Returning to Our First Love: A Call to Love
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored Revelation 2:1-7, a letter from Jesus to the church at Ephesus. This passage reveals a church that is hardworking, patient, and discerning, yet criticized for abandoning its first love. We began by acknowledging the commendable qualities of the Ephesian church: their toil, patient endurance, and wisdom in discerning false apostles. However, Jesus points out their critical flaw—loveless moralism, doing good deeds without love. This is a cautionary tale for us as well, as we can easily fall into the trap of checklist Christianity, focusing on actions rather than the heart behind them.
We delved into the concept of "fallen condition focus" (FCF), which in this context is loveless moralism. Jesus calls us to remember our initial love and passion for Him and others, repent for our lovelessness, and return to our first works of love. The stakes are high; if we do not heed this call, Jesus warns that He will remove our lampstand, symbolizing the loss of our witness and effectiveness as a church.
Yet, there is hope. Jesus promises that those who conquer, who prevail in love, will be granted to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. This conquering is not about achieving or self-promotion but about sacrificial, consistent love. Jesus Himself is our perfect example and Savior, who toiled, endured, and discerned in love. He bore the tree of death so that we might partake in the tree of life. He is with us, walking among His churches, ready to heal our lovelessness and guide us back to a life of love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Loveless Moralism: We can be hardworking, patient, and discerning, yet still fall into the trap of loveless moralism—doing good deeds without love. Jesus calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that our actions are driven by genuine love. [35:33]
2. Remember and Repent: Jesus commands us to remember our initial love and passion for Him and others, repent for our lovelessness, and return to our first works of love. This process involves a heartfelt comparison of our current state with our early days of faith. [55:49]
3. The Stakes of Lovelessness: If we do not heed Jesus' call to repent, He warns that He will remove our lampstand, symbolizing the loss of our witness and effectiveness as a church. Our light and impact come from being connected to Jesus, the true light source. [58:49]
4. Conquering Through Love: In God's kingdom, conquering means prevailing in love. This is not about achieving or self-promotion but about sacrificial, consistent love. Jesus promises that those who conquer in love will be granted to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. [01:00:24]
5. Jesus as Our Example and Savior: Jesus is our perfect example of true love, having toiled, endured, and discerned in love. He bore the tree of death so that we might partake in the tree of life. He is with us, walking among His churches, ready to heal our lovelessness and guide us back to a life of love. [01:05:27]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[33:14] - Introduction and Context
[34:07] - The Fallen Condition Focus
[35:33] - Loveless Moralism
[36:57] - Jesus' Commendations to Ephesus
[38:25] - Jesus Among the Churches
[39:53] - Commendation: Toil
[42:55] - Commendation: Patient Endurance
[44:33] - Commendation: Wisdom and Discernment
[49:15] - The Greatest Commandment: Love
[49:50] - Hypocrisy and Loveless Moralism
[51:18] - Personal Reflection on Lovelessness
[52:48] - Categories of Loveless Moralism
[54:22] - Invitation to Examine Our Hearts
[55:49] - Remember and Repent
[57:08] - Return to First Works of Love
[58:49] - The Stakes of Lovelessness
[01:00:24] - Conquering Through Love
[01:02:07] - The Tree of Life
[01:03:48] - Jesus as Our Example and Savior
[01:05:27] - Jesus' Sacrificial Love
[01:07:12] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Revelation 2:1-7
### Observation Questions
1. What commendations does Jesus give to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:2-3?
2. According to Revelation 2:4, what critical flaw does Jesus point out in the church at Ephesus?
3. What does Jesus promise to those who conquer in love, as stated in Revelation 2:7?
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "loveless moralism"? [35:33]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus begins His letter with commendations before addressing the church's flaw? [38:25]
2. How does the concept of "fallen condition focus" (FCF) help us understand our own spiritual struggles, particularly in the context of loveless moralism? [35:33]
3. What does it mean to "remember and repent" according to the sermon, and how can this process impact our spiritual lives? [55:49]
4. How does Jesus' example of sacrificial love challenge our understanding of what it means to "conquer" in God's kingdom? [01:00:24]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be practicing "loveless moralism"? How can you shift your focus from actions to the heart behind them? [35:33]
2. Think back to the early days of your faith. How did your love and passion for Jesus and others manifest? What steps can you take to rekindle that initial love? [55:49]
3. Jesus warns that if we do not repent, He will remove our lampstand. How does this warning affect your view of your personal and communal witness as a Christian? [58:49]
4. In what ways can you practice "conquering through love" in your daily life? Identify specific actions that reflect sacrificial, consistent love. [01:00:24]
5. Jesus is described as our perfect example and Savior who toiled, endured, and discerned in love. How can you emulate His example in your interactions with others this week? [01:05:27]
6. Are there specific relationships or situations in your life where you need to "remember, repent, and return" to your first works of love? What practical steps can you take to do this? [57:08]
7. How can you ensure that your good deeds are driven by genuine love rather than a checklist mentality? What changes might you need to make in your daily routines or attitudes? [49:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Loveless Moralism
The church at Ephesus was commended for its hard work, patience, and discernment. However, Jesus criticized them for abandoning their first love, highlighting the danger of loveless moralism—doing good deeds without genuine love. This is a cautionary tale for us as well. We can easily fall into the trap of checklist Christianity, focusing on actions rather than the heart behind them. Jesus calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that our actions are driven by genuine love. [35:33]
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV): "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."
