1. The Significance of Paul's Missionary Journeys and the Meaning of Gospel ExpansionFocusing on Acts 20, Pastor David Jang delves into Paul's third missionary journey and the various incidents that arose during that time to explain in detail how the gospel was expanded. He emphasizes that while none of Paul's steps were easy, paradoxically, the gospel advanced to an even wider realm through trials and the opposition of adversaries. Notably, Pastor David Jang introduces the traditional view that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans during his three-month stay in Corinth (Acts 20:3), explaining that Romans is the most central and theologically refined among Paul's letters in addressing the essence of the gospel.
When the disturbance subsided in Ephesus (after the riot in Acts 19) and Paul encouraged the disciples before departing for Macedonia (Acts 20:1), Pastor David Jang highlights how Paul proclaimed a direct and uncompromising gospel to the point of becoming a "focal point of conflict." This gospel is the Lord's Word itself and must not be dulled according to the world's contexts or interests. When that truth is proclaimed, it inevitably sparks clashes-just as the Lord said, "I have come to bring fire on the earth" (Luke 12:49).
Thus, the proclamation of the gospel is like a double-edged sword: it is the gospel of life for many, but it also generates discomfort and conflict for groups who hold traditions or vested interests. Pastor David Jang notes the many sufferings Paul endured. For instance, 2 Corinthians 11 details how Paul was beaten multiple times, imprisoned, and faced mortal danger from his own people (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Yet Paul carried an even heavier burden in his concern "for all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:28). Because of that pastoral heart, he revisited each church he had established, encouraging them to stand firm in their faith.
Pastor David Jang stresses that today's churches, pastors, and all believers should emulate Paul's posture. Preaching the gospel does not end with simply delivering it; one must continue caring for those who have received the gospel so that they may remain firm in their faith. This process of "going back to confirm and encourage" is crucial to mission work. Pastor David Jang explains that Paul's first, second, and third missionary journeys were lengthy processes-"connecting the dots" of gospel seeds and helping believers mature in a healthy manner.
A characteristic of Paul's missionary strategy is that he revisited the churches planted in his first journey during his second, then returned again during his third. When necessary, he wrote letters to maintain constant connections. For example, after preaching in the Galatian region, he wrote the Letter to the Galatians to reaffirm the critical truth that "we are saved by faith alone," dispatched co-workers like Timothy, and sometimes called them back, thereby holistically ensuring the purity of the gospel. According to Pastor David Jang, mission work is thus a "broadening of territory" (1 Chron. 4:9-10, the Prayer of Jabez) and at the same time "strengthening the territory already opened"-a dual process we must not forget.
Pastor David Jang refers to the traditional view that Paul likely wrote Romans during his three-month stay in Corinth (Acts 20:3), noting Paul's hope for "the road to Rome" (Romans 15). Paul was filled with a desire to reach Spain (Iberia) and preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. Yet before that, he felt compelled to return to Jerusalem to deliver the offering collected by Gentile churches for the believers there who suffered from famine (Rom. 15:25-28). Pastor David Jang explains that it shows how Paul's grand aspiration for global evangelization-taking the gospel to the ends of the earth-coexisted with his sense of solidarity to help the suffering believers in Jerusalem, leading him on a seemingly "reverse path."
Pastor David Jang adds, "Despite constant threats of arrest or death, Paul still returned to check on how the churches he had planted were growing, and even chose to carry the offering to Jerusalem-where dangers loomed-in order to show that the gospel is love, and love is stronger than death (Song of Sol. 8:6)." Although enemies constantly attempted to block Paul's path, each time God opened a new way; as a result, Paul found more co-workers, and the fruit of tighter solidarity between churches emerged.In this first major theme-"Paul's Missionary Journey and the Meaning of Gospel Expansion"-Pastor David Jang emphasizes that the spread of the gospel cannot be explained merely by its worldwide advance; the qualities of "care, solidarity, and love" embedded within are indispensable. Even after leaving a church, Paul would return, risking danger to revisit, and he constantly taught and corrected them through letters. Moreover, when the Jerusalem church faced hardship, churches in Macedonia and Achaia (including Corinth) willingly gathered an offering to help, confirming that the early church was indeed "one body."
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2. The Essence of Church Unity and DedicationAnother core scene in the latter part of Paul's third journey is his plan to deliver the offering collected by the Gentile churches to the Jerusalem church. Here, Pastor David Jang references 2 Corinthians 8-9 to illustrate the principle of offerings, highlighting the fervent love that undergirded "the dedication of the Macedonian churches."
