Sermon Tone Analysis

WARM HANDS BUT COLD HEARTS

rev 2

WARM HANDS BUT COLD HEARTS

INTRODUCTION:

INTRODUCTION:

Beginning with these verses, we are going to be studying the seven churches to which Jesus is writing…He calls these churches by name in .

As we study these seven churches, I want you to keep in mind that these churches can be seen in three different ways.

They can be viewed Prophetically

They can be viewed Prophetically – These churches seem to represent different stages of the church over the last 2,000 years…If this is true, then the church at Ephesus represents the time period between the Day of Pentecost and 100 AD…This was a time of great expansion for the early church…But, it was also a time when some began to loose their zeal and fervency.

These churches seem to represent different stages of the church over the last 2,000 years…

If this is true, then the church at Ephesus represents the time period between the Day of Pentecost and 100 AD…

This was a time of great expansion for the early church…But, it was also a time when some began to loose their zeal and fervency.

They can be viewed Practically

They can be viewed Practically – These letters were sent to real congregations that were actually functioning at the close of the First Century…While they were written to real churches existing in that day, they still speak to every church in existence today…God has a word for Jefferson COG in these verses!

These letters were sent to real congregations that were actually functioning at the close of the First Century…

But even though they were written to real churches existing in that day, they still speak to every church in existence today…God has a word for Jefferson COG in these verses!

They can be viewed Personally – These letters speak to congregations, but we should also be mindful that God has a word for the individual in these letters as well…He has something to say to you and to me about our relationship with Him.

They can be viewed Personally

These letters speak to congregations, but we should also be mindful that God has a word for the individual in these letters as well…

Churches are made up of individuals, so God has something to say to you and me about our relationship with Him.

The first church that we will study is the church in Ephesus…

Ephesus was a powerful city in its day.

It was located near the Aegean Sea with a large harbor for commercial trade.

It was considered a “free city” under Roman rule and was allowed self-government.

It was also a religious city…

Christianity wasn’t the only religion in Ephesus.

In fact, Ephesus was home to the temple of Diana, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

Diana was the Greek goddess of sex & fertility…She was represented by a statue of a many breasted woman.

The temple was filled with hundreds of temple prostitutes & the way that you worshiped Diana was to have sexual relations with a temple prostitute.

The city of Ephesus could be compared to cities such as Las Vegas or St. Louis...

It was filled with wickedness & immorality…and it wasn’t the kind of place that you would want to visit let alone live.

But it was to this city that God sent the apostle Paul…He preached in Ephesus for 2 years and started this church.

While he was there, he wrote the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians.

Timothy was the 1st bishop of this church...Aquilla, Priscilla & Apollos all labored in the Ephesian church.

This was an established church & God had done great things in this church…but not every thing in this church was perfect.

So, tonight let’s look at the church that had: Warm Hands but Cold Hearts…

1) JESUS’ PRAISE OF THE CHURCH (V.

2-3, 6)

Jesus starts out by having some good things to say about the church in Ephesus.

He gives them words of encouragement…Notice that He recognized that they were:

He starts by giving them words of encouragement…

Notice that He recognized that they were:

A Serving Church (v.

2a)

A Serving Church (v.

2a)

Jesus spoke of their works & their labor

This church was busy for the Lord…No doubt their weekly schedule was filled with activities.

This church wasn’t lazy but they served the Lord no matter the cost.

In spite of opposition, they still served God…and labored to the point of being exhausted.

This church was not a Sunday morning only crowd…

They actively served God at great personal expense and great personal sacrifice.

A Separated Church (v.

2b, 6)

They didn’t tolerate evil people or false teachers…They had the right beliefs & they stood for doctrinal purity.

Also, the members of this church didn’t compromise with the world.

These people were living a separated lifestyle…The immorality and evil that defined their world wasn’t a part of their lives.

They took a stand for morality and they lived differently than the world around them.

NOTE: God still expects His people today to live a separated lifestyle.

We can’t tolerate sin or be open-minded about sin.

God demands that we be separate from this evil world that we live in.

In our walk, talk, dress, choices of entertainment, and in every area of life…we are commanded to be different/to be separate from the world around us.

If Jesus were to come speak to us today, would He commend us for being a separated people?

A Steadfast Church (v.

2-3: patience/persevered)

This church didn’t quit or give up.

Even though they faced opposition, they patiently endured.

This church didn’t quit or give up…Even though they faced opposition, they endured.

Even though they labored to the point of exhaustion, they never quit.

They suffered hardship for the name of Jesus but they endured & they kept going.

NOTE: The church of Ephesus was a great church…

In fact, you could say the church at Ephesus was what every church should strive to be.

We at the JCOG should have the desire to be a serving, separated, steadfast church.

We at the JCOG should have the desire to be a serving, separated, steadfast church…

1 cor 15:58

Does that verse describe our church?

Does that verse describe your life?

2) JESUS’ PROBLEM WITH THE CHURCH (V. 4)

After offering words of encouragement & praise, Jesus now gives them some words of complaint.

Even though they look good on the surface, there are problems beneath the surface that have to be dealt with.

NOTE: Outwardly things can look good but inwardly there can be problems.

We need to understand that Jesus sees what we do, but He also sees what we are.

He’s able to look beneath the surface of our lives and see the condition of our hearts.

Jesus looks at this church that He loves and He tells them that they simply don’t love Him like they used to…

He tells them “you have left your first love…”

They still have love, but the fervent love that filled them with a passion to serve Him has left their hearts.

NOTE: There was a time when their love for Jesus was vibrant and consuming, but now they had lost the zeal of their love.

Outwardly they were busy and steadfast, but inwardly they were cold and indifferent…

They displayed “works…labor…and patience” but these qualities weren’t motivated by a love for Jesus.

The fire that once burned within them was nothing but an ember now.

They had lost their sensitivity to Christ.

They weren’t having personal fellowship with Jesus…They weren’t walking & sharing with Him like they once did.

They loved their church & they had the right beliefs…but they didn’t love Jesus the way they once did.

They had become more attached to their church than they were to Jesus.

NOTE: It’s tragic when a believer grows cold in their relationship with the Lord…but the truth is - it happens...

In fact, Jesus said it would happen in the last days...

And if we’d be honest, we would have to admit that it has happened to each of us at times.

In fact, you could be here tonight and this condition describes your relationship with God right now.

NOTE: Our activities & works may please Him, but what He really desires is that we love Him.

Do you remember when you were saved & how your love for Him filled your heart?

Do you remember how you wanted to spend time in His presence?