Podcasts about Ephesus

In Jesus' letter to the church in Ephesus, he gives a commendation—a list of “well dones”—and yet the church is lacking something significant: they left their first love. Rather than an insignificant issue, this is at the center of what the Christian life is supposed to be. In this message, Nathan examines Revelation 2:2–4 and discusses both the good and the bad of the Ephesian church, and how they relate directly to our key issue in today's Church.------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

In Jesus' first letter to the seven churches, He introduces Himself to the church at Ephesus. In this message, Nathan talks about the ancient city of Ephesus, how Jesus introduces Himself to the church there, and what that means practically for our lives today. ------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

In this message, Pastor Jake unpacks Acts 19:1–10 to show how the early church multiplied through ordinary disciples clothed with extraordinary power. Beginning with Paul's encounter with the “about twelve” in Ephesus, we see the clear biblical distinction between repentance, water baptism, and Spirit-empowerment for mission (Acts 18:24–28; Acts 19:1–7; Luke 3:16).Drawing on Luke–Acts, Pastor Jake explains how Scripture contrasts John's baptism of repentance with Jesus' baptism in the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:15–17; Acts 1:4–8; Acts 2:1–4, 38–39). He highlights how Luke consistently describes the Spirit's work as being “filled,” “receiving,” “poured out,” and “coming upon” (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 8:14–17; 10:44–48; 19:6), emphasizing that this is an ongoing, available gift—not a one-time religious formality.This sermon calls listeners to:• Move from being mere beneficiaries of the gospel to empowered agents of the gospel (Acts 8:4; 11:19–21; Romans 10:14–15).• Pray prophetic promises into fulfillment, like Daniel did with Jeremiah's word (Daniel 9:1–3; Jeremiah 29:10–14; 1 Timothy 1:18–19).• Renounce divided allegiances and rival spiritual powers—crystals, tarot, horoscopes, new age practices, and manipulative anger—as modern forms of sorcery (Acts 19:18–20; Ephesians 4:26–27; 1 Corinthians 10:20–21; Galatians 5:19–21).• Seek fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit amid opposition, as in Acts 4:23–31, recognizing that God empowers soldiers, not spectators (Ephesians 6:10–18; 2 Timothy 2:3–4).Through the story of Ephesus becoming a missional hub—so that “all who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10; cf. Colossians 1:6–8; Revelation 2–3)—Pastor Jake casts vision for churches today as apostolic centers in cities and regions, multiplying campuses and works by the Spirit's power, not human ambition (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 13:1–3).If you hunger for more than comfortable Christianity and long to see bold proclamation, spiritual gifts, repentance, and city-shaping impact, this message will call you to the altar of availability, to be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

1 Timothy is the first of two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor and leader at a growing church in Ephesus. This letter is filled with lessons and tools that apply to every believer and to pastors alike, and has been used for centuries to guide the lives of believers and ministries.   Join Jerry as he dives into 1 Timothy, helping us see how we can apply this book, and to "fight the good fight of faith" today.   You can take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Send us a message!We read Acts 19 and watch the gospel overturn a city, from Spirit-filled new believers to a public backlash that turns Ephesus upside down. We also sit with the hard question of costly repentance and what it looks like to leave old spiritual practices and comfortable sins behind. • Paul meets disciples in Ephesus and explains baptism in Jesus' name and receiving the Holy Spirit • bold synagogue teaching then daily instruction in the lecture hall of Tyrannus • extraordinary miracles and the warning against using Jesus' name as a formula • the sons of Skeva and a blunt lesson on real spiritual authority • believers confessing practices and burning expensive magic books as a public break with the past • Demetrius, Artemis, and how the gospel threatens idols tied to money and status • a practical challenge to repent with action even when it costs pride, time, relationships, or money  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Is a European cruise worth it? We took the whole family on a 7-night Mediterranean cruise out of Rome aboard Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas — and on this episode of Mouse Chat we give you the honest answer: the magic, the heat, the lost luggage, and what we'd do differently next time. We sailed Rome → Santorini → Ephesus (Turkey) → Mykonos → Naples/Pompeii → Rome, and we get into the real tips that made (and almost broke) the trip: • Why you should ALWAYS arrive a day early — our lost-luggage story • The Santorini insider move: a water taxi to Oia that skips the 2-hour cable car line • Why a nighttime golf cart tour is the best way to see Rome • Private guides vs. big bus excursions (and why we'll pay extra every time) • Ephesus ruins, Turkish rugs, market haggling, and Pompeii • The honest verdict: a Mediterranean cruise is NOT a beach week — and the one itinerary mistake to avoid (don't stack 3 ports in a row!)

