Life Encounters

Last Sunday we started our new series at church, entitled “Letter to London”. We’re going to be reading through the book of Ephesians and looking at a section a week until we get to the end. I have a great sense of expectancy as we discover rich truth, wisdom, and increased faith.

If you’re interested you can download all the messages, slides, and group study notes from our download browser, and I’m sure Wolfi will post some thoughts on his blog as we go along.

What got me thinking today as I was looking at the background of Ephesians is how central Ephesus seems to be in the spread of the gospel.

We know more about the church in Ephesus than any other, Paul ministered in Ephesus for a couple of years, sent Timothy to Ephesus (and wrote his letters to him while he was there) and John settled in Ephesus and wrote his gospel and three letters there.

The letter to Ephesians is unlike other epistles. Most bible commentators agree that this letter was intended to be a general letter for wide circulation, and rather than addressing specific personal or church-related issues, it simply and clearly outlines the gospel and how we – the church – should live in light of it.

So, why Ephesus?

What strikes me about the ministry of Paul is how strategic the places are. Ephesus is no exception. It was a thriving centre of commerce, finance, and culture, but most importantly it was a key trade route and stood at the doorway to the Asian interior.

When Paul received the gospel and his commission to preach it, his primary concern doesn’t seem to be in building a big, static church. His primary concern seems to be to build churches that would make disciples of all nations.

Travellers from Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and further afield. All of them would have come through places like Ephesus and heard the gospel. Many of them would have believed it, been changed by it, and carried it all over the world.

Paul didn’t rate success just on how many people came to church, but how many people came through church.

That’s why:

• How many disciples are made matters more than how big your church is.
• How many people are sent out to make disciples is more important than how many people gather on a Sunday.
• A kingdom vision is even more important than a local church vision.

And that’s why even though I’m a country boy I’m part of a church that has as it’s mission to “make disciples of all nations” and is based in London – the city with the greatest potential to reach the whole world.