God’s method for transforming society is not through grand gestures or sweeping reforms, but through the quiet, persistent work of changing individual hearts. Each person who encounters the gospel and is transformed by Christ becomes a part of a ripple effect that extends outward, impacting families, communities, and even entire cultures. This process is often slow and may seem insignificant at first, but over time, the accumulation of changed lives leads to profound and lasting change. Just as a single snowflake seems small, yet many together can trigger an avalanche, so too does God use each transformed heart to bring about His purposes in the world. [50:13]
Acts 19:23-41 (NIV)
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Reflection: What is one small step you can take today to allow God to work in your heart or in the heart of someone close to you, trusting that even a tiny act of faithfulness can have a far-reaching impact?
The transformation of hearts and cultures begins when followers of Jesus are willing to share the message of the gospel. It is not enough to simply do good works; the gospel must be spoken, explained, and proclaimed. Even if you feel inadequate or unsure of what to say, your willingness to share the good news is the first and most essential step in God’s process of change. The gospel is powerful—like carrying spiritual dynamite—and when it is shared, it has the potential to radically alter lives, families, and communities. [53:31]
Acts 1:8 (NIV)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can intentionally share the gospel with this week, and what practical step can you take to begin that conversation?
When one person is changed by the gospel, that change rarely stays contained. The transformation spreads as new believers share their faith with others, creating a multiplying effect that can reach entire families and communities. This ripple effect is seen in stories where one person’s decision to follow Christ leads to others in their circle coming to faith, being baptized, and experiencing new life. The gospel’s power is not just in individual change, but in its ability to multiply and create a movement of transformed lives. [01:01:39]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Reflection: Can you identify a time when someone’s faith impacted you or someone else in your circle? How might God use your story to encourage or influence another person today?
The gospel is not just comforting; it is also disruptive. When the message of Jesus takes root in people’s hearts, it challenges the idols, values, and priorities of the surrounding culture. The gospel exposes what we truly love and confronts the things we put before God, whether they are material, relational, or ideological. As more hearts are changed, the culture itself is shaken and reshaped—not by force or argument, but by the quiet, persistent power of transformed lives living out the truth. [01:06:06]
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Reflection: What is one area in your life where the gospel is challenging your values or priorities, and how can you respond to God’s prompting to let Him reshape that area?
Even in the face of resistance, confusion, or outright hostility, the gospel endures and continues its work. The message of Jesus cannot be silenced by the noise of the crowd or the chaos of the world; it stands steady and clear, defended by God Himself. Our role is not to protect or defend the gospel, but to faithfully proclaim it and trust that God will guard His truth. When we live out and share the gospel, its enduring power will outlast any opposition and continue to change lives for generations. [01:09:51]
Matthew 16:18 (NIV)
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Reflection: When you face discouragement or pushback for your faith, how can you remind yourself of the enduring power of the gospel and continue to stand firm in sharing and living it out?
It’s a joy to gather in this place God has provided, but let’s remember: the church is not a building—it’s the people of God on a mission. From our earliest days meeting in libraries and cinemas, to now having a building of our own, our calling has never changed. The building is a tool, not the goal. Our true purpose is to know Christ and make Him known, wherever we are.
Looking at Acts 19, we see how the gospel disrupts and transforms a society. Ephesus was a city steeped in idolatry and spiritual confusion, yet the simple act of sharing the gospel set off a ripple effect—one heart at a time. Like a stone dropped in a lake, the gospel’s impact radiates outward, changing individuals, families, and eventually the culture itself. Gospel transformation is not about behavior modification or religious effort; it’s about heart renovation. When someone realizes their brokenness and trusts Christ, He redeems and renews from the inside out.
This transformation is contagious. As one person is changed, they share the good news with another, and the process multiplies. The story of Ephesus shows us that before there was a riot, there was a revival—individuals turning from idols to the living God. The gospel critiques and confronts the idols of any culture, exposing what we truly love and offering something far greater.
God changes the world through small, faithful steps—tiny pushes on the flywheel, not grand gestures. It starts with each of us sharing the gospel, even if we feel inadequate. No message, no movement. The gospel must be proclaimed before it can be received. As more hearts are changed, the effect multiplies, eventually reaching a tipping point that can reshape a whole society.
Even in the face of opposition, the gospel endures. It doesn’t need to be protected or shouted down; it stands steady and clear amid the chaos. Our role is to join the ripple effect—sharing the gospel in our homes, neighborhoods, and beyond. One small act of faithfulness can change a life, a family, even a community. The question is: what step will you take this week to join in God’s transforming work?
Acts 19:23–41 (ESV) — 23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Oct 19, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?
Add this chatbot onto your site with the embed code below
<iframe frameborder="0" src="https://pastors.ai/sermonWidget/sermon/genesis-charlevoix-gospel-ripple" width="100%" height="100%" style="height:100vh;"></iframe>Copy