Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0020B recorded on April 25, 1979 teaching from Acts 20:17-38 – We Are Called By a New Name – Servant.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens outlines the essential characteristics of a true servant of Jesus Christ, using the Apostle Paul as the ultimate historical model. He argues that authentic service requires a surrendered will, likening the believer to a “bond slave” who has traded personal autonomy for total devotion to God’s desires. The discourse identifies five pillars of a clear conscience—evangelistic, doctrinal, financial, experimental, and spiritual—which together ensure that a leader’s outward ministry aligns perfectly with their inner life. Stevens emphasizes that this calling is defined by humility of mind and a compassionate heart, famously suggesting that a minister’s Bible should be stained by tears shed for the needs of others. Ultimately, Pastor Stevens gives us a challenge to move beyond “service by default” toward a life utterly abandoned to the Holy Spirit, where one’s behavior consistently reflects their stated creed.