SupernaturalSupernaturalA Logos Institute –First Christian A Logos Institute –First Christian
Cooperative CourseCooperative Course
Introduction to Introduction to SupernaturalSupernatural
Naturalism Naturalism
& &
SupernaturalismSupernaturalism
In In
EducationEducation
MediaMedia
The ChurchThe Church
NaturalismNaturalismSupernatural persons or forces do Supernatural persons or forces do not exist in reality. Thus, humans not exist in reality. Thus, humans
can can find the meaning and purpose of find the meaning and purpose of
life life using only natural, logical reasons using only natural, logical reasons
and and explanations. explanations.
Naturalists think God and Satan are Naturalists think God and Satan are ““Myths” from a pre-scientific age Myths” from a pre-scientific age ““delusions” that no longer make delusions” that no longer make sense in “modern” or “post-sense in “modern” or “post-
modern” modern” times .times .
(See Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins)(See Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins)
The Supernatural Chain of The Supernatural Chain of Being Being
A preoccupation A preoccupation
of thinkers from of thinkers from
ancient Greeks ancient Greeks
until the present.until the present.
One’s “worldview” One’s “worldview”
determines how big determines how big is is
their “chain of their “chain of being.”being.”
Naturalism & Naturalism & SupernaturalismSupernaturalism
Dominant Trends & Examples Dominant Trends & Examples inin
EducationEducation
MediaMedia
ChurchChurch
The Fallacy of False The Fallacy of False DilemmaDilemma
““Satan sends error into the Satan sends error into the world world
in pairs of opposites, in pairs of opposites,
trusting that your dislike of trusting that your dislike of one one
will draw you to the other”will draw you to the other”
(C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters)(C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters)
The Supernatural in The Supernatural in Ephesians Ephesians
Sitting Sitting with Christ (1—3)with Christ (1—3)
Striding Striding with Christ (4—6:9)with Christ (4—6:9)
StandingStanding
with Christ with Christ
against Satan-against Satan-Demons (6:10-20)Demons (6:10-20)
THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUSTHE CHURCH IN EPHESUS
Passages NeededPassages Needed
Acts 19Acts 19
Ephesians 3; 5; 6:Ephesians 3; 5; 6:
Revelation 2:1-7Revelation 2:1-7
THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN THE GLORY AND TRAGEDY OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUSEPHESUS
1.1. Background & Background & CultureCulture
2.2. Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove
3.3. Leaving & Leaving & Returning to Returning to Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove
Ephesus BackgroundEphesus Background
1.1.Most accessibleMost accessible city in Asia Minor city in Asia Minor (Turkey) (Turkey)
2.2.ProminentProminent in religion, politics, economic in religion, politics, economic
3.3.Home of the Home of the Temple of DianaTemple of Diana (Artemis) (Artemis)
4.4.Much of the New Testament involves Much of the New Testament involves this city:this city: Timothy was a Pastor in this Timothy was a Pastor in this city (see 1 and 2 Timothy) and John the city (see 1 and 2 Timothy) and John the Apostle made Ephesus his headquartersApostle made Ephesus his headquarters
5.5.Prevailing culturePrevailing culture of Ephesus . . . of Ephesus . . .
TheThe prevailing cultureprevailing culture of of EphesusEphesus
Demonic Demonic (Acts 19:11-16)(Acts 19:11-16)
Occultic Occultic (Acts 19:17-20) (Acts 19:17-20)
Idolatrous Idolatrous (Acts 19:23-41)(Acts 19:23-41)
Our Prevailing Culture?Our Prevailing Culture?Where do you see Where do you see
in the USA and Canton, Ohioin the USA and Canton, Ohio
The The Demonic?Demonic?
The Occult?The Occult?
Idolatry?Idolatry?
Supernatural Jesus in Supernatural Jesus in EphesusEphesus
“This (Supernatural Jesus) went on for two years,
so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia [Minor]
heard the Message of the Lord.”
Acts 19:10Acts 19:10
The 7 churches of Revelation 2—3 were all The 7 churches of Revelation 2—3 were all
born because of Christ’s Supernatural Work born because of Christ’s Supernatural Work via Paul and those led to Jesus in Ephesus.via Paul and those led to Jesus in Ephesus.
Ephesians OverviewEphesians Overview
1.1. A “circular” letterA “circular” letter
(compare Ephesians 1:1 (compare Ephesians 1:1
with Colossians 4:16)with Colossians 4:16)
2.2. Thus, Asia Minor Churches Thus, Asia Minor Churches
knew Ephesians and knew Ephesians and Colossians.Colossians.