1 Timothy is the first of two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor and leader at a growing church in Ephesus. This letter is filled with lessons and tools that apply to every believer and to pastors alike, and has been used for centuries to guide the lives of believers and ministries.   Join Jerry as he dives into 1 Timothy, helping us see how we can apply this book, and to "fight the good fight of faith" today.   You can take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

1 Timothy is the first of two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor and leader at a growing church in Ephesus. This letter is filled with lessons and tools that apply to every believer and to pastors alike, and has been used for centuries to guide the lives of believers and ministries.   Join Jerry as he dives into 1 Timothy, helping us see how we can apply this book, and to "fight the good fight of faith" today.   You can take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

You can be doctrinally correct, faithfully serving, and completely checked out of your relationship with Jesus — all at the same time.The church in Ephesus was one of the strongest in the New Testament — active, discerning, and uncompromising in truth. Yet Jesus had one charge against them: they had abandoned the love they had at first. This message from Revelation 2:1-7 unpacks the quiet danger of spiritual drift — how activity for God slowly replaces intimacy with God, and how Jesus's call to Remember, Repent, and Return is less a warning and more an invitation home.Whether you've noticed a growing distance between you and Jesus, or you're simply going through the motions of faith without feeling much behind it, this message is for you.In this message you'll discover:Why the greatest danger to your faith isn't false doctrine — it's a cold heartHow spiritual drift happens gradually through a thousand small decisions, not one sudden fallThe difference between being busy for God and being genuinely close to GodJesus's three-step path back to your first love: Remember, Repent, and ReturnKey Scriptures: Revelation 2:1-7, Luke 10:41, John 5:39, Matthew 6:21

1 Timothy is the first of two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor and leader at a growing church in Ephesus. This letter is filled with lessons and tools that apply to every believer and to pastors alike, and has been used for centuries to guide the lives of believers and ministries.   Join Jerry as he dives into 1 Timothy, helping us see how we can apply this book, and to "fight the good fight of faith" today.   You can take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

This weekend our theme revolves around the gracious nature of our Heavenly Father, as seen in His love for us in Jesus. We will consider the truth that we were "lost," and "prodigal" from our heavenly Father. Yet in His love for us, He seeks us, redeems us to Himself and receives us eagerly to Himself in spite of our unworthiness. The title of the hymn comes from the words of the Apostle Paul where He writes:  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16)  This hymn highlights first of all, our nature. We are sinful and unclean. We are ungodly and the enemies of God. It is only in understanding this reality that we can ever truly comprehend the nature of our God as Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus: "that you... may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge." (Ephesians 3:18) Only the True (Triune) God can offer such love in the person and work of Jesus, who "shed His blood for me." The love of Jesus, which we come to know through faith, is what offers "peace... from sin forgiv'n, joy that lifts the soul to heav'n." The prayer of the Christian is that the LORD would preserve us in the true faith through Word and Sacrament as we face the trials and burdens and temptations of the fallen world and our own sinful flesh, and lead us in repentance back to the open arms of our gracious Father in heaven!  May the LORD sustain us in the earthly strife while we await the heavenly life! Amen!

Send us Fan MailThe devotion for today, Friday, June 19, 2026 was written by Rev. Dr. Gary G. Kindley, LPC and is narrated by Gordon Markley.Today's Words of Inspiration come from Paul's Letter to the Church at Ephesus, Chapter 2, verses 8-9For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast.   Support the show

Showing up matters, because faith is never meant to stay private. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan Smith teaches from Acts 19 and lays out a hard truth, when Christ changes a person, that change reaches the home, the workplace, the church, and the public square. The uproar in Ephesus shows what happens when the gospel confronts idols, money, pride, and false worship. This lesson also presses on the gap between knowing and doing. It challenges the habit of treating Bible knowledge as the finish line, and it calls believers to simple faithfulness, service, and obedience. Alan Smith also draws a clear line between real revival and untamed zeal, using James Davenport as a warning that passion without wisdom can go off course. You'll hear direct teaching on:  * why showing up in the body of Christ matters  * how Acts 19 exposes idols tied to money, work, and status  * why the gospel changes people before it changes culture  * how to think about lost people with truth and compassion  * why courage and restraint both matter in public conflict This is a message for anyone who wants a clearer view of Acts 19 and a more honest look at daily Christian life. If your faith never disturbs the idols around you, this teaching asks a serious question about what you're following. Join us each day at The Smith and Rowland Show, and visit  https://kingdompropheticsociety.org  for more teachings and commentary. #Acts19 #ChristianTeaching #TheSmithAndRowlandShow #BibleStudy #GospelTruth

Embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of the New Testament with Fr. Joseph Royan, C.Ss.R., in this thought-provoking episode of Who's Who in the Bible. Discover the richness of the Letter to the Ephesians, often regarded as one of the most profound and inspiring writings in the Christian tradition.Through insightful reflections and engaging storytelling, Fr. Joseph explores the historical significance of Ephesus, examines the scholarly discussions surrounding the letter's authorship, and reveals its powerful vision of Christ's universal mission and the Church's identity. Uncover how this timeless text speaks to believers today, calling them to unity, holiness, and a deeper relationship with God.Whether you are a student of Scripture, a seeker of spiritual wisdom, or someone looking to strengthen your faith, this episode offers fresh insights and practical inspiration for daily Christian living. Join Fr. Joseph on this enriching exploration of one of the New Testament's most treasured letters and rediscover what it means to live as God's beloved children and heirs to His promise.Watch the full episode and be inspired by the enduring message of Ephesians!

People do not live differently until they see differently. In Week 6 of our Ephesians series, Pastor Ken teaches from Ephesians 4:25-32, showing how the Christian life is not about behavior modification but transformation through a new identity in Christ. Paul challenges believers to put off the old self and put on the new self through honesty, self-control, generosity, encouragement, kindness, and forgiveness. This practical message reveals how a changed heart produces a changed life and how the Gospel not only saves us but teaches us how to treat others. Whether you're struggling with anger, relationships, forgiveness, or simply seeking spiritual growth, this message offers biblical wisdom for living as a child of light in a dark world. Scripture: Ephesians 1:18 Ephesians 4:17-32 Listen, share, and grow with us as we continue our journey through Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus.

