Ephesus

1. Sardis Ephesus Hieropolis Laodicea Colossae

2. Entry Arches into Hieropolis

3. Theater in Hieropolis

4. Theater in Hieropolis

5. Stadium in Laodicea 900 ft long

6. Unexcavated ruins in Laodicea

7. Tel Mound of Colossae

8. Temple to Caesar in Ephesus

9. Gymnasium in Sardis

10. Temple to Artemis in Sardis

11. Impact of the Gospel • . . . because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints- the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. • All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. • Colossians 1:3-8

12. Biblical teaching All powerful God, Creator of the Universe God of holiness, justice, mercy, love Yahweh of the Jews “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ Pagan teaching 179 gods and goddesses in the Roman Pantheon At war with one another, fickle, immoral, capricious Harsh and Unpredictable toward humans Who is God? 60AD

13. Pluto (Hades), god of the underworld with Cereberus

14. Biblical teaching All powerful God, Creator of the Universe God of holiness, justice, mercy, love “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ Common conceptions Benign tolerant grandfather who’s obligated to bless us Not sure there is one No God necessary Impersonal spiritual force present in all things Who is God? 2006

15. Paul for Colossians 60AD asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you . . . Average Roman citizen 60AD Prayer to Artemis (Diana), goddess of fertility for luck in love and romance. Prayer to Demeter, goddess of grain for abundant crop. Prayer to Bacchus for fun and a good time. Prayer to Juno for good crops, herds and for children. Prayer to Pluto (Hades) for passage of the soul into underworld. Prayed allegiance and sacrificed incense to Caesar for protection from national enemies and the right of life and commerce. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying . . .

16. Paul for Colossians 60AD asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you . . . for he has rescued us . . . and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, redeemed us and forgiven us of our sins Typical Am. Christians 2006 AD asking God to bless you with a good job, hopefully working with other Christians and a nice boss That God’ll protect you from injury, illness, traffic congestion, accidents and provide you with a good parking place. That God will bless you with the right person to marry, so you’ll be very happy, have a wonderful family of kids who are safe and turn out great. That God will bless you with lots of money so you can have a nice house, car, recreational toys, tvs, ipods, videogames, surround sound home theater, great computer with dsl protected from viruses and crashes. A life free from inconvenience, discomfort, lack and hardship. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying . . .

17. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying . . . • asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this • in order that you • may live a life worthy of the Lord • and may please Him in every way: • bearing fruit in every good work, • growing in the knowledge of God, • being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might • so that you • may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully • giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you . . . for he has rescued us . . . and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, redeemed us and forgiven us of our sins

18. Profile of such a person • Great sense of security and purpose in God’s overall plan. Free from worry or need to be in control. • Keen insight into and ability to understand specific happenings and how they fit into God’s ultimate design. • Expressing God’s nature of dignity, grace, confidence, courage and compassion in all situations. • Secure in God’s approval in Christ so not desperate for people’s approval. • Others benefit from this person’s presence and labor. • Resourced with great power: able to endure and to overcome in spite of hardships, remain calm and gracious despite mistreatment and disappointment. • Life marked by joyful sense of gratefulness. • Lives in anticipation of glorious life to come.