The church can focus on many good things, but if it abandons its first love, nothing else matters.
Episode Notes:
There is a scary reality that a relationship with Jesus takes hard work.
There is an even scarier reality that I can’t do it apart from the church.
Revelation 2:1-7 (NIV) | To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Our first love is Christ and Christ’s first love is the church.
Church as family. Church as bride. Church as body.
Take pride in the church. You help make it grow.
Be zealous for your church. You guard it from the enemy.
Triumph with your church. You reap the hard work of your labor.
Music - A big adventure by FASSounds