Turkey is one of those rare countries that genuinely straddles civilizations. Straddling Europe and Asia, it has absorbed the legacies of Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans and turned them into something entirely its own. Istanbul alone could occupy a lifetime. Add Cappadocia's surreal landscapes, the Roman grandeur of Ephesus, the thermal terraces of Pamukkale, and a cuisine that ranks among the world's finest, and you have a country of almost unreasonable richness. The tea is strong. The welcome is stronger.Love the pod? Get the guide! Out with each new podcast, we publish a guide to the country. Buy the TrodPod guide to Turkey for just $3: https://www.patreon.com/c/trodpod/shop. Better yet, become a TrodPod member for just $5 a month and access TrodPod guides to every country in the world, released weekly with each new podcast episode! Sign up now: https://www.patreon.com/trodpod/membershipThanks for all your support!TrodPod is Murray Garrard and Elle Keymer. Sound editing by Leo Audio Productions. Design and marketing by GPS: Garrard Powell Solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday AM 06-14-2026. Topical Studies.

June 16, 2026Today's Reading: Ephesians 2:13-22 or 1 John 3:13-18Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 16:1-24; John 16:1-16“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Have you ever been excluded? Perhaps you were picked last for a game or event. Maybe your interests aren't ones that are seen as ‘cool.' Or maybe the issue is bigger than that. Your parents are divorced, and you always seem to be back and forth - not really able to settle into one place. Or, you have had to move away from your friends, your school, and your familiar community. Separation is hard. If you aren't ‘in,' then you are ‘out,' and that is difficult. Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus. And these words—these bold statements of inclusion—are pretty shocking. Paul is declaring that the Gospel is for Gentiles, too. He is saying that Jesus' Blood covers all people; God's love ties together that which was broken or segmented. He is reminding the Jews and the Gentiles that their focus needs to be on the promises of God, which are for all people. The Gentiles had always been ‘out,' but the Jews had had their seasons of exile and separation, too. And yet now, all is united. Now, the promises have been fulfilled, Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, and there is no need for separation anymore. It would seem that everyone then and now would rejoice at these words. God has brought all to Himself, and there is no need to distinguish or separate. And yet, we sinners like putting each other in boxes. Whether it's by interests, looks, heritage, or some other artificial measurement that we've constructed, we like to compare and contrast. We want to be accepted - even if that means excluding someone else. Repent, dear chosen ones! For God has more forgiveness than you have sin. Jesus' Blood does indeed cover all. He has brought you to Himself - and there is room for more. Rest in your Baptism; Jesus has covered you and claimed you as His. Invite and include those around you - for God's desire is for all to be saved. You get to look at your neighbors, even in their differences, with joy and love. God has destroyed all that would separate or keep others ‘far off.' Share the Good News that Jesus is for all sinners - for those far off, and for you too. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In Baptism we now put on Christ Our shame is fully covered With all that He once sacrificed And freely for us suffered, For here the flood of His own blood Now makes us holy, right, and good Before our heav'nly Father. (LSB 596:4) Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

▶SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/SouthernHillsLV▶Do you know Jesus as your Savior? https://www.southernhillslv.com/the-gospel▶ DONATE: https://pushpay.com/g/southernhills?src=hpp&r=monthly▶ Visit Southern Hills: https://www.southernhillslv.com/▶ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernhillslv▶ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernhillslv/Pastor Josh Teis is the founder and senior pastor of Southern Hills Church in Las Vegas. He has a Masters Degree in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Theological Seminary, and he is a Master of Divinity with Liberty University. He coaches pastors in practical leadership and time management and is a nationally sought-after speaker. #joshteissermon #bibleteaching #southernhillschurch #churchsouthwestlasvegas #bible #prayer #Christian

You can do all the right things and still miss the mark. The church at Ephesus worked hard, endured persecution, and maintained sound doctrine—yet Jesus had one serious complaint. They had lost their first love. Are you more concerned with the work of the Lord or the Lord of the work? It's time to rediscover the passionate devotion that first drew you to Christ.

In Part 1 of our Colossians series, we explore the central message of Paul's letter: the absolute supremacy and total sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Written from a Roman prison to a church Paul had never personally visited, Colossians was sent to strengthen believers living in a culture saturated with idols, competing philosophies, and spiritual deception. We unpack the historical context of Colossae and Ephesus, where the gospel spread powerfully throughout Asia Minor and directly challenged the worship of the goddess Diana, disrupting both culture and commerce. Through Paul's opening words, we discover that spiritual growth happens when grace and truth work together. Truth confronts what is out of order in our lives, while grace gives us the time, patience, and power to grow into all God has called us to be. This episode lays the foundation for understanding why Christ alone is enough and why proclaiming His supremacy remains as countercultural today as it was in the first century. ______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW HERE? We'd love to connect with you. Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 SERMON NOTES: www.bible.com/organizations/f223…-a8fc-3297da42c26a - Or Text: "SERMON" To: 323-405-3232 CONNECT WITH US: Hopeland Website: www.hopelandla.com Hopeland Podcast: @steinbot-519314947 Hopeland YouTube: www.youtube.com/@hopelandchurch Hopeland Facebook: @hopelandla Hopeland Instagram: @hopeland.church To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people with the gospel click here: hopelandla.com/give or Text "Donate" to 323-405-3232. Or, choose a giving option here: - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com

Part 1 of our series, Jesus Revealed: Letters to the Church. Thanks for listening to this message from New Life Church. In this message, Pastor Joel Solomon kicks off our series on exploring how Jesus reveals Himself through the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. This message was recorded at New Life Church | Kempsville in Virginia Beach, VA.

