the glorious church ephesians 5:25-27. first century church grew acts 2:41 three thousand acts 2:41...

The Glorious The Glorious ChurchChurch

Ephesians 5:25-27Ephesians 5:25-27

First Century Church First Century Church GrewGrew

Acts 2:41 Three thousandActs 2:41 Three thousand Acts 4:4 Five thousandActs 4:4 Five thousand Acts 6:7 Acts 6:7 “Number of disciples multiplied “Number of disciples multiplied

… exceedingly.”… exceedingly.” Acts 9:31 Acts 9:31 “So the church throughout all “So the church throughout all

Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.”Holy Spirit, was multiplied.”

Acts 11:24 Acts 11:24 “… and much people was “… and much people was added unto the Lord.”added unto the Lord.”

Acts 18:10 Acts 18:10 “… I have much people in this “… I have much people in this city” city” cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

How Did The Church How Did The Church Grow And Maintain It Grow And Maintain It

Distinctiveness?Distinctiveness?Note: The 7 churches of Asia MinorNote: The 7 churches of Asia Minor.. Writer: Writer: Revelation 1:5-8; 17-19Revelation 1:5-8; 17-19 Recipients:Recipients:

Two churches received only commendation. Two churches received only commendation. Smyrna and Philadelphia.Smyrna and Philadelphia.

One church received only condemnation. One church received only condemnation. Laodicea.Laodicea.

Four churches received a mixed report of Four churches received a mixed report of commendation and condemnation.commendation and condemnation.

““I know” I know” is found in all sevenis found in all seven. . Revelation 2:1; 2:9; 2:12; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; Revelation 2:1; 2:9; 2:12; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; 3:15.3:15.

Qualities That Must Be Qualities That Must Be PresentPresent

WorksWorks … … Revelation 2:19 Revelation 2:19Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk afore prepared that we should walk in them.” in them.”

The word of God was taught BY EVERY The word of God was taught BY EVERY CHRISTIAN (Acts 8:4; cf. Matthew CHRISTIAN (Acts 8:4; cf. Matthew 28:18-19; 28:18-19; 2 Timothy 2:2)2 Timothy 2:2)


Keep the church morally pureKeep the church morally pure.. Ephesus. Revelation 2:2Ephesus. Revelation 2:2 Thyatira. Revelation 2:20Thyatira. Revelation 2:20 Sardis. Revelation 3:4Sardis. Revelation 3:4 We do not withdraw from people We do not withdraw from people

because they sin (cf. Romans 3:23; 1 because they sin (cf. Romans 3:23; 1 John 2:1)John 2:1)

We withdraw from people because We withdraw from people because they sin and refuse to repent. cf. 1 they sin and refuse to repent. cf. 1 Corinthians 5; especially verse 6Corinthians 5; especially verse 6


Keep the church morally pureKeep the church morally pure.. Discipline Must Be Practiced:Discipline Must Be Practiced:

To save the erring Christian, 1 To save the erring Christian, 1 Corinthians 5:5 (2 Corinthians 2:6).Corinthians 5:5 (2 Corinthians 2:6).

To prevent shame & reproach. 1 To prevent shame & reproach. 1 Corinthians 5:6Corinthians 5:6

Upholds Christ’s church in the eyes of Upholds Christ’s church in the eyes of the world.the world.

Helps us consider ourselves (Galatians Helps us consider ourselves (Galatians 6:1).6:1).


Identify And Correct False Identify And Correct False TeachersTeachers..

Examples:Examples: Ephesus. Revelation 2:2Ephesus. Revelation 2:2 Pergamum. (compromise) Pergamum. (compromise)

Revelation 2:14Revelation 2:14 Philadelphia. Revelation 3:8Philadelphia. Revelation 3:8


Identify And Correct False TeachersIdentify And Correct False Teachers..

