Rethink Church - The Power of the Gospel (3)
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Real Change
Real Change
Last week - playing the long game
Being a church of Real impact
There were 18.6 million self help books bought in 2019
People are looking for change
The Gospel is the only true message of change
"The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ." (C.H. Spurgeon)
What if as a church we totally bought into that
What we not only proclaimed on Sunday but believed through out the week the Gospel can change everything.
What if the church was so on fire and Gospel driven that:
Internet Gambling shops closed down
Human trafficking ceased in our area
Divorce lawyers had to practice a different law
Jesus became more famous than Mickey
That’s the power of the Gospel
That’s what we are talking about
Acts 19
The Gospel Exposes....
the World’s sin
Ephesus - center for Diana worship
Think Vegas x10
The Gospel is proclaimed
And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
The Gospel Exposes....
the World’s sin
It leterally changed the culture
Brought light to darkness
The simplicity of the gospel gives what the complexity of human wisdom promises but never delivers.
- John MacArthur
It shows us whats wrong and gives us the answer
The Gospel Exposes....
2. the Devil’s tricks
You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods. Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”
The Gospel Exposes....
2. the Devil’s tricks
This had everything to do with economics not a challenge to a false belief system
This was business
Our enemy wants us to be seen as trouble makers, boat rockers, etc.
There was a riot - people just followed in not knowing what it was about
Remember who our enemy is - not a people group or person
Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
The Gospel Exposes....
3. the power of the Gospel
Riot going on - everyone fired up and
When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.
they couldn’t stop it
there was no argument against it
The Gospel Exposes....
3. the power of the Gospel
See what happened to this city
I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary.
From the center of cult worship to this
They did forget their first love, but the Gospel changed everything
Real Change
Real Change
I ask again
What if the church was so on fire and Gospel driven that:
Internet Gambling shops closed down
Human trafficking ceased in our area
Divorce lawyers had to practice a different law
Jesus became more famous than Mickey
“We have an unchanging gospel, which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay; but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
Do you know this Gospel?
Does it move you?
It will change everything
Are you all in?
Let’s pray