Ephesus-The Forgetful Church - Revelation 2:1-7

Intro

My senior year of high school I had the coolest vehicle you can imagine.

80’s echonoline wheelchair van.

Which meant I could haul literally everyone in here.

It use to be my grandmothers so I didn’t go out an buy it ok.

I loved it.

It got 2 miles to the gallon and it was a blast.

The only issue was anytime I go on the interstate I had to have someone sit in the very back

The life cause this massive blindspot - So I will yell out “am I CLEAR?!”

I’ll admit sometimes when I was by myself I just had to wing it.

It’s a miracle I am still here…

Those of you with student drivers you know how big a deal blind spots can be.

You can seem like you are in the clear and end up in a mess.

But it’s not just cars, sometimes we can have blind spots in our lives.

Today we come to a church that had a glaring blind spot.

We are starting into our Seven Churches sermon series looking at the letters to seven churches in Revelation

In the midst of Johns apocalyptic vision he is commissioned to write a letter as it were in the midst of a letter.

John, imprisoned on the island of Patmos for his witness to Christ, writes to the seven churches in Asia.

The message to these churches is both a challenge and a comfort, reminding them that Christ is present with His people.

The seven churches named in Revelation 2 and 3 were real churches in real places, forming a geographic route that a messenger would have followed, starting in Ephesus and ending in Laodicea.

These letters would be read and then shared with other Churches.

Here is the thing, these are extremely relevant letters.

Christ’s message to them is also His message to us:

He is calling His church in every generation to faithfulness, repentance, and renewal.

We will be challenged to examine our own lives and faithfulness to Christ as we explore His words to the seven churches.

Today we start in to the first letter to Ephesus

Context of Ephesus

Ephesus was a prominent city situated on major trade routes, making it a bustling commercial center.

It was also known as a center for worship of Artemis (also called Diana), housing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Ephesus had seen the influence of many notable Christian leaders, including Paul and Timothy.

Tradition holds that John also ministered there

This church was renowned for its sound doctrine and perseverance through challenges.

Into this Jesus brings his evaluation.

They had lost their first love.

We have to let this hit us this morning

This is our Big Idea

Big Idea: Christ calls His church to rekindle their first love

Rekindle your first love.

Let’s look at this letter and see first

1. Christ’s Praise and Rebuke (Revelation 2:1-4)

Revelation 2:1–3 (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.

It starts off here, “These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”

The stars, represent the angels of the churches (could be ministers or spiritual beings), what this shows is that Jesus has authority over them.

The lampstands represent the churches themselves, and Jesus walking among them tells us one thing: He is present. Right now. With us.

He’s not distant; He’s walking among His people.

And that should change everything about how we listen and respond to Him.

Jesus then moves essentially into an evaluation of the church in Ephesus.

(Evaluation at work)

Praise:

1. Diligence: Christ praises their hard work and perseverance in the faith.

2. Discernment: They are commended for recognizing and rejecting false apostles.

3. Determination: Despite trials, they stood firm, upholding the truth of the gospel.

He lists out several things that could boil down to their deeds and their theology.

They weren’t caught up in the idolatry and brokenness of Ephesus.

They stood firm against false teaching.

They were toiling, they were working hard.

Jesus sees this.

He commends them for it.

We see in verse 6 Jesus gives them more recognition

Revelation 2:6 (ESV)

Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Now we don’t know who the Nicolaitans are.

What we can infer is that they claimed Christ but walked in open rebellion.

The Ephesians and Jesus hate that kind of false claim.

Do you hate what Jesus hates?

The Ephesians did.

So we have this seemingly amazing church.

They have sound doctrine.

They refute false teaching.

They work diligently.

But Jesus has a hard word for them

Revelation 2:4 (ESV)

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Their fervor and passion for Jesus had waned over time.

This is what we know about the Ephesians from Paul’s letter towards them.

Ephesians 1:15 (ESV)

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,

Jesus is coming with a hard word about how they had wandered from this faith.

Now before we start to paint a picture of Jesus out just out to find our faults I love an analogy pastor and scholar Joel Beeke uses

Sometimes we picture Jesus all wrong.

We think of Him walking through the churches like a cop pulling us over, checking for violations.

He’s not interested in the fact that we polished everything up or made some improvements—He’s looking for where we’ve messed up, where we’ve broken the law. But that’s not how Jesus works.