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 records how the Macedonian churches, amid "severe trials" and "extreme poverty," still gave a "rich offering" with "overflowing joy." Pastor David Jang remarks that "these believers did not give generously because they had physical surplus; rather, they were transformed into people who share voluntarily because the abundant grace of the Lord Jesus Christ was poured out upon them." Jesus was rich yet became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9), and this sacrificial grace became the driving force for believers to serve one another in love, yielding the concrete fruit of aiding the suffering believers in Jerusalem.
Pastor David Jang calls this phenomenon "the paradox of the gospel." According to worldly logic, it seems impossible to give what one lacks. But those who experience the grace of the cross realize Jesus has given them life, salvation, and inner abundance. As a result, even without abundant material resources, they can give joyfully, forming a powerful "bond of love" that unites the church into one body. While writing Romans (cf. Rom. 15), Paul says, "Gentiles who share in the spiritual blessings of Christ have a duty to minister to them in material things," indicating that this is not merely charitable giving but rather an expression of the "union of the church," in which believers serve one another out of a sense of indebtedness for the spiritual gifts they have received.
This unity and dedication of the church is further demonstrated by the "representatives" traveling together through each city (Acts 20:4). Beroeans, Thessalonians, Derbeans, and Asians joined forces to carry the offering to Jerusalem. Pastor David Jang explains that this scene is nothing less than the "worldwide church" uniting to support the Jerusalem church-the mother church of the early Christian community. Instead of Paul taking everything by himself, each local representative joined him, experiencing firsthand how precious the offering was, as well as how the fellowship and trust among churches was being forged.
Pastor David Jang also points out that in sending letters and co-workers back and forth, Paul facilitated robust exchanges of people and resources among the churches. "In the 21st century, God has granted us advanced transportation, communication, and technology that make rapid and extensive unity possible," he says. Today, a single click instantly sends letters, messages can be read immediately, and improved transport allows quick travel across numerous regions. In effect, "we live in an era when unity should be easier than in the early church." Yet many churches face divisions and internal conflicts, so we must revisit the spiritual lessons of the early church.
He notes that one of the most common causes of church division is "financial issues," but in Paul's time it was precisely through sharing finances and helping one another that the church became one. Rather than quarrel over church funds, they witnessed remarkable grace while Paul carried the funds raised in Gentile churches to the Jerusalem church. The fact that Jewish believers and Gentile believers worked together demonstrated the gospel's power to transcend ethnic and cultural barriers.
Pastor David Jang refers to all this as "the labor of love, the work of faith, and the endurance of hope-expressions of the church community's essence." Since the church is one body in Christ, when one member suffers, the others suffer together, and when one member experiences famine, the others strive to alleviate it. This is the hallmark of a church that is fundamentally different from the world, and it is where Jesus' words-"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35)-come alive.
Ultimately, Pastor David Jang's central message in this theme-"The Essence of Church Unity and Dedication"-is that the early church's unity and fruit of love should not remain a pleasant story of the past; it is still our calling to practice the same today. When God's grace is poured out, hearts are enlarged; when hearts are enlarged, we willingly share our resources, time, and lives. This sharing and unity constitute the church's power and serve as the most concrete and potent channel through which the gospel is proclaimed.
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3. Restoration of Life and Spiritual Growth: Focusing on the Eutychus IncidentPastor David Jang pays special attention to the Eutychus incident starting in Acts 20:7. While Paul was teaching through the night at Troas, Eutychus, a young man sitting in a third-story window, couldn't resist his drowsiness and fell to his death below. Paul then went down, embraced him, and proclaimed, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him" (Acts 20:10), after which the young man was revived and returned.
Pastor David Jang first invites us to imagine the worship setting of the early church. They typically held gatherings in the upper room of a house, not in large buildings or auditoriums. People would assemble there, sometimes until late at night, eager to hear the Word-often after finishing their daily labor. Eutychus sitting on a window ledge was a natural outcome in such cramped quarters.
He mentions that Eutychus was referred to as a "young man" and, according to some traditions, might have been a slave. Perhaps he had to work during the day and could only attend worship at night. This could explain why he succumbed to exhaustion while listening. Luke, being a physician, records in Acts 20:9 that he was "picked up dead."
