Always Be Thankful: Reframing things can help us cultivate gratitude.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, November 23, 2025

I read the following:

When I glimpse the well-worn spine of The Hiding Place on my bookshelf, I always think first of the fleas and the horror of human beings forced to sleep in flea-infested straw bedding in a concentration camp. And then I remember with amazement and deep conviction the prayer whispered on that straw by Betsie ten Boom and recalled by her sister Corrie: “Thank you, God, for the fleas.”

The first time I read The Hiding Place, I was in my mid-20s and, after a lifetime of assigned reading, was rediscovering the joy of reading for pleasure. Drawn to biographies of faithful Christians, I couldn’t devour them fast enough. I went to these books in search of worlds and experiences outside my own from which to mine wisdom. I gobbled up books such as Peace Child, Evidence Not Seen, A Chance to Die, Shadow of the Almighty, Surprised by Joy, Living Sacrifice, and Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God. But I returned over and over again to Corrie ten Boom and the Beje in Holland, her jail cell, and the flea-ridden bunk she shared with her sister in Ravensbruck, deep in the cold, darkened heart of Nazi Germany.

Corrie’s memoir begins happily enough as she recalls her home, work, and family life in Holland. A cloud hangs over her telling, however, because as all students of history know, war looms on the horizon. When Nazi Germany invades and occupies Holland, Corrie notes small and confounding changes around her: stars of David appearing on passersby, windows of Jewish businesses broken by rocks, ugly words appearing on synagogue walls. Eventually Corrie and her family notice Jewish neighbors disappearing—to where, they aren’t sure—so they begin hiding Jews in their home and working with an underground network to spirit them to safety.

Corrie, her father (Casper), and her sister (Betsie) are eventually betrayed by a fellow Dutchman, arrested, and imprisoned. The two women are ultimately transferred to Ravensbruck, a German concentration camp. While in the camp, bedded down with the fleas, sickly Betsie shares a post-war vision with Corrie: She must tell what she’s seen—not merely the brutality but also how the love and forgiveness found in Christ surpasses the evil and hate of the world. Corrie must tell, Betsie implores, how God was there among them in their deepest suffering.

Betsie doesn’t live to see the reality of her vision, but Corrie does. She’s released from the concentration camp based, she’d later discover, on a clerical error. This divinely appointed clerical error set her on a trek all over the world to proclaim what she’d seen and experienced—a story of God’s faithfulness during some of the worst suffering humanity could invent.

As a young woman, I was a grateful recipient of Corrie’s story. I needed her honesty as she attempted to reconcile faith with suffering. When Betsie thanked God for the fleas, I was almost repulsed. I resonated more with Corrie than Betsie when Corrie said, “Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.” When Betsie expressed compassion for the Nazi guards, earnestly praying for souls hardened by hate, I stood with Corrie on the opposite side, uncertain if forgiveness could ever come. But through certain circumstances that revealed God’s goodness, God did make Corrie grateful for the fleas. And when, after the war, a former guard in her barracks extended a hand, asking for forgiveness, Corrie chose to offer it despite her feelings.[1]

Thankfulness is beneficial, but how do we thank God for difficult times?

My theme today is: Always find ways to give thanks.

Reframing things can help us cultivate gratitude.

1. The world is groaning.
   1. Romans 8:18 reads: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
   2. Paul had been writing about how we are adopted. Paul had been writing about how we are fellow heirs with Christ. Paul had been writing about how the Spirit testifies that we are children of God. Now, Paul begins to write about how our present suffering does not compare with our future glory. Paul writes about our hope.
   3. I notice that Paul acknowledges suffering. Do you notice that?
   4. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time… Paul mentions “sufferings,” but also “present time.”
   5. We all suffer in the present time. We are all going through struggles. We all go through illnesses, whether it’s ourselves or our friends and family who face them. We all go through mental illness, if not ourselves, our friends and family face mental illness. We all go through spiritual attacks, temptations, and even spiritual warfare (Eph 6:10-12). This is true whether we realize it or not. We suffer.
   6. Paul acknowledges here that we suffer.
   7. Paul does not say, “the suffering is not real…” Paul does not say, “toughen up…” No, Paul is comparing the suffering with our future with Jesus.
   8. Paul says the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
   9. Paul is contrasting the two.
   10. Paul is referring to the resurrection of the body.
   11. We are to make our present pain seem small in comparison to what is coming.[2]
   12. 2 Co 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…
   13. 1 Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
   14. Someday God will make all things new. That is in Revelation 21:1-4.
   15. What is coming? Let’s look at the next few verses.
   1. Romans 8:19 reads: For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
   2. Paul now broadens the subject matter.
   3. In verse 18 Paul used “I” and “us.” These are both personal pronouns. Now, Paul looks at this from a broader view. Now, he looks at this not from an individual perspective, but rather from a broader perspective. Now, Paul writes about all of creation suffering. All of creation is waiting with “eager” longing… or, literally, “eager expectations.” All of creation is waiting expectantly and how are they waiting “eagerly.” All of creation is earnestly waiting. As one writes: He personified it as leaning forward eagerly in anticipation of the great day in which God will fully redeem it too (cf. Gal. 5:5; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 9:28).^[3]
   4. What is all of creation waiting for? Creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.
   5. Who are the sons of God? That is us, we are sons and daughters of God, and that is powerful. Remember verse 16 about this, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
   6. Creation is waiting for the sons of God to be revealed, and this would mean glorifying the sons of God when all is made new and right.
   7. What is wrong with creation? Sin. Everything is fallen, all creation is depraved and needs redeemed. “All creation” means all animals, insects, stars, asteroids, rivers, oceans, cells, everything is marred by sin.
   8. Look at Romans 8:20-21: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
   9. Everything, all creation, was subjected to futility. One source says: This refers to the inability to achieve a goal or purpose. Because of man’s sin, God cursed the physical universe (Ge 3:17–19), and now, no part of creation entirely fulfills God’s original purpose.^[4]
   11. One source shares: Verses 19–21 are Paul’s commentary on Gn 3. When Jesus returns to earth with His people, the curse will be lifted from the world. Inanimate creation is personified in this passage as looking forward to the restoration of creation.^[6]
   12. Creation was subjected to futility, but not willingly… how? Who is the “him” who subjected it? This happened at the fall. God ultimately subjected it, but this happened because of sin entering the world, but there is a goal. Verse 21 shows that creation is waiting to be set free.
   13. Look at Romans 8:22-23: For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
   14. All of creation is waiting for redemption. Look at the language Paul is using. All of creation is undergoing labor pains. All of creation is going through childbirth. In verse 23, Paul comes back to us. All of creation is groaning in childbirth, and so are we. We, Christians, have the first fruits of the Spirit. That means that we have the first fruits, that is a pledge that more is to come.
   15. What is the first fruits? I think the first fruits would be the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts (Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:22-23).
   16. We are first groaning and waiting eagerly for adoption as sons, but we are ultimately waiting on the redemption of our bodies.
2. We wait patiently and confidently (verses 24-25).
   1. Look now at Romans 8:24-25: For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
   2. Paul talks about our hope. We were saved with the hope of when God will make all things new.
   3. We hope, not for what we see, but what we do not see.
   4. This is why we wait with patience.
   5. We do not see our hope, but we trust in the promises of God.
3.  Applications:
   1. Our suffering does not compare to our eternal life (verse 18). We must remember this. We must always remember that this world is the only hell we will experience. We must always remember to keep it in perspective.
   2. We must always remember that people in heaven are not thinking that they wish they lived longer.
   3. We must remember that God has a better plan, all of creation is fallen (verses 20-23).
   4. We must know that we have the first fruits, we have the Holy Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance (verse 23).
   5. We must remember that we have hope. In Christ, we always have hope.
   6. We must patiently wait for when God restores all things (verses 24-25).
   7. We must share the good news of Jesus with others.
   8. As we reframe, we can give thanks.
   9. Think about reframing-

Learning the Bicycle

by Wyatt Prunty

Learning the Bicycle

for Heather

The older children pedal past
Stable as little gyros, spinning hard
To supper, bath, and bed, until at last
We also quit, silent and tired
Beside the darkening yard where trees
Now shadow up instead of down.
Their predictable lengths can only tease
Her as, head lowered, she walks her bike alone
Somewhere between her wanting to ride
And her certainty she will always fall.
Tomorrow, though I will run behind,
Arms out to catch her, she’ll tilt then balance wide
Of my reach, till distance makes her small,
Smaller, beyond the place I stop and know
That to teach her I had to follow
And when she learned I had to let her go.[1]

[1] Poem: “Learning the Bicycle,” by Wyatt Prunty, from Balance as Belief. © John Hopkins University Press. Accessed on 11.19.2025

https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2004%252F05%252F15.html

Let’s get practical:

Pastor Ricks Sams writes:[1]

“The early morning hour should be dedicated to praise: do not the birds set us the example?” – Literary great, CS Lewis, quoting preaching great, Charles Spurgeon.

Let’s make the entire month of November 30 days of praise.

Research also shows that simply WRITING down three things every day for which you’re thankful is a key to happiness and a prescription that battles the blues—depression and anxiety. Don’t just say or think it if you want the power of this prescription.

Watch the mega-viewed youtube video on “Happiness At Work” by clinical psychologist, Dr. Shawn Achor, the doctor who actually prescribes writing your praise. In truth many doctors and social scientists have reported on the health-giving properties of praise & thanksgiving.

Hmm??? Who would have thought of that before all this research?

Actually, God did over 3000 years ago when the many Psalm writers penned commands like these: “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name; for the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100).

Note in this Psalm how connected thanksgiving and praise is with gladness and joy. Also contained in these commands is getting a firm grip on who we belong to, also tied to joy. How many references to “his” did you count?

Why commands? Because God loves us and wants us to experience the best life possible. He knows how we get that because He created us. Do you recall how giving us life abundant was one of the reasons Jesus came:?“I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

On top of all this a growing body of research shows what we say or think first thing every morning sets the tone for the next 24 hours*.

[1] Rick’s Ramblings email on 11.18.2025

Blessed Assurance:

1       Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

2       Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight:

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

3       Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Savior am happy and blest:

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Chorus        This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long.^[7]

[1] From Insight for Living Daily Broadcast: Putting Grace into Action, Part 3, Nov 18, 2025

This material may be protected by copyright.

[1] Hoover, Christine. Gospel Coalition; July 1, 2019; accessed on 10.06.2025. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/finding-courage-hiding-place/

[2] Paraphrased from Piper, Desiring God, pages 283–284

^[3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ro 8:19.

^[4] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ro 8:20.

[5] https://bibleworm1.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/the-redemption-of-possums-part-1/

^[6] Michael G. Vanlaningham, “Romans,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1757.

^[7] Logos Hymnal, 1st edition. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995).

Paul Encourages the Churches in Macedonia and Greece (Acts 20:1–6)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes at Bethel Friends Church on Sunday, November 16, 2025

Tony Evans shares:

In the 1996 Olympics, Keri Strug, the Olympic gymnast, had the weight of the Olympic gold medal for her team on her shoulders. All she had to do was have a successful vault, and the United States would get the gold. There was one problem. When she did her first vault, she sprained her ankle, and she could barely walk. She fell; she did not get the score she needed for the U.S. team to win. As she sat there on the mat with tears falling down her face, she cried for two reasons. One, she was in pain. And two, there was no way she could make the score to win the victory in this situation.

