When New Life Springs

Steve McKenzie March 10, 2019

Series Big Idea: The gospel will be proclaimed among all peoples through witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The expulsive power of new affections…
- “Now they [dead leaves] were falling, seemingly without cause. Then he realized that the most potent force of all was causing them to fall. It was spring; the sap was beginning to run; the buds were beginning to push from within. From down beneath the dark earth, the roots were taking life and sending it along trunk, branch, and twig, until that life expelled every bit of deadness that remained from the previous year. It was, as a great Scottish preacher termed it, “the expulsive power of a new affection.” Donald Grey Barnhouse

In Ephesus – the people burned a modern equivalent to 6 million dollars
When people’s affections changed, the culture changes but there are people who profit off the sinful appetites of the culture.
Orlando
- Based on our population, Orlando ranks 3rd in the US for human trafficking (reference)
- In 2018, Florida performed 70,083 abortions (reference)

(19:37) These men here are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess
The gospel has the power to transform our affections in such a powerful way that it displaces our lesser, often sinful, affections.

In a tense moment, is your first instinctive reaction to “fight” or “flight.” Describe.
Read Ephesians 19:17-41. What stands out to you?
What caused the riot in the story? In our current cultural moment, what about the gospel might elicit similar responses of anger from people?
The message on Sunday helped us see the power of the gospel in transforming our affections. Do we live with an expectation that people will be transformed as the gospel is preached?
In what ways to Christians and churches try to change people and culture apart from proclaiming the gospel? Do you see this as helpful or harmful?
How can we specifically pray for our communities?