Epicenter: Ephesus (Exchanging Addiction for Hope) — Friday
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (NIV)
Over this past week, we dove into the book of Ephesians while reflecting on some pretty hard topics: addiction, despair, desires and sobriety. These are things that are common to all mankind but have a much higher rate in Kentucky than many other parts of the nation and our world. Just like Kentucky, these issues were rampant in the ancient city of Ephesus. Paul spent three years in Ephesus planting a church at the epicenter of deviant behavior driven by people searching for satisfaction.
Just like Paul, Southland is planting churches in cities where Christ is needed. He is needed in every place of unmet need and unsatisfied appetite. The need for real hope comes from real loneliness, real lostness, and real brokenness. Those who are addicted and in despair have the greatest need for the real hope that is found in Christ Jesus!
In Paul’s letter to his church plant in Ephesus we are reminded of God’s redemptive work in Christ. The Gospel presented in Ephesians is that Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and God, He has united all to himself and to one another in His church, and we must live out the gospel story as His new creation.
Addiction and despair have skyrocketed at an alarming rate in Kentucky while church attendance has plummeted and church closures are prevalent. By planting churches in places of unmet needs and unsatisfied appetites, Southland is attempting to imitate the movement Jesus launched 2,000 years ago. To bring the hope of our salvation in Jesus Christ to the hopeless, the lonely, the lost, and the broken.
Friday’s Reflection
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). Is God calling you to participate in the spreading of the gospel message by getting involved in church planting? I encourage you first to pray and second to check out Southland’s church planting mission to see how you can get involved.