But she had another jump. She had another vault. She got up. She felt like giving up, but her coach stood on the sidelines and said, “You can do it, Keri. You can do it, Keri. I believe in you. You can do it.”

As she limped to get ready to try to do a vault, she could barely move. She told an interviewer, after the vault, that all she could do to keep going was keep her eyes on the coach. He kept her from focusing on her ankle. This girl was really hurting. She was crying. But she had an encourager who believed in her. She found strength from his encouragement that she didn’t have. Even with the limp, she took off running, and did her flip on the vault. She had to nail the landing in order to win. She had to try to do this with an ankle that was injured. With her coach’s encouragement holding her up, she conquered her impossibility. She earned a high enough score for the U.S. team to win the gold—all because of her coach’s encouragement. Encouragement changes your performance.^233,[1]

My theme today is: Paul encourages the churches in Macedonia and Greece.

1. Let’s start with the context.
   1. Acts 20:1 reads: After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
   2. What uproar?
   3. Remember, in the previous verses, there was an almost riot in Ephesus.
   4. The town clerk (Acts 19:34) quieted the crowd.
   5. So, here in Acts 20:1 Paul is in Ephesus, but leaving for Macedonia.
   6. Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.^[2]
   7. The ESV SB: helps: Paul Completes His Ministry in Greece. Paul made a final visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, spending the winter in Corinth.^[3]
   8. Achaia would be the broader area around Corinth.
   9. The uproar ceases; Paul sends for the disciples.
   10. He says farewell and leaves for Macedonia.
2. Paul in Greece (Acts 20:1-3).
   1. Acts 20:1–3 (ESV)
   2. After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. ² When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. ³ There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. 
   3. Macedonia would include Berea, Thessalonica, Philippi, and other cities. Corinth was south of Macedonia in Greece.
   4. Picking up at verse 2, Paul had gone through those regions.
   5. Notice in Acts 20:1 and Acts 20:2, Paul is encouraging the churches.
   6. Paul is also carrying an offering for Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-27).
   7. One writes:
   8. Paul collected offerings from the Gentile congregations of Macedonia and Achaia (Greece), and presumably from Galatia and Asia Minor, in order to support the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. This offering would serve as a concrete expression of love, support, and solidarity. Paul tells the church in Rome that those in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make this offering (Rom 15:26–27). They were “cheerful giver[s]” (2 Cor 9:7).^[4]
   9. Which regions? CSB: Paul probably went to Philippi and Thessalonica in Macedonia before going to Greece (Achaia), where he stayed for three months, possibly in Athens and Corinth. [In verse 3 we see] Paul’s Jewish opponents plotted against him, which caused him to change his travel plans. He decided to travel overland from Greece to Macedonia, where he caught a ship at Philippi.^[5]
   10. Notice that Acts 20:2 reads that he is giving them much encouragement.
   11. Do we aim to encourage?
   12. Then he comes to Greece. That is the same as the Roman province known as Achaia, which is where Corinth is located.
   13. He spent three months there (Acts 20:3).
   14. Once again, there is a plot against him by the Jews (Acts 20:3).
   15. He changes his travel plans to return through Macedonia. This is a land route, rather than a sea route.
   16. Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.^[6]
3. Paul heads to Troas (Acts 20:4-6).
   1. Acts 20:4–6 (ESV) ⁴ Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. ⁵ These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, ⁶ but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.
   2. In verse 4, we see that seven people joined him.
   3. In Acts 20:5 Luke writes they went ahead and waited for “us.” Since Luke writes “us,” I believe Luke is also with Paul.
   4. They sail from Philippi.
   5. It is interesting that they sailed after the days of Unleavened Bread. That would be Passover week.
   6. The days of Unleavened Bread refer to the week following Passover. Originally an agricultural festival commemorating the beginning of harvest, it was celebrated for seven days beginning on the fifteenth day of the month Nisan (March–April). It was later combined with Passover (Exod 12:1–20; Ezek 45:21–24; Matt 26:17; Luke 22:1).^[7]
   7. They stayed seven days in Troas.
   8. Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor. From Philippi to Troas was about 125 mi (200 km).^[8]
4.  Applications
   1. How can we encourage our brothers and sisters this week?
   2. How can we encourage through giving to our brothers and sisters this week?
   3. How can we serve our brothers and sisters this week?
   4. Who can we visit this week?

Tony Evans writes:

Many churches are in need of what every football team has: cheerleaders. The job of a cheerleader is to tell everybody “we’re going to make it.” No matter how bad things look on the scoreboard, there is still hope. Cheerleaders cheer all the way to the end of the game and will act like the team is winning by a big score even when there may be no way that a victory is possible. Their job is to be a cheerleader.

When folks come into today’s sanctuary with broken lives, they need to run into some cheerleaders, folks who are willing to cheer them on and tell them that they are going to make it.^239,[9]

^[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 85.

^[2] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:1.

^[3] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[4] Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 299.

^[5] Stanley E. Porter, “Acts,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1756.

^[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:3.

^[7] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:6.

^[8] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 20:6.

^[9] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 86.

Paul Experiences Violent Opposition at Ephesus (Acts 19:23–41)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

Sproul writes:

When Paul preached the gospel, a conflict always arose from the confrontation between the truth of Christ and the false doctrine of idolatry. John Calvin tells us in the Institutes that the heart of every human being is an idol factory, a fabricum idolarum. We are by nature inventors, craftsmen who create for ourselves idols as substitutes for the living God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul said that God’s wrath is revealed against the whole world, not because there are isolated incidents of idolatry but because the penchant toward idolatry is universal. It is foundational to everyone. Every human being knows the living God because God has clearly revealed His character to everyone. Yet every person by nature represses that knowledge of the true God and exchanges it for a lie by creating idols as substitutes for the true God (Rom. 1:18–23). That propensity does not end with conversion. That strong drive within us to replace the living God with something more palatable to us remains even in the hearts and minds of the converted. Today we do not fashion idols from stone, but we do fashion idols from ideas.

There was probably no place in the ancient world where this conflict with idolatry was more severe than in Ephesus. The temple of Diana in Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens. It was constructed of 127 pillars, and each pillar was 60 feet high. The walls of the temple were adorned by the ancient sculptor Praxiteles, the Michelangelo of his time. The grandeur of the temple of Diana was known throughout the entire world. In fact, the cult of religion that focused on Diana, or Artemis, was one of the largest religions of that time worldwide. There were thirty-three shrines to the goddess Diana in the ancient world spread out across different cities. She was a fertility goddess and was also known as the goddess of the hunt. Worshipers built little household shrines in their backyards dedicated to Diana before which they would bow and pray. Additionally, a large economy was established on the worship of Diana.^[1]

My theme today: Paul’s violent opposition in Ephesus.

The application: Take down idols in your life

1. The lecture of Demetrius (Acts 19:23–27)
   1. The context and situation.
   2. Paul is in Ephesus.
   3. In the previous section, we had people trying to impersonate him to cast out demons.
   4. Then, in Acts 19:21, Paul resolved to pass through Macedonia and Achaia (Corinth) and go back to Jerusalem.
   5. But the following event is in Ephesus.
   6. Acts 19:23–27 (ESV)
   7. ²³ About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. ²⁵ These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. ²⁷ And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
   8. This section begins with “about that time…” This is as Paul is beginning to think about heading back to Jerusalem. He has sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, but he stayed awhile (Acts 19:22).
   9. Notice that Christianity is called “the Way.”
   10. In verses 23-24, we see Demetrius the tradesman (Acts 19:23–24): He employs many craftsmen to make silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.
   11. Verse 24 says that Demetrius brought “no little” business to these craftsmen. That seems to clue me in that the following is going to be about money.
   12. In Acts 19:25-27, we see Demetrius the troublemaker: He calls his associates together and lectures them concerning how Paul’s preaching is harming their business.
   13. Acts 19:25 says that he gathered these businessmen in similar trades to his. Then, we see his speech. It starts with him talking about the wealth in this business. He is referring to the pagan things.
   14. The NET Bible shares: In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.^[2]
   15. Remember this event follows many being saved in Acts 19:19-20. They were saved, and they burned all their things of the magic arts. Since they were now Christians, they aren’t going to be marketing these places.
   16. In Acts 19:25, Demetrius says that from this business they have their wealth.
   17. In Acts 19:26, He says that Paul has persuaded and turned people away from their business. Paul is saying they are not gods at all.
   18. IVP BBC NT: “Not gods at all” was the refrain of Isaiah (e.g., 44:9–20; 46:1–11) and Judaism. By the early second century the Roman governor of a nearby province complained that the temples of the gods were being forsaken due to conversions to Christianity. After the arrest of many Christians, the governor reported, more people did buy animals for sacrifices again.^[3]
   19. Sproul writes: The silversmiths made images and souvenirs for visitors who came from all over the world to see this great temple, and outside the temple they had booths for displaying and selling Diana-related paraphernalia.^[4]
   20. In Acts 19:27, he shares danger about losing the business but also not being able to take care of the temple of Artemis. The NET Bible shares: It is important to appreciate that money alone was not the issue, even for the pagan Ephesians. The issue was ultimately the dishonor of their goddess to whom they were devoted in worship. The battle was a “cosmic” one between deities.^[5]
   21. NET: Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.^[6]
2. The lunacy of the crowd (Acts 19:28–34):
   1. Demetrius’s fiery speech incites mob action against Paul and his associates.
   2. In Acts 19:28-34 wee see the mob.
   3. Acts 19:28 (ESV)When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   4. These businessmen meet in the amphitheater. They are crying out how great Artemis is.
   5. This location made the event a public spectacle. The Grand Theater in Ephesus (still standing today) stood facing down the main thoroughfare of the city toward the docks. It had a seating capacity of 25,000.^[7]
   6. In Acts 19:29 they rush in and take Paul’s companions- Gaius and Aristarchus.
   7. The ESV STB shares: Apparently Gaius and Aristarchus were eventually released, since Aristarchus reappears later as Paul’s frequent companion (see 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24).^[8]
   8. Acts 19:29 (ESV)
   9. ²⁹ So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.
   10. Paul then wanted to go in the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.
   11. Acts 19:30 (ESV)But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.
   12. Even other friends of Paul were urging him not to go into the crowd.
   13. Acts 19:31 (ESV)
   14. ³¹ And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.
   15. Asiarchs are high-ranking military officials.
   16. ESV SB adds: The Asiarchs were the keepers of the imperial Roman cult in Asia; they were of high rank and were concerned about the safety of their fellow citizen Paul. Many inscriptions testify to the use of the title Asiarch during this time (see also Strabo, Geography 14.1.42).^[9]
   17. In Acts 19:32-34 the mob gets worse.
   18. Acts 19:32–34 (ESV)
   19. ³² Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   20. Confusion gets worse.
   21. Notice, most of them did not know why they came together.
   22. I once heard about the American Civil War. One person would be fighting for slavery, another for states’ rights, and another would be fighting because his friend was fighting. The initial reason gets blurred.
   23. Verse 33 says they thought it was Alexander.
   24. The Jews had put him forward.
   25. Alexander wanted to speak.
   26. He is not able to speak. Further, they realize that he was a Jewish man and they shout him down.
   27. The NET Bible shares:
   28. The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.^[10]
   29. ESV SB: The role of the Jew Alexander is unclear. Perhaps he wished to dissociate the Jews from the Christians. But the crowd shouted him down, knowing that Jews opposed any foreign gods.^[11]
3. The mayor calms them down (Acts 19:35–41):