1 Corinthians 15:29-5829 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink,  for tomorrow we die.”33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”55 “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Sunday, June 14, 2026Ears to Hear: Listening for the Voice of Christ"Ephesus: A Forgetful Church" - Tyler TankersleySermon based on Revelation 2:1-7(reading by Julie West)

Text: Acts 19:8-20  A sermon from our Sunday night series through the book of Acts

2 Timothy 1:15–18 [15] This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. [16] The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; [17] but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. [18] The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

Ephesus: Law Without Love (Rev. 2:1-7) by Covenant Shreveport

Send us Fan MailSome Bible arguments fall apart the moment you ask one question: what do you do with the words on the page? We take a hard look at Ephesians 1 and push back on the claim that predestination is “just for the Jews.” Paul is writing to Christians in Ephesus, and he keeps circling the same drumbeat: those who are in Christ are chosen, adopted, and given an inheritance according to the good pleasure of God's will.From there we go straight into the tension people try to avoid. If God “works all things after the counsel of his own will,” what exactly is left out of “all things”? We talk election, adoption, and salvation by grace, but we also deal honestly with the flip side, the reality that not everyone is saved. That leads us into the objections about fairness, free will, and whether a loving God can still judge. We also unpack “vessels of honor and dishonor,” and why Scripture does not ground that distinction in ethnicity but in belief in Christ.We bring in the big texts that shape Reformed theology and Calvinism conversations: “chosen before the foundation of the world,” the book of life language in Revelation, “many are called, few are chosen,” and Romans 8:28-30 with foreknown, predestined, called, justified, and glorified. Along the way, we test popular slogans like “equal opportunity salvation” against what these passages actually say, and we ask what truly makes one person believe while another refuses.If you care about biblical doctrine, God's sovereignty, and the meaning of grace, this one will make you think. Subscribe for more, share the episode with someone who loves debating predestination and free will, and leave a review with the verse you think is hardest to answer.Support the showBE PROVOKED AND BE PERSUADED!

Today we'll be looking at the Lord's postcard to the church in Ephesus in Revelation chapter two. While they were commended for some things, they had walked away from their first love. Their love had grown cold. It happened to the Ephesians and it's still happening to Christians today. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29?v=20251111

1 Corinthians 15:29–34 (ESV) 29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. LIVE IN THE PEACE ANDPLEASURE OF ANTICIPATING YOUR FUTURE RESURRECTED LIFE WITH CHRIST AND REMAIN VIGILANTAGAINST THE DECEIT OF THE PERISHING PLEASURE OF SIN IN THIS LIFEPEOPLE KNOW THERE ISLIFE AFTER DEATH, THAT'S WHY SOME SEEK SALVATION TO LATE (v29) WE KNOW THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH, THAT'S WHY ARE SATISFIED TOSUFFER DAILY IN ANTICIPATION (v30-32)    WE MUST APPLY WHAT WE KNOW, IN OUR THEOLOGY , IN OUR COMPANY, AND IN OUR MISSION (v32-34)  

Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners  Paul's exhortation to the believers in Ephesus to be strong in the LORD and in the strength of HIS might.  Scripture References: Ephesians 6:10; Acts 18-19; Ephesians 1:3-19; Ephesians 4:1-2; Ephesians 5:1-2; Ephesians 6:10-18; Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:9 Scripture translation used is the NASB “Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible) Copyright 1971, 1995, 2020 (only use the last year corresponding to the edition quoted) by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S NEW PODCAST- The First Love ProjectHere is the video introducing the podcast on You Tube-https://youtu.be/PhFY1moDDmsHERE IS A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST FOR FIRST LOVE PROJECThttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdaujk1npuKR0BLSkTlKyxmuxavrZQHM6&si=dC10K4Qdh0xMKElU FIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishaffer DAILY MUSICAL DEVOTIONAL BY THE WORSHIP INITIATIVE:Text SING to 79316CHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code.  I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain  Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you,  if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z  BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters  in the Holy Bible.  The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals.  Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive    LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING?              CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up.  https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds   Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website:  https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com   Support the show

The religion and commerce of Ephesus worked hand in hand. Therefore, the people resisted Paul's teachings at first because of the impact on his teachings on their economy.

"St Cyril was... from Alexandria, born about the year 376, the nephew of Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who also instructed the Saint in his youth. Having first spent much time with the monks of Nitria, he later became the successor to his uncle's throne in 412. In 429, when Cyril heard tidings of the teachings of the new Patriarch of Constantinople, Nestorius, he began attempting through private letters to bring Nestorius to renounce his heretical teachings about the Incarnation; and when the heresiarch did not repent, Saint Cyril, together with Pope Celestine of Rome, led the Orthodox opposition to his error. Saint Cyril presided over the Third Ecumenical Council of the 200 holy Fathers in the year 431, who gathered in Ephesus under Saint Theodosius the Younger. At this Council, by his most wise words he put to shame and convicted the impious doctrine of Nestorius, who, although he was in town, refused to appear before Cyril. Saint Cyril, besides overthrowing the error of Nestorius, has left to the Church full commentaries on the Gospels of Luke and John. Having shepherded the Church of Christ for thirty-two years, he reposed in 444." (Great Horologion)   Today we commemorate St Cyril's repose. He is also commemorated on January 18, the date of his restoration to his see in Alexandria after he had been driven out by Nestorians.

