this day,
not Saturday, not Monday, not Wednesday? Because
we believe and we confess. that Jesus Christ
rose from the dead and ascended to the Father's
right hand on this day. So the day in which we
worship is built wholly and completely on the
gospel of Jesus Christ. And the day on which
we worship bears witness to the truth and the
reality that we serve and worship a risen Lord.
A risen Savior who is no longer in the grave.
Now, isn't it interesting that in this church,
in the book of Acts, which is so long ago from
us, but was so close, but was fairly close to
the inception of the church, already has an established
principle and practice of what day they gather
and worship on. The early church in this day,
in Acts chapter 20, in the church that Paul planted,
already maintains the principle that they worship
on the first day of the week. We stand in the
long line of faithful men and women and believers
throughout the ages, brothers and sisters, and
we confess a distinctly and uniquely Christian
By worshiping on Sunday. Now, what did they do
when they came together to worship? What was
the substance of their worship when they gathered
together? Now, it's important that we understand
and we recognize that just as they worshiped
on the first day of the week, because that was
established for them by the apostles, And the
risen Lord and his resurrection. The nature.
And the content. And the substance. And the life
and the practice of their church. Was built on
apostolic patterns. That they had been taught
by the apostle Paul. And the other apostles.
Now if we go back to Acts chapter 2. We find.
This pattern. We referenced this several weeks
ago. In Acts chapter 2. In verse 42. We read
these words. They were continually devoting themselves.
To the apostles teaching. And to fellowship.
To the breaking of bread. And to prayer. There's
the pattern. Of the life. Of the early church.
Doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread,
and prayer. So it's no coincidence that as we
come to Acts chapter 20, we find the same pattern
being practiced and emphasized in its gathering
on the first day of the week. We see in this
text the fact... That they were corporately and
intentionally coming together, gathering physically,
geographically, to sit under the Word, to take
part in the ordinances, to pray, and to fellowship
as the body of Christ. In the text, We see the
breaking of bread. Now, in the early church,
this included the Lord's Supper, but also what
was called traditionally as an agape feast. We
see this reference in the book of Jude, or they
might be called love feasts. And so in these
feasts, there was fellowship, and there was fellowship
at a meal over the... Table, we could say. And
at the end of this, most likely, they concluded
with the taking of the Lord's Supper. As the
Lord Jesus Christ had instituted it in the upper
room. So not only did they worship on the Lord's
Day, but brothers and sisters, they gathered
together to remember the Lord and His work. And
then we find that they sat under the ministry
of the Word. What does the text say? Paul began
talking to them, intending to leave the next
day. And he prolonged his message until midnight.
Then we read again. And there was a young man
named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking
into a deep sleep. And as Paul kept on talking,
and then we see a little bit later, he talked
with them a long time. But notice it's not just
random discussion. It's referred to as a message
in verse 7. It's a discourse that Paul is giving.
So we have the Christians coming together corporately
and gathering together, taking part in the Lord's
Supper and fellowshipping, and we have the ministry
of the Word present. Now, just because prayer
is not mentioned in this text, That does not
mean that they did not partake in that. That
they did not exercise prayer and they did not
pray for one another. We read throughout the
remainder of this narrative, especially in the
latter part of chapter 20, that Paul prayed with
the Ephesian elders. We read in chapter 20, verse
36, when he had said these things, he knelt down
and prayed with them all. And then we read a
little bit later in chapter 21, verse 5. When
our days there were ended, we left and started
on our journey. Well, they all, with wives and
children, escorted us until we were out of the
city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying,
we said farewell to one another. We have every
reason to believe that this gathering at Troas
with Paul teaching included every aspect and
every element that is referenced in Acts chapter
2 verse 42. The life of the church is built on
the pattern that the apostles had given to them.
That the apostles themselves had instituted and
established in the churches which they themselves
planted, brothers and sisters. In a sense, we
could say this about the life of the church,
especially with regards to chapter 20. There's
nothing novel taking place in chapter 20 that
has changed or... Or been adjusted. They're doing
the same thing. That the church did. In Acts
chapter 2 verse 42. They weren't creating and
developing. Novelties. For the early church.
And for the members of the early church. What
were they doing when they gathered together.