1. 1. Acts 19:35 (ESV) ³⁵ And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?
   2. This town clerk quiets the crowd.
   3. I wonder how he did that. He must have had enough respect to leverage in this situation.
   4. Notice he talks about the city of Ephesus as a “temple keeper of the great Artemis…” Notice “Artemis” is always the “’Great’ Artemis.”
   5. Ephesus is also the keeper of the scared stone that fell from the sky.
   6. This was likely a meteor.
   7. In verse 36 he exhorts them to calm down.
   8. Acts 19:36 (ESV) ³⁶ Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
   9. Look at Acts 19:37:
   10. Acts 19:37 (ESV) ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
   11. I found his honesty revealing. Here is this man who is likely not a believer, but he says these Christians are not sacrilegious or blasphemous of their goddess.
   12. In Acts 19:38-39, the town clerk points Demetrius and the craftsmen to the courts.
   13. Acts 19:38–39 (ESV) ³⁸ If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
   14. Keller: “” It was a pragmatic argument. “Watch out; we may get arrested,” and everybody went home. Okay, so the moral of the story is … what? Actually, most commentators across the spectrum say it’s very cagey of Luke to keep this in here and show us this.
   15. That’s because the city clerk is essentially saying, “You say that these guys are disrupting the social order, but you’re the ones disrupting the social order. You’re saying these people over here, because they are undermining idol worship, are disrupting the social order, but actually you’re the ones who are disrupting the social order, because the Romans could come down on us. They could declare martial law. This is a riot. You don’t have any good reason for it.”
   16. What he’s actually saying is, “You say idols are the basis of our social order, but actually, it’s the idolatry and the violence of the idolaters that’s disrupting the social order.^[12]
   17. He essentially says that there is an order for taking care of these things.
   18. This section wraps up with a warning that if they do not disperse, the Roman officials will come in.
   19. Acts 19:40–41 (ESV) ⁴⁰ For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” ⁴¹ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
   20. He then dismissed this assembly, and they followed his warning. In Acts 20:1 it begins with “After the uproar ceased…”
   21. The ESV SB is helpful:
   22. A “proconsul” (Gk. anthypatos) was the head of government in a Roman province (cf. 13:7; 18:12). The plural here may refer to the fact that at that time in Ephesus they were between the reigns of two proconsuls. in danger. The crowd in the theater (where regular assemblies were held) had the appearance of an unlawful assembly and risked bringing Roman reprisals. Luke’s extensive report of the careful reasoning of the town clerk may have provided an important basis with which Christians in other cities could have defended themselves, since Luke shows here (and elsewhere in Acts; see notes on 18:14; 23:27) that the Christian gospel was not contrary to the Roman rule of law and was not disruptive of public order, and that accusations made to that effect were untrue.^[13]
2.  Applications:
   1. This all begins because Paul preached against idols.
   2. How are we doing with that?
   3. Is our family an idol?
   4. Is our money an idol?
   5. Is our job an idol?
   6. An idol is anything we place in front of God.

Keller writing about a New York Times opinionator blog:

New York Times Opinionator blog (it wasn’t in the printed version), a man named Benjamin Nugent, a creative writer, wrote a very interesting column on what he called “monomania.” He basically says that for a big part of his life, like a lot of young people, he wanted to be a writer, and that was the only thing he wanted. He wanted to be a good writer. He wanted to have his stuff have an impact. He wanted to write beautiful stuff, great stuff. He began to realize he was shooting himself in the foot.

He says, “When good writing was my only goal, I made the quality of my work the measure of my worth. For this reason, I wasn’t able to read my own writing well. I couldn’t tell whether something I had just written was good or bad, because I needed it to be good in order to feel sane. I lost the ability to cheerfully interrogate how much I liked what I had written, to see what was actually on the page rather than what I wanted to see or what I feared to see.”^[14]

Further:

He went on and said what was interesting as a writer is he noticed that writers of the past couple of centuries were much better at describing what he calls “monomania.” He says, “… writers of the 19th century wrote deathless novels about monomania.” For example, he talks about Captain Ahab and Moby Dick and the fact that the whale had beaten him and now he had no self-esteem and he was going to get his honor back by finding that white whale.

Then he talked about Victor Frankenstein who knew if he could just scientifically unlock the secret of life, then he’d know … This is all in the same column. Benjamin Nugent says, “When Frankenstein’s creature opens its eyes, [he] is repulsed and runs away. Ahab’s confrontation with his whale does not restore his self-esteem.”

What Nugent calls monomania is what the Bible calls idolatry. It’s the same thing. It’s the very same thing. It always fails to give you what it says it’s going to give you. It gives you the opposite. Anything you make more important than God will do that. Anything. Another woman also wrote in the New York Times early this year. This was in the print edition. She was the CFO of a major investment bank at one point. She was really at the top of the field.

She wrote an article called “Is There Life After Work?” She dealt with what she considered one of the main New York City myths, which is: you work like a dog to make money for a while. You spend a number of years. You work like a dog to get up and make your money. Everything else is put second, and you work and you work and you work. Then you kick back, and you have the money to live the way you want. The last two-thirds or half of your life you’re able to do what you want.

She says what a lie that was, because she was successful. Why? Because she worked like a dog. But why? She says, “Inevitably, when I left my job, it devastated me. I couldn’t just rally and move on. I did not know how to value who I was versus what I did. What I did was who I was.” Work, she thought, was her servant. It actually had become her god. She couldn’t feel good about herself unless she was being incredibly busy. She couldn’t stop. She didn’t know who she was. The idols always, always do that to you.^[15]

^[1] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 333.

^[2] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:25.

^[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Ac 19:26.

^[4] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 333–334.

^[5] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:27.

^[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:24.

^[7] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:29.

^[8] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[9] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[10] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 19:33.

^[11] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[12] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[13] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2128.

^[14] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[15] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

Paul Encounters False Religion at Ephesus (Acts 19:11–22)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, October 26, 2025

There is a war going on, but we cannot see it. A battle is underway, but we may not be aware of it. The enemy speaks words to bring us down, but we may not hear them. We are all under attack, but we may not be aware of it. We cannot perceive this war because it is a spiritual war. There is a spiritual battle going on. It is real, though we cannot see it, touch it, taste it, feel it, or hear it.

As a Christian, to deny this spiritual war greatly jeopardizes one’s relationship with God. As a Christian, to deny this spiritual war will keep one from being on the offensive rather than the defensive. As a Christian, to deny this spiritual war will mean being attacked. A Christian who denies spiritual warfare is like an aircraft carrier during World War II sitting in front of a German U Boat. A Christian must recognize the war that is taking place in the spiritual realm.

I mentioned attacks. You may wonder, “What do these attacks look like?” As a Christian, the attacks that we will experience are usually temptations to sin against the Lord. You may not realize it, but the main way we will experience this war that is going on is when you are attacked. The enemy, the devil and his forces, breaks through from the spiritual into the carnal world and attacks with an enticement to sin. And all sin is against the Lord (Psalm 51:4).

A Christian can experience other attacks from the enemy. However, I think this mainly happens when we invite the attack.

Paul is in Ephesus, and he encounters false religions. In the passage that we will look at, we see people in a position to experience demonic attacks. These people were not Christians. Yet, Christians must take the spiritual realm seriously.

My theme is: The seven sons of Sceva impersonate Paul, are beaten up by a demon-possessed man, and many are saved.

1. First, let’s look at what leads up to the spiritual warfare event.
   1. Acts 19:11-12:
   2. ¹¹ And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
   3. Notice in verse 11, the passage talks about all that has been going on. Many people have been healed, and Paul has done miraculous things.
   4. Verse 12 tells us how far things have gotten. Now, they take handkerchiefs and aprons from Paul, and if they touch other people, they are healed. Also, the evil spirit would leave the person. So, this verse recognizes that this had to do with physical healing as well as demonic possession.
   5. Before we proceed, please note that this is not a form of witchcraft. There are two other instances in the Scriptures where something similar occurred. One is with Peter in Acts 5:15, the people wanted his shadow to pass before them.
   6. Another occurrence of something like this is in Luke 8:44, when a woman with an issue of blood came and touched the edge of Jesus’s cloak to be healed.
   7. All these incidents bring glory to God and not to man.
   8. We’ll see that as the narrative goes on.
   9. One thought is that Luke must have really enjoyed writing this one. This is filled with humor in every way.
   10. So, that is what is going on to lead up to this.
   11. They are in Ephesus, and Ephesus is full of witchcraft.
   12. One writes:
   13. Ephesus was reputed as a center for magic. The famous statue of Artemis, the centerpiece of her temple, was noted for the mysterious terms engraved on the crown, girdle, and feet of the image. Referred to as the “Ephesian scripts,” this magical gibberish was considered to have great power.²⁵ It was not by accident that Paul’s encounter with magic took place in Ephesus, nor is it a surprise that his converts there had been involved in such practices. Magic was part of Ephesian culture. Nor should one question the integrity of these Ephesian Christians who only now openly forsook such ways. Salvation involves a process of growth, of increasing sanctification. And after all, the Ephesian spells were not that remote from the horoscopes and board games that supposedly communicate telepathic messages with which many Christians dabble in our own day.^[1]
2. Now, in the next few verses, we have impostors.
   1. Acts 19:13-14: ¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” ¹⁴ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
   2. Jewish people are faking and impersonating Paul.
   3. It was common back then to have exorcists who went around trying to make a name and money for themselves. This case is no different. These individuals were impostors; they were fakes. They were not real.
   4. It is a big deal to fake who you are, right?
   5. My dad was a police officer before I was born. But he got to keep the uniform after changing careers. My brother and I used to try to get him to put it on. My dad used to tell us that it was a big deal to impersonate a police officer, and you cannot do that.
   6. Now, if it is a big deal to impersonate a police officer, what about impersonating one of Jesus’s handpicked apostles? One would think that is a big deal.
   7. This honestly is a big deal.
   8. More than one set of men is doing this, but the Bible gives us one example.
3. In verses 15-16, we have the case study.
   1. Acts 19:15-16:
   2. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
   3. Seven sons of Sceva: So, Sceva is their dad, and he is apparently a Jewish High Priest. There was a Jewish historian named Josephus, who listed all the High Priests, and this individual is not one of them. But it could be that he is a pagan high priest. It could be that he was an illegitimate high priest; it could also be that he was from the high priest family. So, there are different options here.
   4. Think about this, though: the High Priest is the only one to enter the Holy of Holies. Think about that with what happens. But to his credit, he may not have known what his children were doing.
   5. With him being a high priest, the people might have thought there was a special type of power within him.
   6. So, his sons impersonate Paul and try to cast out demons in his name.
   7. The demons talk through the man they possessed. Then the man becomes supernaturally strong, and the demon says, “Jesus, I know; Paul, I am familiar with; you, I don’t know.” The demon beats them all up and sends them on the street naked.
   8. Now, the translation might have missed something. The Bible says that the demon beat them all up, which is all seven sons. However, that could also be translated as “two.” So, there could have been two or seven.
   9. They are then thrown out on the street naked, which could mean with torn clothes.
4. What happens after this (Acts 19:17-20)?
   1. Acts 19:17-20:
   2. ¹⁷ And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. ¹⁸ Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. ¹⁹ And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
   3. Now, people see this. The word spreads.
   4. First, in verse 17, the Bible says that Jews and Greeks see this. Then it says, “The name of the Lord was magnified.” That is what we are here for.
   5. So, now many people are saved.
   6. Verse 18 states that those who believed now came out and confessed.
   7. What this really means is that they got rid of their occult stuff.
   8. See the next verse. They take them out on the street and burn them. They have a big bonfire getting rid of stuff.
   9. Sproul shares:
   10. Books were very expensive in the ancient world. The library of ancient Ephesus is still standing; it is a magnificent edifice that was richly endowed with books. Most of the books that filled that library pertained to the occult, books that promised power over nature and diseases. Yet the people were so stricken in their conscience by the truth of the power of the Holy Spirit that they saw immediately the difference between the real and the counterfeit, and they went and got the books for which they had spent much money and burned them.^[2]
   11. Verse 20, the Word of God spreads.
5. How do we apply this?
   1. Sproul shares:
   2. Satan does have power. He does not have the power of God, and whatever power he has is forbidden altogether for the Christian. Once we are committed to the things of God, we are to turn our backs completely on the things of darkness and the kingdom of Satan. If you want true power that will edify, come to the power of the cross.^[3]
   3. Do you get rid of stuff? Do you put the past behind you?
   4. Notice that spiritual warfare is real.
   5. Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