3.3. Thus, we must Thus, we must use Ephesians use Ephesians and Colossians to understand and Colossians to understand Jesus’ message to EphesusJesus’ message to Ephesus
The Supernatural in The Supernatural in Ephesians Ephesians
S-Sitting S-Sitting with Christ (1—3)with Christ (1—3)
S-Striding S-Striding with Christ (4—6:9)with Christ (4—6:9)
S-StandingS-Standing
with Christ with Christ
against Satan-against Satan-Demons (6:10-20)Demons (6:10-20)
The Tragedy: Rev. 2:1-7The Tragedy: Rev. 2:1-7
FindingFindingLeaving Leaving
Returning Returning to to
Supernatural Supernatural LoveLove
Supernatural Prayer for Supernatural Prayer for LoveLove
Ephesians 3:14-21Ephesians 3:14-21that God would grant you, according to the riches of God’s glory, to be strengthened with power through
God’s Spirit in the inner person, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through
faith
. . . being rooted and grounded in love may be able to
comprehend with all the saints the breadth, length, height and depth and to know the love of Christ
which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Jesus’ Supernatural “First Jesus’ Supernatural “First Love” Love”
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through
the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27Ephesians 5:25-27
Supernatural Supernatural Undying Love for JesusUndying Love for Jesus“Grace to all who
love our Lord Jesus Christ with
an undying love”(Ephesians 6:24)
“Aphthartos”Immortal
Imperishable
Jesus’ Message to Jesus’ Message to EphesusEphesus
Love me first, Love me first,
in the same in the same way way
I have loved I have loved
and do love and do love you!you!
The The PatternPattern of Jesus’ of Jesus’ MessagesMessages
1.1. RevelationRevelation (of The Lord Jesus)(of The Lord Jesus)
2.2. Evaluation Evaluation ((Good and Good and Improvement)Improvement)
3.3. RecommendationRecommendation by Jesus by Jesus
4.4. AdmonitionAdmonition by Jesus by Jesus
5.5. ExhortationExhortation by Jesus by Jesus
The The Revelation ofRevelation of Jesus: 2:1 Jesus: 2:1
“. . . words of Him who holds the seven
stars in his right hand and
walks in the midst the seven golden lamp
stands”
AuthorityCentrality
Evaluation: Praise & Evaluation: Praise & Analysis Analysis
hard work perseverance. cannot tolerate wicked men, tested those who claim to be
apostles but are not, and have found
them false. persevered endured hardships for my name, not grown weary. hate the practices of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Yet I hold this
against you:
You have
forsaken your first
love.
The The ProblemProblem in Ephesus in Ephesus
Christians with many good qualities, Christians with many good qualities,
(Service, Discerning, Moral)(Service, Discerning, Moral)but but
Christians that have Christians that have
forsaken their “First forsaken their “First Love.”Love.”
The The FirstFirst and and “New”“New” LovesLoves
Teacher, which is the greatest
commandment in the Law?“
Jesus replied: " `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.' This is
the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'
A new command I give
you: Love (agape) one
another. As I have
loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all will know that
you are my disciples,
if you love one another."
Forsaking First LoveForsaking First Love
“My people have committed two sins:They have forsaken Me, the spring of living
water,and have dug their own cisterns, broken
cisterns that cannot hold
water.”Jeremiah 2:13
Results of Forsaking our First Results of Forsaking our First LoveLove
““I remember the I remember the devotiondevotion of of
your youth, your youth, how as a how as a BrideBride you you
loved me . . .loved me . . . [but now] she [but now] she
defiled the land and defiled the land and committed adulterycommitted adultery
with with wood and stone wood and stone
[idols].”[idols].”Jeremiah 2:2 & 3:9Jeremiah 2:2 & 3:9
““Return, Return, faithless faithless people, people,
for I [God] for I [God] am your am your husbandhusband.”.”
Jeremiah 3:14Jeremiah 3:14
RecommendationsRecommendations by by JesusJesus
Remember the height from which you have fallen!
Repent (change you mind)
Repeatthe things you did at first.
AdmonitionAdmonition by Jesus by Jesus
“If you do not repent, [change your mind]
I will come to you and remove your lamp
stand from its place.”
1 Cor. 3:10-15;
1 Cor. 5:5
ExhortationExhortation by Jesus by Jesus“The one who has an ear, hear what The Spirit says to the
churches. Those who overcome [nike], I will
give them to eat from
the tree of life, which is in
the paradise of God.”
The Three Trees of LifeThe Three Trees of Life
The The firstfirst Tree of Life Tree of Life ((forsaken in Edenforsaken in Eden))
The The Second Second Tree of Tree of LifeLife((embraced on Golgothaembraced on Golgotha))
The The Third Third Tree of LifeTree of Life(waiting for Victors in(waiting for Victors inChrist in Paradise)Christ in Paradise)
Conclusion: LeConclusion: Let us “Receive” t us “Receive” what The Spirit is saying to us what The Spirit is saying to us
!! Supernaturally Loving Jesus Supernaturally Loving Jesus
with with
the supernatural love the supernatural love
given to us by Jesus’ death for given to us by Jesus’ death for us us
And by The Spirit within us, And by The Spirit within us,
an undying love that keeps an undying love that keeps Jesus Jesus
Our First Love and in the CenterOur First Love and in the Center
of our lives and church. of our lives and church.