Jesus isn’t like that cop.

He’s a gardener, walking through the garden He’s planted, taking in the beauty of what’s growing.

And if you’ve ever tended a garden, you know how satisfying it is to see the fruit of your labor.

But sometimes, you’ll notice something—a bit of mildew, some pests—that needs to be dealt with.

That’s how Jesus walks among His churches.

He’s not out to find fault; He’s here to delight in the work of His hands, the beauty He’s created.

Yes, He’ll address anything that harms the growth.

He walks among them, not as a policeman or fault-finder, but as a gardener rejoicing in the fruits of His labors. He comes as the Savior who laid down His life for His bride.

He walks among the churches to admire, appreciate, and enjoy what He has accomplished by the shedding of His blood and by His Word and Spirit

The faithful gardener sees a serious problem.

This is a huge huge huge deal.

They had lost their first love.

Illustration

A MAN and his friend were playing golf one day, and one of the guys was getting ready to make his chip shot. As he prepared to stroke the ball on the green, he saw a long funeral procession on the road next to the golf course.

The man took off his golf cap, got on his knees, and bowed his head to pray. His friend said, “Wow! That is the most thoughtful and touching thing I have ever seen.

I can’t believe how great it was for you to stop your golf swing because of a funeral procession passing by. What thoughtfulness!” The man replied, “Yeah, well, we were married for thirty-five years.

I figured that was the least I could do.”

That’s what a lot of us do, give a nod to God, as we continue on with business as usual.

First love is more than functional love. It’s fiery love.

The loss of this love was a big deal for many reasons.

First, we’ve got to see how serious this is because it’s Jesus who’s bringing the complaint.

The One who is worthy of all our love, the One who calls Himself our Bridegroom, says to us:

"I gave it all for you.

I saved you from your sin.

I’ve drawn you near, I’ve lifted you up, and I’ve made you mine—yet you’ve walked away from your first love.”

That should hit us deep.

Imagine your spouse saying to you, “I don’t feel like you love me anymore.”

I don’t know about you, but that would wreck me.

Yet here’s the thing: many of us accept the fading of our love for God like it’s no big deal.

But Christ doesn’t let it slide.

He says, “I have this against you. Don’t I deserve your love?

Have I not been faithful to you?

Did I not buy you with My blood?

And now you’ve left your first love.”

Second, this is serious because your fading love is invisible to others but never to Christ.

You might not even realize it yourself.

You can keep up the appearance, keep doing church things, going through the motions—yet Jesus sees exactly when and where your heart began to cool.

That’s what makes this tragic: you’ve been grieving your Lord, and you didn’t even know it.

Third, this is serious because it affects the very heart of our relationship with Jesus.

He’s the faithful Bridegroom, always loving us, but when our love for Him fades, it warps the relationship.

It might not keep us out of heaven, but it sure will keep heaven out of our hearts.

It’s like a marriage where the love has dried up—everything might look fine on the outside, but inside, it’s just cold duty.

And Jesus is saying, "I see that in you, and it’s killing you."

This is serious because we’re sinning against the greatest love we’ll ever know.

The One who walks among the churches, who laid down His life for us, is warning us:

“If your love for Me isn’t reignited, I’ll remove your lampstand. You won’t even be a church anymore.”

That’s how crucial this is.

The church in Ephesus had it all—sound doctrine, they were active, they hated sin—but they no longer loved Jesus like they once did.

And that’s a big deal.

We need to take this personally.

This isn’t just some theological issue; this is a relational one.

A potted plant looks great at first, but if you stop watering it, it withers.

The same thing happens with your love for Jesus.

It won’t survive if you don’t nurture it.

Without that love, your good theology, your Christian activities, your evangelism—they’re all just hollow motions.

We can’t afford to let our love for Christ fade, because it affects everything—our hearts, our boldness, our very relationship with God.

So here’s the warning: love fades gradually.

It starts with a cooling of our prayer life, then spreads to how we listen to sermons, how we read Scripture, how we relate to other believers.

Soon, we’re just going through the motions out of habit or fear of what others might think.

But inside, there’s a festering decay.

We talk about God more than we talk to Him.

We talk more about “church stuff” than about Christ.

And if we don’t deal with this, we’ll find ourselves far from the love that once burned bright in our hearts.

Are you finding yourself going through the motions, with little desire to truly spend time with Jesus?

