HOW CAN I DEMONSTRATE AND LIVE OUT THE TRUTH? (43 OF 44)
Scripture: 3 John 1:1-14
This content is part of a series.
How Can I Demonstrate and Live out the Truth? (43 of 44)
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
3 John
Introduction
For almost three years we've been talking as a church about the calling we have to represent God in our community and serve Him in His mission both near and far. Our present series, the Church at Ephesus, has really highlighted this calling and has focused on the mission of the Church. If you think back to a year ago when we saw the planting and early years of this church in the book of Acts you'll remember how the health of the church was dependent upon its right doctrine and right practice. It was vital for believers to know the truth of God but to also be changed by that truth and live it out. I think about in Acts 19 we saw how the church believed the right things; they were founded upon the life-giving truth that Jesus is the promised Messiah who brings into inauguration the Kingdom of God.
But if you think back to Acts 19, we saw that it was not just that the church believed the right things, but that they proclaimed that truth as well to their city. In Acts 19 we see how they preached with their words the truth of God and how they lived their lives in a way that pointed to the truth of God. They were so successful that the silversmiths and tradesmen of the city revolted against the church. In other words, we saw in Acts 19 that part of what made the preaching of the church so effective was the repentance and the lifestyle of the early church. The city believed their words because they saw how the truth of Christ transform the lives of those who proclaimed him. In other words, it was the demonstration of the truth of God that helped make the proclamation of the Gospel so effective in Ephesus.
Now next time, as we conclude our series in Revelation 2, we'll address the proclamation of the Gospel that must permeate the church. But first, this morning, we revisit in ...
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
3 John
Introduction
For almost three years we've been talking as a church about the calling we have to represent God in our community and serve Him in His mission both near and far. Our present series, the Church at Ephesus, has really highlighted this calling and has focused on the mission of the Church. If you think back to a year ago when we saw the planting and early years of this church in the book of Acts you'll remember how the health of the church was dependent upon its right doctrine and right practice. It was vital for believers to know the truth of God but to also be changed by that truth and live it out. I think about in Acts 19 we saw how the church believed the right things; they were founded upon the life-giving truth that Jesus is the promised Messiah who brings into inauguration the Kingdom of God.
But if you think back to Acts 19, we saw that it was not just that the church believed the right things, but that they proclaimed that truth as well to their city. In Acts 19 we see how they preached with their words the truth of God and how they lived their lives in a way that pointed to the truth of God. They were so successful that the silversmiths and tradesmen of the city revolted against the church. In other words, we saw in Acts 19 that part of what made the preaching of the church so effective was the repentance and the lifestyle of the early church. The city believed their words because they saw how the truth of Christ transform the lives of those who proclaimed him. In other words, it was the demonstration of the truth of God that helped make the proclamation of the Gospel so effective in Ephesus.
Now next time, as we conclude our series in Revelation 2, we'll address the proclamation of the Gospel that must permeate the church. But first, this morning, we revisit in ...
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