Dead or Alive - The Busy Church

Dead or Alive

Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good; he came into this world to make dead people live.

- Lee Strobel

This is the point of today-

Christ came and lived a perfect life and dies for us

Then rose again- showing the p[rice has been paid, the debt settled, life is now offered

Life for His people, life for His church

He is risen

The question is what does that life look like?

I believe for many of us we have been tricked, deceived, or even settled for something far less

John 10:10 CSB

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

This should be the most evident in the Church

This should be place where you and I feel and experience more life than anywhere.

Over the next few weeks we will be diving into the 7 churches of Revelation

We will taking a deep look at our own church and lives to discover what being alive looks like.

We are going to take Jesus at his word

Revelation 1:3 CSB

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.

I hope you will join us each week as we take this journey.

Today we look at Ephesus

Turn to Revelation 2

Let’s pray

The Busy Church

Revelation 2:1–5 CSB

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

The Busy Church

Ephesus - the largest city and most prominent church

Paul had been there and the Gospel had spread and taken root

Acts 19:10 CSB

This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

They were on the verge of being snuffed out

They were so busy they were no longer effective.

They knew what to do 0 they did not know why

They had lost their heart - they only were going through the motions

Busyness and fruitfulness are not the same

So how do we as a people and a church find fullness and fruitfulness over busyness and emptiness

3 things -

1. Listen to Jesus

Revelation 2:1 (CSB)

“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands:

No one knows more about us

No one wants more for us

John 10:7–10 (CSB)

Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

2. Don’t be so busy, that you miss what’s most important

Revelation 2:2–4 CSB

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first.

Busy is not always best

We can look religious - look the part

We miss so much

It has never been what we can do for God

Luke 10:38–41 (CSB)

While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,

It is who we know, not what we do

Saved by grace not works

3. Repent and Return

Revelation 2:5 (CSB)

Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4977 Epigram on Repentance

True repentance has a double aspect; it looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye.

—Robert Smith

Repent - turn around

Return - to go back

God’s way leads to life

Your/my way leads to darkness

Dead or Alive

It is Easter today is about life

The defeat of sin and death

He is risen

Not for us just to be busy or to go through the motions

He knows us and wants to be known by us

It is the heart of all we do

As a church we choose life

Love and live in His presence - not for what we do but for who HE is

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace.

Because of His resurrection we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happen in the world.

- Paul Chappell

That’s the difference from busy to fruitful

From doing to being

From dead to alive

What do you choose?

Let’s pray