Friday, August 15, 2008

Confusion

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Ephesus. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 19
23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis - this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world - will be robbed of her great prestige!” 28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. 32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. 38 “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40 I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.


Confusion. I am intrigued by the line, “most of them didn’t even know why they were there.” Sadly, it seems like this statement and this struggle with confusion can describe most people (Jesus followers and non-followers alike). Some people are confused about what to believe. Some people are confused about what they do believe. Some people are confused about why they believe. This is why it is important for us to be like the Bereans (check out Acts 17:11). This is why it is important for us to be like Peter and John (check out Acts 4:18-19). This is why it is important for us to be like Philip (check out Acts 8:30-35). This is why it is important for us to be like Paul (check out Acts 19:8-10). I am so glad you are on this journey with me. My prayer is that, along the way, we will continue to search for understanding for our confusion (like the Bereans) and when we encounter someone struggling with confusion we will help them in their search for understanding (like Peter, John, Philip and Paul).

Thursday, August 14, 2008

After

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Ephesus. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 19
21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” 22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.


After. What is your next step in life? What is the title of the next chapter in the story of your life? I love the fact that Paul has an “after” in mind (and then even one after that) ... and that his “afters” don’t include the phrase “retiring to a little villa on the coast of the Aegean Sea”. Paul was constantly looking to serve God ... in new ways and in new places. It saddens me when followers of Jesus, that have served God willingly and pursued him passionately for years, choose to “retire” spiritually when they retire vocationally. My prayer is that God will continue to compel me into one “after” after another.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Powerful

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Ephesus. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 19
13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.


Powerful. The name of Jesus (as we have seen throughout this story, check out Acts 4:10) is powerful ... a power that the story suggests deserves “great honor” and “a solemn fear”. The Jews respected the powerful nature of God’s name so much that they refused to say it out loud. I’m not suggesting we should return to that practice. I am suggesting we revisit the powerful nature of Jesus’ name in our own lives and restore some of the honor and respect it deserves. This part of the story is also a reminder that we coexist with other spiritual forces that are powerful and dangerous ... forces that should not be taken lightly. Paul would later write a letter back to this same community of Jesus followers and encourage them to “stand firm ... against mighty powers in this dark world” (check out Ephesians 6:10-17). Fortunately, Jesus gave us a heads up and some hope when it came to this powerful struggle (check out John 16:33).

Monday, August 11, 2008

Discussions

We are following Paul’s third missionary journey...currently in the city of Ephesus. There is a link in the “sites” section of the blog that will allow you to interactively track his journey.


Acts 19
8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia - both Jews and Greeks - heard the word of the Lord. 11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.


Discussions. I love the fact that Paul demonstrates the process of sharing the good news of Jesus by having a discussion in a lecture hall. A discussion offers you the opportunity to weave stories of God’s love and truth and grace and wisdom into everyday moments. Instead, we typically share God’s beauty by lecturing ... in the car on the way to church or during dinner at the table ... places that lend themselves to discussions. In this spirit of discussing, I am going to stop lecturing you about discussions and go have one.