Is your worship cold, your prayer life nonexistent, or your time in the Word just another task to check off?

Do you care more about how others see you than how Christ sees your heart?

If you find more joy in worldly pleasures, crave human approval, or are holding onto sin that no longer bothers your conscience, it’s time to ask—have you lost your first love?

Where is your passion for Jesus, and what is holding you back from fully returning to Him?

Here’s the thing—this fading love isn’t just personal.

When it happens in our own lives, it affects the whole church.

One person’s coldness can spread to the whole body, and before long, we’re a church that’s just going through the motions, too.

(Gospel Doctrine and Gospel Culture - What we believe should affect how we act)

Ephesus is a warning to us: don’t let your love for Christ fade.

If we do, we’re on the same path as Laodicea, indifferent, lukewarm, and in danger of being spit out by Jesus.

So what should we do?

2. Christ’s Call for Renewal (Revelation 2:5)

Revelation 2:5a (ESV)

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

Remember: Jesus calls them to remember the love and passion they had for Him at the beginning.

Repent: He instructs them to turn from their neglect, returning to a heart fully devoted to Him.

Repeat: They are urged to return to the works they did when their love for Christ was vibrant and fresh.

It’s easier to act your way to feelings rather than feel your way to actions.

First, remember your first love.

I think back to when I first fell in love with my wife Hannah—I was all in.

I’d rush out of class just to spend a few minutes with her, and I’d rearrange my mornings just to see her before the day started.

It was an all-consuming love. (We still get sentimental about Quiznos)

But how long has it been since you felt that kind of fire for Jesus?

Do you remember what it was like when you first said, "I’m ready to follow You, no matter the cost"?

John Bunyan once said,

“It is profitable for Christians to be often calling to mind the very beginnings of grace within their souls.” _John Bunyan

Just like David kept Goliath’s sword as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness, we need reminders of what Christ has done for us.

Every baptism reminds us that Jesus washed us clean.

Every time we take communion, we remember that His body was broken and His blood poured out because He loves us.

In these moments, our love for Him is reignited.

1 John 4:19 (ESV)

We love because he first loved us.

But here’s the thing—sometimes, love fades.

Maybe you feel like the things our church needs from you have become a burden.

It’s your turn in Mission Kids again, or you’re waiting for someone else to sign up for community group meals, but no one steps forward.

We start to feel like serving is a chore rather than an opportunity.

But the solution isn’t to hire more staff to take care of those "problems" or to stop doing meals and gatherings altogether.

The solution is to look at the gospel.

When we meditate on the gospel, we remember that Jesus laid down His life for us.

The gospel makes us want to lay down our lives for others in return.

We serve because we’ve been served by the King.

One day, we’ll wish we had served others more.

One day, we’ll look back and wish we had embraced every opportunity to sacrifice for the sake of Christ’s church.

The church is God’s discipleship program, a place where those further along in Christlikeness show others what it means to follow Him.

We should be looking around and imitating those who are acting like Jesus.

He didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

He is the greatest, and yet He became a servant (Matthew 23:11).

So when we serve, we’re not just meeting needs—we’re displaying Christlikeness for the world to see.

That’s why Jesus says to the church in Ephesus, remember where you’ve fallen from, and second repent.

Turn away from the distractions, the busyness, the things that have pulled you away from that first love.

True repentance isn’t just sorrow; it’s a decisive turn back to Him.

It’s turning away from the habits that have dulled your passion, the pride that’s kept you from prayer, and the distractions that have stolen your time.

It’s about acknowledging where you’ve been slipping and making the conscious choice to come back.

Finally, repeat the works you did at first (Rev. 2:5).

You may not be able to summon those emotions from when you first came to faith, but you can still go back to the basics.

Dive back into His Word, pray with fervor, and serve with joy.

Love is not just a feeling—it’s action.

The beauty of New Testament love is that it’s practical.

When you act in love, your heart will follow.

Jesus is calling us to do what we did when we first fell in love with Him.

The feelings will come as we remember His grace, repent of our neglect, and return to the works of our first love.

When our church lives this out—

when we’re disciples who serve one another, who act like Jesus on behalf of those who have farther to go—Christ is glorified.

Let’s be people who rejoice in every opportunity to show Christlikeness.

Let’s outdo one another in showing honor, not just going through the motions but serving from a place of love.

