Rekindling Our First Love for Christ

As we begin our journey through the “Seven Letters to Seven Churches,” we turn our attention to the church at Ephesus, a congregation that was once the crown jewel of the early church. Ephesus was known for its diligence, discernment, and endurance. They worked tirelessly, stood firm against evil, and were unwavering in their commitment to sound doctrine. Christ himself commended them for these qualities, recognizing their labor, patience, and refusal to tolerate false teaching or compromise with the world.

Yet, despite all their strengths, Jesus saw beneath the surface and identified a fatal flaw: they had left their first love. Their activity for God had replaced intimacy with God. The fire that once burned brightly in their hearts had faded, leaving only the motions of service without the passion of devotion. This is a sobering reminder that faithfulness in duty is not the same as faithfulness in devotion. Christ is not impressed by our programs, statistics, or even doctrinal accuracy if our hearts are not ablaze with love for him.

Losing our first love is subtle but devastating. It happens when Christ is no longer first in our affections, when ministry, busyness, or even good things crowd out our relationship with him. Over time, this loss of love for Christ inevitably leads to a loss of love for others. The church becomes mechanical, lifeless, and powerless—a religious social club rather than a living body of Christ.

Jesus’ call to Ephesus is clear and urgent: remember where you have fallen, repent, and return to the first works. He warns that if they do not, he will remove their lampstand—their witness and presence as a true church. Doctrinal purity and hard work cannot substitute for a heart that is passionately in love with Jesus. Yet, even in correction, Christ offers hope. To those who overcome, who rekindle their first love and conquer all that distracts them from Christ, he promises the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

This is a call for each of us to examine our hearts. Christ walks among us, sees every thought, and knows every affection. Let us not settle for outward faithfulness while our love grows cold. Let us return to our first love, making Jesus the center of all we are and do, so that our church shines brightly as a lampstand in a dark world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ Sees Beyond Outward Appearances Jesus alone can accurately assess the true condition of his church and his people. While we may focus on external achievements, Christ looks at the heart, discerning our true motivations and affections. This calls us to honest self-examination, recognizing that nothing is hidden from his gaze and that he desires authenticity over appearance. [01:10]
• 2. Faithful Service Cannot Replace Intimacy with Christ The church at Ephesus was diligent, discerning, and doctrinally sound, yet they had lost their first love. It is possible to be busy for God and yet distant from God. True faithfulness is not just about what we do for Christ, but about maintaining a vibrant, personal relationship with him as our highest priority. [17:17]
• 3. Losing Our First Love Leads to Spiritual Decline When Christ is no longer first in our hearts, our love for others also diminishes. The subtle drift from intimacy with Jesus results in a church that is lifeless and mechanical, no longer marked by genuine love or spiritual vitality. Programs and doctrinal accuracy cannot compensate for a heart that has grown cold. [19:09]
• 4. The Path to Restoration: Remember, Repent, Return Jesus’ counsel is practical and hopeful: remember the passion you once had, repent of whatever has taken Christ’s place, and return to the practices that once fueled your love for him. Restoration is always possible, but it requires intentional action and a willingness to humble ourselves before God. [22:34]
• 5. The Promise to the Overcomer is Eternal and Personal Christ’s promise is not just for churches, but for every individual who overcomes distractions and rekindles their love for him. The reward is nothing less than eternal life, fellowship with God, and a place in his paradise. This is a call to personal devotion, perseverance, and wholehearted love for Jesus above all else.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Jesus Inspects the Heart of the Church
• [03:06] - The Universal Relevance of the Seven Letters
• [03:41] - Ephesus: A Church with a Fatal Flaw
• [04:21] - Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:1-7
• [05:37] - Ephesus: From Flourishing to Faltering
• [06:58] - Christ’s Introduction: Holding and Walking Among the Churches
• [08:56] - The Comfort and Caution of Christ’s Presence
• [10:06] - Christ’s Commendation: Five Qualities of Ephesus
• [13:49] - The Call for Discernment in Teaching
• [15:55] - The Heart of True Devotion
• [17:17] - The Complaint: Losing First Love
• [19:09] - The Consequences of Lost Love
• [21:51] - Christ’s Warning and the Call to Return
• [22:34] - The Three Steps: Remember, Repent, Return
• [25:52] - The Danger of Doctrinal Purity Without Love
• [28:25] - The Promise to the Overcomer
• [31:00] - The Challenge: Rekindling Our First Love
• [34:13] - A Church Without Love is a Church Without Light
• [34:51] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

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.’”

Observation Questions

1. What qualities did Jesus commend the church at Ephesus for, and what was the one thing he had against them?
2. According to the passage, what does Jesus mean when he says he “walks among the seven golden lampstands”?
3. What warning does Jesus give if the church does not repent and return to their first love?
4. What promise does Jesus make to those who “overcome”?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus is more concerned with the church’s love for him than with their hard work or doctrinal accuracy?
2. What does it look like for a church or a believer to “lose their first love”? How might this happen gradually over time?
3. Jesus gives three steps for restoration: remember, repent, and return. Why are each of these steps important, and what might happen if we skip one?
4. The removal of the lampstand is a serious warning. What does it mean for a church to lose its “lampstand,” and how might this be seen today?

Application Questions

1. The Ephesians were busy serving, but their love for Jesus had faded. Are there areas in your life or in our church where activity has replaced intimacy with Christ? What would it look like to put Jesus back at the center?
2. Jesus calls us to “remember” our first love. Can you recall a time when your relationship with Jesus was especially passionate or fresh? What has changed since then, and what do you miss about that season?
3. Repentance is the second step. Is there anything—busyness, ministry, work, family, distractions—that has taken first place in your heart over Jesus? What practical step can you take this week to turn away from that and refocus on Christ?
4. Jesus says to “return to the works you did at first.” What are some simple practices (prayer, Bible reading, worship, serving others) that once fueled your love for Jesus? How can you intentionally return to one of these this week?
5. The loss of first love leads to a loss of love for others. Have you noticed your love for people growing cold? What is one way you can show genuine love to someone in your church or community this week?
6. Jesus promises eternal life to those who overcome. What distractions or temptations most often pull your heart away from Jesus? How can you guard against these and keep your love for Christ strong?
7. The sermon said, “A church without love is a church without light.” What would it look like for our church to shine brightly as a lampstand in our community? What role can you play in making that a reality?