AM Scripture Reading: Revelation 2.1-7

Sermon Series: Keeping The Church Strong & Growing

Brent T. Willey

Lesson #5:

LESSONS FROM EPHESUS

Introduction:

1. We may know more about the church at Ephesus than any other congregation we can read about in the New Testament.
   1. 50-52 AD: Paul’s 2nd journey (Acts 18)
   2. 54-57 AD: Paul’s 3rd journey – 3 year stay (Acts 19)
   3. 58 AD: Paul meets with elders (Acts 20)
   4. 62 AD: Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus
   5. 64-65 / 66-67 AD: Paul’s two letters to Timothy at Ephesus
   6. 78-79 [67/96] AD: Letter to the loveless church (Rev. 2.1-7)
2. At minimum, we have a 30-year New Testament history of the Ephesian church, which clearly illustrates what can happen to a congregation within a generation or two.
3. There are some valuable lessons we can learn from the biblical history of the Ephesian church.

TIME-LAPSE PICTURES OF THE EPHESIAN CHURCH

1. Picture #1: Sprouting [52 AD] (Acts 18.18-21)
2. Picture #2: Weeding [54-56 AD] (Acts 19.1-41)
3. Picture #3: Nurturing [58 AD] (Acts 20.17-38)
4. Picture #4: Watering [62 AD] (Eph. 1.15-16)
5. Picture #5: Producing [64-67 AD] (1 Tim. 1.3; 2 Tim. 4.1-5)
6. Picture #6: Wilting [79 AD] – (Rev. 2.4)
7. Picture #7: Dead [Sometime during the 2nd Century AD]

WHAT EPHESUS NEEDED, WE STILL NEED TODAY!

1. Qualified Leadership (Titus 1.5; 1 Pet. 5.2-3)
2. Biblical Edification (Col. 3.16; Acts 20.28-32)
3. Loving Integration (1 Cor. 1.10-13; 12.25)
4. Active Participation (Eph. 4.16; James 1.22-27)

Conclusion: If it could happen to Ephesus…