SupernaturalSupernaturalA Logos Institute –First Christian A Logos Institute –First Christian

Cooperative CourseCooperative Course

Introduction to Introduction to SupernaturalSupernatural

Naturalism Naturalism

& &

SupernaturalismSupernaturalism

In In

EducationEducation

MediaMedia

The ChurchThe Church

NaturalismNaturalismSupernatural persons or forces do Supernatural persons or forces do not exist in reality. Thus, humans not exist in reality. Thus, humans

can can find the meaning and purpose of find the meaning and purpose of

life life using only natural, logical reasons using only natural, logical reasons

and and explanations. explanations.

Naturalists think God and Satan are Naturalists think God and Satan are ““Myths” from a pre-scientific age Myths” from a pre-scientific age ““delusions” that no longer make delusions” that no longer make sense in “modern” or “post-sense in “modern” or “post-

modern” modern” times .times .

(See Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins)(See Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins)

The Supernatural Chain of The Supernatural Chain of Being Being

A preoccupation A preoccupation

of thinkers from of thinkers from

ancient Greeks ancient Greeks

until the present.until the present.

One’s “worldview” One’s “worldview”

determines how big determines how big is is

their “chain of their “chain of being.”being.”

Naturalism & Naturalism & SupernaturalismSupernaturalism

Dominant Trends & Examples Dominant Trends & Examples inin

EducationEducation

MediaMedia

ChurchChurch

The Fallacy of False The Fallacy of False DilemmaDilemma

““Satan sends error into the Satan sends error into the world world

in pairs of opposites, in pairs of opposites,

trusting that your dislike of trusting that your dislike of one one

will draw you to the other”will draw you to the other”

(C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters)(C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters)

The Supernatural in The Supernatural in Ephesians Ephesians

Sitting Sitting with Christ (1—3)with Christ (1—3)

Striding Striding with Christ (4—6:9)with Christ (4—6:9)

StandingStanding

with Christ with Christ

against Satan-against Satan-Demons (6:10-20)Demons (6:10-20)

THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUSTHE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

Passages NeededPassages Needed

Acts 19Acts 19

Ephesians 3; 5; 6:Ephesians 3; 5; 6:

Revelation 2:1-7Revelation 2:1-7

THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUSEPHESUS

1.1. Background & Background & CultureCulture

2.2. Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove

3.3. Leaving & Leaving & Returning to Returning to Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove

Ephesus BackgroundEphesus Background

1.1.Most accessibleMost accessible city in Asia Minor city in Asia Minor (Turkey) (Turkey)

2.2.ProminentProminent in religion, politics, economic in religion, politics, economic

3.3.Home of the Home of the Temple of DianaTemple of Diana (Artemis) (Artemis)

4.4.Much of the New Testament involves Much of the New Testament involves this city:this city: Timothy was a Pastor in this Timothy was a Pastor in this city (see 1 and 2 Timothy) and John the city (see 1 and 2 Timothy) and John the Apostle made Ephesus his headquartersApostle made Ephesus his headquarters

5.5.Prevailing culturePrevailing culture of Ephesus . . . of Ephesus . . .

TheThe prevailing cultureprevailing culture of of EphesusEphesus

Demonic Demonic (Acts 19:11-16)(Acts 19:11-16)

Occultic Occultic (Acts 19:17-20) (Acts 19:17-20)

Idolatrous Idolatrous (Acts 19:23-41)(Acts 19:23-41)

Our Prevailing Culture?Our Prevailing Culture?Where do you see Where do you see

in the USA and Canton, Ohioin the USA and Canton, Ohio

The The Demonic?Demonic?

The Occult?The Occult?

Idolatry?Idolatry?

Supernatural Jesus in Supernatural Jesus in EphesusEphesus

“This (Supernatural Jesus) went on for two years,

so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia [Minor]

heard the Message of the Lord.”

Acts 19:10Acts 19:10

The 7 churches of Revelation 2—3 were all The 7 churches of Revelation 2—3 were all

born because of Christ’s Supernatural Work born because of Christ’s Supernatural Work via Paul and those led to Jesus in Ephesus.via Paul and those led to Jesus in Ephesus.

Ephesians OverviewEphesians Overview

1.1. A “circular” letterA “circular” letter

(compare Ephesians 1:1 (compare Ephesians 1:1

with Colossians 4:16)with Colossians 4:16)

2.2. Thus, Asia Minor Churches Thus, Asia Minor Churches

knew Ephesians and knew Ephesians and Colossians.Colossians.

