The Disturbing Way of Jesus

What this episode covers

In Acts 19, we read the account of Paul’s time in Ephesus establishing a church there. In three key passages in that chapter, we see three ways the Way of Jesus disturbs the status quo. In verses 8-10, we see that Paul’s radical Gospel of equality and unity among all ethnic groups led to the maligning of the Jesus Way. The Jesus Way disturbs our walls of hostility (Ephesians 2.14-16). Then, in verses 14-16, we see that the Jesus Way disturbs our desire to co-opt religious power. When we attempt to do good apart from a life-giving connection with God and others, we may find ourselves overcome by evil. Finally, in verses 23-34, we see that the Jesus Way disturbs our idolatries and the systems that support them.