And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, the Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus… And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the Kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. (Acts 19:1; 8-10)
One of the reasons the Church in Ephesus became such an important and spiritually powerful congregation had to do with the struggles that forced Paul and the disciples of Jesus he was training up to move from a religious place into a public building.
“Tyrannus,” interestingly enough, means “sovereign,” as in one whom reigns. It seems that the Sovereign Head over all that is chose to expand the gospel to folks who were more open to hearing it, so that they could reign in this life, and reign with HIM forever in the next!
As we begin this new day in a new place as a congregation, it is exciting to know that the Sovereign Head Himself orchestrated our move and has given us great favor in it. It will become obvious that people who are hungry for the Way—full-blown Christianity—will find it easier to come to a neutral public place rather than a religious-looking one.
There is a Sovereign move going on in our midst… There is a shift happening that will open many to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our region of the U.S. The Lord is anxious, I believe, to reach both the churched (“Jews”) and the unchurched (“Greeks”) in the Appalachian area with the full Fire of the Gospel.
This is a new day for First Church. While meeting “house to house” continues, we are in a new place for Worship Services for a compelling reason—so that all who dwell in (Appalachia) heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both (churched and unchurched).
Likely, Paul did not know on the front end what all would happen in the lives of the growing number of disciples or how long the season at the School of Tyrannus would last. But the Sovereign God did…!
Led by the Lord, we are starting something new and don’t know exactly what it will look like, or how long it will last, or exactly how many lives will be touched. But we are SURE the Sovereign Lord Jesus is in it, and that the Father’s passion for souls in this part of the world will be satisfied in glorious ways!