 What you need to know: As a Christ follower, you have Jesus within you. You are possessed by God! Also, Jesus said we are not alone (Matthew 28:20). Lastly, put on the armor of God (Eph 6:10-12).

Pray

²⁵ See B. M. Metzger, “St. Paul and the Magicians,” Princeton Seminary Bulletin 38 (1944): 27–30.

^[1] John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 405.

^[2] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 330.

^[3] Ibid.

Paul Encounters Disciples of John (Acts 19:1–10)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, October 12, 2025

I have been preaching through the book of Acts for a long time. I hope we have all learned a lot. However, if we learn, it is not good enough. I mostly hope that the Word of God is transforming our lives.

Dr. David Palmer is the pastor at Kenwood Baptist in Cincinnati. He shared with a group how he grew up in a non-Christian home. At a certain age, he was given a Gideon Bible and eventually became a Christian. A few years later, he was in college when his roommate staggered into the dorm room. At that time, he remembers reading the Bible underneath his covers by flashlight. He thought, “What is it about this book that makes me so eager to read it?” Dr. Palmer continued: “Part of the new birth is a spirit-born appetite for the Word of God.”

As I was writing that, I started thinking about my own spiritual journey. When I was in high school, I started a Discipleship class. In that class, I was required to study the Bible for one hour once a week. This was an in-depth Bible study. At first, I thought it would be too much. I was a high school student involved in extracurricular activities with a part-time job. But I began studying the Bible. By the end of that class, I was studying a chapter a week and could not stop studying. I loved it! I was studying the book of Revelation one chapter at a time. There were times in my studies when I was practically moved to tears studying the Bible. I loved it!

Part of that discipleship class involved learning about the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. It is that subject that I wish to talk about today. I once heard a message in which someone shared about reading through the Bible when he was a non-Christian. At that time, the Bible did not make sense to him. Just a few weeks later, he gave his life to Christ and started reading the Bible again. Now, as a Christian, the Bible made total sense.

What is the difference? The Holy Spirit is the difference.

My theme today is: The disciples in Ephesus are baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.

1. Context is everything, so let’s begin with the context.
   1. Paul has been traveling from city to city preaching the Gospel. This is Paul’s second missionary journey.
   2. In the previous chapter, Paul was in Corinth and then set sail to Antioch of Syria.
   3. In the previous chapter, we were introduced to Priscilla and Aquila.
   4. At the end of Acts 18, we see Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos more fully the way of Jesus.
2. Meet the disciples of John (Acts 19:1).
   1. Acts 19:1 (ESV) And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
   2. Verse 1 reveals that Apollos is staying in Corinth, while Paul travels through the inland route to Ephesus during this time. Ephesus was a very important city. Later, Paul would write the letter to the Ephesians. 1 and 2 Timothy were written to Timothy, who was pastoring the church in Ephesus.
   3. Disciples here refers to followers of John the Baptist; they did not know of Jesus (19:4).^[1]
3. John’s disciples are baptized in the name of the Lord, Jesus (Acts 19:2-7).
   1. Now, Paul meets some of John’s disciples. Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed.
   2. Acts 19:2–7 (ESV)
   3. ² And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.
   4. I believe, based on John’s Gospel chapters 14-17 and Acts 2 and many other passages, that we do receive the Holy Spirit when we believe in Christ.
   5. Romans 8:9 is about this:
   6. Romans 8:9 (ESV)
   7. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
   8. Now, Paul was struck by something. He knew that these 12 people (verse 7) were not saved. He could tell by something that they were not Christians. One thought is that they did not have the Holy Spirit. Certainly, when he asks them a question, their response makes it clear.
   9. The Bible does call them disciples, and this is likely the word “disciples” in a broad sense as followers of someone. They were followers of John the baptizer.
   10. They knew nothing about the Holy Spirit.
   11. They said in verse 2, they had not heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
   12. How do you know if you have the Holy Spirit?
   13. When you become a Christian, you are baptized with the Holy Spirit. If you have truly trusted in the blood of Jesus to cover your sins and have committed to making Jesus Lord of your life, then you are saved and have the Holy Spirit.
   14. Have your desires changed? The Holy Spirit is God living within you. He changes your desires to match God’s. What is the pattern? Do you have convictions concerning sin? There are sins of omission and commission. Sins of commission are things that you do, such as stealing. Sins of omission are actions that you are not taking that you should be doing. Do you have convictions as to doing the right thing?
   15. Do you have convictions to read the Bible?
   16. Do you have convictions to participate in the church community? I am not only talking about Sunday morning worship, but do you have convictions to be involved in corporate, small group Bible study? Do you have convictions to participate in ministry? The Holy Spirit wants you involved in these things. How do we know? The Bible tells us so.
   17. Do you have a hunger for the Bible?
   18. We must be convicted to walk by the Spirit as Galatians 5:16 and the following verses talk about.
   19. In this passage, these disciples tell Paul that they didn’t know that the Holy Spirit had come upon the people. Actually, it says they didn’t know about the Holy Spirit. But what is more likely is that they didn’t know that the Spirit had come upon the church. They knew about the Holy Spirit.
   20. In verse 3, Paul asked about their baptism. They said they were baptized in John’s baptism. Back then, they would be baptized “in the name of” someone. You’d be baptized in the name of the person you were a disciple of. It was a baptism of identification.
   21. I love verse 4: John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. John was pointing forward. He was telling the people to believe in the One Who was to come after Him, that is, Jesus.
   22. In verses 5-7: Paul then tells them the Gospel of Jesus, and they receive Christ. Paul prays over them, and they speak in tongues and prophesy, which in this case is evidence of the Spirit.
   23. Rydelnic shares: John’s baptism was a baptism of preparation. They would all be rebaptized into Jesus.
   24. The book of Acts is a transition book. There are abnormal passages in Acts.
   25. We should get our doctrine from the Apostles’ teaching, not their experiences. We have their teaching in the epistles.[2]
   26. Further, when he would have his students study the various ways the Holy Spirit came upon people in the book of Acts. There is no consistency. Sometimes they spoke in tongues, or sometimes, like the apostle Paul, they received their sight back.[3]
   27. Witherington III shares: The laying on of hands is also only sporadically associated in Acts with the receiving of the Spirit; for example, it is not mentioned in Acts 2 or 10. There is no evidence of a regular or formal association of the two being assumed by Christians before about a.d. 200.^[4]
   28. Verse 7 shares that the Holy Spirit came upon them. They then started speaking in tongues and prophesying.
   29. Witherington III shares: It is clearly the fact (and evidential value) of these manifestations, not the content of the prophesying, that Luke is concerned about, because he does not tell us the content. It is interesting that here we have in the Western text (itp, vgmss, and Ephraem) yet another clarifying addition—they spoke in “other tongues and they themselves knew them, which they also interpreted for themselves; and certain also prophesied.”^[5]
   30. Further, The sequence of v. 5 followed by v. 6 makes quite clear that the disciples did not receive the Holy Spirit by means of water baptism. Rather, the Spirit came when Paul laid hands on these disciples, and the evidence that this in fact had happened was that the disciples spoke in tongues and prophesied. This is much like what we find in Acts 8 with the Samaritans (see Acts 8:17). The narrative concludes by informing us that there were about twelve persons involved in this baptizing and laying on of hands.⁴⁷ This is the only example in all of the NT where rebaptism is mentioned, and the text makes quite clear that we are not talking about one form or act of Christian baptism being supplemented by another. John’s baptism, while valid and valuable as a baptism of repentance, was not Christian baptism.^[6]
   31. An application is that the Spiritual gifts are important, but just because you have not spoken in tongues does not mean you are not saved. That is what happened in this instance. But don’t discredit the work of the Holy Spirit.
4. Paul enters the synagogue (Acts 19:8-10).
   1. Acts 19:8–10 (ESV)
   2. ⁸ And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
   3. Paul continues his custom.
   4. He spoke for three months.
   5. He was reasoning and boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
   6. Verse 9 shows that there is once again resistance.
   7. Paul withdraws, but there are new disciples with him. Now, he is reasoning in the hall of Tyrannus.
   8. IVP BBC NT: Philosophers often lectured in rented halls; this could have been a guild hall as easily as a “lecture hall” (NIV). (If the former, Tyrannus is simply the owner; if the latter, he is the customary lecturer. Public life in Ephesus, including philosophical lectures, ended by noon; so if Tyrannus lectured in the mornings Paul used it in the afternoons; if no one else lectured there, Paul probably lectured there in the mornings, and did his manual labor afterward.) Either way, residents of Ephesus would view Paul as a philosopher or sophist (professional public speaker). Many early Greco-Roman observers thought that Christians were a religious association or club (like other such associations in antiquity), or a philosophical school that took the form of such an association.^[7]
   9. Verse 10 shows that this continues for two years. All these residents of Asia, this is modern-day Asia Minor, heard the Word of the Lord.
   10. The Bible says this includes both Jews and Greeks.
   11. IVP BBC NT: Ephesus was a cosmopolitan center from which word would spread quickly, especially if Paul were training disciples (as philosophers and rabbis typically did) and sending them out to spread the message.^[8]
   12. Again, from Dr. Witherington III: The further one proceeds in Acts 19, the clearer it becomes that Luke intends the material in this chapter and the next to depict the climax of Paul’s ministry and missionary work as a free man.^50,[9]
   13. Think about this: Is it not amazing that God saves us?