And in that, we find our first love rekindled, burning brighter than ever.

Christ’s call for renewal is clear—He’s inviting us to return to our first love.

But with this call comes both a sobering warning and a powerful hope:

if we continue to neglect this love, there are consequences, yet if we respond, there’s the promise of life and restoration.

So let’s see third:

3. Christ’s Warning and Hope (Revelation 2:5-7)

Revelation 2:5 (ESV)

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.

Finally, Jesus gives both a warning and an encouragement to the church in Ephesus, urging them to follow His call for renewal.

In verse 5, He says, Repent and do the works or I will take your lampstand!

The warning is clear: though the church has been orthodox and sound in doctrine, they have left their first love, and unless they recover that love as the center of their life, the very presence of Christ will depart from them.

They will cease to be a church.

This is not an idle threat—history shows that many churches have lost their light and faded into obscurity because they failed to heed this warning. (Well over 4000 churches shuttered their doors last year)

While things may look fine from our point of view, Jesus sees the fatal flaw within, and He loves us enough to warn us.

But alongside this warning, Jesus extends a promise of hope.

In verse 7 Jesus Says:

Revelation 2:7 (ESV)

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.’

This promise is a reminder that those who endure, who return to their first love and persevere in faith, will one day enjoy communion with God in eternal life.

The tree of life, once lost in Eden, is restored through Christ, and paradise awaits those who conquer by His grace.

This idea of “conquering” or “overcoming” (nikao, the word from which we get ‘Nike’) carries with it the image of athletic and military victory.

Revelation shows us that our victory is participation in Christ’s victory.

The Lamb has already conquered through His death and resurrection

Revelation 5:5

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Now, we as His people are called to overcome through perseverance, a daily trust in God that carries us through the struggles of this life.

Even the weakest churches, like Sardis and Laodicea, are offered the promise of victory if they endure to the end.

And what awaits us is nothing short of paradise.

Heaven is not just the return to Eden; it is paradise regained and more.

There, we will eat from the tree of life, which symbolizes eternal life and communion with God.

It’s a place where sin is no more, where we will dwell with God forever, where Jesus Himself is what makes paradise truly paradise.

This is the hope He holds out to us—a promise of life everlasting in His presence.

So, as Jesus calls the church to remember their first love, repent, and return to the works they did at first, we must also heed His warning.

To continue as we are, indifferent and cold, will only lead to ruin.

But if we return to Him, there is the promise of heaven, the promise of eternal life, and the promise of walking with God once again in paradise.

My prayer for us is this: that we would remember the gospel, that we would reflect on how much Christ has loved us, and that our hearts would be stirred to love Him afresh.

May we overcome by faith and cling to the hope of eternal life, knowing that everything we’ve lost to sin has been regained by the blood of Jesus.

Let us turn to Him, seeking His mercy, and may we say with joy, “Our first love has been revived. To Him be the glory forevermore!”

Illustration - Robert Robinson - Come Thou Fount

It was a bright Sunday morning in 18th century London, but Robert Robinson’s mood was anything but sunny.

Everywhere He looked there were happy people smiling and waving at one another on their way to church.

But Robinson wasn’t one of them. In fact he was a very lonely and unhappy man.

The sound of church bells reminded him of the time in his life when his faith was strong and the church meant so much to him. But that seemed like only a distant memory on this particular morning.

It had been years since he had even set foot in a church. He had gotten away from the Lord, and spent the last several years disillusioned, wandering farther and farther away from the God that He had once loved so much. 

His love for God—that was once so hot and passionate—had slowly burned out leaving him dark and cold inside.

Robinson heard the clip-clop, clip-clop of a horse-drawn carriage approaching from behind him.

Turning, he lifted his hand to hail the driver. But he saw that the cab was occupied by a young woman dressed in her Sunday best, who was obviously on the way to church.

He waved the driver on, but the woman in the carriage ordered the driver to stop the carriage, which he did.

The woman looked at Robinson and said, "Sir, I’d be happy to share this carriage with you," Are you going to church?" 

He was about to decline her offer, but then he paused, and said "Yes, "I am going to church, and I would appreciate the ride." He stepped into the carriage and sat down beside the young woman. Robert Robinson introduced himself to the young woman and thanked her for her kindness.

