A Church with a Passion for God

Acts 19:1-41

Introduction—

A saying in leadership: “When you’re tired of saying people are just starting to hear it”

Statement about the value of repetition especially of things that are important

Often I come back to a sermon, passage or topic - not because it was a good sermon but because it’s important

I believe this one to be important - lessons from the church of Ephesus

Ephesus was in our modern day Turkey

3rd largest city in Roman empire & very important city

Port city & start of a postal route through region (7 churches of Rev basically on this route)

This made it a strategic city for spread of Gospel

Best known for 1 of 7 wonders of ancient world – Temple of Artemis/Diana

Proud to call city guardians of temple of Diana (Acts 19:35)

Statue carried thru city 2 x week

She was known to be a sympathetic deity, queen of heaven, saviour

At this time had large Jewish settlement

Also full of paganism – emperor worship, magic

Gospel would have deep impact on this city

READ Acts 19:1-41 (NB: Acts 19:10, 20, 27)

Let’s look at church & glean some lessons for selves

At heart of Ephesians is what we are & what we need to become

Rev. reveals it to be a church of passion so what can we learn from their passion?

Passion for God

For God and His Word

A solid foundation

Foundation important, determines much about future

Even with good start must be vigilant to the end & always growing

Given spiritual environment, needed strong start

Had initial start on Paul’s 2nd journey

Left Aquila & Priscilla there – known to be strong preacher & effective witness

3rd journey Paul stays for ~3 yrs

Teaching & preaching daily

Timothy would Pastor for a while, tradition says John spent much time there too

Foundation is strong & zeal is full

Intentional about our foundation being Bible

A deep love (Rev. 2:2-3)

Revelation 2:2–3 NKJV

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

This gives warning to be vigilant

Also reveals truth about heart of church

May mean intensity of love or object

Either way at start had deep & vigorous love

Desired to learn of God, grow & proclaim His glory

This goes hand in hand with knowing Him

Faithful churches aren’t just about having right doctrine

About that doctrine affecting our hearts & lives

Moving us to love God truthfully & passionately

Needs vigilance & growth

Truth must affect heart

For God’s Message

Gospel clearly understood

These 2 things: knowing & loving God led to desire for God’s truth to be spread

Knew love meant telling the truth

2 interesting interactions in Ephesus

Acts 18:24-28 – Apollos

Acts 19:1-7 – 12 disciples

Both loved God & seeking truth of coming Messiah

Both close but not quite right – missing key

Messiah John points to is Jesus

Didn’t assume certain things because of background, words or belief

Truth & love drove them to go deeper

Not “near enough” attitude

True love makes sure Gospel is clearly understood

Need to love people enough not to make assumptions or leave them with unclear understanding

Must love people enough to get gospel right & clear

Gospel clearly taught

Church isn’t church if you can’t/don’t clearly speak gospel

What is Gospel?

Good news that Jesus, perfect God-man, died on cross in place of sinful mankind, if we believe Jesus did this for us & repent God will forgive us of sin & bring us into family

Ephesians knew Gospel, it’s importance & need to proclaim clearly

Eph. 1:13 – In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Eph. 1:15 – Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Not just about that – Gospel transforms lives

Result is it touches every part of life

Bible is God revealing Himself & how to live out this salvation

Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

This is what we need to be: a church passionate about God and His word

This is why we do what we do

I pray for people committed to this mission

For men passionate about God & Word to help proclaim it here

People who desire to serve & lead that our worship may grow & thrive

Passion for God’s Work

A Witness in their City

In the midst of opposition and unbelief

Perth much like Ephesus

Highly spiritual, superstitious & multicultural

Australian Bureau of Stats 2021 Census

W.A. – 41.1% identify as Christian

Willetton – 41% = ~7900 people

Acts 19:8-10 – Gospel preached & people saved

Inevitably hardness of sin brings opposition

This didn’t stop them, kept going, next door

Gospel was heard & Word taught

Need strong faith, belief Gospel is powerful

Rom. 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Boldly proclaim Gospel & continue no matter what

Acts 19:11 – God worked thru them in city

NB: Did this in unusual way

It’s what was needed in that city in those times

God doesn’t bless hankies these days but He does still work

Impact on daily life

Look at impact of Gospel & God’s work

19:19-20 – ~137 yrs wages for avg labourer

Influence of truth of God’s word grew & grew

19:23-27 – People stop buying idols

Gospel is changing economy & way of life

Imagine if 41% was true – difference our society would experience

A Witness to the World

Gospel spread

Not just about Ephesus

Became about world around it

Influence of Gospel in Eph spread all over (Acts 19:10)

God’s work (great comm) is about world

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

People came into contact with church & left with Gospel

This needs to be with us too

Churches started

Result then wasn’t scattered believers

Result was churches, all over Asia

E.g. Colosse

18:27 – Apollos big influence in Corinth

Gospel communities produced from Ephesus

Every church needs to think about reaching world with Gospel

Churches born out of churches

This church must mature & have impact in community & world

Passion for God’s People

Love that Binds

Love is at the heart of Church

Paul writes to Tim who pastors Eph after him

1 Tim. 1:5 – Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

At heart of faith is love

1 Cor. 13:13 – And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love for brethren is hallmark of Christianity

Love is what binds everything together

Eph. 4:32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

In this we emulate Christ

Love keeps a Church together

Ephesus was a church that loved

Eph. 1:15 – Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Because of Christ we are united together

Acts 19:10

Eph. 2:13-14 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Takes down barriers that once separated

Love brings us together

Love calls us to commit to one another

Love that Builds

Put God’s Word in action (Acts 20:32)

Love moves us to live out God’s Word

We do that in community

See that expressed in church, family, employment

We are built up as God’s Word takes effect in our life

As it does we express it in lives of others

Put away selfishness (Acts 20:35)

When love is at heart of God’s people & church we set aside our own agendas

We give ourselves for God & God’s people

Not concerned about what I get out of it but what I can put into it

Kills modern consumer attitudes to church & God

Compels us to be a part of Church & do our part

To build up & to be built up

Conclusion—

We embark on a journey into a majestic book

Let’s go into it with soft hearts, ready to grow & be drawn closer to God

To be people of passion for God & His work

Also grow in our passionate commitment to God’s people

Let truth of God’s Word reach in our hearts & change us

Perhaps today you need to know Christ as Saviour

Perhaps you need to follow Christ in obedience of baptism

Commit to church in membership

Let us be a Church with a passion for God

Benediction

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Eph. 3:20-21