Charles G. Robinette | Apostolic Mentoring PodcastWhat if the greatest revival in human history will begin the same way the Church began?In this powerful and prophetic teaching, International Evangelist Charles G. Robinette explores the biblical pattern of Gateway City Outpourings and reveals why God has repeatedly chosen strategic cities to ignite worldwide revival.From Jerusalem to Antioch, from Ephesus to Rome, from Azusa Street 1906 to the prophetic possibilities of our generation, discover how one outpouring in a strategic city can impact entire nations and accelerate the fulfillment of Joel 2:28, Matthew 24:14, and Revelation 7:9.Could God once again be preparing to pour out His Spirit in major gateway cities around the world?Could millions be born again in those cities while billions are impacted globally?This message is more than history. It is a call to repentance, apostolic unity, prophetic prayer, bold faith, and Kingdom collaboration in preparation for the greatest end-time harvest the world has ever seen.Charles also delivers a sobering prophetic challenge to the modern Church, warning against the destructive influence of fear, jealousy, and control, and calling believers to embrace faith, humility, and complete dependence upon the Holy Ghost.If you have been praying for global revival, world evangelism, end-time harvest, or a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, this message will challenge your thinking and inspire your faith.Topics Include:• Gateway Cities in the Book of Acts• Why Pentecost began in Jerusalem• Antioch and the multiplication of revival• Azusa Street and modern Pentecostal history• Why strategic cities matter in global evangelism• Twelve potential gateway cities for end-time outpouring• Apostolic unity and Partnership of Faith• The prophetic significance of Revelation 7:9• The call to reach every tribe, tongue, people, and nation• How the Church can prepare for the greatest harvest in historyThe harvest is ready.The nations are gathering.The Spirit is still being poured out.Will the Church prepare for BILLIONS?Subscribe to the Apostolic Mentoring Podcast and join us as we equip millions 2 reach billions through apostolic doctrine, Spirit-led ministry, prophetic prayer, and global harvest.#GatewayCities #GlobalHarvest #EndTimeRevival #Pentecost #HolyGhost #Acts238 #Revival #WorldEvangelism #Apostolic #Outpouring #JesusName #RevivalFire #KingdomOfGod #Revelation79 #Joel228 #CharlesGRobinetteWe love to hear from our listeners! Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639030158?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_VZBSV9T4GT4AMRWEWXJE&skipTwisterOG=1 Support the showhttps://www.youtube.com/@charlesgrobinettehttps://www.instagram.com/charles.g.robinette/https://author.amazon.com/bookshttps://charlesgrobinette.com/

