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The church at Ephesus
Introduction-
READ: Acts 18:19-
The church at Ephesus has an illustrative past. The New Testament documents roughly fifty years of history about this church. Its origin is found in Acts chapter eighteen. Paul traveled to Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla. They began teaching the Gospel in the Jewish synagogue. Also, the three worked together as tent makers to provide a living for themselves.
Paul did not stay long in Ephesus. Aquila and Priscilla stayed in Ephesus to teaching the Gospel. The two met Apollos. He was an impressive orator and knowledgeable in the Scriptures; however, he did not know the Gospel. Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos. He then became a valuable help in the Gospel at Ephesus.
Eventually, Paul returned to Ephesus. He stayed for three years. The first semblance of the church at Ephesus is noted. Paul separated believers in Christ from the Jewish synagogue. They met in the school of Tyrannus. While this must have been a difficult time of transition for the brethren, they were devoted to Christ and active in the spread of the Gospel.
Sadly, Paul’s time in Ephesus came to a sudden end when a riot erupted. The idolaters in Ephesus ran Paul out of town. Later, Paul gathered the elders of the church in the nearby town of Miletus. He encouraged them to move forward without him. The word of God’s grace would equip them for their work. Also, Paul warned them about dissension within the eldership that would cause departures from the faith (Acts 20:17-
The next we hear about the church in the Bible is in the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy. The church was busy and growing. They were confronting false teachers. Yet, by the grace of God, they could remain strong.
Then, we hear of the church at Ephesus in the letter that Paul wrote to them. The contents of the Ephesian epistle give clues about the spiritual growth of this church. Paul writes concerning God’s eternal plan of human redemption. The subject matter is deep.
The last we hear of the church at Ephesus is in the book of Revelation. A letter to the church was revealed to the apostle John by Christ. Sadly, they had left their first love. Something had changed. They were instructed to repent (Rev. 2:1-
The church at Ephesus is a cautionary tale for churches today. Past successes do not guarantee future faithfulness. God provides us with what we need to grow. We must be diligent in our lives personally to help the church collectively.
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