BECOMING A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS- Being a Disciple // Sunday, September 25, 2022 // Pastor Jeff Hines
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Sunday — September 25, 2022
Becoming A Light in the Darkness
Today: Being A Disciple
Matthew 28: 19 – 20 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
1. Asia Minor
Most Fertile and Prosperous Region of Roman Empire… Most PAGAN
Early Church Quickest Growth Here !
Revelation 3: 1 – 6 (ESV)
“‘I know your works.
You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die,
for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis,
people who have not soiled their garments,
and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
MAIN POINT:
Don’t know the founder
Motivated to spread the Gospel
Influence the Culture
Did they repurpose pagan articles for God’s glory?
Did they become indifferent in a culture of tolerance?
Let’s understand…
Rural to Metropolitan
Jewish to Gentile
God Centered to Man Centered
Revelation 2: 12 – 17 (NLT)
2. Right Now Media
3. Pergamum
Alexander the Great…
200 – 250 years of Hellenistic…
Cap of Asia Minor…
Governor = “Right of the Sword”
Power of Life and Death…
4. Aerial View
Place Where Satan Lives…
Church had great impact…
Revelation 2: 13 (NLT)
“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
5. Temple of Dionysus
Demigod: Zeus and Semele (Human)
6. Path to Temple of Aesculapius
god of Healing…
7. Pillar of Aesculapius
Once vetted walked the tunnel…
8. Tunnel to Healing Room
9. Healing Room
300 feet in Diameter…
Small Chambers…
Revelation 2: 17 & 18 (NLT)
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will… give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
Shrine of Demeter
goddess of Grain
Popular with Lower & Middle Class
Especially the Women…
Revelation 2: 17 (NLT)
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.
Huge Temple of Zeus…
10. Athena Temple
1st City where Emperor Cult was established…
In this case it was Caesar Augustus
god and King