Shedding Common Human Sins

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Start with Application Testimony

[Give people an opportunity to share testimonies of what they did with last week’s question]

Last week’s question: How are you going to put the gift of the Holy Spirit into practice this week?

INTRO

Paul is now on his third missionary journey

He has been in Ephesus for over two years (his longest stay ever)

There have amazing miracles convincing people that the Gospel is true, exalting the name of Jesus

With the authority of Jesus being demonstrated through the Holy Spirit, there has been a big movement of people renouncing witchcraft practices

Luke’s purpose in writing today’s passage was probably part of his ongoing effort to prove that Christianity wasn’t a threat to society or the Roman Empire (1)

However, we can also see in this passage, a few common human behavioral traps that we must avoid to be mature followers of Christ

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What are some common human tendencies?

Acts 19:21–41 CSB

21 After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “It is necessary for me to see Rome as well.” 22 After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way. 24 For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. 25 When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods. 27 Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.” 28 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. 31 Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater. 32 Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly. 40 In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | Let’s look at four common human traits on display: Greed, Ignorance, Arrogance, & Selfishness

Greed. “What about my money and influence?”

Acts 19:24 “For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. Acts 19:27 [Demetrius told them] “Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”

The people were motivated not just by the desire for more, but also by the fear of loss

We can see how greed is driven by fear, anxiety, and resentment.

Ignorance. “Let’s jump on the bandwagon!”

Acts 19:28–29 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater... Acts 19:32 Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

It was easier for the people to join in the outrage, than to figure out what was going on

Taking the time to know things requires effort - it’s easier to just join a crowd that 1) seems to know the answer or 2) agree with what we already think

Ultimately, ignorance is about laziness

Arrogance. “I don’t need to listen. I already know I’m right”

Acts 19:35–36 When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.”

The city clerk calmed the Ephesians down by appealing to their confidence that they were right and already knew everything they needed (2)

Arrogance is like the prideful version of ignorance and it’s just as lazy

Self-Centeredness. “I should do what’s in my best interest.”

Acts 19:38–40 “So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case… Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly. 40 In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today...”

At first, the advise of the city clerk seems noble, because he got everyone to calm down and leave Paul and the others alone. But how did he do it? By appealing to their self-interest.

He essentially told them, “We all know you’re right, but don’t do it this way - you’ll get in trouble.”

It didn’t matter to them that they were mistreating people, it only mattered that they might receive consequences for it

#2 | All of these common human sins are incompatible with following Jesus, because He is none of these things

Instead of greedy, we must be content

1 Timothy 6:6–10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Instead of ignorant, we must be grow in knowledge and understanding

Ephesians 4:11–14 “[Jesus] himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.”

Instead of arrogant, we must be humble

Romans 12:16 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

Philippians 4:9 “Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Instead of self-centered, we are to serve others

Philippians 2:3–4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Matthew 20:25–28 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want people to feel the liberty to explore the topics of the passage that stand out to them. Select the questions from below that you think are right for the conversation, or add your own. Questions should be focused, yet open-ended. Wherever the conversation goes, help your group “land the plane” on the core idea of the lesson when you wrap up.]

We looked at greed, ignorance, arrogance, and selfishness. How do these pop up in your life? (Talk only about yourself and not about others)

How did Jesus defeat these sins in His own life, while here on earth? (Consider Hebrews 12:1-2)

Where we want to “land the plane”

The common sins we see in humanity, are also present in us. We must be honest about that. We must be humble about that. And we must decide to shed these things and follow Jesus’ example. Following Jesus is not a matter of knowing the right things and saying the right prayers, but actually living as He lived here on earth.

Application question for the week

[Encourage people to provide an answer now, if they are able - to provide an opportunity for accountability and praise reports the following week.]

Which one of these common traits that we talked about (greed, ignorance, arrogance, selfishness) will you work to shed this week (Heb 12:1), and how will you begin?

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Ask the Lord to reveal those areas of our hearts, where He wants to work next.

FOOTNOTES

F.F. Bruce, a representative of those who believe the goal is an apologetic one, affirms, “Luke is, in fact, one of the first Christian apologists. In that particular type of apologetic which is addressed to the secular authorities to establish the law-abiding character of Christianity he is absolutely the pioneer” (Bruce, Acts, p. 24; cf. F.J. Foakes Jackson and Kirsopp Lake, eds., The Beginnings of Christianity. vol. 2, Prolegomena II: Criticism. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1979, pp. 177–87). There is much in Acts to substantiate the idea that the book was written to defend Christianity before Roman rulers. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 350.

The term city clerk (grammateus, lit., “scribe”) does not do justice to this man’s position. Actually he was the chief executive officer of the city. When he appeared, the people listened. He first appealed to the position of Ephesus as the guardian of Artemis’ temple and to her heaven-sent image*. The latter assertion may be a subtle rebuttal of the statement (v. 26, “man-made gods are no gods at all”). Artemis, he argued, was not man-made. So why should they be concerned with Paul’s preaching? Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 412.

Artemis of the Ephesians, a many-breasted goddess of fertility. Probably the original “statue” was a meteorite* that resembled a woman with many breasts (Acts 19:35). Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 411.