However, Pastor David Jang notes how Paul "went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him" (similar to Elijah and Elisha raising dead children in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4) and declared, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him" (Acts 20:10). This depicts both a mighty act of faith and a profound expression of love. By "embracing" Eutychus, Paul wasn't merely performing a display of miracles; he was desperately clinging to a dying soul with heartfelt compassion.
According to Pastor David Jang, under the banner of "the miracle of life," this episode powerfully encapsulates the life-giving force of the early church and the nature of the spiritual community. Paul halted his sermon to rush to Eutychus, holding him close. He did not pronounce him dead but instead declared that "there is life in him," demonstrating spiritual authority, faith, and the expectation of God's miraculous intervention.
After Eutychus was revived and returned to the worship gathering, everyone was greatly comforted and rejoiced (Acts 20:12). Pastor David Jang interprets this as a "church that overcomes death," symbolizing the church's core identity. The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms death into life, and even though the upper room may appear small and cramped, the Lord's power present there was enough to save a dying person. Ultimately, he stresses that constraints of physical space or structure are overshadowed by the earnest devotion of the believers and the loving, faith-driven care of spiritual leaders like Paul.
Pastor David Jang concludes that "the church is not an abstract concept; it is a community of believers who handle real life, defeat death, and demonstrate concrete care and love to save lives." When Eutychus fell, no one worried first about "the disruption to worship" or "who's legally responsible?" Instead, Paul immediately ran to him and embraced him. In like manner, when emergencies arise, the church should display a "father's heart" (1 Cor. 4:15), ready to embrace and comfort, placing sacrificial love above all else.
He applies this lesson to the modern church context. Do we become so preoccupied with facilities, systems, and the order of service that we neglect genuine pastoral care? "We need to reflect on whether young people might be spiritually dozing off and falling," he says, urging churches to show tangible love and concern for them. Just as Eutychus fought exhaustion after a day's work, many today face enormous pressures and barely manage to come through the church door. Pastor David Jang exhorts congregations to be a secure "upper room community" for such people.
Going further, Pastor David Jang suggests imagining what "the depth of the gospel" might look like to someone like Eutychus, who effectively experienced death and revival. Eutychus likely underwent a radical transformation in faith and life after crossing death's threshold and returning. He would have known more vividly than anyone else that "life is under the power of resurrection," and the church community similarly would have gained fresh confidence that "when we are together, the Lord works such miracles."
Hence, "Restoration of Life and Spiritual Growth: Focusing on the Eutychus Incident" shows that the church is not merely a religious gathering; it is a spiritual community that deals with "life" and "overcomes death." Moreover, Pastor David Jang stresses this is not limited to the early church but applies today: the same God is still living and can save an individual soul. Just as Paul did, church leaders and members must confront visible crises and problems by declaring, "His life is in him!" and must not cease practical care and love.
Through Acts 20, Pastor David Jang thus weaves three main themes:1. The expansion of the gospel: The gospel expands across all boundaries and, despite tribulations and opposing forces, spreads even further.
2. Unity and dedication among churches: Churches support and serve each other in a real, tangible way, displaying their oneness in Christ.
3. The miracle of life revealed in Eutychus: The power to overcome death remains at work in the church, catalyzing individual and communal spiritual growth.
Pastor David Jang reminds us that all this is not merely ancient history from the Book of Acts; our living God continues to work today, and if we cling to this Word in obedience, we can experience the same miracles and grace. Above all, the gospel is not a mere set of doctrines or theories-it has the power to save a single soul, unite the church, and fuel our calling to "be witnesses to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
At the end, Pastor David Jang laments how, despite our modern conveniences surpassing those of the early church, many churches today have lost their missionary fervor and are mired in internal disputes and divisions. Reflecting on Paul's journeys and his earnestness in writing Romans, he warns that if we fail to harness our transportation, communication, printing, and digital technologies for the acceleration of the gospel, we risk missing out on the very work of the Holy Spirit we read about in Acts. Therefore, we must clearly discern our path and commit ourselves to the cause for which we have been called-loving each soul to life, building church unity, and pressing on to the ends of the earth with the gospel.
Ultimately, Acts 20 illustrates how the gospel remains unbroken and expands despite Paul's relentless trials, depicts churches uniting to assist the Jerusalem church, and highlights the life-giving miracle for Eutychus. Pastor David Jang summarizes the essence of the church as being "a church united in love, a church that rushes to save the weaker member, and a church that carries the gospel to the ends of the earth while still caring for one another." By drawing this picture, he challenges today's believers and leaders to carry the same commission.