Reflection: Think about your recent actions and good deeds. Are they driven by genuine love, or are they merely tasks to be checked off? How can you infuse more love into your daily actions today?
Day 2: Remember and Repent
Jesus commands us to remember our initial love and passion for Him and others, repent for our lovelessness, and return to our first works of love. This process involves a heartfelt comparison of our current state with our early days of faith. Reflecting on our initial fervor can reignite our passion and lead us to genuine repentance. This is not just about feeling sorry but about a transformative change in our hearts and actions. [55:49]
Revelation 3:3 (ESV): "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you."
Reflection: Take a moment to recall your early days of faith. What was your passion for Jesus and others like? How can you return to that initial love and fervor today?
Day 3: The Stakes of Lovelessness
If we do not heed Jesus' call to repent, He warns that He will remove our lampstand, symbolizing the loss of our witness and effectiveness as a church. Our light and impact come from being connected to Jesus, the true light source. Without love, our actions are empty, and our witness is diminished. The stakes are high, and we must take this warning seriously to maintain our effectiveness as a church. [58:49]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Consider the impact of your witness. Are you shining brightly for Jesus, or has your light dimmed due to lovelessness? What steps can you take to ensure your light remains strong and effective?
Day 4: Conquering Through Love
In God's kingdom, conquering means prevailing in love. This is not about achieving or self-promotion but about sacrificial, consistent love. Jesus promises that those who conquer in love will be granted to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. True victory in the Christian life is marked by love that endures and sacrifices for others, reflecting the love of Christ. [01:00:24]
1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of victory in the Christian life. How can you shift your focus from personal achievements to sacrificial, consistent love? What practical steps can you take to love others more deeply today?
Day 5: Jesus as Our Example and Savior
Jesus is our perfect example of true love, having toiled, endured, and discerned in love. He bore the tree of death so that we might partake in the tree of life. He is with us, walking among His churches, ready to heal our lovelessness and guide us back to a life of love. Jesus' sacrificial love is the ultimate model for us to follow, and His presence empowers us to live out this love daily. [01:05:27]
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: How can you look to Jesus as your example and Savior in your daily life? In what ways can you emulate His sacrificial love in your interactions with others today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus heals our broken hearts in our loveless moralism when we're doing good things but without love he can heal our broken hearts." [35:33] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus is our example of perfect love he never lacks in love and we also get to see Jesus as our savior when we do fall into lovelessness when we do lack in love he doesn't abandon us he is with us and he will save us." [36:57] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus is saying, I don't want your checklist. I want your heart. You are doing good things, Ephesus, but you are lacking in love. Said differently, we as humans are capable of doing good things for the wrong reason." [49:15] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus says, remember. Literally carve out time to remember when your heart was full of love for others and for God. And let those memories stir your affection for God and for others. Repent. Recognize it's not the case anymore. Confess to God and to others that you've doled in your love. And then return. Begin to love again with a heart full of love knowing that Jesus has first loved you." [57:08] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "In God's economy, conquering looks like loving God and loving others to the end. Prevailing in love, that's what conquering means in the kingdom of God. Isn't that a beautiful call? He says, I don't want you to conquer your enemies. I don't want you to conquer your checklist. I want your heart. I want you to love me. I want you to love others." [01:00:24] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The church at Ephesus was doing good things they were we'll see some commendations from Jesus some compliments from Jesus to the church at Ephesus and then he follows it up quickly thereafter by saying but you're lacking in love and so that is our fcf this morning is Jesus heals our broken hearts in our loveless moralism when we're doing good things but without love he can heal our broken hearts." [35:33] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Seven Mile Road, you are a steadfast church. You've endured much we have endured much together and it saddens me to know some of our stories as we have endured jobless loss and the loss of loved ones and miscarriages we've endured a lot together and it brings me great joy knowing that we have done that with our eyes kept on Jesus but hear this church we can be a steadfast church and lacking in love we can endure patiently with our eyes kept on Jesus and lack in love we'd be wise to hear that this morning from Jesus." [46:07] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Loveless moralism in discipline. I work hard and have a strong self of self, strong sense of self-discipline. But are you tempted to fall into self-righteousness? I've adapted that list this morning. Are you loving your coworker truly, or are you climbing the ladder at their expense? Are you valuing efficiency? Are you valuing work and routine above affections for Jesus?" [52:48] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Brother and sister, examine your heart to see where you have grown loveless in the good things. Loveless moralism is a dangerous place to be. Back to Revelation 2, the loveless moral church gets its light removed. So what can we do? Up on the screen, we'll see two words here. Jesus commands two things. He says, remember and repent." [54:22] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "He is the one who toiled, not for a checklist, but in love. Early mornings as he rose to pray to his father, late nights as he stayed up till dark, healing and teaching, sweating to the point of blood in the garden on the night that he was betrayed, he toiled. He is the one who patiently endured, not for a checklist, but in love. As people mocked him, put him on false trial, scorned him, beat him, flogged him, crucified him, patiently enduring the whole way." [01:03:48] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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