Brothers and sisters. They came together on the
first day of the week. They sat under the preaching
of the word. They sang hymns. They came together
and they took the ordinances. They came together
and they prayed and they fellowshiped with one
another. That was the life of their church. They
were committed to this corporate gathering in
this manner, in this function. We don't do something
terribly different than that, do we, brothers
and sisters? The life of our church is built
and established. Very similarly to the life of
the early church. Why is that? Why are there
not all these novelties that had no place in
the primitive church or the early church? Why
are there not all these new things? Brothers
and sisters, why are there not all these creative
realities? To draw men. To appease men. To meet
men's needs. Why, brothers and sisters, the apostles
did not establish that and their pattern for
the life and practice of the church. They ordained
the Word. They ordained prayer. They ordained
the Lord's Supper and Baptism. That's what we
do because it is very, very similar to what the
early church did in reality. These were Christians
who prioritized corporate worship and the realities
of corporate worship because of the gospel. Why
did the early Christians gather together? Because
Christ had saved them. Why did they come together?
Why did they want to put voice to their praise?
Why did they want to love their brothers and
sisters in Christ? Why did they want to hear
in the Word? Because Jesus Christ had saved their
souls from hell. He had made them new creatures
in Christ. He had given them the Holy Spirit
and He had changed them, brothers and sisters.
He had brought them out of the dominion and rule
of Satan and He had given them all the glorious
and eternal blessings that God has given to His
Son to them. So what do they do? They come together
and they worship Him because they're compelled
to. They have a longing in their heart to praise
the risen Christ because He has rescued them.
The Holy Spirit creates a longing and a desire
to praise the Lord. The Holy Spirit creates a
longing and a desire to love our fellow men,
and especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Holy Spirit creates a longing within us to
hear Christ in His Word. That's why they came
together, brothers and sisters. And that is why
we must come together. Why do you come here on
the Lord's Day? What is your purpose? What is
your intention and your motivation for gathering
together? Can you come and sit in this sanctuary
and worship God without ever thinking about God
Himself? Without ever actually interacting with
the living, risen Christ? Brothers and sisters,
we gather together to meet with God. We gather
together to come to Him and to hear from Him.
Do you come together because you are eager to
praise the Son of God who gave Himself on your
behalf? Do you come together to lift your voice
in praise and adoration to the God who has redeemed
you because of grace and mercy alone? Or do you
come together for some other reason? With some
other end in mind? If there is any other reason,
then it's wrong. Our worship is a result of Christ
and His salvation in our lives. We come together
because Christ has indeed saved us, brothers
and sisters. Do you have gratitude welling up
inside of you where anticipation is building
because you want to proclaim it to the risen
Christ? Do you want to hear what Christ has to
say for you in His Word? Or do you come? And
gather because you've always come together and
gathered. Or do you come and gather because your
wife or your husband comes and gathers? Do you
come to appease something in your heart and your
mind or in somebody else's life? We come because
Christ has saved us. Why do you? Gather together
on the Lord's Day to worship the risen Lord,
brothers and sisters. The risen Christ knows
our heart and He knows our minds. Bring a smile
to His face, brothers and sisters. And come to
Him because of Him. Worship Him because of Him.
Sing because of Him. Listen to the Word because
of Him. Not because of yourself or men, but because
of the risen Lord and the work that He has done
in your life personally. So, this is what their
meeting, their gathering was made up of. And
this is why they came together on the first day
of the week. And they gave themselves to the
worship of God. Now there's something else that
we have to consider in this text. There's this
whole situation or episode with Eutychus falling
asleep and falling out the window and dying.
Now we come to this and we're tempted to think
that's very, very random. What's the purpose
of this? Why is this even... recorded in our
Bibles. But before we get to that, it's important
for us to understand that in the life of the
church and its corporate gathering, we see in
this text that the ministry of the Word, or Paul's
preaching, teaching, his speaking, his message,
has the prominent position in the assembly. It
has the preeminent place among those who are
gathered together. Now, I'm not just going to
say that and leave it there. I'll show you why
that is the case. Because I'm sure some of you
are saying, well, preacher, that's easy for you
to say. You're the one preaching. You want it
to be about the preaching and the teaching. But
brothers and sisters, that's not the case at
all. I want you to see this in the text because
it is for the good of your soul. It's for your
good to esteem the Word of God as Christ Himself
esteems the Word of God. It is for the good of
your soul to have a high view of the holy, infallible,
inerrant Scriptures and the Gospel. So I want
to show this to you in the text and demonstrate
why the Word has preeminence and how the Word
has preeminence in this text. If you remember,
Two weeks ago we spoke about the fact that it
was Paul's exhortation and encouragement which
definitively marked his ministry as an apostle
to the churches. In this portion, in this meeting,
we find a concrete example of that exhortation.