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, May 31, 2026, First Sunday after Pentecost, Confirmation Sunday. "We Know Who We Are"series. Texts: Genesis 1:26-2:3; Ephesians 2:4–10 There are some words in scripture that change everything. Not because they're long or unusual. But because they turn the whole story in a different direction. Today's passage contains two of those words: “But God.” Before we can appreciate those words, we need to know what precedes them. In the first 3 verses of Ephesians 2, Paul reminds the church in Ephesus of their old ways of being. The direct translation from the Greek is convoluted and confusing, but Eugene Peterson's interpretation from The Message helps us get the point: “It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live…We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us.” And then…. “But God…” The old story gets interrupted. It moves in a new direction. Which is good news because most of us know something about stories that seem stuck in a rut. Maybe you've carried shame for something you did years ago. Maybe you've convinced yourself that some part of your life is beyond repair. Maybe you've spent so long trying to prove your worth that you've forgotten who you are underneath all the striving. Maybe you've watched the news lately and wondered whether cruelty and greed and fear are simply winning. The story goes one way. But God… That little phrase shows up all over scripture. Human beings build a tower to heaven. But God. Sarah is too old. But God. The sea is in front of them. Pharaohs army is behind them. But God. The disciples lock themselves in a room because they are terrified. But God. The cross stands on a hill outside Jerusalem. But God. Mary Magdalene despaired at the tomb. But God. Again and again, scripture insists that God is never limited by the stories we tell ourselves about what is possible. What a gift. Because one of the stories many of us carry is the story that we have to earn our way. This is so ingrained in our culture and mindset. We learn that story early. We learn it from grades and report cards. From performance reviews. From comparisons. From all the subtle ways the world teaches us to keep score. We absorb these lessons so deeply that eventually we begin to assume that God works this way too. God helps those who help themselves. God rewards the faithful. God blesses the deserving. God keeps score. But this is precisely the story Paul is trying to undo. Our temptation to slide into the world's quid pro quo economy isn't new. And in these few verses, Paul takes pains to refute it—not with an abstract argument, but by showing us, phrase by phrase, who God is and how grace works. So let's move through the text together and listen deeply to the word. Notice where Paul begins. “But God, who is rich in mercy...” Rich in mercy. Before Paul says anything about us, he says something about God. After describing the sorry, lost state of humanity, Paul doesn't say, “But we finally figured it out.” He doesn't say, “But we repented.” He doesn't say, “But we became more faithful.” He doesn't say, “But we got serious about our spiritual lives.” He says, “But God.” The turning point of the story is not a change in us. It is a revelation of who God is. “But God, who is rich in mercy...” Paul could have said simply, “God is merciful.” He doesn't. He says God is plousios (πλούσιος)—in the Greek: rich, abundant, lavish—in mercy. Possessing more mercy than we can imagine. This is so important! Because most of us have been trained to think in terms of scarcity. There's never enough time or money or security or opportunity. There is not enough to go around. There are only so many slices of any pie. And if we're not careful, we start to imagine that God's resources are limited too. Limited patience. Limited forgiveness. Limited love. Limited welcome. Only so many second chances. As though mercy were something God has to budget carefully. As though grace might run out. As though God were standing over us with a ledger, keeping score, calculating whether we've finally earned another chance. But Paul says, “Nope. That's not who God is.” Mercy is not scarce in God. Mercy is abundant in God. God's mercy is not pie—and there's not limited supply! Mercy flows from God as naturally as light from the sun. And lest we miss the point, Paul piles on another phrase: “Out of the great love with which God loved us.” It's almost as though he can't find enough words—mercy, love, grace, kindness. The language keeps overflowing because Paul is trying to describe a reality that exceeds ordinary human calculation. The world understands transaction. But God operates through grace. And perhaps that is why grace is so difficult for us to receive. We know how to earn. We know what it takes to achieve. We know the way to keep score. Many of us have spent our entire lives trying to prove that we are worthy of love, worthy of belonging, worthy of respect, worthy of a place at the table. And some versions of Christianity have reinforced exactly that impulse. Behave yourself and God will bless you. Believe the right things and God will reward you. Get your life together and God will finally accept you. Or the flip side: Mess up and God will punish you. Doubt and God will reject you. Fail and God will turn away. But Paul will have none of it. “By grace you have been saved.” Grace! We are not saved by following the rules or checking the boxes or through achievement or merit. The story isn't about keeping score or about earned interest and love averages. “By grace you have been saved.” Grace. One of the most beautiful insights of the United Methodist movement is that grace starts earlier than we think it does. We tend to imagine that grace begins the moment we become aware of God. But John Wesley said no. Grace was already there. We think grace begins when we decide to follow Jesus. Wesley said no. Grace was already there. We think grace begins when we repent. Wesley said no. Grace was already there. Before faith, grace. Before understanding, grace. Before discipleship, grace. Before baptism, grace. Before confirmation, grace. Long before we know how to pray, grace is already making a way toward us. Long before we know God's name, God knows ours. United Methodists call this prevenient grace—the grace that goes before. The grace that is always preceding us, drawing us, inviting us, wooing us toward life. And I don't know about you, but I find that to be astonishingly good news. Because it means that the story of faith begins not with our searching for God, but with God's refusal to stop searching for us. But Paul isn't finished. He goes further, saying God “made us alive together with Christ.” Alive—not merely forgiven or a little nicer. Alive. This is resurrection language. It is creation language. It's the language of new possibility. This strikes me as especially powerful in a world where so many people are exhausted and carrying grief. Where so many people are overwhelmed by the state of the world and struggling simply to keep their hearts open. Paul speaks a pastoral word into our lives, assuring us that grace is not merely about doing more today to get into heaven someday. Grace is the power that makes us alive right now. Alive to God. Alive to beauty. Alive to joy. Alive to compassion. Alive to possibility and hope. And there is something else here that often gets lost in translation. Paul doesn't say that God made me alive. He says God made us alive. The language throughout this passage is communal. Every “you” in the text is plural. It's not about me; it's about we. Which means the story is not simply about God saving isolated individuals. It is about God creating a people. A community. A new humanity. People shaped not by fear, scarcity, or competition, but rather shaped by grace, abundance, and love. Today, a group of young people will stand before us to profess their faith. And what moves me every year is that confirmation is not fundamentally about private belief. It is about belonging. These young people are not simply saying, “I believe.” They are saying, “This is my people. This is the community in which I will learn what it means to follow Jesus.” And we are saying, “We need you. Your voice, your gifts, your questions, your presence will continue to shape who we become.” Because grace doesn't merely gather individuals. Grace creates a people. Paul addresses this in what he says next. “We are what God has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works...” The Greek word translated here as “what God has made” is poiēma (ποίημα). It's where we get the word poem. You could translate it: We are God's handiwork. God's artistry. God's creative work. And suddenly the echo of Genesis comes into view. The God who formed creation, breathed life into dust, and called it good is still creating, still forming, still calling beauty forth from chaos and light from darkness. We spend so much of our lives trying to make ourselves. Trying to prove ourselves. Trying to justify ourselves. Trying to become enough. Paul says we are not self-made. We are God-made. We are God's handiwork, God's poem. God's art. God's ongoing project. And we are already enough—even as we keep learning and growing. Now, at this point, some people get nervous. If grace is this abundant, if salvation is truly a gift, if God's love comes before we earn it and before we deserve it, then what keeps us from simply doing whatever we want? Paul is clear that we don't earn our salvation. And he is equally clear that God created us for good works. Good works are not the cause of salvation, they are the fruit of salvation, evidence that grace is alive and active within us. Or to put it another way: God doesn't love us because we do good things. We begin to do good things because we have encountered the love of God. Grace is not an excuse to do nothing. Grace is an invitation to participate in what God is doing in the world. Grace is bigger than we think. It is not merely a drop of help when we're struggling or a nudge of encouragement when we're discouraged. It is not a small boost for the spiritual journey. It is the power of God's mercy and love constantly interrupting the stories that diminish life and opening up new possibilities we could never create on our own. And because grace is bigger than we think, it keeps interrupting the stories that tell us life can only go one way. The world says there isn't enough. But God is rich in mercy. The world says you have to earn your place. But God saves by grace. The world says shame gets the last word. But God is great in love. The world says what is dead is dead. But God makes us alive. The world says you're on your own. But God makes us alive together. The world says this is all there is. But God is still creating. Still shaping. Still calling life from dust. Still making all things new. The story was going one way. But God. Thanks be to God. Amen. + + + Keep a daily grace log. At the end of each day, ask: Where did I experience a “But God” moment today? Where did grace go before me? Where did mercy, love, beauty, hope, community, or possibility interrupt the story I expected?

