Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local, but

instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends

of the earth. Let's join Scott Pauley now for today's study.

The most precious thing on planet Earth is the local New Testament church because it is Christ's body.

It is literally the means by which God is accomplishing his work in this world.

And if it's that precious to Jesus, then it ought to be that precious to every one of us.

In Acts chapter number 20, you find one of the most tender conversations recorded in all of Scripture.

It is the last words of the great Apostle Paul to the Ephesian elders.

He's leaving them.

They're never going to see him again, at least not until they get to heaven.

He knows that and they know that.

And he's not only leaving them, he is leaving them with truth that will help that local church

keep moving forward. I think it's very important to recognize that the local church is bigger

than any one person. In fact, this church in Ephesus, as much time as Paul had spent there,

as much truth as Paul had invested in them,

this church was much bigger than the Apostle Paul.

We are all a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

I repeat to you, it is not my church, it is Christ church.

So in our last study, we began looking at Paul's words to the Ephesians, and this

word to the local church teaches us several things. The first thing we learned was that it is God's

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