He noticed that when he told her his name the woman had a strange look on her face. Then she said, "That’s an interesting coincidence.”

She then reached into her purse and took out a small book of inspirational writings that she had been reading on the way to church. She opened the book and handed it to him and said "I was just reading a verse by a poet by the name of Robert Robinson…. Are you him?” He took the book, nodding. "Yes, I wrote these words years ago." "Oh, how wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Imagine! I’m sharing a carriage with the author of these very lines!"

But Robinson barely heard her. He was absorbed in the words he was reading.

They were words that would one day be set to music and become a great hymn of faith. These are the words he read… Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace’ Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.

And at the bottom of the page: Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it-- Prone to leave the God I love;

Take my heart and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above. He could barely read the last few lines through the tears that welled up in his eyes.

He looked at the young woman and said, "I wrote these words—and I’ve lived these words. ’Prone to wander…prone to leave the God I love.’"

But The young woman responded by saying, "You also wrote, ’Here’s my heart, O take and seal it.’

You can offer your heart again to God, Mr. Robinson. It’s not too late."

And it wasn’t too late for Robert Robinson. In that moment he  turned his heart back to God and walked with him the rest of his days

QUESTIONS

Can I identify a time when my love for Jesus was stronger? What circumstances or distractions have caused my passion for Him to fade?

What do I need to repent of today? How can I return to the "works I did at first," and serve with joy rather than obligation?

How can I prioritize actions that stir my love for Jesus, even when I don’t feel emotionally connected? How can I engage in the disciplines to reignite my passion?

How does the promise of Christ's victory and the hope of eternal life in His presence motivate me to persevere in faith, especially in challenging times?

——————

Stand with me: Pray with me: — John Bradford

God our Father, for the tender mercy and merits of your Son, be merciful to us. Forgive us all our sins, and give us your Holy Spirit to purge, cleanse, and sanctify us.

Make us holy in your sight through Christ-ready and worthy to receive this holy communion with its fruits, to rejoice and fully strengthen our hearts in the Lord.

To you be all honor and glory, and all praise forever, world without end. Amen.

—————

PRAYER

AIM Church -

Alabama - back in pack n pack out.

Leadership Transitions

Here’s an updated version with details about the specific school:

1. Cry out for God’s help – As we process the horror of the school shooting at Winder Elementary in Georgia, we cry out, “How long, O Lord?” We lament the evil that has taken the lives of innocent children, and we ask God to intervene in the midst of this senseless tragedy. Trusting in His goodness, we bring our grief before Him.

2. Pray for comfort – Lift up the families of the victims, the staff, and the entire Winder community. Ask God to be near to the brokenhearted, to bring comfort and peace to those who are crushed in spirit, and to surround them with His love and presence in this time of deep sorrow.

3. Seek God’s protection – Pray for God’s protection over your loved ones and the Winder school community, asking for His refuge in the face of such wickedness. Recognize that our ultimate hope is in God’s sovereignty, not in human measures or efforts to secure safety.

4. Pray for forgiveness – As unimaginable as it may feel, we follow Christ’s example and pray, “Father, forgive them.” Ask for God’s transforming grace even for those responsible for this heinous act, that they may repent and turn from evil.

5. Pray for Christ’s return – Finally, with broken hearts, we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” As we long for the day when Jesus will return, making all things new and eradicating evil once and for all, we ask for His Kingdom to come soon, bringing an end to tragedies like this.

FOR OUR CHURCH:

- That adult members would work to disciple teenagers and not just leave it to programming.

Announcements

Alot:

Mission Youth:

Mission Youth starts today. Our youth meet weekly on Sundays from 4:00-5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall.

Hospitality Team Interest Meeting:

We will be having a quick huddle for those who are interested in joining Mission Church’s Hospitality team. This will be in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service today.

Mission Men:

For our first Mission Men of the Fall we are grilling out! Bring your own meat next Saturday at 6pm to Brad Wilcox’s home in Valdese. For more details and a link to join the Men’s group, please visit the Weekly section of our website.

Coffee with Billy:

Join us next Sunday, September 15th, after the service as Pastor Billy shares a brief introduction to the story of Mission Church. Childcare and light snacks will be provided.

BENEDICTION

And now may the God who sought you when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God

Who interposed His precious blood to rescue you from danger.

Stir your heart for the love you had at first, rooted in gospel hope.

Amen

Go in the love of Christ!