3.3. Thus, we must Thus, we must use Ephesians use Ephesians and Colossians to understand and Colossians to understand Jesus’ message to EphesusJesus’ message to Ephesus

The Supernatural in The Supernatural in Ephesians Ephesians

S-Sitting S-Sitting with Christ (1—3)with Christ (1—3)

S-Striding S-Striding with Christ (4—6:9)with Christ (4—6:9)

S-StandingS-Standing

with Christ with Christ

against Satan-against Satan-Demons (6:10-20)Demons (6:10-20)

The Tragedy: Rev. 2:1-7The Tragedy: Rev. 2:1-7

FindingFindingLeaving Leaving

Returning Returning to to

Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove

Supernatural Prayer for Supernatural Prayer for LoveLove

Ephesians 3:14-21Ephesians 3:14-21that God would grant you, according to the riches of God’s glory, to be strengthened with power through

God’s Spirit in the inner person, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through

faith

. . . being rooted and grounded in love may be able to

comprehend with all the saints the breadth, length, height and depth and to know the love of Christ

which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Jesus’ Supernatural “First Jesus’ Supernatural “First Love” Love”

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through

the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27Ephesians 5:25-27

Supernatural Supernatural Undying Love for JesusUndying Love for Jesus“Grace to all who

love our Lord Jesus Christ with

an undying love”(Ephesians 6:24)

“Aphthartos”Immortal

Imperishable

Jesus’ Message to Jesus’ Message to EphesusEphesus

Love me first, Love me first,

in the same in the same way way

I have loved I have loved

and do love and do love you!you!

The The PatternPattern of Jesus’ of Jesus’ MessagesMessages

1.1. RevelationRevelation (of The Lord Jesus)(of The Lord Jesus)

2.2. Evaluation Evaluation ((Good and Good and Improvement)Improvement)

3.3. RecommendationRecommendation by Jesus by Jesus

4.4. AdmonitionAdmonition by Jesus by Jesus

5.5. ExhortationExhortation by Jesus by Jesus

The The Revelation ofRevelation of Jesus: 2:1 Jesus: 2:1

“. . . words of Him who holds the seven

stars in his right hand and

walks in the midst the seven golden lamp

stands”

AuthorityCentrality

Evaluation: Praise & Evaluation: Praise & Analysis Analysis

hard work perseverance. cannot tolerate wicked men, tested those who claim to be

apostles but are not, and have found

them false. persevered endured hardships for my name, not grown weary. hate the practices of the

Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Yet I hold this

against you:

You have

forsaken your first

love.

The The ProblemProblem in Ephesus in Ephesus

Christians with many good qualities, Christians with many good qualities,

(Service, Discerning, Moral)(Service, Discerning, Moral)but but

Christians that have Christians that have

forsaken their “First forsaken their “First Love.”Love.”

The The FirstFirst and and “New”“New” LovesLoves

Teacher, which is the greatest

commandment in the Law?“

Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your mind.' This is

the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'

A new command I give

you: Love (agape) one

another. As I have

loved you, so you must love one

another. By this all will know that

you are my disciples,

if you love one another."

Forsaking First LoveForsaking First Love

“My people have committed two sins:They have forsaken Me, the spring of living

water,and have dug their own cisterns, broken

cisterns that cannot hold

water.”Jeremiah 2:13

Results of Forsaking our First Results of Forsaking our First LoveLove

““I remember the I remember the devotiondevotion of of

your youth, your youth, how as a how as a BrideBride you you

loved me . . .loved me . . . [but now] she [but now] she

defiled the land and defiled the land and committed adulterycommitted adultery

with with wood and stone wood and stone

[idols].”[idols].”Jeremiah 2:2 & 3:9Jeremiah 2:2 & 3:9

““Return, Return, faithless faithless people, people,

for I [God] for I [God] am your am your husbandhusband.”.”

Jeremiah 3:14Jeremiah 3:14

RecommendationsRecommendations by by JesusJesus

Remember the height from which you have fallen!

Repent (change you mind)

Repeatthe things you did at first.

AdmonitionAdmonition by Jesus by Jesus

“If you do not repent, [change your mind]

I will come to you and remove your lamp

stand from its place.”

1 Cor. 3:10-15;

1 Cor. 5:5

ExhortationExhortation by Jesus by Jesus“The one who has an ear, hear what The Spirit says to the

churches. Those who overcome [nike], I will

give them to eat from

the tree of life, which is in

the paradise of God.”

The Three Trees of LifeThe Three Trees of Life

The The firstfirst Tree of Life Tree of Life ((forsaken in Edenforsaken in Eden))

The The Second Second Tree of Tree of LifeLife((embraced on Golgothaembraced on Golgotha))

The The Third Third Tree of LifeTree of Life(waiting for Victors in(waiting for Victors inChrist in Paradise)Christ in Paradise)

Conclusion: LeConclusion: Let us “Receive” t us “Receive” what The Spirit is saying to us what The Spirit is saying to us

!! Supernaturally Loving Jesus Supernaturally Loving Jesus

with with

the supernatural love the supernatural love

given to us by Jesus’ death for given to us by Jesus’ death for us us

And by The Spirit within us, And by The Spirit within us,

an undying love that keeps an undying love that keeps Jesus Jesus

Our First Love and in the CenterOur First Love and in the Center

of our lives and church. of our lives and church.