The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 20:7-11, “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.

8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.

9 And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead.

10 But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, “Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”

11 When he had gone back up and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while until daybreak, and then left.”

Preaching is important if it’s true, biblical preaching. It’s important because it concerns Jesus Christ and because it seeks to persuade both believers and non-believers to trust in Christ as their LORD and Savior and to behave in the lifestyle for which the LORD saved them.

True biblical preaching is not a slave to a clock on the wall. True Christians recognize that Scripture is their Guidebook, and earnest pastors recognize the same. Thus, time is of less importance than what the congregation is receiving from the Scriptures.

In the Scriptural account above, however, young Eutychus gave way to sleep under Paul’s long preaching. Ultimately, the young man fell from the upper story and was determined dead. Through the power and providence of the LORD, Paul was able to revive the young man. A concerned congregation then turned its attention to hearing the remainder of the ministry of Paul.

We’re hardly in danger of falling out of windows during Sunday sermons; however, we often neglect to see the value the message has for the congregation at large. Earnest pastors prayerfully prepare the LORD’s message for the LORD’s people. We would all do well to bear this factor in mind. Someday we’ll give an account!

Heartily yours in Christ Jesus,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

–Corrie ten Boom