1. Gathering (verse 8)
2. Growing (verses 9-10)

Every church has its back story. Every church has its history. Every church story is unique.

I know of churches that begin by one man coming into a city without knowing a soul. He begins knocking on doors and meeting people. He tells others of his vision. He gathers some people. And a church begins. I know of churches like this.

I know of churches that have begun with some wealthy individuals who have funded the whole beginning of the church. From the start, they purchase a building for the church. They bank the payroll of several pastors. And the church begins. I know of several churches like this.

I know of churches that began as church splits. There was a disagreement about some matter, and half of the church left the group began meeting in the community center the next week. This often happens when pastors of churches leave their church for some reason, and many follow. There are several churches in town like this.

I know of churches that begin when a pastor of a large church leaves town to pursue some ministry opportunity. But after a few years away, he comes back home. And with all of the contacts that he had at the previous church, beginning another church is quite easy. as those who love him and his ministry follow him to a new church. I know of a church in town like this.

I know of churches that began by hiving off a healthy group of people to start a church in the another part of town. Rather than starting from scratch, they send 200 of their 800 members off to begin another church. In fact, we had some visitors at our church last week who were involved in this very thing. They live in Prescott, Arizona. Their church began with more than a hundred people five years ago when they were sent out by the mother church. The church has grown since starting, and are building a church building as we speak.

I know of churches that begin by intentionally relocating a dozen (or so) families to a new city to begin a church in that city. In fact, I know of this taking place in Bloomington, Illinois, where my daughter and son-in-law live. A large church in Iowa with a large college ministry has relocated 50 people (with a dozen children) to Bloomington to start a church. Their first service is next week.

Not all churches that begin, end up having a story at all. In fact, most churches that begin, close their doors in five years. I have several friends who have attempted to start a church, only to see it fail in the end.
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Well, as diverse as the stories are of churches beginning, there are two common stages that are true of all of them. There is the gathering stage. There is the growing stage.

The gathering stage is when the nucleus of a church begins. This can be with many people coming to Christ. This can be when the core group is being assembled. and everybody is telling everybody about what they are doing. This can be when flyers are sent out throughout the city. This can be when a bunch of outreach events take place.

The growing stage is when the church gains legitimacy, and people come consistently to the church. and they are connected with one another. and discipleship takes place. The church grows in depth and in breadth.

This is the life of every church. This is the story of every church.
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Now, I tell you all of that because we will see these two stages of ministry in the church at Ephesus with the apostle Paul. So, if you haven’t done so already, I invite you to open your Bibles to Acts, chapter 19. The title of my message this morning is, “The Establishment of a Church.”

Now, for the better part of a year, we have been working our way through the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul. Acts 13 records the beginning of Paul’s first missionary journey. He began in Antioch of Syria (Acts 13:1). He sailed to Cyprus. Then to southern Galatia, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to those who had never heard before, in Psidian Antioch and Iconium and Lystra and Derbe. Then he looped back again to these cities. While he did, he was establishing the structure needed for churches. We see this in the following passage:

Acts 14:21-23
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Then, Paul returned to Antioch (in Acts 14:26). In all, this journey covered about 1,500 miles. From best we can tell, it took a year, or so, to go out and back. Now, during Paul’s second missionary journey, he did much the same. He began his journey in Antioch of Syria (Acts 15:40). He ended his journey in Antioch as well (Acts 19:22). However, the scope of his journey was broadened. He went beyond southern Galatia to Macedonia and Achaea before returning home to Antioch.

This second missionary journey covered about 3,000 miles.^[1] From best we can tell, this journey took about two years (or longer).^[2] Key churches were begun during this journey. A church was started in Philippi. A church was started in Thessalonica. A church was started in Corinth. Paul would later write letters to each of these churches.

This week, we find Paul on his third missionary journey. Again, he began his journey in Antioch. Now, he has arrived in Ephesus. Last week, we looked at verses 1-7, which told the story of the 12 disciples of John, believing in Jesus, and receiving the Holy Spirit. This morning, we find Paul “Establishing” the church in Ephesus. So, let’s read our text.

Acts 19:8-10
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 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. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The text is short, but it covers a long period of time. We have two time markers given in the text. The first is in verse 8, “for three months [Paul] spoke boldly” The second is in verse 10, “this continued for two years.” During this time, Paul was establishing the church in Ephesus. Basically, the church went through two stages. The first stage is found in verse 8. It’s the "Gathering Stage." During this stage, Paul was heavy in evangelism, speaking to those who didn’t know Christ. seeking to persuade them that Jesus was indeed, the Messiah who came to redeem us from our sins. The second stage is found in verses 9-10. It’s the "Growing Stage." During this stage, Paul was heavy in discipleship, focusing his attention primarily upon those who believed, teaching them and training them in the fundamentals of the faith. So, let’s look at Paul’s first stage in Ephesus.

