Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
Ephesus - Revelation 2:1-7
Worship Gathering
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Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 7:55 AM
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https://crossroadsefc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/478788Revelation 2:1–7 (ESV)
1“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. 2“ ‘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. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember 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. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He 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.’
1“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. 2“ ‘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. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember 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. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He 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.’
Elements of common pattern:
1. To the angel… (gr.)angelos = angel or messenger
2. The message is from Jesus – the one gloriously revealed to John in chapter 1.
3. I know…A reminder we are dealing with the one who knows all things, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. It is His word that examines every crack and every crevice of your mind and soul.
Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
4. In most there is a call to repent.
Repentance requires humility.
5. Lastly, there is consequence or reward.
1. To the angel… (gr.)angelos = angel or messenger
2. The message is from Jesus – the one gloriously revealed to John in chapter 1.
3. I know…A reminder we are dealing with the one who knows all things, who has all authority in heaven and on earth. It is His word that examines every crack and every crevice of your mind and soul.
Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
4. In most there is a call to repent.
Repentance requires humility.
5. Lastly, there is consequence or reward.
Revelation 2:2–3 (ESV) - “ ‘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. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
Revelation 2:4 (ESV) - But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
They lost sight of the true aim – truth immersed in love!
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) - …speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
We can’t lose sight of our love for Christ which flows over into love for one another! Why?
John 13:35 (ESV) - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We forget that the ones we are seeking to protect our doctrine from are also the ones who need to be loved in such a gracious way that they themselves will desire the gospel that we preach.
1 John 4:19 (ESV) - We love because he first loved us.
1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
They lost sight of the true aim – truth immersed in love!
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) - …speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
We can’t lose sight of our love for Christ which flows over into love for one another! Why?
John 13:35 (ESV) - By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We forget that the ones we are seeking to protect our doctrine from are also the ones who need to be loved in such a gracious way that they themselves will desire the gospel that we preach.
1 John 4:19 (ESV) - We love because he first loved us.
Revelation 2:5–7 (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. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He 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.’
Remember, repent and return
Remember, repent and return
What would Jesus say about us?
So what?
· What’s most important is what Jesus says about you.
· Stand for sound doctrine and strive to practice love for God and love for others.
· What’s most important is what Jesus says about you.
· Stand for sound doctrine and strive to practice love for God and love for others.
Discussion Questions
Read Revelation 2:1-7 as a group to begin.
1. What do you find significant about the five elements of a common pattern in the letters to the seven churches?
2. What does Jesus commend and what does Jesus condemn in the Ephesian church? Describe how this may have looked in their everyday life.
3. What would be some marks of a church that is fully living out Jesus’ command to love others?
4. What is the three-step response Jesus calls the Ephesians to in verse 5? Discuss how this can be used as a pattern for responding to sin in your life.
5. Compare and contrast your original love for Christ with your current relationship with Christ. What observations would you make about how your love for God and others has become stronger or weaker?
6. If Jesus wrote a letter to Crossroads Church, what compliments and criticisms do you think He would give?
Read Revelation 2:1-7 as a group to begin.
1. What do you find significant about the five elements of a common pattern in the letters to the seven churches?
2. What does Jesus commend and what does Jesus condemn in the Ephesian church? Describe how this may have looked in their everyday life.
3. What would be some marks of a church that is fully living out Jesus’ command to love others?
4. What is the three-step response Jesus calls the Ephesians to in verse 5? Discuss how this can be used as a pattern for responding to sin in your life.
5. Compare and contrast your original love for Christ with your current relationship with Christ. What observations would you make about how your love for God and others has become stronger or weaker?
6. If Jesus wrote a letter to Crossroads Church, what compliments and criticisms do you think He would give?