THE POWER OF JESUS BY FAITH ALONE IN THE CHURCH (2 OF 44)
Scripture: Acts 19:1-20
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The Power of Jesus by Faith Alone in the Church (2 of 44)
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
Acts 19:1-20
Introduction
We continue this morning in the book of Acts looking at the foundations of the Church at Ephesus, and in this foundation we're looking to see the essential components and calling of the church itself. Simply put, as we see Paul return to Ephesus in Acts 19 and begin a ministry of over two years there, we ourselves ask, ''What is the church?'' I mean this is a question that, no doubt, many of us have asked before. It's a question that has been asked throughout the history of the church. It's a question that should be asked not just once a generation, but constantly.
Moreover, though, it shouldn't just be a question that we're asking, but hopefully one that we're finding answers to. You see the temptation that the church has faced throughout the millennia has been to answer that question either apart from God's Word or to use biblical language but language redefined according to the times and the culture. I mean just look at the first 1500 years of the church for examples of this. For the majority of church history there has been no separation of church and state. If you were a citizen and member of society then you automatically were a member of the church. You didn't have a choice; couldn't choose your denomination or have a say in the practice of the church. The church was run by the state and you were required to participate. Now, you won't find that in the Bible. Instead, for centuries leaders of the church were blinded by their own cultural contexts and thus the way they defined the church certainly had biblical components to it, but nevertheless reflected as much of their time as it did the Word of God.
Think more recently for a moment, as in the last twenty years. We've seen church treated like a corporation, where many have sought to utilize business prin ...
Series: The Church at Ephusus: God's Calling, Empowering, and Instruction for the Church
Patrick Edwards
Acts 19:1-20
Introduction
We continue this morning in the book of Acts looking at the foundations of the Church at Ephesus, and in this foundation we're looking to see the essential components and calling of the church itself. Simply put, as we see Paul return to Ephesus in Acts 19 and begin a ministry of over two years there, we ourselves ask, ''What is the church?'' I mean this is a question that, no doubt, many of us have asked before. It's a question that has been asked throughout the history of the church. It's a question that should be asked not just once a generation, but constantly.
Moreover, though, it shouldn't just be a question that we're asking, but hopefully one that we're finding answers to. You see the temptation that the church has faced throughout the millennia has been to answer that question either apart from God's Word or to use biblical language but language redefined according to the times and the culture. I mean just look at the first 1500 years of the church for examples of this. For the majority of church history there has been no separation of church and state. If you were a citizen and member of society then you automatically were a member of the church. You didn't have a choice; couldn't choose your denomination or have a say in the practice of the church. The church was run by the state and you were required to participate. Now, you won't find that in the Bible. Instead, for centuries leaders of the church were blinded by their own cultural contexts and thus the way they defined the church certainly had biblical components to it, but nevertheless reflected as much of their time as it did the Word of God.
Think more recently for a moment, as in the last twenty years. We've seen church treated like a corporation, where many have sought to utilize business prin ...
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