It can be scary to stand firm in your faith in an environment

that's hostile toward Christianity. Often, though, that's where we can have the

greatest impact. Today on Truth for Life, Alistair Begg traces a line through

the Apostle Paul's ministry in Ephesus, we'll see how Paul seized gospel

opportunities and how he responded to opposition.

I wanted tonight to turn with you to a portion of scripture which described for us

the Church of Jesus Christ reaching a city. And foundational to that process is

what we discover here in this account by look whereby we see the ministry of

the Apostle Paul being exercised in the midst of an environment which was not

exactly opportune for the gospel. And what I'd like to do is to trace a line

through this tonight and hopefully it will be of guidance to us, encouragement to

us and perhaps strengthen us in some of our convictions at least concerning the

place of the Proclamation of God's Word which I believe is one of the unique

ways that we as a church are able to reach the city. And so tonight we look

then at what we're told beginning at the eighth verse concerning the city of

Ephesus. Those of you who know your New Testament will know that Paul spent the

longest time in the city of Ephesus. Indeed we're told that the impact of Paul's

ministry in the city of Ephesus in verse 20 was that the Word of the Lord spread

widely and grew in power. Indeed elsewhere the word is translated that there was a

mighty movement of the Word of God, a kind of relentless tidal wave swept

through the city of Ephesus, bringing people into the kingdom of God, stirring up

the believers, enabling them to share their faith and transforming their lives.

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