October 19, 2025 - Proclaim Jesus With Your Life (Acts 19 - John Shearhart)

Gratitude fills the heart when reflecting on the many blessings God has poured out—simply gathering together in this space is a gift. In the midst of our daily lives, it’s easy to get distracted by lesser things, but the call is clear: let every part of life proclaim Jesus. This is not about standing on a street corner with a megaphone, but about letting Christ be the center of our conversations, our priorities, and our actions. Paul’s time in Ephesus, as described in Acts 19, is a powerful example. Despite opposition and hardship, he kept talking about Jesus—about the hope found in Him, the reality of His kingdom, and the ongoing work of God’s Word in our lives.

Proclaiming Jesus starts with simply talking about Him. Share what He’s done, how He’s changed your life, and the hope you have because of Him. The message is not just for those who have never heard; it’s for us, too. We need to be reminded daily of the Savior who rescues us from sin, who prepares a place for us, and who continues to speak through His Word. There is always more to learn, more to experience, and more to share.

As the gospel is proclaimed, hearts are changed. The story of the seven sons of Sceva is a reminder that true transformation comes not from empty words or borrowed faith, but from a real relationship with Jesus. When people encounter the living Christ, they confess, repent, and let go of what once held them captive. This is the fruit of the gospel: lives transformed, idols abandoned, and a community shaped by grace.

Yet, not everyone will respond with joy. Some will resist, even become hostile, as seen in the riot at Ephesus. But the gospel is not deterred by hard hearts. The call is to remain faithful, to keep proclaiming Jesus regardless of the response, trusting that God’s Word will not return void. The next step is simple but profound: ask God for confidence, seek to grow in sharing the gospel, and start talking—one conversation, one act of faith at a time. Even in the act of taking communion, we proclaim the Lord’s death and resurrection, declaring our hope until He comes again.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Proclaiming Jesus is a way of life, not just a moment. Every conversation, every priority, and every action can point to Christ. The call is to let the reality of Jesus shape what we talk about and how we live, making Him the central message of our lives. [25:35]
• 2. The gospel brings real transformation, not just information. When Jesus is truly encountered, hearts change, idols are abandoned, and lives are reoriented. Confession and repentance are not about shame, but about freedom—letting go of what once defined us and embracing the new life Christ offers. [44:13]
• 3. Faithfulness is measured not by results, but by obedience. Paul’s persistence in proclaiming Jesus, even in the face of opposition and indifference, is a model for us. The gospel’s advance does not depend on universal acceptance, but on the unwavering commitment to keep sharing Christ. [53:11]
• 4. The kingdom of God is both present and future, spiritual and tangible. Suffering and hardship do not negate God’s promises; rather, they are part of the process by which we are shaped for the place Christ is preparing for us. Hope is anchored not in present comfort, but in the certainty of resurrection and eternal life. [35:43]
• 5. Proclaiming Jesus begins with simple steps: asking God for boldness, seeking to grow in gospel fluency, and starting conversations. Even the act of communion is a proclamation—declaring Christ’s death, resurrection, and the hope we have in Him. Every believer is called and equipped to share this good news. [54:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [20:44] - Thankfulness for Blessings and Our New Space
• [22:21] - Opening Prayer and Introduction to Acts 19
• [23:47] - What Are You Proclaiming With Your Life?
• [25:35] - The Call: Proclaim Jesus With Your Life
• [26:05] - What Does It Mean to Proclaim Christ?
• [26:42] - Paul’s Ministry in Ephesus: Talking About Jesus
• [30:16] - Jesus as Savior: The Need for Salvation
• [34:41] - The Kingdom of God: Now and Not Yet
• [38:21] - The Word of the Lord: Always More to Learn
• [41:21] - The Seven Sons of Sceva: Real Power in Jesus’ Name
• [44:13] - Changed Hearts: Confession and Repentance
• [49:40] - Don’t Be Discouraged by Hard Hearts
• [54:09] - Next Steps: Confidence and Gospel Fluency
• [55:15] - Communion: Proclaiming the Lord’s Death
• [58:54] - Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice and Closing Worship

Bible Reading

Acts 19:1-20 (ESV) — > And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
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> And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
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> And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV) — > For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Observation Questions

1. In Acts 19, what were the three main things Paul talked about when he was proclaiming Jesus in Ephesus? ([29:45])
2. What happened when the seven sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ name without really knowing Him? ([42:46])
3. How did the people in Ephesus respond after seeing the real power of Jesus? What did they do with their magic books? ([44:13])
4. According to 1 Corinthians 11, what are we doing every time we take communion together? ([55:15])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul kept talking about Jesus, the kingdom of God, and the Word of the Lord, even when some people were stubborn or hostile? What does this show us about his priorities? ([28:38])
2. The story of the seven sons of Sceva shows a difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Him. Why is this difference so important for real transformation? ([43:30])
3. When the believers in Ephesus confessed and burned their magic books, what does this tell us about the kind of change the gospel brings? Is it just about information, or something deeper? ([44:13])
4. Communion is described as a way of proclaiming Jesus’ death until He comes. Why do you think this simple act is so powerful in reminding us and others about the gospel? ([55:15])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that proclaiming Jesus is not about standing on a street corner with a megaphone, but about making Him the center of our conversations, priorities, and actions. What is one area of your life where Jesus is not at the center? What would it look like to change that this week? ([25:35])
2. Paul kept sharing about Jesus even when people resisted or got angry. Have you ever felt discouraged when someone didn’t respond well to your faith? How did you handle it, and what could you do differently next time? ([53:11])
3. The people in Ephesus confessed and let go of things that once defined them, even things that were valuable. Is there something in your life—an old habit, belief, or possession—that you sense God is asking you to let go of so you can follow Him more fully? ([44:13])
4. The sermon encouraged us to ask God for confidence and to start simple conversations about Jesus. Who is one person you could talk to about your faith this week? What is one way you could bring up Jesus naturally in conversation? ([54:45])
5. The act of communion is a way of proclaiming Jesus’ death and resurrection. How does taking communion help you remember and share the hope you have in Christ? Is there a way you could make this more meaningful in your life? ([55:15])
6. The gospel brings real transformation, not just information. In what area of your life do you most need to experience Jesus’ transforming power right now? What step could you take to invite Him into that area? ([44:13])
7. The sermon talked about the kingdom of God being both present and future, and that suffering is part of how God shapes us. Is there a hardship you’re facing that you need to see through the lens of God’s bigger plan? How can the group pray for you in this? ([35:43])