THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

EPHESUS• Population:

200,000 – 500,000• Had Temple of

Artemis (Diana) one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

• Very opposed to Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:24-31)

EPHESUS• One of the largest

theaters in the world• “Then some of the

officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture in to the theater” Acts 19:31

“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men” 1 Corinthians 4:9

Courtesy of www.holylandphotos.org

INTRODUCTION

• Three Sources of Information• Acts of the Apostles• Book of Ephesians• Letters to Churches of Asia– Acts 18:19-21; 19; 20:18-38– Ephesians 1-6–Revelation 2:1-7

INTRODUCTION

• City of Ephesus in Asia Minor• Wealthy and magnificent city• Meeting place of oriental religions

and Greek culture• Famous temple of Diana—

worshipped by all Asia Minor• One of the seven wonders of the

ancient world.

INTRODUCTION

• If providence had allowed Paul to preach here, would have in early stages of 2nd tour– Acts 16:6

• At close of journey on the way from Corinth to Jerusalem stopped at Ephesus

• Preached in the synagogue and promised to return– Acts 18:19-21

INTRODUCTION

• Three years spent in Ephesus on the 3rd tour– Acts 20:31 and Chapter 19

• From here Paul wrote to the Corinthian church– 1 Corinthians 16:8,9

• Timothy labored with this church– 1 Timothy 1:3

• John spent closing scenes of his life at Ephesus

• Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos at Ephesus.

ITS ESTABLISHMENT

• Paul’s first visit found Ephesians interested and willing to learn

• Besought him to stay—did not tarry

• Promised to return if God was willing– Acts 18:19-21

“And he came to Ephesus, and left

them there; but he himself entered

the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not

consent.”

ITS ESTABLISHMENT

• Apollos is taught the way of the Lord more perfectly by Aquila and Priscilla

• Knew only John’s baptism– Acts 18:24-28

“So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When

Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they

took him aside and explained to him the way of God

more accurately.”

ITS ESTABLISHMENT

• Paul returns• Finds disciples

who have been baptized with John’s baptism– Acts 19:1-3

“…We have not so much as heard

whether there is a Holy Spirit. And he said to them, "Into

what then were you baptized?" So

they said, "Into John's baptism.”

ITS ESTABLISHMENT

• Teaches difference between John’s baptism and one in the name of Christ– Acts 19:4

“John indeed baptized with a

baptism of repentance, saying to the people that

they should believe on Him

who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

ITS ESTABLISHMENT

• Teaches difference between John’s baptism and one in the name of Christ– Acts 19:5,6

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the

name of the Lord Jesus. And when

Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit

came upon them, and they spoke

with tongues and prophesied."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Teaches things concerning the kingdom of God– Acts 19:8

“And he went into the synagogue and

spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and

persuading concerning the things of the

kingdom of God."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Teaches Word of the Lord and those of The Way.– Acts 19:20,23

“So the word of the Lord grew mightily and

prevailed... And about that time there arose a

great commotion about the Way."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Teaches against images and idolatry. “No gods made with hands.”– Acts 19:26

“Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia,

this Paul has persuaded and

turned away many people, saying

that they are not gods which are

made with hands."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Taught disciples in different group– Acts 19:9

“But when some were hardened

and did not believe, but spoke

evil of the Way before the

multitude, he departed from

them and withdrew the

disciples, reasoning daily in

the school of Tyrannus."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Taught anything that was profitable—publicly and house to house.– Acts 20:20

“How I kept back nothing

that was helpful, but

proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to

house."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• The kingdom and the gospel of the grace of God.– Acts 20:24,25

“But none of these things move me; nor

do I count my life dear to myself, so

that I may finish my race with joy, and the

ministry which I received from the

Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the

grace of God."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Preached and taught the whole counsel of God.– Acts 20:26,27

“Therefore I testify to you this day

that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to

declare to you the whole counsel of

God."

PAUL’S MESSAGE

• Commended them to God and the word of God’s grace.– Acts 20:32

“So now, brethren, I commend you to

God and to the word of His grace,

which is able to build you up and

give you an inheritance among all those who are

sanctified."

THE RESULT

• Believed and burned their books of magic.– Acts 19:18-20

“Also, many of those who had

practiced magic brought their

books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted

up the value of them, and it totaled fifty

thousand pieces of silver."

