The Church That Forgot to Love
Revelation 1:10-13, 19-20 NIV
On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man...
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, WHAT IS NOW and WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE LATER. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
God always cleans the CHURCH before He cleans the COMMUNITY. He cleans the CHURCH before He cleans the CITY. He cleans the CHURCH before He cleans the COUNTRY.
Revelation 2:1-3 NLT
“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: “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. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.”
Revelation 2:4-5 NLT
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.”
Who does Jesus say we forgot to love?
1. We Forgot to Love HIM
Every poet and musician and artist, but for Grace, is drawn away from the love of the thing he tells, to the love of the telling till, down in Deep Hell, they cannot be interested in God at all but only in what they say about Him. – C.S. Lewis
Who does Jesus say we forgot to love?
1. We Forgot to Love HIM
2. We Forgot to Love ONE ANOTHER
1 John 4:20-21 NIV
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Who does Jesus say we forgot to love?
1. We Forgot to Love HIM
2. We Forgot to Love ONE ANOTHER
3. We Forgot to Love OUR CITY
“The bottom line is if teaching revelation doesn’t lead to evangelism, then one of three things has happened: one, the communicator failed, two, the listener failed, three, the communicator and the listener failed.” – Pastor Gerald Brooks
We can do no great things. Just small things with great love. It’s not how much you do. It’s how much love you put into doing it. -- Mother Teresa
Revelation 2:5 ESV
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
How do we get our LOVE back?
* Remember
* Repent
* Repeat
The day the church stops shining the love of Jesus and instead exalts politics, potlucks, and policies, Jesus will remove His POWER.
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