We find the prominence of this. The word is seen.
And the fact that the whole narrative. In a sense.
Is built around Paul's message. His preaching.
His teaching. His talking. And his message. As
it is described in verse 7. Verse 7. Says this.
Paul began talking to them. Intending to leave
the next day. And he prolonged his message. Then
in the middle of the text. We read this. And
as Paul kept on talking. And then we read in
verse 11. When he had gone back up and had broken
the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long
while until daybreak. Beginning, middle, and
end. But also notice that the primary thing that
draws our attention, the death and resurrection
of Eutychus. When does it occur? While Paul is
preaching and teaching. Right in the middle of
his message. And what does Eutychus' episode
make us automatically think about? Paul's message.
It's pointing us right back to Paul's message.
The ministry. Of God's word. We see that he prolonged
his message. So if we think about this. This
meeting. At Troas. Between Paul and the believers.
The substantial. Thing that composed this meeting.
Meaning hours and hours. Was the preaching and
teaching. The exhortation of the apostle. Now,
this was a unique situation because Paul most
likely would never see these believers again,
so he extends his message. It takes up an expansive
amount of time, and it takes up an expansive
amount of the service itself in Acts chapter
20. So we find that it is prominent in this text.
We could look on at other sections in this narrative
and Paul bears witness to the importance of his
proclamation and the word of grace or solemn
testifying to the grace of God and the gospel.
We find in this text the importance of the word
of God is confirmed. very, very clearly. We read
about Eutychus. He's sitting on the windowsill.
He's getting very, very tired. And he falls out
because, clearly, he loses bodily control. And
he falls from the window, lands on the ground,
and he is dead. The temptation... Is to look
poorly and think poorly at Eutychus. Because
he wasn't paying attention. Because he wasn't
focused enough on the word. I don't think that's
right. The reality is it was late at night. They
were meeting in the evening. There was many lamps
as it says. It was dark brothers and sisters.
Paul was preaching a long time. He was never
going to see these believers again. And this
was a young man. Probably someone who had not
met puberty yet. And he's getting tired. He's
getting worn out. And what's he do? He passes
out and he falls out the window and he dies.
So I don't think there's blame to be had on Eutychus.
But the other temptation is to put the blame
on Paul because he's preaching a long time. But
that's clearly not what takes place because the
apostle returns to the message. He doesn't stop
preaching. Oh, this is more significant. No,
he brings the boy back to life and resumes his
proclamation. So obviously, that's not the case.
So what is the purpose of this miracle in the
midst of the assembly as they are gathering together?
Well, if we think about miracles in the Bible,
and in the Old Testament in particular, and in
the ministry of the Lord and Peter and Paul,
what is the purpose of miracles, brothers and
sisters? Is it to... Just simply show how powerful
and mighty God is or show how powerful and mighty
a person is like this power originates with them?
No. The purpose of signs and wonders in the Bible
is to bear witness to the message and the truth
or the ministry and the messenger like the apostles.
So let's go ahead and turn. to a couple examples
and consider these. We read in 1 Kings 17, 21
-22. We find a very similar story. This is not
the first time that someone has died and been
brought back to life. In the pages of Scripture.
The prophet Elijah had sought to do a kindness
to the Shunammite woman who had been so kind
and caring to him. So he proclaims that she will
have a child, that she will bear a son. Well,
she has a child, and here's what we read. When
the child was grown, the day came that he went
out to his father to the reapers. He said to
his father, My head, my head. And he said to
a servant, Carry him to his mother. When he had
taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat
on her lap until noon and then died. She went
up and laid him on the bed of the man of God
and shut the door behind him and went on. Then
she called to her husband and said, Please send
me one of the servants and one of the donkeys.
that I may run to the man of God in return. He
said, Why will you go to him today? It is neither
a new moon nor Sabbath. And she said, It will
be well. Then she saddled a donkey and said to
her servant, Drive and go forward. Do not slow
down the pace for me unless I tell you. So she
went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her at a distance, he
said, To Gehazi his servant. Behold there is
the Shunammite. Please run now to meet her. And
say to her. Is it well with you? Is it well with
your husband? Is it well with your child? And
she answered. It is well. When she came to the
man of God. To the hill. She caught hold of his
feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away.
