Guest speaker Rev. Ron Thomas

The church in ancient Ephesus had been planted by the Apostle Paul in approximately 60 AD, who stayed there to teach and lead them for three years. Paul appointed Timothy as an elder of the church, and later the Apostle John pastored there as well. It was a pagan city, full of idolatry. The church would have included both Jewish and Gentile converts.

Thriving

“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. 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. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary’” (vv. 1-3 ESV).

These were the words of Jesus delivered to the Apostle John to be shared with the church in Ephesus. They were approved for being hard working, enduring, discerning, and patient. This might be considered high praise for most churches.

The Apostle Paul in particular had great affection for the Ephesians. In his letter to them he noted,

“To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:1).

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (1:15-16).

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (2:19-22).

In Acts 20, Paul asked the church leaders to come to him, and when they were departing, “he knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again” (36-38). He loved them and had great expectations for them.

Striving

Unfortunately, the message to the Ephesians was not all good.

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (v. 4).

These words of Jesus were written down in roughly AD 95 or 96, so only about 30 years or so after the church had been planted and led by well known Christian leaders. Somehow along the way, although they were working hard and defending the doctrine, they had lost the love that originally motivated them. We sometimes see this happen with new converts. They start out with great zeal and energy, but over time they lose that passion and are just going through the motions.

It happens in churches as well. A visionary leader inspires people to create great programs that change lives. Perhaps leaders come along who don’t know the original vision and purpose, and pretty soon the church is maintaining programs just because “We’ve always done it that way.” That can often lead to apathy, division, and even the death of churches.

We have to remember that the church and its programs are not our own. It belongs to Christ. Church activities shouldn’t be evaluated by “what do I get out of it,” but “how is it helping to fulfill God’s mission to spread the gospel throughout the world?” We who are members of the local church body are not there simply for our own benefit, but for one another. We need to be engaged in God’s work, and we need one another daily to encourage, equip, and pray for each other.

Remedy

“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” (v. 5).

First, we have to remember where we once were—not just reminiscing about the “good old days,” but remembering our passion for God and His love for us. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), we long for what we once had.

Second, we repent as we see how far we are from where we used to be.

Third, we respond by returning to our loving heavenly Father.

As we consider this for our own church, remember that we grow together or not at all. The church is not a building or an institution. It is the fellowship of believers who gather together regularly. We need to be involved in one another’s lives more than just an hour or two each week.

Remember what we learned from the book of Acts a few years ago:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

That is the unique kind of fellowship that can change the world.

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34).

Discussion Questions

1) If you were planting a church and had to decide what programs to offer on a regular basis, what would be the first three activities or gatherings you’d prioritize? What scriptural reason would you give for your choices?

2) Can you identify with “losing your first love” when it comes to your faith? What things either help or hinder us in keeping our passion for God and His Word? How can we “spur one another on to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:24)?

3) As we near the end times, Christians will need to endure hardship and suffering for the sake of the Gospel. What does Scripture have to say about endurance? (E.g. Rom. 5:3-4; Rom. 15:4-5; Col. 1:9-14; Heb. 10:32-39; Heb. 12:1-3)