Has there ever been a time that you loved Jesus more than you love him today?
Sermon Title: EPHESUS: THE LOVELESS CHURCH
Sermon Text: REVELATIONS 2:1-7 (NIV)
Sermon Series: LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
REVELATIONS 2:1-7 NIV
1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
If your faith won’t take you to church, you ought to ask yourself why you think it will take you to heaven.
The best way to love Jesus is to love Jesus best.
I. JESUS COMMENDS THE CHURCH
REVELATIONS 2:1-7 NIV
1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
A. THEY WERE NOT IDLE.
hard work | Greek: kopos
“laborious toil, involving weariness and fatigue.”
perseverance | Greek: hupomoné
“endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for.”
B. THEY HATED SIN
C. THEY WERE THEOLOGICALLY SOUND
D. THEY ENDURED PATIENTLY
II. JESUS CONFRONTS THE CHURCH
REVELATIONS 2:4 NIV
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
The only thing that matters is what Jesus thinks about our church.
Has there ever been a time that you loved Jesus more than you love him today?
The best way to love Jesus is to love Jesus best.
III. JESUS COUNSELS THE CHURCH
REVELATIONS 2:5 NIV
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
A. REMEMBER HOW IT USED TO BE
B. REPENT
C. REPEAT – DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST
MATTHEW 5:14-16 NASB
14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.