You can do a lot of “right” things and still drift from the one thing Jesus wants most: love that stays alive. Pastor Rusty takes us into Revelation 2 and the message to the church of Ephesus, a community praised for hard work, endurance, and testing false teachers, yet confronted with a piercing line: they lost their first love. That tension feels uncomfortably current for anyone who has served faithfully, stayed the course, and still sensed their heart cooling off.We follow the image of Jesus walking among the lampstands like a priest tending the fire, then trace the Old Testament pattern of consecration and anointing. Blood prepares the ear to hear, the thumb to serve, and the foot to walk straight. Oil empowers what redemption has made possible, pointing to the Holy Spirit as daily supply, not yesterday's memory. Along the way, Pastor Rusty unpacks why Ephesus mattered, how truth and love must stay together, and why orthodoxy without intimacy turns into religion.The takeaway is practical and personal: keep the oil flowing and keep the wicks trimmed. Fresh prayer is intimacy, not a punch clock. Trimming the wick means letting God deal with the slow char of pride, offence, bitterness, distraction, wrong motives, and spiritual fatigue so our lives give light instead of smoke. If you're hungry to be all flame again, press play, share this with a friend, and subscribe and leave a review so more people can find it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Smethurst preaches Revelation 2:1–7 at River City Baptist Church, a new congregation in Richmond, Virginia. For more information or to get in touch, visit https://rivercityrichmond.org.

Life has a way of pulling us off center — filling our days with good things, while slowly crowding out the best thing. In this message, Pastor Renaud opens up Revelation 2 and the story of the church at Ephesus to show us what it looks like when activity replaces affection, power replaces presence, and doctrine replaces devotion.  This is your invitation to remember. Repent. Return. Jesus wants to be the center — not just of your Sundays, but of your everyday. And the good news? You don't have to find your way back in your own strength. He's already there, waiting.

Brian Van Eps | Guest Speaker Referenced Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10 Reflection Questions:1. When was the last time you asked, “What should I do now?” 2. What did you do? 3. How do you define the word, “Humble?” 4. How does the, “gift of grace” impact your life today? 5. What are your strengths and weaknesses really? 6. How is God's prompting you to, “Get to Work” lately? What's your next step? Connect: We'd love to connect with you! Fill out our Connect Card to receive more information, have us pray for you, or to ask us any questions: http://journeybozeman.com/connectcard Connect: Get your children connected to our children's ministry, Base Camp: https://journeybozeman.com/children Connect: Our Student Ministry is for High School and Middle School students: https://journeybozeman.com/students Give: Want to worship through giving and support the ministry of Journey Church: https://journeybozeman.com/give Gather: Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/JourneyChurchBozeman Gather: Download our app: https://journeybozeman.com/app Gather: Join our Facebook Group to stay connected throughout the week: https://facebook.com/groups/JourneyChurchBozeman  Chapters (00:00:01) - A Moment of Reckoning(00:06:05) - What Should I Do Now?(00:08:09) - Letter from Paul to the Christians of Ephesus(00:11:27) - Two Gifts of Stay Humble(00:16:19) - The Gift of Grace(00:18:41) - The Gifts of St. Humble(00:20:31) - Stay Humble(00:22:51) - Paul's Message on the Work of Being Yourself(00:29:52) - God has a story for you(00:31:51) - Prayer for the Church

Pastor Adam BowersIn this message, Pastor Adam continues our Revelation series by exploring Jesus' letter to the church in Ephesus. The Ephesian church was known for its strong doctrine, perseverance, and commitment to truth. Yet Jesus confronts them with a sobering warning: they had abandoned their first love. Through the history of Ephesus and the words of Paul, Timothy, John, and Jesus Himself, we discover why God's design for His church has always been uncompromising truth and authentic love working together.What should our church be known for? And what happens when we become more concerned with being right than loving people well?Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7, Acts 20 28-30, Ephesians 4-5

