1/9/22 Discussion Guide
Ice Breaker: Share with the members of your group one interesting fact about yourself that only a few people closest to you know.
Sermon Review: (Acts 19:1-20)
Paul’s missionary journeys take him to Ephesus. Once a center of trade due to its harbor on the Aegean Sea. But since the river had been choked off from the sea due to mismanagement of the land, the center of commerce revolved around the worship of Artemis, her temple considered one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. The worship or her centered around sex, temple prostitution and sacrifice.
Ephesus was a dark place becoming the center for the occult – witchcraft, demonism, the black arts & astrology was widely practiced. Magicians, witches, and warlocks were everywhere.
Paul meets 12 men who claim to be disciples but after a couple of probing questions realizes that they actually were disciples of John the Baptist and were unclear about the gospel of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul leads them to Christ, baptizes them and begins to disciple them.
After this divine appointment with these 12 men, Paul moves his preaching & teaching ministry to the synagogue where he spoke boldly, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. The kingdom being the revelation of God’s power and authority through the Incarnation of his Son Jesus, and manifests through people who have opened their lives to the rule and reign of Christ in their hearts.
But after 3 months many of the people listening to Paul in the synagogue became obstinate, refused to believe, and began to malign the gospel message, so rather than giving up and moving on from Ephesus, instead, he just moves his ministry to the Hall of Tyrannus (“Tyrant”) where he continued his teaching for two more years.
Paul’s schedule was highlighted where from dawn to 11am he earned his living through tentmaking; 11-4pm taught in the lecture hall; 4-6pm finished up his tentmaking for the day, and then from 6pm through the evening hours went from house to house discipling new Christians.
God performs miracles and casts out demons through Paul in Jesus name. 7 sons of Sceva, Jews who are traveling exorcists, learn of Paul’s methods and attempt to also exorcise demons in Jesus name only to have the demon-possessed man beat, bloody and strip all 7 of them causing them to flee, running down the streets of Ephesus naked.
Many new Christians who heard what had happened gathered in the center of the city bringing their scrolls of witchcraft and sorcery and burned them as an indication of their repentance, renouncing of these black arts and surrendering their lives to the Lordship of Christ. The estimated value was the equivalent of paying 137 workers their full-time wages for one year.
The idolatry and demonic stronghold over the city of Ephesus ended up in an ash heap while the word f God advanced powerfully though the entire region.
What was witnessed in Ephesus was two kingdoms in conflict; God’s versus the devil’s, forces of good versus forces of evil, the angelic versus the demonic, where the kingdom of God wins out.
Questions for Discussion:
What really stood out to you in this text concerning Paul’s ministry in Ephesus? What did this text reveal to you about the heart of God?
Pastor Jim mentioned the ways in which Ephesus was very caught up in idolatry around sex and the occult. What are some of the main forms of idolatry that you observe in our culture today? What may be some of the more common forms of idolatry in Christian lives today?
Pastor Jim talked about his own convictions concerning ministering in his neighborhood and to be intentional in sharing his story of faith in Jesus. Speak to your own life here. When’s the last time you intentionally moved out in faith to share your story or minister in your neighborhood? Is this difficult for you? What are some of the obstacles or hindrances you feel get in your way?
Paul’s life schedule revolved around the mission of the gospel. Name one way you believe you could be more intentional in leveraging your everyday life responsibilities and commitments to have a greater impact with the gospel.
Speak to one of the following two questions.
Is there a “scroll” that you’ve kept hidden in secret that you want to confess and renounce? (OR)
Is there some way you believe God wants you to take more risk for the gospel in 2022?