But the man of God said. Let her alone, for her
soul is troubled within her, and the Lord has
hidden it from me and has not told me. Then she
did. Then she said, Did I ask for a son from
my Lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? So
hear the woman questioning the word of the prophet.
And so what takes place? Elijah goes and heals
the son in a very similar fashion. We read this
of Elisha. I apologize. So he entered and shut
the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord.
And he went up and lay on the child and put his
mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and
his hands on his hands. and he stretched himself
on him, and the flesh of the child became warm.
The child came back to life. And what does the
woman do? Then she went in and fell at the feet
and bowed herself to the ground, and she took
up her son and went out. This man is a prophet.
His word and his message. is confirmed in the
reality that the son was brought back to life.
She could trust the word of the prophet. If he
gave her a son, the son would live, even if that
meant resurrecting the child. She could trust
the word of the prophet, or we could say she
could trust the prophetic word. Now we read in
1 Kings. with Elijah, 1 Kings 17, verses 21 -22.
Now it came about after these things that the
son of the woman, the mistress of the house,
became sick, and his sickness was so severe that
there was no breath left in him. So she said
to Elijah, What do I have to do with you, O man
of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity,
to remembrance, and to put my son to death. He
said to her, Give me your son. Then he took him
from her bosom and carried him up to the upper
room where he was living and laid him on his
own bed. He called to the Lord and said, O Lord
my God, have you also brought calamity to the
widow? with whom I am staying by causing her
son to die. Then he stretched himself upon the
child three times and called to the Lord and
said, O Lord my God, I pray you, let this child's
life return to him. The Lord heard the voice
of Elijah, and the life of the child returned
to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child
and brought him down from the upper room into
the house and gave him to his mother. And Elijah
said, See, your son is alive. Now listen to what
the woman says. Then the woman said to Elijah,
Now I know that you are a man of God and that
the word of the Lord in your mouth is true. What
was the purpose of these children, these young
people, being raised up from the dead? With regards
to the prophets. To bear witness to the truth.
That these men were prophets. And that their
message was of God. Why did Christ work signs
and wonders throughout his ministry brothers
and sisters? To bear witness to the truth. That
the gospel which he came to accomplish and proclaim.
Was true and real. Why did the apostles. work
wonders and miracles throughout their ministry,
to bear witness to the validity and the veracity
of their message and their ministry, brothers
and sisters. So here we have Paul preaching and
teaching to this early assembly. And out falls
Eutychus and he dies. And down goes Paul and
he lays himself upon this young person. Very
similar to what the prophets had done. Very similar
to what we see Christ having done and Peter.
And then he says, don't worry. He's alive. Then
Paul goes back up and preaches. Now, think about
what that would do to the congregation that just
witnessed this miraculous event. If there was
somebody beforehand who maybe was questioning
Paul's words and his message, then what do you
think they would think after Paul just brought
this young boy back from the dead? Who? God is
with him. God's hand is upon this man. The power
of God is with him. His message is true. I ought
to listen to what this man says because he raises
people from the dead. So we find, brothers and
sisters, that this miraculous event with Eutychus
actually confirms the importance of Paul's message.
Paul's preaching. Paul's word. The Scripture
teaches in this text the all -importance of the
Scripture. We don't have apostles going around
preaching anymore, do we, brothers and sisters?
Paul's not living and breathing, going around
proclaiming divine revelation. We do have a Bible,
don't we? We do have a closed canon of Scripture
that has the same authority that Paul, in his
apostolic doctrine, possessed himself. So, if
we think about the fact that Christ from heaven
was bearing witness to his message that his apostle
was preaching, How important ought the word of
God be to us as we have a closed canon that has
been handed down to us. We have the word of the
living God, brothers and sisters. Is it precious
in your sight? Is it precious to you? The word
is the chief. means of grace in the life of the
believer and in the life of the church. What
do I mean by that? It is the chief means of grace
because, one, it is effectual unto salvation.
It gives new life. God applies power to the Word
and saves men. That is not true of the ordinances.
How do we know what baptism is, brothers and
sisters? How do we know how to rightly administer
baptism? How do we know how to rightly worship
the living God? Where do we find that out at,
brothers and sisters? The Word of God. The Word
of God is the chief means because it interprets
and informs all the rest of the life of the church.
And brothers and sisters, it is a chief means
of grace because it is a chief means by which
the living Christ sanctifies and nourishes His
people in their souls and builds His church.
