Messages to the Church – Pt 2
Revelation 2:1-7 (NLT)
1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Jesus calls us to live on mission from the overflow of first love for Him and others.
WHAT JESUS UNVEILS TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS AND US:
1. Good deeds done in the name of Jesus must be compelled by first love.
John 13:1 (NLT)
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.
John 13:34-35 (NLT)
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
1 John 4:9-11 (NLT)
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
2. Jesus wants His love for you to transform you.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s love to you so you can reflect it to Him and others.
Romans 5:5-8 (NLT)
5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Jesus doesn’t just want our good works — He wants our hearts. When our love for Him grows cold, He calls us to repent, return, and let the Holy Spirit rekindle a first love that fuels everything we do.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read John 13:34-35 NLT. How does the world see the church? How does the world see you living your faith?
▶ Read Revelation 2:1-7. Notice all that Jesus sees and knows, but love is missing. How can we determine to return to our first love?
▶ Pastor Dustin shared, “Agape means selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love.” Not based on emotion or feeling, but a choice and an action that always seeks the good of the beloved. How are you walking in sacrificial love?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
Choose to see people with a view of mercy and forgiveness instead of hate and competition. Is this a challenge for you?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Father, we ask you to show us how to represent you well. Holy Spirit, direct our hearts, words, thoughts, and actions, help us return to our first love.