The Church in Ephesus

Yesterday during the worship time, we began a series on the Book of Ephesians. We really looked at the beginnings of the Church in Ephesus. Acts 19 tells us about the challenges that this church faced. Yet, through God’s strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were able to endure. Their example is an encouragement to us as we seek to continue to do God’s work in our community.

As a part of the sermon, I shared a part of a post by the pastor of a Chinese Church in Chicago, Enoch Liu, about a friend of his who had been imprisoned in China for seven years for preaching the gospel on the internet. He was released two days ago on July 4^th. Truly an Independence Day for him. I wanted to share a few more of Enoch Liu’s thoughts at length.

He tells us about Pastor Ezra Jin, who was “A geophysics student at Peking University — China's Harvard — on track to be a scientist, groomed since high school for Communist Party membership. Then came June 4, 1989. He watched the Party turn its tanks and guns on its own students at Tiananmen Square. The ideology he was raised to serve revealed its true face — and it shattered him. In the wreckage of that faith, he found another: Jesus Christ.”

“The CCP lost a scientist. The Kingdom gained a shepherd.”

“He gave up a lucrative career, went to seminary, and eventually planted Zion Church in Beijing — which grew into one of the largest house churches in China's capital. He became a leading figure in a remarkable movement: the explosive growth of urban house churches — educated professionals, students, entrepreneurs — meeting in office buildings and living rooms across China's cities, outside Party control. . . .”

“So the state answered faith with force. Most American Christians cannot imagine what faith costs in China today:

Crosses torn down from church buildings; sanctuaries demolished or forced to install facial-recognition cameras pointed at the pews

                Children under 18 barred from attending church; Sunday schools outlawed

Preaching online without a government license — a crime; Bible apps pulled from app stores

Every church ordered to submit to "Sinicization": preach the Party first, or cease to exist. Pastors who refuse — like Wang Yi of Early Rain Church — are serving years in prison.”

Enoch Liu then writes, “This is not history. This is China in 2026.” I believe this is a reminder to us to be in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world who do not experience the freedom of religious expression that we enjoy. We should also not take our freedom for granted but recognize what a privilege it is to be able to share our faith with others without fear of going to prison for it.

There are several events coming up. Don’t forget the sign-up sheets for our turn at the Band Concert. We do have another opportunity for Q&A with the Stained Glass Window Task Force next Sunday at the end of the service. I hope that you’ll take time for this to learn more about what the Task Force has found and if you have questions.

Hope to see you Sunday! Bring along a friend or two.

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Ephesians 1:3-14—Reflect on the phrase: “the riches of God’s grace which he lavished on us.”

Psalm 65—In this psalm, what good things does God bless his people with?

2 Corinthians 9:6-15—What do you think Paul is encouraging in this passage?

Matthew 20:1-16—How would you describe the message of this passage?