Sustaining a Movement

Between Paul’s decapitation around 67AD and Timothy’s imprisonment, the church continued its ministry, albeit not without struggles. Nearly thirty years later, Jesus intervenes with the church, as much to encourage them for the work they were doing, but also to admonish them for forgetting their first love.

They were doing good things, but they were no longer doing the main thing: proclamation of the good news that the nations are included in the plan of God. Throughout the rest of the book of Revelation, John communicates the vision that all people, nations, tribes, and languages will one day worship before the throne. In the meantime, John is told to continue to prophesy about the completion of God’s mission as it is the ultimate vision of God’s will.

Join the Study

Study Guide

Next Chapter

The Anatomy of a Movement

Listen to the Podcast

Also, check out other podcasts on the Ephesiology Podcast. You don’t want to miss an episode! And, join our discussion forum on the topic of movements.

Ephesiology [n. ih·fē·zē·äləʒē]: The Study of the Ephesian Movement

A community conversation about the most significant church-planting movement in the early church. The study of the Ephesian movement raises many questions about Christianity today. What made that city the epicenter of the movement? And how can we replicate sustained movements in a world that feels so different? This is not another methodology or attempt to re-contextualize evangelicalism. Rather, it is a look at the story of how the Holy Spirit still changes lives, cities, and the world.

On this episode of the Ephesiology Podcast, Andrew, Matt, and Michael discuss a recent survey revealing that the majority of US pastors believe people in their congregations lack commitment. At the core of the survey is the gap between the pulpit and the pew. It’s reminiscent of the classic story of the monkey and the fish. Join our podcasters as they discuss the importance for pastors to understand their congregation and the need for the church to reorient herself to a cathartic, analytic, and catalytic paradigm.

Find us on your favorite podcast app. Just search “Ephesiology.”

Michael

Resident Ephesiologist, Missions Executive

Michael is an executive in a missions organization where he leads a team focused on training and empowering local believers and church leaders in evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and catalyzing church planting movements in the most difficult to reach places on the planet. He is the author of Ephesiology: The Study of the Ephesian Movement.

AndrewJohnson

Associate Pastor, Neartown Church

Andrew is a pastor, husband and father who desires all to know the one true King. He happily serves at Neartown Church in Houston, TX with a vibrant and growing community. He is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast.

MattTill

Chief Communications Strategist

Matt serves as the chief communications strategist and brand storyteller for the mission of Knox Theological Seminary. He has a diverse background in communications, higher education, and Christian ministry, and is also a former on-air promotions writer and producer who holds multiple awards, including two Emmys for his past work in Chicago broadcast television. He is the co-host of the Ephesiology Podcast.

At the core of the survey is the gap between the pulpit and the pew. It's reminiscent of the classic story of the monkey and the fish.
Click To Tweet

Partner with Ephesiology

If you’ve benefited from the Ephesiology Podcast, would you consider a gift to help sustain future episodes? We’d be honored to partner with you to continue providing solid biblical, theological, and missiological content for listeners around the world.

https://www.paypal.com/sdk/js?client-id=Ac6s2YdtORzATdju0IXcuX8xJSFtxmTH4iNq93yCiYxLe3LlFCpuetkh8DWT8Hs74Ji0Rygt_sHO6zRx&vault=true&intent=subscription

paypal.Buttons({
style: {
shape: ‘rect’,
color: ‘gold’,
layout: ‘vertical’,
label: ‘subscribe’
},
createSubscription: function(data, actions) {
return actions.subscription.create({
/* Creates the subscription */
plan_id: ‘P-7G128220AR792923TMHFO4SA’
});
},
onApprove: function(data, actions) {
alert(data.subscriptionID); // You can add optional success message for the subscriber here
}
}).render(‘#paypal-button-container-P-7G128220AR792923TMHFO4SA’); // Renders the PayPal button

Don’t go to seminary. Let us bring seminary to you.

We know you are passionate about God’s mission and so are we. Our non-residential degree programs are especially designed to prepare you to see God do more than you can imagine right from your place of ministry. Join a learning experience concerned for your head, heart, and hands, and earn a Doctoral or Master’s degrees that are affordable, accessible, and from accredited seminaries.