The Story - Later life of Paul: Mission Multiplied Into Legacy

 Focus Passage: Acts 16-28

There is great power in a legacy. Mount Rushmore shows us the legacies of four of our great presidents. Washington is the father of our country. Jefferson wrote its constitution. Lincoln saved the nation. Teddy Roosevelt – well I was told that he was up there because of his stance on nature and monopolies. Imagine Fillmore, Tyler, Harrison and Buchanan gracing the monument. It is not the same. Four presidents, yes, but not the same effect. It is all about their legacy. St. Paul was one of those who had a legacy that touches every living Christian today. Few of us have not been touched by the books of Roman, Corinthians or Philippians. Many of us look to his example in life as a guide for our ministry. Today we will look at his legacy and ours.

A. Paul was always training people as they worked together: Romans 16:21  At the end of the book of Romans, twenty six people are mentioned by name as having ministered with Paul. Some we know well. Others are only mentioned in the bible here. All had a big impact on the church. His heart and life touched them and they were witnesses together of the gospel. Everyone was better because of their time with Paul. Pastors and people are not to work in isolation. Part of our ministry is to each other. God made it that way so that we could leave a piece of ourselves with each other.

B. Paul multiplied his ministry by letters: Colossians 4:18 In prison, Paul could not be silenced. They could chain him up and keep him from going to those he served, but they could not stop his pen. 13 letters of Paul are included in the Bible and I am sure that there were others as well. His letters multiplied his ministry as one church got the letter and then copies went out to other churches around them. His letters still touch people’s hearts for they are his legacy to us. We sense Paul’s faith and his intimate knowledge of God’s wisdom and plan.

C: Paul multiplied his ministry by training coworkers: Titus 1:5 The churches that Paul planted got to be so many that he could not minister to them all. So Paul sent Titus to Crete, Timothy to Ephesus, Crescens went to Galatia and many others went to other churches. Paul multiplied the ministry by training and sending coworkers across the mission field. Paul would probably tell us to mentor someone else and be mentored by them. Invest in someone else and it will pay dividends for years. They, too, will be your legacy for years to come.

D: Poured out, Paul left an example: 2 Timothy 4:6 Yet one of the greatest legacies that Paul ever left was the example of his life. Second Timothy is the last letter that Paul ever wrote and it talks of his upcoming death. The message is simple: Timothy follow the example of my life that you have witnessed and participated in. People don’t look at your achievements, they look at your life. What were your values and what was the character that you exhibited. All the degrees and accolades don’t mean as much as the example that you showed others and the way that you poured yourself out in life.

People are our greatest legacy. I think of several pastor friends who have retired lately and some churches around us that have closed and I wonder what they left behind as legacy. The pastors may have rooms named for them or churches had massive building projects that doubled their size. Yet what they really leave behind is the memories of the people who they helped. It may be the person with cancer that pastor and people helped for months. It may be a children’s program that brought a family to the Lord. The currency of legacy is people. How do you want to be remembered? How would you like people to remember your church? How do you want them to remember you? Legacy is built now. What we do today can have an impact for generations to come.