Rekindling Our First Love for Christ

Summary

Today’s focus is on the powerful words of Jesus to the church in Ephesus, as found in Revelation 2. After spending the summer exploring Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we now see how, decades later, Jesus himself addresses this same church through John’s vision on the island of Patmos. Ephesus was a city of great accomplishment and pride, and its church was known for its hard work, perseverance, and commitment to truth. Yet, Jesus’ message is both affirming and deeply challenging: “You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

This warning is not just for an ancient church, but for every believer and every church today. It’s easy to drift from intimacy with God into a routine of religious activity—serving, giving, and even defending truth—while losing the passionate love that once defined our relationship with Jesus. Jesus commends the Ephesians for their discernment and endurance, but he confronts them for allowing their love to grow cold, for replacing intimacy with mere activity.

The call is clear: remember the passion you once had, repent, and return to the things you did at first. Jesus desires a church that is alive with love for him, not just busy with religious tasks. He warns that he would rather remove a church than let it continue in lifeless routine. This is a sobering reminder that God is not interested in our performance, but in our hearts. He wants a people who are captivated by his love, who serve and give out of intimacy, not obligation.

We are challenged to do a spiritual audit: Are we just “punching the God card,” or are we pursuing genuine relationship with Jesus? Are we more concerned with what we get from church, or with what we bring to God and others? The invitation is to rekindle our first love, to be a church and a people so passionate for Jesus that he delights to dwell among us. Let’s not settle for going through the motions. Let’s be intentional, sacrificial, and consumed with the mission and love of Christ.

Key Takeaways

- Intimacy with God Must Precede Activity
It’s possible to serve, give, and even defend the truth while losing the heart of love for Jesus. When intimacy is replaced by activity, our faith becomes hollow and routine. Jesus calls us to return to the passionate, relational love that first drew us to him, reminding us that all true service flows from intimacy, not obligation. [27:13]

- Spiritual Drift is Subtle but Dangerous
The Ephesians didn’t lose their first love overnight; it happened gradually as the extraordinary became ordinary. Spiritual drift often begins when we take God’s presence and grace for granted, allowing routine to replace wonder. The antidote is to remember, repent, and intentionally return to the practices and attitudes that once fueled our love for Christ. [26:03]

- The Church Exists for God’s Mission, Not Our Preferences
Jesus walks among his churches, searching for those who are on mission with him, not just those who attend out of habit or for personal benefit. When church becomes about “what’s in it for me,” we miss the heart of God. True community is built when we see our time, resources, and energy as belonging to God, and we bring them joyfully for his purposes. [35:44]

- Discernment Without Love is Incomplete
The Ephesians were praised for their discernment and refusal to tolerate false teaching, but Jesus rebuked them for losing love. We are called to hold truth and love together—speaking truth in love, holding each other accountable within the church, but always with kindness and grace. It is the kindness of God, not judgment, that leads to repentance and transformation. [24:20]

- God Honors Intentionality Over Routine
Jesus warns that he would rather remove a church than let it continue in lifeless routine. All of God’s best comes from intentional pursuit, not passive drifting. We are invited to do a spiritual audit, to ask where we have settled for activity instead of intimacy, and to rekindle our love for God so that our lives and our church reflect his passion and purpose. [33:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Series Recap: Ephesians and Imposter Syndrome
[03:21] - Generational Change and Perspective
[06:22] - Understanding Revelation and Prophecy
[09:45] - The Seven Churches and Church History
[12:19] - The Apostate Church and Modern Application
[16:07] - Jesus’ Letter to Ephesus: Commendation
[18:49] - The Weight of Spiritual Leadership
[21:03] - Jesus Sees Every Deed
[22:21] - Discernment, Judgment, and Love
[24:20] - The Danger of Losing First Love
[26:03] - When Passion Becomes Routine
[27:13] - Replacing Intimacy with Activity
[28:47] - Jesus’ Challenge: Remember, Repent, Return
[30:19] - Rekindling Passion and Early Faith
[31:19] - The Nicolaitans and Surrendered Faith
[33:10] - A Call to Spiritual Audit
[35:44] - Church on Mission vs. Church for Self
[37:50] - Prayer for Renewal and Commitment
[38:27] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[39:36] - Celebration and Closing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Rekindling Our First Love (Revelation 2:1-7)