Is it not amazing that God sets us free from our sin? If God is who He is and He has done what He has done, does anything make sense than to live our lives as living sacrifices, that is Romans 12:1. God saved us from His wrath by sending His wrath upon His own Son. He slew Him and poured all of my sin upon His own Son. That is amazing.

But what is more amazing is that was not all Jesus did for us. He died in our place, yes, but then He sent us the Holy Spirit. John 14:16-18 is written about Jesus sending us the helper, who is the Holy Spirit.

Are you sensitive to His presence? Maybe today is the day to rededicate your life to Him. Maybe you have realized that your passions are not being conformed to Jesus’s? Where are you at in your spiritual life?

Let’s pray

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

^[1] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2125.

[2] Dr Rydelnic; Open Line on Moody Radio. 01.04.2020

Also; 05.08.2021

[3] Ibid., 07.11.2021

^[4] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998).

^[5] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998).

⁴⁷ Luke often uses ωσει or ως with numbers; see Acts 1:15; 2:4; 4:4; 5:7, 36; 10:3; 13:18, 20; 19:34. Since Luke says “about,” it is doubtful there is any symbolic significance in the number twelve despite Johnson’s insistence (Acts, p. 338).

^[6] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 571–572.

NIV New International Version

^[7] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Ac 19:8–9.

^[8] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Ac 19:10.

⁵⁰ See Pereira, Ephesus, pp. 138–76.

^[9] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 572.

Priscilla and Aquila Instruct Apollos (18:23–28)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, October 12, 2025

Do you believe the whole Gospel? I am not asking if you understood the whole Gospel, but do you believe the whole Gospel? Sometimes we step out into faith.

I once read an article asking if I am preaching the whole Gospel. What does that mean? Often, we stop our teaching and preaching at “just believe.” We never tell people they must follow Jesus. However, many people believe but do not trust or really do not even believe in Jesus.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Theologian killed by the Nazi’s in World War II. There is a great biography about him. He was a brilliant man who would not cave to the Nazis. Many other German churches were going along with Hitler’s anti-Semitic comments, but he would not. He was trying to organize churches that stayed true to Scripture. There was a time when he came to New York City to pursue his studies. His impressions of our American church were not good. He wrote:

By this time, Bonhoeffer is in his lower twenties and has almost, if not, completed his PhD.

[The Union students] talk a blue streak without the slightest substantive foundation and with no evidence of any criteria . . . They are unfamiliar with even the most basic questions. They become intoxicated with liberal and humanistic phrases, laugh at the fundamentalists, and yet basically are not even up to their level.[1]

On another occasion, he wrote:

In New York they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life.[2]

You see, Bonhoeffer came to the U.S. soon after a pastor in New York City made some waves. His name was Harry Emerson Fosdick. Listen to what Eric Metaxis writes about him:

Fosdick had been the pastor at New York’s First Presbyterian Church when in 1922 he preached an infamous sermon titled “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” In it he laid out a kind of Apostate’s Creed in which he expressed his serious doubts about most of the historic assertions of the Christian faith, including the virgin birth, the resurrection, the divinity of Christ, the atonement, miracles, and the Bible as the Word of God. This sermon was the opening salvo in a battle that would rage particularly hotly through the 1920s and 1930s. The local presbytery immediately conducted an investigation, but as a son of the moneyed East Coast WASP establishment, Fosdick had little to fear. His defense was conducted by another establishment scion, John Foster Dulles, who would serve as Eisenhower’s secretary of state, and whose father was a well-known liberal Presbyterian minister. Fosdick resigned before they could censure him, and he was given the pastorate of the fashionably progressive Park Avenue Baptist Church, where John D. Rockefeller was a prominent member, and whose foundation’s philanthropic arm was run by Fosdick’s own brother.[3]

So, their Gospel was incomplete. Their teaching was incomplete, and it was on purpose. They needed to be corrected.

I want to look at a passage where a brilliant man was teaching and speaking, but he was incomplete in his understanding. So, he is corrected. Let’s look at the passage.

Acts 18:24–28 (ESV)

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. ²⁷ And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

1. First, let’s talk about the passage. Meet Apollos.
   1. Apollos was a Jew, and he was by birth an Alexandrian.
   2. We are familiar with Alexandria, and we know that it was an area in Egypt that was highly sophisticated, boasting a very large library. The library would later have a fire, which was unfortunate because we lost a lot of good literature and history. Later, many noble theologians and church fathers came from Alexandria.
   3. He was an eloquent or a learned man. Apollos was a Greek Jew. Alexandria would have had the largest Jewish population outside of Palestine.
   4. Apollos will be referenced much more:
   5. 1 Corinthians 1:12 (ESV) ¹² What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
   6. 1 Corinthians 3:5–6 (ESV)
   7. ⁵ What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. ⁶ I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
   8. You can also see 1 Cor. 3:22; 1 Cor. 4:6; 1 Cor. 16:12; and Titus 3:13.
   9. Apollos is used much more in the New Testament, especially in Corinth.
   10. In verse 25, Apollos was instructed by the Lord. He was fervent in Spirit. The Bible even says that he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. But he was only acquainted with the things concerning John. In Acts 19:3, there is another instance where people were only familiar with John’s teachings. Or John’s baptism. The Bible says that he was boiling in Spirit, and this means that he had fire within him. So, he was very passionate.
   11. But his message was incomplete. He only knew the things of John. Apollos only knew John’s baptism.
   12. But it does say that he was competent in the Scriptures and had been instructed in the way of the Lord. The passage says he spoke and taught about Jesus.
   13. It sounds to me like he was yet to know what God had been doing since Pentecost.
   14. He was likely saved in an Old Testament sense, or pre-Pentecost sense.
   15. So, in the next verse, Priscilla and Aquila take him aside and explain the Gospel more fully.
   16. Notice that after this, verses 27 and 28 show Apollos going to Corinth (Achaia would be the region around Corinth) and powerfully refuting the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
2. Apply:
   1. It is vitally important that we understand a complete Gospel. Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3).
   2. We must understand that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us (Acts 2; Romans 8:9).
   3. We must recognize, as Jesus said, that believing in Him means following Him.
   4. But what else? We must do our duty just like Priscilla and Aquila did. We must explain the Gospel more fully when people do not understand.
   5. What did Priscilla and Aquila do? They took him aside and explained the full Gospel to him. Again, we do not know all the details, but he knew Jesus, although perhaps not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
   6. Are you willing to do that? Are we willing to explain the complete gospel?
   7. Notice also that they did not correct him in the open; they followed the Jesus model. They took him aside and, in private, corrected him. That is based on Matthew 18:15-17.
   8. Everyone here who is a believer in Christ must be concerned with incomplete Gospel teaching. That means you must be prepared for the possibility that Jesus may use you to correct someone.

Remember Bonhoeffer? Later, Metaxis writes:

Bonhoeffer’s observations on American churches, especially in New York City, were closely related to his views on Union:

Things are not much different in the church. The sermon has been reduced to parenthetical church remarks about newspaper events. As long as I’ve been here, I have heard only one sermon in which you could hear something like a genuine proclamation, and that was delivered by a negro (indeed, in general I’m increasingly discovering greater religious power and originality in Negroes). One big question continually attracting my attention in view of these facts is whether one here really can still speak about Christianity, . . . There’s no sense to expect the fruits where the Word really is no longer being preached. But then what becomes of Christianity per se?

In New York they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life.[4]

What about more recently? In 2013, the Presbyterian Church, USA, sought to remove the phrase “The wrath of God was satisfied” from the song “In Christ Alone.”[5] They tried to take out part of the Gospel. The Getty’s held the copyright and would not allow it.

In Christ Alone:

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Do you know Jesus?

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

Pray

[1] Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (p. 99). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (p. 102). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[4] Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (p. 106). (Function). Kindle Edition.

[5] Presbyterians’ decision to drop hymn stirs debate; USA Today; Bob Smietana, August 5, 2013.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/05/presbyterians-decision-to-drop-hymn-stirs-debate/2618833/

Cultural Christianity- Pray You Are Genuine in Your Faith (Matthew 7:21-23)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel; Sunday, September 28, 2025

In 1990, Garth Brooks released a song, which goes like this:

… Just the other night, at a hometown football game
My wife and I, ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them, the past came back to me
And I couldn’t help but think, of the way things used to be

… She was the one, that I’d wanted for all times
Each night I’d spend prayin’, that God would make her mine
And if he’d only grant me this wish, I wished back then
I’d never ask for anything, again

… Sometimes, I thank God, for unanswered prayers
Remember, when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
And just because, he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers

… She wasn’t quite the angel, that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell, that time had changed me
In her eyes too, it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn’t much, we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he’s doin’, after all

… And as she walked away, and I looked at my wife
And then and there, I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts, in my life

… Sometimes, I thank God, for unanswered prayers
Remember, when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered

… Some of God’s greatest gifts, are all too often unanswered
Some of God’s greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers

Does that song mean that Garth Brooks is a Christian? Only God knows.

When I was in high school, I began to deepen my faith. At that time, I listened to country music, as well as other genres. I really liked “LeAnn Rimes.” I remember talking with a co-worker, and I said, LeAnn Rimes is a Christian. She responded, “Everybody is a Christian, Steve.”  During that time, many singers, especially country singers, talked about God and their faith. Garth Brooks would talk about God,[1] but the next moment, sing a song about a teenager having an affair with an older woman.[2] Alan Jackson is still known for singing songs about God.  In 2000, he released a song called “Where I Come From.” Some key words in that song are: “Workin’ hard to get to heaven…” Is that Christian theology? Do we earn our way to heaven?

Furthermore, athletes, politicians, and actors often discuss their faith. It is common for politicians to talk about their faith. We all know that. Of course, many of them will say whatever people want to hear. For years, athletes have pointed to heaven after scoring a touchdown. Remember the movie, “Angels in the Outfield”?

I do not think any of the things that I mentioned mean they are Christians. Only God knows one’s heart. I am sure some are genuine. But these are signs of the remnants of “cultural Christianity.” Some would say “cultural Christianity” is dead, but I think it remains in parts of our world.

My theme today is- pray that you are a genuine believer in Jesus.