1. Gathering (verse 8)

Acts 19:8
And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Again, this was Paul’s pattern throughout all of his ministry. He first entered the synagogues and spoke there to the Jews in that place. As he did, he would tell them of Jesus, how he was the long-expected Messiah. Paul would go to the Scriptures, which prophesied of the Messiah. Paul would show them how the Messiah was called to suffer for the sins of his people, and then, rise from the dead. And he would proceed to tell them of how Jesus suffered for the sins of his people. and how Jesus rose from the dead. and how Jesus is the Messiah! and how we must believe in him to have our sins forgiven.

Now, here in Ephesus, we see the content of Paul’s message to the Jews nicely summarized as “the kingdom of God.” Look again at verse 8, "for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God." This isn’t the first time in the book of Acts that we have heard about “the kingdom of God,” nor will it be our last. This is what Jesus spoke to his disciples about between the time of his resurrection and ascension. "[Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). This was the message that Paul preached to those on his first missionary journey, to encourage them to continue in the faith. "[Paul was] strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). This is the message that we find Paul preaching at the end of the book of Acts to all the Jews who might come to him: "[Paul] welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance" (Acts 28:30-31).
 
The “kingdom of God” is a vast topic. Some theologians have argued that this is the theme of the entire Bible. In other words, “What does the Bible teach us?” “The Bible teaches us how the kingdom of God is being established, ow God is king over the whole world. He has created us to be his servants. God has sent his son to be king of the earth. The one who sits on the throne in Zion. We will either bow to our king! Or, we will rebel.In this age, God is gathering his willing servants. Those who repent of their sins and submit to the Messiah, king Jesus. At the end of the age, he will come back to destroy all rebellion. and establish his eternal kingdom. with God on his throne, and his Son at his right hand! to rule and reign forever more! So, repent today, while there is still hope for your soul!"

That’s a brief summary of the kingdom of God. That’s a brief summary of what Paul was saying to those in the synagogue who came to hear him speak.

Paul’s custom was to speak in such a way to the Jews in the synagogue, as long as the Jews would allow. Because, typically, they would reach a breaking point. Where the Jews were hardened in their hearts. and they simply didn’t believe. Then, they often expelled him from the synagogue. At this point, he would turn to the Gentiles and preach the gospel to them, often receiving a better reception than he ever had with the Jews. This was the gospel, of which Paul was not ashamed. “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

This was Paul’s method of ministry. because, it was the most strategic way to spread the gospel. Of any one primed for the gospel, it was the Jewish people. They were the people of God. They were given the Scriptures. They knew the Scriptures. They knew of the God of the Scriptures. And the Scriptures were the authority in their lives. They sought to follow the Scriptures, with every fiber of their being.

Sadly, many Jews were caught up in the external obedience of the law in their lives, missing the importance of heart religion. But, they had a base of authority. And Paul sought to exploit that, by pointing them to their authority, the Scriptures. and showing them passages like Isaiah 53 or Psalm 22 or Psalm 16, passages that prophesy of the Messiah suffering for his people, and rising from the dead. If ever the Jews would believe, it would be because they saw the truth in the Scriptures.

I think today, that Roman Catholics are like our modern-day Jews. They look to the Scriptures as their authority. Their church services are filled with Bible readings! Yet, like the Jews of old, their religious observances are often merely external. thinking that they come to God based upon religious observances of the ceremonies of the church. Roman Catholics today are primed to embrace the gospel of Christ. That you come to God, not based upon your religious observance to the ceremonies of the church. but based upon faith alone in Jesus Christ.

That’s why, when I received a call about a month ago from Sister Marie at a Catholic Nursing home here in town, wondering if I would be interested in speaking at their chapel, I jumped at the chance. This constant ministry of Paul, entering the synagogue, speaking to the Jews from the Scriptures about Jesus, was on my mind. So, I went to the Catholic Nursing home. And I used the Scriptures to preach the gospel to them. Psalm 103 was my text. Here are some of the verses in that Psalm:

Psalm 103:1-4, 8
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all you iniquity,
who heals all your diseases 4
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

The LORD is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

So, I spoke to the Catholic residents about the grace of God! I spoke with them about the forgiveness of sins by faith in Jesus. Now, admittedly, it is a nursing home. Many of those who came to the chapel were sleepy and didn’t seem to be paying much attention. But the staff was there. And the staff was paying attention. Perhaps the freeness of the gospel will sink in. Like the apostle Paul, if I get invited back, I will be glad to go. and share with them the freeness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that forgiveness comes through faith, apart from works of the law.

