Download The Church in Ephesus Be turning to NT book of Acts ch19... This

ch5 be imitators of God, be the spiritually mature
believers that God has called all of us to live
The Church in Ephesus
Be turning to NT book of Acts ch19... This morning
going to talk about the church in Ephesus. This is that
place where you might remember a bunch of witchcraft
people were converted to Jesus, and they brought their
books and magic stuff valued at 50k pieces of silver, and
they burned it all for everyone to see!
Paul came to that city during his 3rd missionary
journey. [map] Ephesus was an ancient Greek city on the
coast of Ionia, in Western Asia, now known as the
country of Turkey. It was built in the 10th century BC.
[augustus] This is Augustus, who became emperor in
27 BC. He changed the capital city for that area from
Pergamum to Ephesus. [gates] By changing the capital
to there, that helped to make Ephesus very prosperous,
turning it into a major center of commerce. [street/house]
The city was perhaps best known for the Temple of
Artemis. If you have the KJV, it says Diana. Artemis is
Greek; Diana is from Latin translation in 4th century
(which influenced some words chosen by KJV transltors)
Scholars differ in identifying this goddess. Some say she
was the daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology. Some say
she was the goddess of fertility [artemis], while others say
she was the goddess of the hunt, of wild animals in the
wilderness. [artemis2]
Regardless, the temple of Artemis was considered to be
one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. [ruins]
This is now, but: [temple model]
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Acts 19:23-31
Notice in v29 + v31 theater. This was the other great
place for which Ephesus was known. [theater] It was
capable of holding 25,000 spectators. They used it mostly
for drama productions, but later on Romans used it also
for gladiator fights.
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Acts 19:8-10 (Paul came here on 3rd miss journey;
he had been there before for maybe a week or so
back in ch18; now came and stayed for 2-3 years)
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Acts 20:17-21, 28-31 (maybe year later in Miletus)
That’s it for the book of Acts. There is one interesting
thing that Paul wrote to the Corinthians about when he
was in Ephesus. In 1 Cor 15:32, Paul said, “I fought with
wild beasts at Ephesus.” literal? figurative?

Ephesians 1:15-17 (Few years later Paul prob
prisoner in Rome, thinking about beloved brethren,
so he writes) Glad to hear good things about them.
ch2 reminds of abundant love and amazing grace
ch3 unfathomable riches of being in Christ (great)
ch4 being united in the family of God
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4:22-24 (surrounded by paganism + worldliness)
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6:10-12 (Wed night; if want to be strong wrap…)
Obviously a lot we can learn from what Paul wrote…
The next thing we find in Scripture about Ephesus is in
1 Timothy… When Paul came to end of time in Ephesus,
went on to Macedonia. But apparently there were some
people and/or issues that needed further attention, so…
1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you upon my departure for
Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus...”
Paul unable to go, so Timothy went (or stayed after Paul
left)... Then sometime after that, Paul wrote to Timothy
about some of those issues going on in Ephesus.
ch1 instruct certain men not to teach strange
doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless
genealogies...” (focusing on wrong kinds of things;
perhaps arguing over matters of little importance)
ch2 importance of prayer + instruction regarding the
position of women within the church
ch3 the need for elders and deacons and spiritual
characteristics should be found in such men
ch4 staying faithful and living godly lives
ch5 caring for widows who are in need
ch6 again being godly and spiritually-minded rather
than caught up in worldliness
Again think a lot we can learn from what Paul wrote…
Now, unless I’m overlooking something, we don’t hear of
anything further concerning the church at Ephesus for
several years. In fact, 2-3 decades go by; it’s almost end
of 1st century, and every apostle has died . . . except for
one: there’s a guy named John who’s been banished to an
island called Patmos, and the Lord wants him to write one
more message to the church at Ephesus: in Rev ch2
I wish we could look at this one last passage of Scripture
like we’d never before seen or heard it. I say that because
I think would be much more dramatic if we could come to
this message with great curiosity and anticipation, anxious
to find out what Jesus had to say about this church after
all those years. Pretend so be anxious. We started with:
1. Acts 19 Paul goes to Ephesus 2-3 yrs preaches gospel
2. Acts 20 later met with elders to warn them about people
and false teaching that could lead them away from Lord
3. Letter to Eph to further encourage them to stay faithful
4. Letter to Timothy who is in Ephesus; Paul wrote to
address some important issues
5. Now we come to the Book of Revelation; it’s been 30
years or so since we last heard anything. I wonder what
Jesus has to say to them? Revelation 2:1-7
V1 Jesus knows them
V2a + v3 Doing all the right things
V2b + v6 Teaching all the right things
Recently finished class on Galatians
Some were bringing false teaching about salvation
into the church, causing many to be led astray
Another false teaching common in those days was
Docetism, teaching Jesus did not come/die in flesh
Nicolaitans? Some suggested antinomianism, go out
and sin all you want and grace will take care of it
V4-5 Left your first love
Several opinions, but I think it means they no longer
had same love in what they were doing as once had
Just going through the motions
1 Corinthians 13
Even if I could speak in some great angelic language…
Even if I had supernatural knowledge and wisdom…
Even if gave my body as a burnt offering to God…
Jesus said, Remember, repent, and return
Remember when first came to Jesus
Repent and return; God takes this seriously
He wants and deserves a genuine worship from a
heart filled with love
Deuteronomy 10:12 (in the midst of a section of
Scripture emphasizing obedience to commands) “And
now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from
you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His
ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord you God
with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Have you ever found yourself sitting in a worship service
and your mind is really somewhere else?
How do you think God feels when we’re just going
through the motions?
“Oh how I love Jesus”
Amos 5:21-23 (there’s a passage shows us how God
feels about pretence in worship)
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your
solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me
burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept
them; and I will not even look at the peace offerings of
your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your
songs.”
Have you ever scolded a child for saying or doing
something wrong, and then you tell them, “You need to
say you’re sorry”? Did you feel better when they said it?
Are you giving your heart to God?