Christian Heritage Church

1. Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)

2. Acts 19:18 - 41 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the

3. Acts 19:18 - 41 craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!“ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. And when Paul

4. Acts 19:18 - 41 wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell

5. Acts 19:18 - 41 down from heaven? "So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. "For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. "So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering." After saying this he dismissed the assembly.

6. Impacting Your Culture • Commitment • Controversy • Complaint • Confusion • Areas of Impact • Means of Impact

7. 1 - Commitment Acts 19:21Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome.“ Paul had a commitment to impact his culture Are we committed to impacting ours? Paul was always making plans to advance God’s Kingdom Are we planning our next journey? Emperor Claudius, who commanded all Jews out of Rome (Acts 18:2), died during Paul’s second year at Ephesus – so Paul was now able to go to Rome

8. 1 - Commitment Romans 1:11-15For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

9. 1 - Commitment Romans 16:19-25And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation; but as it is written, "They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand." For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain--for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while--but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.

10. 2 - Controversy Acts 19:23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. About that time = After all the plans were made and Paul was committed to following God’s direction No small disturbance = A large disturbance The Way = Christianity Does the Gospel still cause controversy today? Beware if we are not causing controversy - it means we are NOT preaching God’s Word clearly enough, powerfully enough or accurately enough to cause controversy

11. 2 - Controversy Matthew 13:21When affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 2 Timothy 3:12Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

12. 2 - Controversy If we are preaching God’s Word clearly enough, powerfully enough and accurately enough there will be both controversy and persecution. If we are committed to a godly lifestyle based on the precepts, patterns and principles set forth in God’s we will cause controversy and suffer persecution. Anything else is not a threat to Satan’s kingdom or to our culture

13. 3 - Complaint Acts 19:24-27For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."

14. 3 - Complaint The complainant is Demetrius the silversmith who profited from the worship of Artemis Demetrius does not appeal to the civil authorities but to other workman of similar trades whose prosperity depends on the worship of Artemis His complaint is that Paul is saying that gods made with hands are not gods (could any truth be more plain) Demetrius portrays zeal for Artemis and her temple as his higher motive when riches were the real issue

15. 3 - Complaint Acts 16:19-21But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans." Do you think there is ever a distortion of the facts today? Do you think Christians are ever misrepresented today?

16. 4 - Confusion Acts 19:29, 32The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia… So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. Have you ever noticed how confused people become when they oppose the truth? Some say one thing some another No one knows what they believe or why they believe it They are inconsistent in what they claim to believe

17. 4 - Confusion Acts 19:34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" Was this a logical and reasoned response? Have you noticed how effective repetition can be? Separation of Church and State Evolution and Million of Years Overpopulation Global Warming

18. Matthew Henry “The common and natural effect of intemperate zeal for a false religion; it throws all into confusion, dethrones reason, and enthrones passion; and men run together, not only not knowing one another’s minds, but not knowing their own.” 1662-1714

19. 5 - Areas of Impact True Repentance Acts 19:18Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. A Change of Values Acts 19:19And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20. 5 - Areas of Impact Worldview Acts 19:20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. The Economy Acts 19:25"Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

21. 5 - Areas of Impact False gods are Exposed Acts 19:26Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. False gods Become Worthless Acts 19:27Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless

22. 5 - Areas of Impact A Dethroning of What the Masses Trust In Acts 19:27She whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." When we are preaching God’s Word clearly enough, powerfully enough and accurately enough we will impact our culture. When we are committed to a godly lifestyle based on the precepts, patterns and principles set forth in God’s we will impact our culture.

23. 6 - Means of Impact Acts 19:20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. Our greatest means of impacting the world around us is a changed life If everyone who professed to be a Christian lived like one it would have a tremendous impact on our culture

24. 6 - Means of Impact Discipleship Acts 19:9But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

25. 6 - Means of Impact Friendships Acts 19:30-31And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. Both Christian and non-Christian friends Not unequally yoked, but friends

26. 6 - Means of Impact 1 Corinthians 5:9-12I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? We don’t shun unbelievers, but we shun Christians who act like unbelievers

27. 6 - Means of Impact Civil Authorities Acts 19:35-41After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? "So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. The civil magistrate calmed the masses and helped them to think rationally

28. 6 - Means of Impact "For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. The civil magistrate helped them to see the situation more objectively So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. The civil magistrate demonstrated the appropriate legal response

29. 6 - Means of Impact "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering." The civil magistrate warned themof punishment After saying this he dismissed the assembly. The civil magistrate maintained order The state is an agent of God to restrain evil Are we exercising our rights as citizens as a means to impact our culture

30. Are You Impacting Your Culture? Our greatest means of impacting our culture is a changed life, are we living in a manner worthy of the Gospel? Are we clearly, powerfully and accurately preaching the Gospel? Who are our friends?

31. Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)