Divine standard of truth. John 17:17; Divine standard of truth. John 17:17; John 7:24; John 7:24; 2 Timothy 3:16-172 Timothy 3:16-17

Need for godly elders. Acts 20:29, 30; Need for godly elders. Acts 20:29, 30; Titus 1:9Titus 1:9

Note the shepherds of Israel. Ezekiel 34Note the shepherds of Israel. Ezekiel 34


PerseverancePerseverance.. Examples:Examples:

Ephesus. Revelation 2:2-3Ephesus. Revelation 2:2-3 Pergamum. Revelation 2:13Pergamum. Revelation 2:13

Devil makes life difficult.Devil makes life difficult. Worthy adversary. 1 Peter 5:8Worthy adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 Must count the cost. Luke 14:25-28Must count the cost. Luke 14:25-28 Opposition may be from our own family. Opposition may be from our own family.

Matthew 10:34-39Matthew 10:34-39 NOTE: The heroes of faith. Hebrews 11NOTE: The heroes of faith. Hebrews 11


Keeping the passionKeeping the passion..

Example.Example. Ephesus. Revelation 2:4-5Ephesus. Revelation 2:4-5

“Thou dist leave thy first love.”“Thou dist leave thy first love.”

Background.Background. Faith in Christ. Ephesians 1:15Faith in Christ. Ephesians 1:15 Endured with boldness the Endured with boldness the

teaching of the gospel. Acts. 19:8teaching of the gospel. Acts. 19:8


Background.Background. Publicly and from house to house. Acts Publicly and from house to house. Acts

20:2020:20 Heard Paul daily in the school of Heard Paul daily in the school of

Tyrannus for two years. Acts 19:9-10Tyrannus for two years. Acts 19:9-10 Investigated and exposed false Investigated and exposed false

teachers. teachers. Acts 19:13-20; Revelation 2:2Acts 19:13-20; Revelation 2:2

Evangelized. Evangelized. Acts 19:20 “All Asia Acts 19:20 “All Asia heard the word of the Lord.”heard the word of the Lord.”


Maintain genuine love for one Maintain genuine love for one anotheranother..

Example:Example: Thyatira. Revelation 2:19; cf. 1 Thyatira. Revelation 2:19; cf. 1

Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 1:22-23; John 13:34-35John 13:34-35


Keep a strong faithKeep a strong faith..

Example.Example. Thyatira. Revelation 2:19Thyatira. Revelation 2:19

Necessity of faith. Hebrews 11:6Necessity of faith. Hebrews 11:6 Abraham. Genesis 15; Romans 4; James Abraham. Genesis 15; Romans 4; James

22 Paul. Paul. “I believe God, that it shall be “I believe God, that it shall be

even so as it hath been spoken unto even so as it hath been spoken unto me.” Acts 27:25me.” Acts 27:25


Stay aliveStay alive..Example.Example.

Sardis. Revelation 3:1 Good Sardis. Revelation 3:1 Good reputation, but dead.reputation, but dead.


What about Fifth Street EastWhat about Fifth Street East?? Measure it by the quality of worship. John 4:24Measure it by the quality of worship. John 4:24 Measure it by the thirst for truth. Matthew 5:6Measure it by the thirst for truth. Matthew 5:6 Measure it by the young people and their Measure it by the young people and their

knowledge of truth. Proverbs 22:6; Judges 2:10knowledge of truth. Proverbs 22:6; Judges 2:10 Measure it by what is taught. 2 Timothy 4:2ffMeasure it by what is taught. 2 Timothy 4:2ff Measure it by its leadership. Acts 20:28Measure it by its leadership. Acts 20:28 Measure it by our attitude toward each other. Measure it by our attitude toward each other.

cf. Galatians 6:1cf. Galatians 6:1

ConclusionConclusion

Works, moral purity, identifying and Works, moral purity, identifying and correcting error, perseverance, keeping correcting error, perseverance, keeping the passion alive, loving one another, the passion alive, loving one another, strong faith, staying alive … are strong faith, staying alive … are necessary to make us what we want to necessary to make us what we want to be.be.

The church belongs to Christ, because he The church belongs to Christ, because he bought it with his own blood. Acts 20:28bought it with his own blood. Acts 20:28

It is important that we see true growth It is important that we see true growth and greatness through His eyes.and greatness through His eyes.

the glorious church ephesians 5:25-27. first century church grew acts 2:41 three thousand acts 2:41...

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