THE RESULT

• They heard the word of truth, trusted and believed.– Ephesians

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."

THE RESULT

• Saved by the grace of God and through their faith.– Ephesians

2:8,9

“For by grace you have been saved

through faith, and that not of

yourselves; it is the gift of God, not

of works, lest anyone should

boast."

THE RESULT

• Were baptized in the name of Christ.– Acts 19:4,5

“…John indeed baptized with a

baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they

should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ

Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name

of the Lord Jesus."

THE RESULT

• Means enabling Paul to do his preaching work.

• Sent out by the church– Romans

10:15

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel

of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

THE RESULT

• Means enabling Paul to do his preaching work.

• Other churches cooperated in supporting this work– Philippians

1:3-5

“I thank my God upon every

remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making

request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until

now."

ITS CHARACTER

• Strong conviction as to the truth of the gospel.

• Faith in Christ– Ephesians

1:15

“Therefore I also, after I

heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the

saints.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Strong conviction as to the truth of the gospel.

• Endured boldness in teaching and preaching– Acts 19:8

“And he went into the synagogue and

spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and

persuading concerning the things of the

kingdom of God.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Strong conviction as to the truth of the gospel.

• Tried and proved false teachers– Revelation

2:2,6

“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.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Diligent in teaching and in studying the truth.

• House to house– Acts 20:20

“How I kept back nothing that was

helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to

house.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Diligent in teaching and in studying the truth.

• Heard Paul daily in the school of Tyrannus for 2 years– Acts 19:9,10

“... reasoning daily in the school of

Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of

the Lord Jesus, both Jews and

Greeks.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Were not blind followers of the blind.

• Investigated and exposed false teachers– Acts 19:13-20– Revelation

2:2

“…And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and

Paul I know; but who are you? Then the

man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed

against them.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Did not tolerate sin and evil doers in the church.– Revelation

2:6

“But this you have, that you hate the deeds

of the Nicolaitans, which I also

hate.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Faithful and steadfast, not only in faith but in works and service.– Revelation

2:2

“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.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Endured persecution and hardships for the Lord’s sake with patience.– Revelation

2:3

“And you have persevered and

have patience, and have labored for My name's sake

and have not become weary.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Tender in their devotion and love for Paul.– Acts 20:37,38

“Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul's neck and

kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they

would see his face no more. And they

accompanied him to the ship.”

ITS CHARACTER

• A evangelistic church—taught the word of God to many!– Acts 19:10

“And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia

heard the word of the Lord

Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

ITS CHARACTER

• Did have some faults.

• “Left their first love.”

• Going through the motions– Revelation

2:4

“Nevertheless I have this

against you, that you have left your first

love.”

ITS CHARACTER

• “Left their first love.”

• Held on to form of godliness but drifted away from real love and devotion.– Revelation

2:4

“Nevertheless I have this

against you, that you have left your first

love.”

ITS CHARACTER

• “Left their first love.”

• Contrast with the Thessalonian church.– 1

Thessalonians 1:3

“Remembering without ceasing

your work of faith, labor of

love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus

Christ in the sight of our God

and Father.”

ITS CHARACTER

• “Left their first love.”

• Must have love as a motive.– 1 Corinthians

13:3

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be

burned, but have not love, it

profits me nothing.”

ITS CHARACTER

• “Left their first love.”

• Fatal flaw unless corrected!– Revelation

2:5

“Remember therefore from where you have

fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and

remove your lampstand from its place--unless you

repent.”

GENERAL EXHORTATIONS

• To the elders• Take heed to

yourselves• Feed the

church• Protect from

false teachers!– Acts 20:28-31

“Therefore take heed to yourselves

and to all the flock, among

which the Holy Spirit has made

you overseers, to shepherd the church of God

which He purchased with His

own blood.”

GENERAL EXHORTATIONS

• Help the poor and weak– Acts 20:35

“I have shown you in every way, by

laboring like this, that you must

support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord

Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give

than to receive.”

GENERAL EXHORTATIONS

• Walk worthy of their calling.– Ephesians 4,5

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were

called, with all lowliness and

gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing

with one another in love.”

GENERAL EXHORTATIONS

• Take up “whole armor of God”– Ephesians

6:10-18

“Finally, my brethren, be

strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put

on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”