So it's good for us to have a high view of the
Word of God. It is good for us to have and to
seek to have an esteem of the Scriptures. That
is similar to Christ's esteem and love and view
of the Scriptures themselves. Naturally, there
are all kinds of applications for this, are there
not? In the life of the church and in the life
of the believer. Typically, this story is the
occasion. Of men to make jokes. About long sermons.
About long winded preachers. But knowing the
purpose of this event. And this episode. What
is it actually meant to do brothers and sisters?
To induce reverence. And a high view of God's
word. It's meant to elevate the Word of God in
our sight, in our hearts. It's meant to remind
us of the importance and the significance of
God's Word in the life of His people and in the
life of the church. I long, as I read the book
of Acts and I read the New Testament, I long.
for our church and for other churches to be like
the New Testament church. Full of life and vitality.
And me saying this, brothers and sisters, is
not saying I don't think we have any of it. That's
not what I'm saying. But we can still excel all
the more, as Paul tells the Thessalonians. I
long for our church and other churches to have
the power of God upon us. That we would be filled
with the Spirit of God and bold with regards
to our praying and with regards to our evangelism
and our calling men to repentance and faith.
Bold with regards to our loving our brothers
and sisters in Christ. Bold with regards to our
sacrifice for the name of Christ. Our willingness
to be identified and associated with the people
of God. I long for Christ's blessing to be upon
our body and other bodies like it was in the
first century. But if we want that, do you know
what that means and what that requires of us?
That means we have to view the Word as they viewed.
the Word. If we want a revived church, if we
want revived souls, revived hearts, do you know
what that means, brothers and sisters? We must
have a revival with regards to our view and our
esteem of the Word of God in our lives personally
and corporately, where we hold it higher than
everything else. It informs everything else in
the life of the church and in our lives personally.
This is a view like that of Christ. If Christ
did not have a high view of His Word, He would
not have raised Eutychus from the dead. That
power did not originate with Paul, brothers and
sisters. That was the risen Christ exerting his
divine power to bear witness to what? The gospel
message that he had entrusted to his apostles.
Christ has a high view of the word. We ought
to seek out to enjoy a high view of God's word.
In our lives as well. How do you. Value and see.
And treat the word of God. What is your view.
Of God's holy word. Is there reverence in your
heart? Is there a bit of trepidation or caution
with regards to the word of God? It's not my
word. It's not your word. It's God's word. There
should be great joy. But brothers and sisters,
there ought to be a bit of sobriety as well when
we handle the holy word of the living God. How
do you think about the Word? Do you treat it
like every other book? Do you read it like every
other book? Do you come to it like every other
book? Or do you think about it, read it, memorize
it, think about it, with regards to the fact
that it is divine. And it is the word of the
living God who made the world and all that is
in it. One of the greatest privileges of my life,
brothers and sisters, is to proclaim the word
of God. I will forever be grateful to Christ.
that I have the opportunity to preach the Word
of God regularly. But we have to understand this
about that as well. One of the most terrifying
things that I do as an individual is preach the
Word of God. Do you know why that is? Because
I'm handling His Word and His truth. Not my own.
I have no right to change it. I have no right
to twist it or adjust it. Or to wiggle around
certain things. There's caution and sobriety
and reverence as we come to God's Word. But brothers
and sisters, there's joy. And there's comfort
and there's peace knowing... that God has in
fact given us his holy word. All of this, brothers
and sisters, informs not just our treatment of
the word, but our hearing of the word. When we
think about Eutychus, we typically, I would assume,
associate more with Eutychus and his growing
exhaustion to the point where he passes out,
as opposed to the multitude that was present,
that focused on Paul's instruction, and that
faithfully sat under it and heard the apostolic
doctrine being proclaimed. how we think about
God's Word will inform how we hear God's Word
and listen to God's Word, brothers and sisters.
And our hearing of God's Word will either lead
to or dismiss our experience of God's Word. At
the end of this text, We read this. They took
away the boy alive and were greatly comforted.
Now, they weren't simply comforted because Eutychus
was living and breathing in fine. They just gathered
corporately and sat under the preached word and
sang hymns to God and fellowshiped with the saints
and taken part in the Lord's Supper. Why are
they comforted? Because they know what Paul has
said is true, brothers and sisters. If we will
open our ears and our hearts to hear the word
of the living God, brothers and sisters, we can
experience the word of God in our hearts and
enjoy comfort and peace and hope and have our
hearts stirred up and have our faith strengthened.
But it all begins with how we think about His
Holy Word.