1.
The true charm of a Christian is not in their outward appearance but in what they leave behind. What defines the true charm of a Christian? Is it success in society? Fashionable attire? Hard work in ministry? Skill in relationships? While these attributes might be significant, they aren't the essence.
2.
Look at Paul's legacy. On his way to deliver the collection from the Corinthian church to the Jerusalem church, Paul stops briefly in Miletus, where he calls the elders of the Ephesian church for a final farewell sermon. Paul genuinely loved the Ephesian church. Ephesus was a major city, much like modern-day Los Angeles, significant in trade, commerce, and culture. He built the church in Ephesus by battling myths, idols, and false doctrines that filled the city. He spent three years there, laboring with the believers to establish the church.
“When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.” Acts 20:36-38 (NIV)
3.
Paul’s departure was captivating. When someone exits the stage, their life, philosophy, and passion are revealed. The elders of the Ephesian church prayed with Paul, embraced him with their bodies and hearts, kissed him, and wept together. They were heartbroken by Paul’s statement that they would never see him again. This reflects Paul’s sincere ministry.
4.
There are three types of people who leave a place, whether it’s a church or elsewhere. First, those who leave without a sound. Some people are constantly searching for a good church. Yes, it’s important to find a healthy and good church, but I challenge you to seek a church that needs you rather than one that suits you. Second, those who cause a commotion as they leave. These are the ones who, without healthy communication, create issues to prove their worth and then leave. Third, those who leave behind precious memories. These are people like Paul, whose departure is filled with grace and charm. The true charm of a Christian is not in what is seen but in what is left behind.
5.
Firstly, Paul poured everything into the Ephesian church without reservation. There are always those who live with regret, those who never fully commit to anything, and later justify their lack of effort by blaming their circumstances. Such people do not grow; they only carry regret. However, those who grow are like Paul—they have the grit to see things through to the end. They possess focus, discernment, and resilience.
6.
Paul diligently taught the believers of the Ephesian church with the gospel, leaving no room for regret or second thoughts.
“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.” Acts 20:20 (NIV)
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (NIV)
“Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” Acts 20:26-27 (NIV)
7.
Secondly, Paul left after raising leaders for the church.
“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number, men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:28-30 (NIV)
8.
Paul appointed his disciple Timothy as the pastor of the Ephesian church and established the elders of the church. Let’s make a promise: Just as Paul raised Timothy and Elijah raised Elisha, let us commit to raising at least one person for the church we love before we leave. We never know when we will leave this community. I too will have to leave someday. My wife calculated that I have 1,298 weeks left until retirement. But even that is just an estimate. Someday, I will leave. I don’t know how many disciples I will raise in this church, but even if it’s just one, I must do it well. The same goes for the praise team—if just one person is raised well, that’s enough. How long should we teach them?
“I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:32 (NIV)
9.
What does this mean? It’s not a passive “I’ve done my part; God will take care of the rest” attitude. Paul taught them until they could read, apply, grow, and teach God’s Word independently. We must teach them to mature from the faith of a child to the faith of a fully grown believer.
10.
In Korea, there’s a saying, "I just focus on one person." Similarly, in the church, it’s not about raising many but focusing on just one person. To do this, I must grow while I am part of this community. I must grow into a parent of faith who can nourish others.
11.
Finally, Paul’s dedication was measured not by money but by grace.
“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:33-35 (NIV)
12.
The world’s value is money. People work hard for promotions. With the cost of living rising, it’s important to earn money to sustain life and share with others. However, the charm of a Christian is not in money but in living with a sense of calling and mission. Those who are fixated on money can be easily used. But those who live with a clear purpose and passion attract money and honor. As the Korean singer Rain said, “This is an era where people with passion and a good heart succeed.”
13.
The value of a Christian is not in their possessions or abilities but in the value of Jesus’ blood. Those who understand this grace desire to be used by God, regardless of their circumstances. Whether we are committed to the church, working in our jobs, or caring for our families, believers do not live to elevate their own worth but to share in the value found in the gospel. God fills such people with His grace, surpassing the world’s standards.
14.
We live in an era where church buildings are turning into clubs and museums. Some church scholars predict that by 2030, 100,000 churches will close their doors. I am not surprised. Jesus spoke about houses built on sand versus those built on rock. The difference between a church established by God’s will and one that isn’t lies not in human judgment but in the Bible’s standard. The true church will shine even more brightly in dark times, and for churches striving to live by unchanging truth in a changing world, these difficulties will not be crises but opportunities.
15.
I believe the church that pleases God is one that reflects the example set by Paul and the elders of Ephesus. This is the kind of church we dream of. We don’t want to see people as mere members but as long-lost family members who have been found. We know that such a church might grow slowly and with difficulty, but that’s not true. The three years Jesus spent with His disciples were not in vain. This small group completed the prototype of the church. Though the disciples scattered at the cross, thinking the Jesus movement had ended, the Holy Spirit’s work scaled it up beyond what Jesus had shown.
16.
I hope our church becomes a gathering of such wonderful people. Wherever you are, I pray that, like Jesus and Paul, you pour out everything, leave behind precious memories, and depart with the expectation of seeing each other again. May the places you leave not wither but flourish with new life where you have planted seeds. I believe that where people who miss each other embrace and weep together, the Kingdom of God will surely come.
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