1. What is a cultural Christian?
   1. Cultural Christianity is more about the social aspects of the Christian faith than the genuine life of commitment to Jesus.
   2. Many will identify as Christian because of family history, or even the values they like.
   3. In April 2024, Richard Dawkins identified as a cultural Christian. He said he liked Christmas Carols and old churches. He was one of the most militant atheists.[3]
   4. One source writes, Cultural Christianity is religion that superficially identifies itself as “Christianity” but does not truly adhere to the faith. A “cultural Christian” is a nominal believer—he wears the label “Christian,” but the label has more to do with his family background and upbringing than any personal conviction that Jesus is Lord.^[4]
   5. In American history, we clearly had a culture with Christian values. Therefore, it isn’t easy to parse through the writings of Washington, or Lincoln, or Jefferson, or Adams, or Eisenhower, or Roosevelt, or Nixon, or anyone else to know the genuineness of their faith.
   6. We can discuss the founding fathers further later.
   7. Most people in eighteenth-century America held a commitment to the Scriptures. However, many of our founders were impacted by rationalism. But if we read quotes from them, we think they are committed Christians. However, it was common to say the things they said.
2. How does Jesus address this (Matthew 7:21-23)?
   1. Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)
   2. ²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
   3. First, we see that doctrine alone does not save us.
   4. Now, where are we in the Bible? This is a section at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been talking about knowing false teachers. In the previous verse, Jesus says that we will know them [false teachers] by their fruits.
   5. We see in that passage that they had the right doctrine. Jesus says they come to Him with “Lord,” “Lord,” implying they see Him as Lord.
   6. There are many people who may have correct doctrine but do not know Jesus.
   7. Don’t get me wrong, doctrine is very important. Sometimes, wrong doctrine shows that one is NOT saved, but that is another sermon. Let’s get back to the text. If you keep reading, they do not submit to Him as Lord. They do not do His Father’s will.
   8. Emotions do not save us.
   9. In the passage, the people who approach Jesus are quite serious. They seem very emotional. They seem very persistent. They seem like they really care. They are saying, “Lord,” twice.
   10. Still, that does not save them.
   11. We can have the correct doctrine and be passionate about it, yet not be saved.
   12. At the end of verse 21, Jesus says the one is saved who does the will of His Father. We will come back to that.
   13. Then we see that actions do not save us, but right actions are important.
   14. They say to Jesus, “Did we not prophesy in Your Name?” Stop right there. We could easily think, “They did a miracle, they prophesied.” But even the demons can do counterfeit miracles. We see this in Rev. 13:13-14, which is a key passage about this. Prophesy could mean preaching the Word, or it could mean rebuking sin, or it could mean calling out the future. These false believers could do that naturally without God, or they could do it by demonic forces. Jesus says they are not saved.
   15. They say to Jesus, “Did we not cast out demons in Your name?” Again, they are not saved. In Acts 19:13-16, we see false teachers, non-Christians, trying to cast out demons. They may cast out demons, but maybe the demons do not stay out. Of course, they could be lying; maybe they never did any of these things.
   16. Lastly, we see that miracles do not save us. These people claim that they performed miracles in Jesus’ name. They could be lying, or perhaps they performed the miracles through demonic power. Again, I refer you to Rev. 13:13-14.
   17. So, how do you know if you are saved?
   18. We will come back to that in a minute, but firstly, right here, Jesus says, “Do the will of His Father.” This would be following His Word.
   19. John 15:14–15 (ESV)
   20. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
   21. James 2:18–20 (ESV)
   22. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
   23. We interpret Scripture with Scripture; this means that, based on Ephesians 2:8-9, we know we are saved by grace. We know based on the theology of salvation that we cannot earn our way to God. But our works validate our faith.
3. Apply this to your spiritual life:
   1. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul writes that we should examine ourselves. How can we examine ourselves?
   2. Are we repentant of sin?
   3. Does sin in our life grieve us (Acts 2:38; Romans 7- Paul did not like the sin in his life)?
   4. Do certain sins grieve us, and others do not?
   5. Does sin grieve us because it grieves God or because of selfish reasons?
   6. Do we desire to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31)?
   7. Is Jesus our Lord? Do we follow Him (Luke 9:23)?
   8. Here is a breakdown of 5 things to look for:
   9. Penitence towards sin (Psalm 32; 51).
   10. Pursue righteousness (1 Tim. 6:11).
   11. Willing and joyful submission to Christ (James 4:7; Eph. 5:21) and others.
   12. Longing to obey the Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Psalm 119:9-11).
   13. Love for God and others (Matthew 22:37-39).

I have shared this before, but it is so good that it merits sharing again.

I read about an atheist who had the correct doctrine. Listen to this debate between an atheist and a liberal, supposed Christian:

Marilyn Sewell

Unitarian Universalist  Minister and Christopher Hitchens Author, God is NOT Good: How Religion Poisons Everything

Sewell: The religion you cite in your book is generally the fundamentalist faith of various kinds. I’m a liberal Christian, and I don’t take the stories from the scripture literally. I don’t believe in the doctrine of the atonement (that Jesus died for our sins, for example). Do you make any distinction between fundamentalist faith and liberal religion?

Hitchens:

Only in this respect: I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, in other words, the Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.

Sewell:

I disagree with that. I consider myself a Christian. I believe in the Jesus story as story, as narrative, and Jesus as a person whose life is exemplary that I want to follow. But I do not believe in all that stuff that I just outlined.
Hitchens:

I simply have to tell you that every major Christian, including theologians, has said that without the resurrection and without the forgiveness of sins, what I call the vicarious redemption, it’s meaningless. In fact, without that, it isn’t even a nice story – even if it’s true . . .

Sewell:

It doesn’t really matter to me if it’s true literally. It matters to me whether the story has efficacy for my life.

Hitchens:

Well, that’s what I meant to say. When C.S. Lewis, for example, says, . .  ‘if this man was not the son of God, then his teachings were evil’ because if you don’t believe that the kingdom of heaven is at hand and you can get to it by the way, the truth, and the life, offered by the gospel, then there’s no excuse for telling people to take no thought for the morrow, for example, as he did. . . It would be an evil nonsense.

Pray You Are Genuine in Your Faith (Matthew 7:21-23)

Believe, confess, trust, commit to Him: Firmly make the decision to be with Him in order to become like Him and to learn and do all that He says and then arrange your affairs around Him.

[1] Song, “Unanswered prayer.”

[2] That Summer

[3] Breakpoint; Richard Dawkins, a “Cultural Christian”

You can’t have Christianity’s fruit without its root. April, 09, 2024; accessed on 08.24.2025.

https://www.breakpoint.org/richard-dawkins-a-cultural-christian/

^[4] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014–2021).

Paul Is Encouraged by Jesus (Acts 18:1–23)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, September 21, 2025

I have been encouraged many times and in many ways, but often I receive encouragement through a note or something someone says. I know of pastors who have an encouragement file. If they are ever discouraged, they go to that file and find the encouragement they need. We need encouragement, I do. Many times, my encouragement comes from an email, a text message, or a phone call. Sometimes I do not realize how encouraging it is until later. Sometimes someone will text me a Scripture verse. A few times, I have been praying, and the Holy Spirit reminds me of something.

Today, we talk about Jesus encouraging Paul, and the Holy Spirit encouraging us. As we start this subject, it should encourage us, but also challenge us. Living by the Holy Spirit is not easy.

Francis Chan writes in Forgotten God:

CHRISTLIKENESS: A PAINFUL PROCESS

The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be. The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be. This often incredibly painful process strips you of selfishness, pride, and fear.
For a powerful example of this, read in C. S. Lewis’ book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader about the boy, Eustace, who becomes a dragon. In order to become a little boy again, he must undergo a tremendous amount of pain as the dragon skin is peeled away and torn from him. Only after he endures this painful process is he truly transformed from a dragon back into a boy. Sometimes the sin we take on becomes such a part of us that it requires this same kind of ripping and tearing to free us. The Holy Spirit does not seek to hurt us, but He does seek to make us Christlike, and this can be painful.[1]

In today’s passage, we see that Jesus encouraged Paul, BUT, notice first that Paul was stepping outside of his comfort zone following the Holy Spirit’s will. He was sharing the Gospel, despite resistance.

Today, my theme is Jesus encourages Paul.

1. Overview of Acts 18:1-23
   1. First, I want to summarize Acts 18:1-23. Then, we will focus on Acts 18:5-11.
   2. In Acts 18:1-3, we meet Paul’s friends (Acts 18:1-3).
   3. Paul meets Aquilla and Priscilla.
   4. We are also introduced to Paul’s stay in Corinth and his work as a tentmaker. Paul was reasoning with people in the synagogue.
   5. In Acts 18:6-11 Paul is opposed but the Holy Spirit encourages him. We will come back to that section.
   6. In Acts 18:12-17, he faces more opposition, but this time he doesn’t need to flee. He stays.
   7. He stays in Corinth for at least 18 months. The only place he stayed longer would be Ephesus.
   8. Paul in Cenchrea (18:18): Here he shaves his head and takes a vow.
   9. Paul in Ephesus (18:19–21): The apostle’s stay here is short, for he plans to observe a special feast soon to be celebrated in Jerusalem.
   10. Paul in Antioch of Syria (18:22): No doubt he gives a report here at his home church.
   11. Paul in Galatia (18:23): He begins his third missionary journey.^[2]
2. Paul is opposed, but the Lord encourages him (Acts 18:6-11).
   1. Now, let’s focus on one section of this passage.
   2. Acts 18:6–11 (ESV)
   3. ⁶ And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” ⁷ And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” ¹¹ And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
   4. Why is he opposed?
   5. He had been reasoning with them in the synagoes.
   6. What does he do?
   7. Paul shook out his clothes, this is similar to shaking the dust off of your feet.
   8. Paul said that he was innocent.
   9. Verse 7: Paul goes to a man’s house next to the synagogue.
   10. In verse 8, we see the synagogue leaders receive Jesus.
   11. He believed. That is a major event when a synagogue leader accepts Christ. This is like reaching a Jehovah’s Witness leader. Not a common person.
   12. Remember, when we share the Gospel, Jesus is in charge of the results.
   13. Many of the Corinthians were being saved.
   14. They were being baptized as well.
   15. 1 Cor. 1:14 Crispus is one that Paul baptized.
   16. Baptism follows salvation. We are baptized to follow Jesus’s footsteps. We are baptized to make a public profession of our faith in Christ. We are baptized to symbolize dying with Christ and rising again. We are baptized, as that is symbolic of washing away our sins.
   17. This must mean water baptism.
   18. Verse 9: This verse begins a message from Jesus. Do not be afraid…
   19. Jesus says to go on speaking and not be silent.
   20. Verse 10: Jesus says that He is with Paul.
   21. Jesus says that no man will attack him to harm him.
   22. Sometimes we feel like we are alone, but we are never alone as a Christ follower. God has other witnesses, and the Holy Spirit is with us.
   23. Verse 11: Paul stayed a year and six months (eighteen months).
   24. Paul settled. He made his home around them.
   25. ESV Study Note:
   26. Up to this point, opposition to his ministry had usually forced Paul to leave a place of witness. But the Lord in a vision assured him that he would have a successful ministry in Corinth and would suffer no further harm. In obedience Paul remained there for 18 months (c. d. 49–51, during which time he wrote 1–2 Thessalonians).^[3]
   27. Paul was teaching God’s Word.