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### Bible Reading

Revelation 2:1-7 (ESV)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. What are the things Jesus commends the church in Ephesus for in Revelation 2:2-3?
2. According to verse 4, what does Jesus have against the church in Ephesus?
3. What specific instructions does Jesus give the church in verse 5 after confronting them about losing their first love?
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between “intimacy” and “activity” in our relationship with God? [[27:13]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus place such a high value on the church’s “first love” rather than just their hard work and endurance? What does this reveal about what God wants most from us? [[27:13]]
2. The Ephesians were praised for their discernment and refusal to tolerate false teaching, but rebuked for losing love. Why is it dangerous to have truth without love, or love without truth? [[24:20]]
3. The sermon mentions that spiritual drift is often subtle and gradual. What are some signs that someone (or a church) might be drifting from intimacy with God into routine? [[26:03]]
4. Jesus warns that he would rather remove a church than let it continue in lifeless routine. What does this say about God’s priorities for his people and his church? [[28:47]]

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### Application Questions

1. The pastor challenged us to do a “spiritual audit.” Are there areas in your life where you feel you’ve replaced intimacy with God with just activity or routine? What would it look like to return to your “first love”? [[33:10]]
2. Think back to when you first became a Christian or had a season of passionate faith. What were some things you did then that you might not do now? How could you intentionally bring some of those practices back into your life? [[30:19]]
3. The sermon asked if we are “punching the God card” or pursuing a genuine relationship with Jesus. What are some ways you might be tempted to just “go through the motions” in your faith? How can you break out of that pattern? [[33:10]]
4. When you serve, give, or attend church, is it more out of obligation or out of love for God? What would need to change for your actions to flow more from intimacy than from duty? [[27:13]]
5. The Ephesians were good at defending truth but lost their love. In your relationships (church, family, work), do you tend to lean more toward truth or love? How can you hold both together better? [[24:20]]
6. The sermon said, “The church exists for God’s mission, not our preferences.” In what ways do you find yourself thinking about “what’s in it for me” at church? How can you shift your mindset to focus on God’s mission and what you bring to others? [[35:44]]
7. Jesus’ warning is sobering: he would rather remove a church than let it continue in lifeless routine. What steps can you take this week to rekindle your passion for Jesus and avoid spiritual drift? [[28:47]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for renewed passion and intimacy with Jesus, asking God to reveal any areas where love has grown cold and to help each person return to their first love.

Devotional

Day 1: Rekindling Your First Love for Jesus
It is easy to let the routines of faith replace the passion and intimacy you once had with Jesus. Over time, what was once new and exciting can become common, and your heart can drift from the deep love you had at first. Jesus calls you to remember the passion you once had for Him, to reflect on the days when your faith was fresh and contagious, and to return to that place of intimacy. He desires more than your activity—He wants your heart, your awe, and your love. Let your relationship with Him be marked by genuine affection, not just religious habits. [27:13]

Revelation 2:4-5 (ESV)
"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally rekindle your love for Jesus today—perhaps by worship, prayer, or sharing your faith with someone—just as you did when your relationship with Him was new?


Day 2: Intimacy Over Activity
Serving, giving, and participating in church are all good things, but they are not substitutes for a real, living relationship with God. Jesus warns against replacing intimacy with activity—doing Christian things without a heart that is truly connected to Him. You can serve without loving, but you cannot truly love without serving. Examine your motives: are you doing things for God out of obligation, or out of a deep love for Him? Jesus desires that your actions flow from a place of intimacy, not just duty. [28:47]

Matthew 15:8-9 (ESV)
"'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

Reflection: In what area of your spiritual life have you settled for activity instead of intimacy, and how can you shift your focus back to loving God from the heart?