This sermon challenges believers to examine whether they are living with a complacent faith or a compelling faith. Using the metaphor of stagnant ponds versus flowing rivers, the message calls Christians to be conduits of the Holy Spirit rather than spiritually stagnant. The sermon emphasizes that compelling faith requires being compelled by the Spirit, even when it leads to uncertainty and hardship. Drawing from Acts 19-20 and Paul's ministry in Ephesus, the message illustrates how authentic Christianity disrupts darkness and idolatry in culture. The central call is for believers to embrace "disruptive discipleship" - a lifelong surrender to Jesus that interrupts ordinary living, dismantles comfort and compromise, and moves Christians from consumption to mission. The sermon concludes with the challenge that every believer must choose: remain complacent and complicit, or become compelling through Spirit-led obedience.Read John 7:37-39; Ezekiel 47:1-12Jesus promises that believers will have rivers of living water flowing from within them. Notice the contrast between stagnant ponds and rushing rivers. A pond collects but doesn't release—it becomes stagnant, breeding decay. A river constantly receives and gives, bringing life wherever it flows.The Holy Spirit desires to flow through you like a river, bringing refreshment to dry places. But this requires both intake and outflow. Are you receiving from God daily through prayer and Scripture? Are you releasing His love through service and witness? Stagnation happens when we consume without contributing, when we gather but never give. Ask yourself today: Am I a stagnant pond or a rushing river? The Spirit wants to move through you, but He needs your surrender. Where has spiritual stagnation crept into your life? What would it look like to allow God's Spirit to flow freely through you today?Discussion Questions:-Paul says he is 'compelled by the Spirit' without knowing what will happen to him, only that hardships await. What would it look like for you to follow the Holy Spirit's leading even when the outcome is uncertain or difficult?-The sermon contrasts a stagnant pond with a rushing river as metaphors for spiritual life. Which image better represents your current spiritual state, and what specific steps could move you toward becoming 'living water'?-The sermon lists several types of Christians including the consumer Christian, the distracted Christian, and the knowledge-heavy but action-light Christian. Which of these categories do you most identify with, and what would it take to move beyond it?-Mike mentions that many churches become stagnant by focusing only on what's wrong with the world rather than where God is moving. How can we maintain awareness of darkness while keeping our primary focus on where the Spirit is at work?

1 Corinthians 15:29-5829 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink,  for tomorrow we die.”33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”55 “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

At the beginning of the book of Revelation, Jesus wrote seven letters for churches not only in existence at that time, but for all time, including today. These letters have very important messages for every believer, including us. Let's find out more about what Christ wants us to know—here, on Foreshadows Report!Learn more about Steve and his books at https://SteveMillerResources.comProduced by Unmutable™

       Nobody plans to have their marriage fall apart. Nobody dreams of financial disaster or watching their kids walk away from the faith. And yet all around us, people who wanted good lives find themselves living something they never intended. How does that happen when nobody wanted it?       Because life has no rehearsal. There's no pre-production run, no second take, no chance to run a day and evaluate it before it counts. Every decision you make — about who you listen to, what you let build momentum in your life — is live. And the painful truth is that most of our greatest regrets could have been avoided if we'd only known sooner what we learned the hard way.       Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus isn't a moral code — it's a call to live wisely in a world specifically designed to misinform you. Be careful how you live, he says. Make the most of every opportunity. Understand what God's will actually is. That's not generic advice. It's the beginning of a completely different relationship with the choices that are shaping your life right now — before the momentum becomes unmanageable.       Support the mission of the Salty Pastor ministry! Visit our donations page at https://pushpay.com/g/thesaltypastor to help us continue sharing truth with a world in need. Visit thesaltypastor.com to sign up for our weekly email, designed to coach, inspire, and encourage you to a mature faith.Discussion QuestionsLooking back, what's a decision you made where better counsel could have changed the outcome — and what made you resistant to seeking it at the time?Paul says the world is specifically designed to misinform us. Where do you feel most susceptible to that kind of influence right now?What does "living wisely" actually look like in your daily decisions — not in theory, but in the specific choices you face this week?

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1 Excluding gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Paul the Apostle was one of the foremost writers of the New Testament; accredited at least 13 of the books included. However, one detail many believers may gloss over is that, Paul was a Pharisee and astutely educated in the Tanakh, thus held a strong Jewish theology. Join Rabbi Schneider today in this classic series, as highlights importance of understanding the person of Paul and how it must influence our understanding of the New Testament. **** BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER - https://djj.show/YTAPartner  **** DONATE - https://djj.show/YTADonate  **** TEACHING NOTES -  https://djj.show/32g 

Göbekli Tepe continues to reveal the striking nature of humanity's past. Bernie Taylor arrives to add to the living mystery of the site, specifically the Great Mother Goddess. We'll explore the deep prehistoric foundations of Ephesus, tracing its roots back to ancient matriarchal Anatolian civilizations and the maternal lineages of early humanity. He'll examine the cultural shift from these indigenous traditions and the legendary influence of Amazonian queens to the rise of patriarchal structures in the Greco-Roman era. Finally, Bernie uncovers the enduring symbolic legacy of the Mother Goddess, revealing a continuous spiritual thread that connects prehistoric birthing figures to the venerated Lady of Ephesus. More on Bernie: https://beforeorion.com/ Göbekli Tepe continues to reveal the striking nature of humanity's past. Bernie Taylor arrives to add to the living mystery of the site, specifically the Great Mother Goddess. We'll explore the deep prehistoric foundations of Ephesus, tracing its roots back to ancient matriarchal Anatolian civilizations and the maternal lineages of early humanity. He'll examine the cultural shift from these indigenous traditions and the legendary influence of Amazonian queens to the rise of patriarchal structures in the Greco-Roman era. Finally, Bernie uncovers the enduring symbolic legacy of the Mother Goddess, revealing a continuous spiritual thread that connects prehistoric birthing figures to the venerated Lady of Ephesus. More on Bernie: https://beforeorion.com/ Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ Gnostic Tarot Readings: https://thegodabovegod.com/gnostic-tarot-reading/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288 Merch store: https://aeonbyte.creator-spring.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.