• What about us?
  1. It was Jesus Who encouraged Paul.
  2. The direct application is that when we are doing what God calls us to do we can keep at it. God is with us. We are never alone.
  3. Seek the Lord.
  4. Stay in His will.
  5. Look for Him to encourage you as you follow His will.
  6. God is with us. Immanuel. Matthew 1:23 says that Jesus’ name shall be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Matthew 28:20 says that the Lord is with us in the great commission.
• Be an encourager and look for Jesus to encourage you.
  1. 1. An indirect application. Remember this is indirect, not a direct application, is that we all need encouragement.
     2. Get up every morning and pray that you are encouraged and an encourager.
     3. I was reviewing a message I previously delivered on this passage, and I wrote this in 2014.
     4. We had a childcare and preschool at my church, and the children would walk by my office.
     5. My children attended there.
     6. I shared:
     7. We need encouragement, and the Holy Spirit may encourage you through circumstances. You know how encouraging it is for me to be sitting in my office when Mercedes walks by and says, “Hi Daddy, that’s my daddy, that’s my daddy.” That is exactly what she said a few weeks ago [remember in 2014]. That brightens my day, and I hope I never forget it [I am glad I read the reminder]. You know how encouraging it is when I walk in the door only to slammed by Mercedes with a hug. A few weeks ago, Mercedes was up in the night coughing, so I got her up and gave her a drink and some crackers. She was wide awake. She sits down at the table and says, “Daddy, I’ll sit here and you sit here.” She pointed next to her. I wanted to unload the dishwasher, oh, but she wanted me with her. She wanted presence.
     8. While serving as the pastor, I would read to the children at the childcare.
     9. One year, just after Christmas, I was at Wal-Mart and heard a child say, “There is Jesus.” The mom looked around, and so did I. We heard him say the same thing again. He pointed directly at me. He associated me with Jesus since I work at the church and read stories about Jesus to him.
     10. Are those encouraging words from God? Not directly, but God can use them. Mercedes and Abigail encourage me by being my loving daughters and being proud to say, “That’s my daddy!”
     11. Jesus may encourage through the church. Jesus may encourage you through a kind letter from a friend. Jesus may encourage you through the Scriptures.
     12. Have you ever read the right Scripture at just the right time? Jesus may encourage you through circumstance. Jesus may encourage you in prayer. You may be praying, and you feel this presence. Jesus may speak to you that way.
     13. In Acts 18:10: Jesus said that He had others in the city.
     14. Remember the church.
     15. You are not alone.

I read:

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.  (William Arthur Ward)

Prayer

[1] Francis Chan. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit (pp. 50-51). Kindle Edition.

^[2] H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Ac 18:18–23.

1. about, approximately

^[3] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2123.

Special Topic: Love Is the Greatest Gift (1 Cor. 13:8-13)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, September 14, 2025

Tony Evans writes:

At many amusement parks and museums, they have 3-D movies. When you walk into the theater, you receive a pair of glasses. If you try to watch the movie without the glasses, you see a distorted picture. No matter how hard you strain and look and twist to try to make sense of what is happening on the screen, there is still a distortion because of the dimension through which you are looking. By handing you a pair of glasses when you walk into the theater, they give you the tool you need to see the screen without distortions.

One of the problems many of us have is that we have a distorted view. We see what we see, but we don’t see all that there is to be seen. If all you see is the physical, visible scenario, then you are looking at your situation without your glasses. We need to have a divine frame of reference in order to see what is really going on.^905,[1]

In the passage we are going to look at Paul shares that in Heaven we will have a better picture of things.

We are in a short sermon series on love.

My theme today is:

Strive for self-sacrificial love. This love will last into eternity.

1. Context:
   1. As we reach 1 Corinthians 13, we are in the third of three chapters in which Paul writes about spiritual gifts.
   2. 1 Corinthians 12 is written about the theology of spiritual gifts.
   3. 1 Corinthians 13 is written about the motivation behind spiritual gifts.
   4. 1 Corinthians 14 is written about the practice of spiritual gifts.
   5. The Corinthian church was a divided church.
   6. I remember sitting in a New Testament class at Indiana Wesleyan University. The professor shared how, when he was a pastor, he would hear people say, “We want to be like the New Testament church.” He would say, “Really, do you want to be like the church in Corinth that was divided over communion [see 1 Cor. 11:18]?”
   7. The thesis of 1 Corinthians is in 1 Corinthians 1:10:
   8. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB95)
   9. Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
   10. By the time we get to 1 Corinthians 13, Paul has already written about many subjects, among them, but not limited to: marriage (1 Cor. 7); food sacrificed to idols (1 Cor. 8-10); the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11); and now spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12-14).
   11. Now, we get into the motivation behind spiritual gifts.
   12. Last week, we looked at the adjectives that describe love. In the English they are adjectives, but in the Greek they are verbs.
2. The greatest gift is love.
   1. Paul began with this idea, and now he returns to this.
   2. Verse 8 says literally that love never “falls to the ground,” which likely means that it is never defeated or that it never fails. Other good gifts that are quite valuable, such as prophecy or knowledge, are specifically meant to equip the believer to endure in this age. In due course they will be brought to nothing. Tongues will cease when the Lord returns and completes his plan for Christians. Partial knowledge such as the Corinthian Christians now have will be brought to nought. Paul stresses “we know now but in part, but one day the completion of our knowledge of and relationship with God will happen.” Then believers will know as they are known by God. Then they will see face to face.
   3. The Corinthians are childish because, unlike Paul, they have mistaken the part for the whole and the partial for the final and in particular have overlooked the fact that while love already has finality here and now, knowledge is only in part. These verses are part of the larger rhetorical strategy to demonstrate the childish nature of the Corinthians’ behavior and thinking throughout this letter (cf. 3:1ff.; 14:20).^35,[3]
   4. Look at the passage:
   5. 1 Corinthians 13:8–13 (ESV)
   6. ⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
   7. ¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
   8. Love never ends… He is making the case that the various gifts will no longer be necessary, but love will always remain.
   9. Prophesies- no more needed.
   10. The gift of tongues- they will cease.
   11. The gift of knowledge will pass away. I believe he is referring to a special spiritual gift, rather than knowledge itself.
   12. Verses 9-10: We all know partially; we only prophesy partially, but eventually the perfect will come. He is referring to the time when God makes all things new. Then, the partial will be done away.
   13. “Perfect,” or some translations read, “complete”: The Greek for this word can mean “end,” “fulfillment,” “completeness” or “maturity.” In this context the contrast is between the partial and the complete. Verse 12 seems to indicate that Paul is here speaking of either Christ’s second coming or a believer’s death, when they will see Christ “face to face” (v. 12)^[4]
   14. Paul is building a case about how when we are in heaven, or the New Heavens and the New Earth, we will no longer need these gifts.
   15. In verse 11 he gives this illustration of going from being a child to being an adult.
   16. Witherington III helps us: Verses 11f. should probably not be understood as saying that it is childish to speak in tongues or to prophesy, since Paul himself still does such things. He is saying that there is an age appropriate to such things and that now is that age. When the completion of the age finally comes, then it will be time to set aside what was appropriate and needful in that age. Only later will one know as one is known by God.
   17. For now, Christians, even the most mature,³⁶ see through a glass or mirror en ainigmati, which can be transliterated as “enigmatically.” The phrase may mean “obscurely,” but its literal meaning is “in a riddle.” Paul’s point is not to castigate mirror-making, which was a trade practiced in Corinth. Nor were ancient bronze mirrors necessarily all that bad. His point is, rather, that as a mere image of the truth a mirror only partially tells the tale of what we look like. What we know of Christ, self, others, or salvation through the Spirit is not necessarily inaccurate, just incomplete. Some scholars have suggested plausibly that vv. 12a and 9b should be coordinated, in which case Paul would be referring in this image to the partial or fragmentary nature of prophecy. One may see a vision, but it is enigmatic and incomplete. This makes sense in light of what follows in ch. 14.^37,[5]
   18. This does not mean we will be omniscient or know all things, but that we will have a fuller grasp of things. Furthermore, I believe he is referring to the spiritual gifts of knowledge, prophecy, and tongues. They will not be needed anymore.
   19. These gifts are about the upbuilding of the church.
   20. Now, verse 12: Paul uses an image of a mirror to show that we do not see perfectly. He will see “face to face.” Face to face suggests a reference to Christ’s second coming (the OT uses this phrase to refer to seeing God personally; cf. Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:11; Deut. 5:4; 34:10; Judg. 6:22; Ezek. 20:35). Then, the spiritual gifts of this present age will no longer be needed.^[6]
   21. Now, the image of what we see is not complete, but then we will fully know, even as we are fully known.
   22. IVP BBC NT: Mirrors (13:12) were often made of bronze, and given the worldwide renown of Corinthian bronze, would perhaps strike the Corinthians as a local product (also 2 Cor 3:18). But even the best mirrors reflected images imperfectly (some philosophers thus used mirrors as an analogy to describe mortals’ searching for the deity); contrast the more open revelation of Exodus 33:11, Numbers 12:8 and Deuteronomy 34:10.^[7]
   23. Verse 13: So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
   24. Faith and hope will not be needed in eternity. Love will remain.
   25. CSB SB: Of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest because it continues into the next age. Both faith and hope will be fulfilled in eternity, and so will not remain. This statement concludes a semantic bracket that began in v. 8—“Love never ends.”^[8]
   26. ESV SB: The relationship of these three Christian qualities is a frequent theme in Paul’s letters. See Rom. 5:1–5; Gal. 5:5–6; Eph. 4:2–5; Col. 1:4–5; 1 Thess. 1:3; 5:8.^[9]
   27. Love is the greatest of the gifts.

Haddon Anderson writes on Desiring God on December 14, 2021:

In 1738, Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon entitled “Heaven Is a World of Love.” He pointed out that since heaven is God’s dwelling place, “this renders heaven a world of love; for God is the fountain of love, as the sun is the fountain of light. And therefore the glorious presence of God in heaven fills heaven with love, as the sun placed in the midst of the hemisphere in a clear day fills the world with light” (Works, 8:369). Furthermore, “love reigns in every heart” in heaven, as the saints abound in love for God and for one another (8:373).[10]

Prayer

^[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 302–303.

³³ J. Weiss, Der erste Korintherbrief (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1925), p. 311.

^[2] Ben Witherington III, Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 270.

³⁴ Holladay, “1 Cor. 13,” p. 97.

³⁵ Ibid.

^[3] Ben Witherington III, Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 270–271.

1. verse (in the chapter being commented on)

^[4] Kenneth L. Barker, ed., NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020), 2022.

³⁶ Notice the emphasis on “we” in this final section of ch. 13, where Paul places himself in the same eschatological situation as his converts.

³⁷ Cf. below and R. E. Heine, “The Structure and Meaning of 1 Corinthians 13:8–13,” in Increase of Learning, ed. R. J. Owens, et al. (Manhattan: Manhattan Christian College, 1979), pp. 63–72.

^[5] Ben Witherington III, Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 271.

^[6] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2211.

^[7] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Co 13:8–13.

1. verse

^[8] F. Alan Tomlinson, “1 Corinthians,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1830.

^[9] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2211.

