III. THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

Subject: The Church

Theme: The effective church.

Purpose: To show us how effective a church can be.

Text: Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. The City Of Ephesus.

1. was a large important harbor city founded around 1100 BC. 2. The temple of the pagan or false goddess Diana was located at the head of the harbor.

(a). This temple was 424 ft. long and 220 ft. wide.

(b). It had 127 marble columns each 60 ft. high.

3. The city had many silver smiths and other craftsman who were famous for making idols and jewelry of the goddess Diana. 4. That was one of the city's primary sources of income.

B. The Amphitheater.

1. Ephesus had an Amphitheater (outdoor) that would hold up to 50,000 people.

2. This is where Demitrius the silversmith brought much of the city together against Paul and his missionary team.

C. Ephesus Today.

1. There is nothing left there today but ruins and a railroad station near by.

2. Like Antioch, today's location of this site is in turkey.

II. WHY WAS EPHESUS AN EFFECTIVE CHURCH?

A. The Doctrine Of Repentance Was Preached And Practiced.

1. Noah preached repentance for 120 years.

2. Jonah preached it to Nineveh and there was national repentance.

(a). Every year our president proclaims a national day of prayer.

(b). We don't need a national day of prayer, we need a day of personal and national repentance.

3. Jeremiah and Hosea said, "Break up your fallow ground."

4. John the Baptist's voice broke 400 years of silence with repentance.

5. Jesus preached it, Paul preached it at Ephesus--- Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. The message of every church that would be effective must be repentance --- Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

B. Faith In Christ Was Professed In The Public & Appointed Way.

1. The twelve were baptized when they believed on Christ--- Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

2. Baptism professes a change which already has taken place.

3. It does not obtain that change but indicates that it has taken place.

4. It pledges allegiance to the Master.

5. No church will be effective where Scriptural baptism is not taught and practiced; nor would it be considered one of the Lord’s churches.

C. This Church Had The Right Kind Of Preaching.

1. Their preaching had boldness.

(a). Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

(b). Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

(c). The truth has to be preached with boldness and conviction.

2. The preaching was faithful.

(a). Acts 19:23-41

(b). 1Cor. 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

(c). Paul was obliged to either fight the wild beast, or deny the Gospel that he preached,

3. The preaching was reasonable and Scriptural.

(a). Paul did not preach what was relevant for his day or issues that he thought needed to be addressed, he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

(b). Churches that continually preach what is relevant for their day and issues of concern are not effective churches.

4. The preaching was compassionate.

(a). Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

(b). Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

(c). Cold, intellectualism doesn't make an effective church.

D. The Marks Of An Effective Church.

1. This church was a missionary church.

(a). Because of the efforts of this church, all of Asia Minor was evangelized in two years--- Acts 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

(b). Paul did not do all this by himself, the church did it.

(c). Show me a church that has no zeal for missions, no passion to see souls saved and other churches started, and I'll show you a dead church.

2. This church was a separated church.

(a). Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

(b). This church had power in the community because it established a church community regulated on Christian principles.

(c). 2Cor. 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(d). A church that can not discipline, can not live.

3. This church was a doctrinal church.

(a). The Ephesian letter is the most doctrinal in the New Testament.

(b). Doctrine is the mortar (cement) that holds a church together.

(c). Evangelism, itself, can not be effective without a doctrinal foundation.

III. THE RESULTS OF AN EFFECTIVE CHURCH

A. This Church Had Souls Saved.

1. Acts 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

2. When the Word of God prevails, souls are saved.

B. They Were Able To Expose And Overgrow Counterfeit Christianity.

1. Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

2. We need churches today that can expose false Christianity simply by preaching God's truths.

C. They Were Able To Expose And Overgrow False Religions.

1. This church was able to break up the monopoly of the silversmiths and their idols of Diana.

2. How I pray God would make us to be such an effective church as this one was.

D. Where Is The Church At Ephesus Today?

1. Rev. 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

2. This is the last we hear of the church at Ephesus.

 

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