The Monetary Downfall of Religion

What happens when the gospel threatens someone's bottom line? In this message from Acts 19, we step into one of the most dramatic scenes in the New Testament: a full-scale riot in the city of Ephesus. We begin with the apostle's Spirit-led resolve, "I must also see Rome," and connect it to his heartfelt longing in Romans 1:13 to reap a harvest among the Gentiles. Then we travel back in time to explore the goddess Artemis (known in the King James Version as Diana) and her famous temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which served as a religious shrine, a bank, and the economic engine of the city.

At the center of the story is Demetrius the silversmith, whose concern for his profits sparked a two-hour uproar in the great theater. This sermon exposes the monetary downfall of religion and shows how the love of money corrupts both spirituality and everyday life. Because the early believers proclaimed "the Way," that Jesus is the only Way to the Father, idolatry began to lose its grip, and the idol trade began to suffer.

Most importantly, this message points us to the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ, and to the truth that Scripture alone declares we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Whether you are watching live or catching up later, we invite you to ask yourself: what "silver shrines" are competing for your heart, and are you ready to walk the Way?