The audio of the Sunday morning message can be found on the church's website: www.crossrdschurch.com
What do we know about Ephesus?
- Large important city
- Important FINANCIALLY -- was a crossroads city/port city/ traders & financiers
- Important CULTURALLY
- The Theater at Ephesus – seated 25,000 people --- Greek Plays – sports events, including. Gladiator competitions/fights == best known in the Bible as the place where citizens gathered/rallied after getting upset with Paul == accusing him of interfering with local commerce and religion through the preaching of the Gospel.
- The Library of Celsus was built a little after Paul’s time – housed 15,000 scrolls
- Important SPIRITUALLY
- Temple of Artemis/Diana. The temple itself was made of marble, with 127 60-foot-high columns. The temple was 425 feet high. (This was more than twice the size Parthenon in Athens.)
- Diana was the goddess of Hunting & Fertility
- So, they were a very SPIRITUAL City/ just not a Christian City. This is very much where our culture has moved.
- Important DESTINATION POINT
- People came there – lived for a while – did their business – and often they moved on.
- Have you ever thought about how big a reality that is in this area / and in Crossroads?
- People come to get an education – move on. 100s of students have been touched by Crossroads through the last 20 years.
- What about the military personnel/their families? They are now scattered around the country and around the world. And, add to them, the people who’ve gone as missionaries who were a part of our church in the past?
- Crossroads, your impact on the world is larger than you realize!
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. Acts 19:8–10 (ESV)
What do we know about saints?
…To the saints who are in Ephesus. Ephesians 1:1b (ESV)
- Bible uses 2 categories for all people – we are either saints or sinners! SAINTS know God and go to heaven – SINNERS don’t!
- WE ALL START OUT AS SINNERS!
and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalm 51:5 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
***THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE ALL OF US THAT WANTS TO DO BETTER – Witness New Years Resolutions -- WE HAVE A DESIRE TO BE BETTER!
- We do all sorts of things trying to achieve saint-hood.
- But, we have been lied to. Often told people are inherently good – we can just choose to be better and therefore live like a saint.
- Sooner or later, we become despondent – feel it’s hopeless and just give up and give in to our sin-nature!
- You can do all the right things – can recycle, drive a hybrid, read the right books, stop cussing and hanging out w/ those that do…
- But we just become self-righteous and proud – not saintly at all.
- This just means, they exercise faith in Jesus!
- “in Christ” – give up on self – righteousness and turn to Christ.
- So, If I asked you, Are you a saint? What would your answer be?
- If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ – you are!
1. Because God wants you to be a SAINT
2. Because God wants you to be GROWING IN YOUR FAITH
***What’s holding you back? What are you doing that you need to stop? What are you not doing that God wants you to start?
3. Because God is calling you to a MINISTRY
4. Because God wants to offer GRACE and PEACE to your city
No comments:
Post a Comment