[10] Haddon Anderson, Desiring God, December 14, 2021. Accessed on August 10, 2025:

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/faith-hope-and-heaven-on-earth?utm_campaign=Daily%20Email&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=193678078&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Hq89Nf9vROO45JZ7prjkb6VsKPEADHktRyYNhoDgJZIEmpNpPFGEEUv1ymRAChW7yVUZXQ2F7LfJg8eJLvz3Ya_zwbg&utm_content=193678078&utm_source=hs_email

Special Topic: Paul Exhorts Us in Christian Love (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, September 7, 2025

In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis writes:

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

I believe that the most lawless and inordinate loves are less contrary to God’s will than a self-invited and self-protective lovelessness. It is like hiding the talent in a napkin and for much the same reason ‘I knew thee that thou wert a hard man.’ Christ did not teach and suffer that we might become, even in the natural loves, more careful of our own happiness. If a man is not uncalculating towards the earthly beloveds whom he has seen, he is none the more likely to be so towards God whom he has not. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.[1]

My theme today is:

Paul exhorts us in Christian love:

1. Context:
   1. As we reach 1 Corinthians 13, we are in the third of three chapters in which Paul writes about spiritual gifts.
   2. 1 Corinthians 12 is written about the theology of spiritual gifts.
   3. 1 Corinthians 13 is written about the motivation behind spiritual gifts.
   4. 1 Corinthians 14 is written about the practice of spiritual gifts.
   5. The Corinthian church was a divided church.
   6. I remember sitting in a New Testament class at Indiana Wesleyan University. The professor shared how when he was a pastor he would hear people say, “We want to be like the New Testament church.” He would say, “Really, do you want to be like the church in Corinth that was divided over communion [see 1 Cor. 11:18]?”
   7. The thesis of 1 Corinthians is in 1 Corinthians 1:10:
   8. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NASB95)
   9. Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
   10. By the time we get to 1 Corinthians 13, Paul has already written about many subjects, among them, but not limited to: marriage (1 Cor. 7); food sacrificed to idols (1 Cor. 8-10); the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11); and now spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12-14).
   11. Now, we get into the motivation behind spiritual gifts.
   12. This is the character of Christian agapē. The word agapē is not uniquely Christian. Christians likely derived it from the Septuagint, where it is often used of God’s love, not ordinary human love. It is a unique privilege to be a bearer, by means of the Spirit, of God’s love. This love differs from both natural human affection (philia, so-called brotherly love) and erōs (desiring love, usually related to physical attraction).^29,[2]
2. Love is:
   1. One source shares: The point of Paul’s rhetorically polished description of love is its contrast to what he has earlier said about the attitudes of the Corinthians. ^[3] Remember, earlier Paul wrote about how the Corinthians were divided. But now, look how he describes love:
   2. 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
   3. ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
   4. Again from Dr. Witherington III:
   5. The setting of ch. 13 makes evident that Paul is not talking about “natural” human love, but of a sort of love that a human being can only express and share when he or she has been touched by God’s grace and enabled by God’s Spirit. It goes quite against natural human inclinations to love the unlovely or those who do not love in return. Agapē love, as V. P. Furnish has aptly said, is not the sort of love that is dispatched like a heat-seeking missile due to something inherently attractive in the “target.”⁴⁰
   6. Now, Paul starts to define love.
   7. In Greek, these are verbs, but in English, they are adjectives.
   8. Verbs are action statements. For example, running, walking, etc. Adjectives modify something. The color is red. Or, Jane is patient.
   9. Love is patient and kind:
      1. These are a pair.
      2. Tim Keller makes this come alive:
   10. Patient means, literally, suffers a long time. In fact, as we’ll see in a minute, one of the essential characteristics of love is that you stay vulnerable. When you’re getting beaten, you don’t immediately retreat. Being patient is an amazing thing.
   11. By the way, this is just a story that has always meant so much to me. Edwin Stanton was Abraham Lincoln’s political opponent. When Abraham Lincoln was running for office … You have to remember Abraham Lincoln was a Midwesterner. He was considered a hick, and he was called a hick by Edwin Stanton. He was called a gorilla. Have you ever noticed that? Abraham Lincoln does look a bit like a gorilla. He does. He called him a gorilla. He called him a monstrosity. He called him a hick. He called him all kinds of things.
   12. When Abraham Lincoln won the election and he looked around to find the most able person possible to be his Secretary of War or Secretary of the Military, he chose Edwin Stanton. He chose him and put him in his Cabinet. He put up with an amazing amount of stuff and turned him into his friend because he said, “I know this man is great.” When Abraham Lincoln lay dead, at his funeral Stanton was there. He got up in tears and said, “Here lies the greatest ruler among men in the earth.” Just amazing. Patience was the way in which Abraham Lincoln loved him.^[4]
   13. If we look at Gal. 5:22-23, we see patience is a fruit of the Spirit.
   14. How are we doing with patience? We can be patient because the Holy Spirit is within us.
   15. Do we snap at others when they ask for something? What about traffic? Are we patient when waiting in traffic? I struggle with this. Most recently, driving through Chicago on the way to Wisconsin was a test of my patience. Driving on the Indiana Turnpike on the way home was a test of my patience. How are you doing with this? I want to do better.
   16. [Love] does not envy or boast: Again, these are pairs, and they are reflective of problems in Corinth. Do we envy what others have and that leads to boasting? Are we boastful? Why do we say the things we say? Are we trying to “one-up” someone else? In other words, if someone claims to have done something, do we feel compelled to say, “Well, yes, I did that too”? Or do we always feel like we need to defend ourselves? Why? Why not let someone else have the credit?
   17. [Love] is not arrogant or rude: These pairs go along with the previous. Love is humble. We are not trying to look better than someone else. How are we doing?
   18. [Love] does not insist on its own way: Perhaps an indirect reference to their unruly and dishonorable conduct in worship (11:18–22).^[5] This is a real gut check. Do we insist on our own way? Someone once told me that he did not agree with something but he would not make an issue of it. That is more of the Christian way.
   19. [Love] is not irritable or resentful: Are we irritable? Do we express bitterness?
   20. [Love] does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. One source shares: does not delight in evil- As they were doing in [1 Cor. 5].^[6] This is one in which I have heard it could be translated “thin-skinned.” Let’s do a gut check. How are we doing?
   21. One person writes: It is reported that when the Moravian missionaries first went to the Eskimos, they couldn’t find a word in their language for forgiveness. They had to combine a series of shorter words into one compound word: Issumagijoujungnainermik. Although the word appears formidable, its meaning is beautiful, being translated: “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore.”
   22. You’ve probably noticed that unforgiving people usually have good memories. Some can hold a grudge for a lifetime. But love never keeps a record of wrongs committed against it. It forgives and is unable to think about them anymore.
   23. That’s what Paul had in mind when he said that love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Cor. 13:5). The Greek word translated “take into account” was used of the entries in a bookkeeper’s ledger. Those entries helped the bookkeeper remember the nature of each financial transaction. In contrast, love never keeps a record or holds others accountable for the wrongs they’ve committed against it.
   24. The greatest example of that kind of love is God Himself. Romans 4:8 says, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” Second Corinthians 5:19 adds, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.”
   25. Every sin we commit as believers is an offense against God, but He never charges them to our account. We are in Christ, who bore our penalty on the cross. When we sin, we are immediately forgiven.[7]
   26. [Love] bears all things, believes all things, endures all things
   27. [Love] hopes all things: MacArthur shares: Hope is illustrated in the true story of a dog who was abandoned at the airport of a large city. He stayed there for over five years, waiting for his master to return. People at the airport fed and cared for him, but he refused to leave the spot where he last saw his master. If a dog’s love for his master can produce that kind of hope, how much more should your love for God produce abiding hope?[8]

Let’s go back to C.S. Lewis as Tim Keller quotes and shares:

“[C.S. Lewis shares] Though natural likings should normally be encouraged, it would be quite wrong to think that the way to become charitable is to sit trying to manufacture affectionate feelings … Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did.” Do you see what he is saying? He says, “It doesn’t matter whether you like your neighbor or not. Do for him. Help him. Serve him. As soon as you do this you will find one of the great secrets. When you’re behaving as if you love someone, you will presently come to love him.”

Now there is an exception. “If you do him a good turn, not to please God and obey the law of charity, but to show him what a fine forgiving chap you are, and to put him in your debt, and then sit down to wait for his ‘gratitude’, you will probably be disappointed … Christian charity … is quite distinct from affection, yet it leads to affection.” Oh my, have I seen that, and you have, too.

I don’t know how many times I have sat with people who have been married for about 20 years. They say, “There is no love left in the marriage, and I want out.” I can tell you exactly what happened. They had children. When you have a child, what happens is you have a person who needs to be served. The essence of love is to serve somebody else’s needs regardless of what you want to do.

Your child is up in the middle of the night screaming and wailing. He is 3 weeks old. What do you do? Do you say, “Hey, this is no good. I’m tired. I’m going to bed?” You get up. You feed him. You do whatever you have to do, and you get nothing from that kid for a long time. After several weeks the kid might actually reach up, grab your finger, and smile at you. Wow. You get so little and so little. The fact is, as time goes on you’re giving and you’re giving and you’re giving, and you’re getting just very little back. As a result of you giving and giving, and in spite of your feelings, what happens is your love for that kid grows incredibly strong.

Meanwhile, what happens when your spouse acts like a baby? What happens when your spouse is acting in a way that’s immature, silly, and awful, and you’re called upon to continue to be loving to her or him in spite of how that person is acting? What do you do? You say, “Well if she is not going to be the wife she used to be, why the heck do I have to be the husband I used to be?” You immediately start to say, “Since I don’t like him, I don’t have to love him.”

Then what happens is the less you love him the less you like him. The less you like him the less you love him and so on. So after 20 years here you are doing the biblical kind of love to your kid even though the kid is giving you nothing. After 20 years your kid could be an absolute jerk, and you love him. In those same 20 years you are operating in a completely selfish way with your spouse. Instead of continuing to serve even when you don’t like, you follow your feelings.

In other words, your love for your kids is biblical because it leads to affection. It’s not affection; essentially it’s service. You think of your love for your spouse as basically as an affection, and if the affection and the erotic feeling is not there, there’s no reason to give. As a result, the opposite thing is happening. Here, the more you love, the more you like. Here, the less you love, the less you like, and the less you like, the less you love.

After 20 years of no love between the spouses and lots of love between the parents and kids, even when the kids are rebellious and a mess and so on, they look at me and they say, “There is no love left in the marriage.” No kidding, because the way they define love isn’t biblical. Love is meeting the needs and concerns of others before or instead of your own.^[9]

[1] Lewis, C.S. The Four Loves. (New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1960), 169-170

²⁹ On this whole subject one should see the classic studies by C. Spicq, Agape dans le nouveau testament (Paris: Gabalda, 1958–59), and A. Nygren, Agape and Eros (London, 1932 and 1939). There is some obvious overlap between agapē and philia; cf. John 21:15–19.

^[2] Ben Witherington III, Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), 269.

^[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Co 13:4–7.

⁴⁰ On this whole subject, cf. V. P. Furnish, The Love Command in the NT (Nashville: Abingdon, 1972).

^[4] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[5] Kenneth L. Barker, ed., NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020), 2021–2022.

^[6] Kenneth L. Barker, ed., NIV Study Bible, Fully Revised Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2020), 2022.

[7] John MacArthur devotional, the link is no longer accurate

[8] John MacArthur devotional, the link is no longer accurate

^[9] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).