Anyway, this is what Paul was doing in Ephesus. He was preaching in the synagogue in that city. Finally, he reached a point where he was no longer welcome.

Acts 19:9
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.

Three months in the synagogue was enough for the Jews. Some were hardened in their hearts toward what Paul was saying. They began to speak against Paul and “the way” of salvation that he was proclaiming. The synagogue was no longer a safe place for him to be. Paul was no longer welcomed there. So, having gathered a core group of believers through his synagogue-evangelism, Paul withdrew. "[He] took the disciples with him." He took them to “the hall of Tyrannus.” It is there that he devoted his time to teaching the disciples in Ephesus. Thus, the second stage of the establishment of the church began, the "Growing Stage."

2. Growing (verses 9-10)

This is the core work of the church: taking those who believe, and taking them deeper into the truth. This he was doing in the “hall of Tyrannus.” Some translations call this the “school of Tyrannus.” Apparently, it was some type of building, that was open for Paul to rent to further teach those who had come to faith through his preaching ministry.

We literally know nothing about this “hall of Tyrannus.” We don’t know where it was in Ephesus, whether in the heart of the city or on the edge. We don’t know how large it was, whether a dozen could gather or whether hundreds could gather in this place. The only thing that we know of this place is the name, “hall of Tyrannus.” “Tyrannus” means, “Tyrant.” Some commentators have proposed that this is the nickname given to the owner of the place, that he ruled his students with an iron fist. We don’t know.

Now surely, Paul’s meeting there for two years is very similar to what takes place today when churches are planted. Churches often rent school buildings. We ourselves at Rock Valley Bible Church, rented out Rockford Christian High School before we purchased this building. It’s not a new idea. Schools are filled during the week. But on the weekends, they lie dormant. They are perfect candidates to be rented out on Sunday mornings by churches. Now, in the case of Paul, it seems as if he had great access to this meeting place. Verse 9 tells us that he was "reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus." Every day he was in this place, speaking to his disciples.

Some manuscripts add here that Paul taught, “from the fifth to the tenth hour” of the day. This makes sense due to the climate of Ephesus. It is tolerable to work in the morning and in the evening hours. But during the heat of the day, people would take their lunch and rest from the heat. Paul seized this opportunity to teach the Scriptures. All who were interested in coming, came to hear Paul teach.

What is amazing here is that Paul was working full time during his days in Ephesus. He would later say to the elders of Ephesus, "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:33-35). This is where we see the remarkable strength of the apostle Paul. He was able to work full time, earning money, and teach in the hall of Tyrannus every day. What a remarkable man he was. According to verse 10, Paul did this for two years.

Acts 19:10
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

So think about the ministry of Paul. He was in Ephesus over two years. If you read on in Acts 19, you see that it was longer. In fact, Acts 19 is all about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. In verse 22 we read of how Paul sent Timothy and Erastus (two of his helpers) away to Macedonia. Yet, Paul “stayed in Asia for a while.” That is, Paul stayed in Ephesus for a while. When we get to chapter 20, we discover that Paul actually spent three whole years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). By the time Paul returns back to Jerusalem to end his third missionary journey, we find that he has been gone some four years in spreading the gospel.

I think that it would be good for us to note this fact. The first time Paul heads out on his missions endeavors, he is gone a year or so. The second time Paul travels abroad on his missions efforts, he is gone for two years or so. And here, on Paul’s third missionary journey, he is gone for four years or so. This seems right, as Paul is ever-expanding his ministry. As he returns to the various churches he planted, there are increasing opportunities to serve them in the progress of the gospel.

Yet, one of the big reasons why Paul’s journeys increased in time, was his focus upon specific churches. On his first missionary journey, he spent a few months, tops, at any of the churches he established. On his second missionary journey, he was in Corinth for 18 months. On his third missionary journey, he was in Ephesus for 3 years! I can’t help but to think that Paul considered this extended time in one place to be the most fruitful ways to spread the gospel. Think about it. Paul’s passion was to spread the good news about Jesus. (This is why he went out on any of these missions efforts in the first place–to spread the gospel. To spread the good news of Jesus, dying on the cross for our sins. that we might believe in him, and have eternal life). Paul could have continued on to other places. But I believe that Paul remained in Corinth, and he remained in Ephesus, for longer periods of time, precisely because, this was the most strategic way that he could extend the reach of the gospel.

