Returning to Your First Love: The Call to Repentance

The call today is to return to Jesus as our first love, to make Him the center of everything in our lives. When Jesus is truly first, every other area of life finds its proper place and begins to flourish. It’s easy to drift into routine, to let our passion for God wane over time, just as the church in Ephesus did after decades of faithful service. The warning from Revelation is clear: it’s possible to do all the right things, to stand for truth and morality, and yet lose the heart of love that once burned so brightly. God cares deeply about our motives, not just our actions. He desires relationship, not just religious activity.

Repentance is not a harsh or negative word, but a gracious invitation to course-correct and realign our hearts with God’s. It’s not just for the moment of salvation, but an ongoing rhythm of the Christian life. Repentance means more than feeling sorry; it’s a full reorientation—turning away from self-reliance, sin, and distraction, and turning back to God in humility and dependence. Like a child who trusts their parent for everything, we are called to humble ourselves and rely on Jesus, not our own strength or wisdom.

The process of repentance begins with honest self-examination—acknowledging and confessing where we’ve gone off course. We can’t change what we won’t admit. God’s Spirit convicts us not to shame us, but to draw us back into deeper relationship. Once we’ve acknowledged our need, we turn to God, surrendering our efforts and trusting Him to do what we cannot. Finally, true repentance bears fruit: we listen for God’s direction and obey, taking practical steps to return to our first love. Whether it’s restoring a relationship, confessing a hidden sin, or rekindling spiritual disciplines, the Holy Spirit empowers us as we step out in faith.

God’s invitation is not to condemnation, but to restoration. He is merciful and eager to welcome us home, no matter how far we’ve drifted. The journey back always begins with a simple, honest turning of the heart: “Jesus, you are the most important thing in my life. Everything else bows to you.” Let’s be a people who continually return to our first love, allowing His love to transform every part of who we are.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Repentance is a Lifelong Rhythm, Not a One-Time Event Repentance is not just for the moment of salvation; it’s an ongoing practice that keeps our hearts aligned with God. It’s about continually turning away from self-reliance and sin, and turning back to God in humility and dependence. This rhythm keeps our relationship with Jesus vibrant and prevents our love from growing cold, even after many years of faith. [52:40]
• 2. Honest Self-Examination is Essential for Spiritual Growth We cannot change what we refuse to acknowledge. True repentance begins with a willingness to examine our hearts honestly before God, asking Him to reveal anything that grieves Him. This humility opens the door for transformation, as we admit our need and invite the Holy Spirit to lead us into deeper freedom and intimacy. [65:27]
• 3. God Cares About Motives, Not Just Actions It’s possible to do all the right things—stand for truth, uphold morality, serve faithfully—yet lose the heart of love that God desires. Our motives matter deeply to Him; He wants our actions to flow from genuine love for Him and others, not from pride or a desire to be right. When love is missing, even our best efforts become empty noise. [60:20]
• 4. Childlike Dependence is the Posture of True Repentance Jesus calls us to turn and become like children—not childish, but childlike in our trust and dependence. This means letting go of self-sufficiency and pride, and embracing a posture of humility that says, “I can’t fix myself; I need you, Lord.” In this place of surrender, God’s grace and power are released to bring real change. [77:16]
• 5. Obedience is the Fruit of Repentance Repentance is not just a feeling or a confession; it’s demonstrated by practical steps of obedience. Whether it’s restoring a relationship, confessing a hidden sin, or returning to spiritual disciplines, true repentance always leads to action. As we step out in faith, God meets us with the power to change, and our love for Him is rekindled. [80:20]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:16] - The Importance of Community
• [40:19] - Hearing God’s Word for the Year
• [41:28] - Being Led by the Spirit, Not Feelings
• [43:45] - The Story of the Church in Ephesus
• [45:33] - The Danger of Waning Love
• [46:19] - Scripture Reading: Revelation and Matthew
• [50:20] - Why Jesus Must Be First
• [52:05] - Repentance: A Biblical Invitation
• [54:26] - Repentance in the Old and New Testaments
• [58:01] - Repentance for Believers
• [59:27] - Repentance Restores Relationship
• [62:11] - Three Steps of Repentance
• [70:18] - The Danger of Wrong Assumptions
• [74:22] - Letting Jesus Guide Your Life
• [76:07] - Honest Self-Examination Before God
• [77:16] - Childlike Dependence and Surrender
• [80:09] - Obedience: The Fruit of Repentance
• [87:17] - Personal Story: Repenting of Criticism
• [92:49] - Responding to the Holy Spirit’s Conviction
• [96:21] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

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.
> “‘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.
> 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.
> Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
> 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.’”

Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV) — > “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
> For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
> But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV) — > At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
> And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said,
> “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
> Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Observation Questions

1. In Revelation 2, what does Jesus commend the church in Ephesus for, and what does he have against them?
2. According to Matthew 6:33, what are we told to seek first, and what is the result of doing so?
3. In Matthew 18, what does Jesus say is required to enter the kingdom of heaven?
4. The sermon mentioned that the Ephesians were doing a lot of good things, but their motive was wrong. What was missing from their actions? [[46:48]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think it’s possible for a church or a believer to do all the right things and still lose their “first love” for Jesus? [[45:33]]
2. The sermon described repentance as a “gracious invitation” and a “course correction,” not just a harsh command. How does this understanding of repentance change the way someone might respond to conviction? [[52:40]]
3. Jesus says we must become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. What does childlike dependence look like in your relationship with God, according to the sermon? [[01:17:16]]
4. The pastor shared that God cares about our motives, not just our actions. Why is it important to examine not just what we do, but why we do it? [[01:00:20]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to honestly examine our hearts and admit where we’ve drifted from Jesus as our first love. Is there an area of your life where you’ve noticed your passion for God has faded? What might be causing that drift? [[45:33]]
2. Repentance was described as an ongoing rhythm, not a one-time event. What is one practical way you can make repentance a regular part of your walk with Jesus, rather than just something you do when you “mess up”? [[52:40]]
3. The pastor said that true repentance leads to action—restoring relationships, confessing sin, or returning to spiritual disciplines. Is there a specific step of obedience you sense God is asking you to take right now? What’s holding you back? [[01:20:20]]
4. The sermon talked about childlike dependence on God, letting go of self-reliance and pride. In what area of your life do you find it hardest to let go of control and trust God like a child trusts a parent? [[01:17:16]]
5. The pastor shared a personal story about repenting for criticism and making things right with someone he had wronged. Is there a relationship in your life that needs restoration or an apology? What would it look like to take the first step? [[01:27:17]]
6. The message emphasized that God’s invitation is to restoration, not condemnation. When you feel convicted by the Holy Spirit, do you tend to run from God or run to Him? Why do you think that is? [[01:34:26]]
7. The sermon encouraged us to ask God, “Is there anything in my life that grieves you?” Take a moment to pray this honestly. What, if anything, did God bring to mind? How will you respond this week? [[01:06:27]]