Day 3: Jesus Sees and Values Your Faithfulness
No act of service, no matter how hidden or small, goes unnoticed by Jesus. He walks among His churches, seeing every deed, every sacrifice, and every act of perseverance. Even when others overlook your efforts, Jesus recognizes and celebrates your faithfulness. Your hard work and endurance for His name matter deeply to Him, and He promises that nothing done for Him is ever wasted. Let this truth encourage you to keep serving, loving, and giving, knowing that Jesus Himself sees and values it all. [21:03]

Revelation 2:2-3 (ESV)
"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary."

Reflection: What is one behind-the-scenes way you serve or love others that you need to remember Jesus sees and values, even if no one else notices?


Day 4: Guarding Against Spiritual Drift
Spiritual drift happens subtly—when you begin to go through the motions, lose your sense of awe, or let other priorities take the place of your relationship with God. Jesus calls you to do a spiritual audit: to ask where you have settled for less than all He has for you, and to return to intentionality in your walk with Him. He desires a church and a people who are passionate, on mission, and unwilling to simply play church. Let your faith be marked by purpose, not passivity, and by a continual return to your first love. [33:10]

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV)
"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."

Reflection: Where in your life have you noticed signs of spiritual drift, and what is one concrete step you can take this week to return to intentionality in your relationship with God?


Day 5: Loving Without Judging
Jesus commends the church for not tolerating wickedness within, but He also reminds us that our role is not to judge the world, but to love it. Within the church, we hold each other accountable in love, but to those outside, we extend grace and kindness, knowing it is God’s kindness that leads to repentance. Be known for your love—the way you care, serve, and show compassion to those who are different from you. Let your life be a lamp that brings light, not a spotlight that brings judgment. [24:20]

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (ESV)
"For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. 'Purge the evil person from among you.'"

Reflection: Who is someone outside your church community that you can show unexpected kindness or grace to today, reflecting the love of Jesus rather than judgment?

Quotes

No good work is not seen by God. And you might do stuff that feels behind the scenes. You might serve with kids in a way where it's like nobody sees it. Nobody celebrates you. Nobody praises you. You might work in a spot behind the scenes and it feels like you get no recognition for it. If you get no recognition from man, you need to read this. You get recognition and applause from Jesus himself. I know your deeds. [00:21:40] (24 seconds)  #UnseenGoodnessMatters Edit Clip

If you feel like this is you, and maybe you feel like you've just kind of drifted away, you feel like you've lost your first love, here's what he says. He says, consider how far you have fallen. Here's what I want you to do. Repent and do the things you did at first. [00:29:15] (16 seconds)  #ReturnToFirstLove Edit Clip

So essentially what Jesus says is the life with God that you've always wanted, that all of God's best comes from intentionality, not from just letting yourself drift.Like it's not enough for you to be a Christian and just check enough boxes to get into heaven.It's not enough for you to just do enough to get through, but not to have intimacy with God. [00:32:31] (30 seconds)  #SpiritualAuditTime Edit Clip

If you're giving and tithing through our church, but it's just this like ritualistic, like I just do it because I have to. And every time you write the check or give online, anger wells up in you, stop, cut it out.But when you're giving is connected to your love for God and you say to God, God, everything you gave me, it's yours. It is a joy to bring back to you this 10 % or more. I'm like, please, because it's for your good. [00:33:46] (31 seconds)  #LoveOverRoutine Edit Clip

I'm not committed to trying to build a big church. That's what's happening, but I'm not committed to building a big church, but I am committed to building the kind of church that is a Jesus -honoring, passionate, full of Christians who are intimate, pursuing him with everything they've got. I'm into building that kind of church, and here's what's happened. Because we've stayed on mission as a church, we've grown. As we've grown, more and more people are experiencing that. [00:36:15] (24 seconds)  #MissionDrivenGrowth Edit Clip

And may we never be the kind of church that settles for like travel ball for my kids or anything else being a priority, but may this be the kind of place that Jesus shows up to. And when he walks among the seven lampstands, he says, look, I got to stay here for a while because this church is on mission.with me. [00:37:06] (20 seconds)  #JesusDwellsWithUs Edit Clip