I have heard John MacArthur often give the advice to young pastors. He says “Focus your attention upon the depth of your congregation. And let God build the breadth of your ministry.” This is what Paul was doing. He spent much time in Ephesus building depth into the people there, and saw the Lord expand the breadth of his ministry. Look at how broad his ministry was.

Acts 19:10
This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul remaining in Ephesus was strategic for reaching all of Asia with the gospel! I can only suspect that Paul was causing quite a stir with his teaching. As he was in the hall teaching for two years.

I remember hearing a pastor talk about ministry impact. He said, “We often over estimate what we can do in a year of ministry. We often under estimate what we can do in a decade of ministry.” This was Paul, having a great effect upon the gospel in Asia. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted long.

In Revelation 2, words were written to this very same church, 30 years later. Paul had established the church. He had established it well. Then, Jesus delivers a message to the church:

Revelation 2:2
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

We see a lot of good things here about the church in Ephesus. They were working hard, laboring for the Lord. They were toiling and enduring patiently. They were pushing out the sinning members of the congregation. This isn't easy to do. You will only do this if you have a commitment to the truth, that you cannot serve Christ and be engaged in blatent sin. Further, they had some doctrinal discernment. They tested those claiming to be apostles and found them to be false. They rejected these so-called apostles and kept the heart of the gospel pure in the church. All this they did 30 years after Paul planted the church!

Revelation 2:3
"I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

For the sake of Jesus, they had a passion with the Lord. They were willing to suffer for him.

Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

We don't know exactly what love they lost. Maybe they lost their zealous-new-believer love for the Lord. Maybe they lost their brotherly love for one another. They weren't as passionate as before with each other. Maybe they lost their heart for the lost. Maybe the love is ambiguous enough to be able to include all three of these applications for us.

Could it be that they lost their heart for the lost? After the initial work of "Gathering" (verse 8) they were content in merely "Growing" (verses 9-10) by themselves. Perhaps their heart for others outside the church was dwindling. Earlier in my message I spoke of the budding church in Bloomington, Illinois. Many have moved from out of town to establish a church her. They are excited and working hard to spread the gospel. But what about 30 years from now? What will the church look like then? Will they be equally as passionate?

We often sing the following hymn:

This speaks of a passion for Christ. It speaks of a love to see people bowing their knee to the Lord of lords. Consider the second stanza of the same hymn.

God looks upon the church with a precious love relationship. He loves us. The hymn expresses a love for God's church, because he loves the church. In these words you can feel the passion and the excitement.

Could it be that this church in Ephesus lost this love of the church? They used to gather daily for the worship and edification. But now, they have lost the love for some reason.

When it comes to establishing a church, two things are required: gathering and growing. The love for the gathering helps to fuel love for the growing. Growing takes place when you are actively seeking to make the Lord know. For us at Rock Valley Bible Church, may the Lord stir a love in us afresh for reaching out and gathering people into his church. May the Lord stir into us a love for the lost.

Most churches in America during the COVID epidemic have dwindled in their attendance. That means that there are lots of people who used to attend church who aren't any more. Perhaps there are people in your relational network who fall into this category. Perhaps you know some people who used to be involved in a church, but left and simply haven't come back. Maybe now is a great time to invite them back.

I have been talking with my wife about those we know who need to be called back to church. They haven't returned to their old church. We are praying about inviting them to our church. Do you know people like that?

Finally, the message comes to the church.

Revelation 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

These words are referring back to Acts 19, when the church in Ephesus was founded. The works you did at first were the gathering and growing works. And now, 30 years later, somehow that initial excitement and enthusiasm has dwindled. This passage this morning is calling us to restore that. It's calling us to go back to what the foundation of the church in Ephesus was like.

By the way, this is why I believe that church plants are always needed. There is always this new stirring and excitement that comes with a new church. There is always love for God and his church kindled afresh in a new work. Churches almost always drift into coldness, like this church in Ephesus did, like we may easily do, like maybe you already have. Maybe I have. May the Lord work in our hearts to restore us back to this love we had at first.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on June 5, 2022 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] https://www.openbible.info/blog/2012/07/calculating-the-time-and-cost-of-pauls-missionary-journeys/.
 
[2] https://www.understandchristianity.com/timelines/chronology-pauls-ministry/.
 
[3] Timothy Dwight.

[4] Ibid.