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Bobby Stafford Ephesus (The loveless church)
Revelation 2:1-7   Lesson 4
     

 

The Church at Ephesus

Lesson 4

Text:  Revelation 2:1-7 

Verse 1   As Jesus is moving among the congregations and watching over them, He knows what is going on in every Christian’s life as well as in each of the congregations.  (John 2:24-25)  Congregations, Christians, are gold (precious) because they were purchased with Jesus’ own blood.  (Acts 20:28)  We must shine as lights in the world holding fast the Word of Life.  (Philippians 2:14-15

Verses 2-3   A great commendation was given to the congregation at Ephesus.  They had practiced discipline, worked hard serving God in many ways, suffered hardships, and had sacrificed, not giving up.     They had put false teachers to the test.  (I John 4:1)  Christ honored them for all these things.  These were both good and necessary. 

Verse 4   But there was a problem!  Notice Revelation 2:23.  They had left their first love.  This might include two or three things.  They were giving Christ their service, but not giving Him themselves.  (II Corinthians 8:5)  The love, passion and devotion which had characterized them as new converts had now grown cold.  This is similar to Matthew 24:12.  Once they had poured out their hearts in fervent love for Christ, but no more.  They were still worshiping, studying, etc. but their heart wasn’t in it.    Also, possibly they had lost their love for soul-winning, their passion for saving sinners.  (John 4:34-35)  We must let the light of the gospel shine.  (II Corinthians 4:3-4

Verse 5   Remember your initial love and devotion. Call to mind your evangelistic zeal.  Repent and do the first works.  Or else they would be removed and no longer considered by Jesus as one of His congregations.  Just calling ourselves a “church of Christ” doesn’t make us one!  He would come “in judgment” upon them. 

Verse 6   Anything God hates; we should hate also.  (Proverbs 6:16-19)  “Abhor what is evil.”  (Romans 12:9, Hebrews 1:9

Verse 7   There will be a reward for those who overcome.  The Garden of Eden, a paradise, had a tree of life.  Now it has been restored in Heaven, a Paradise.   (Revelation 22:1-2, 14

Bobby Stafford

 More Sermons & Studies


Church of Christ Lessons on the Revelation of Jesus Christ

1.  Understanding Revelation
2.  Symbolic Objects in Revelation
3.  Understanding the Numerical Symbolism in Revelation
4.  Identifying the Opposition Characters in Revelation
5. 
John's Introduction to the Churches of Asia

6.  John's Vision of Jesus Christ
7. The Church who Left Her First Love, Ephesus
8.  Smyrna, the Suffering Church
9.  Pergamum, the church in Hell's Headquarter
10.  Thyatira, the church that Condoned Sin
11. Sardis (The Dead Church)
12. Philadelphia (The Church With Opportunity)
13.  Laodicea (The Lukewarm Church)

14.  Letter to Your Church
15.  John's Throne Vision (chapter 4)
16.  God the Redeemer Revealed  (chapter 5)
17.  God the Avenger of His Children (Chapter 6)
18.  Who Will Be Able To Stand  (Chapter 7)
19.  The First Four Trumpets
(Chapter 8)
20.  The Fifth Trumpet (Chapter 9:1-12)
21.  The Sixth Trumpet Announcement (Chapter 9:13-21)
22. The Little Book and the Unutterable Thunders (Rev 10)
23.  The Seventh Trumpet Announcement (Rev 11)
24. The Conflict (Revelation 12)
25.  Revelation 13 (Identification of the First Beast)

26.  Revelation 13 (Identification of the Second Beast)

27.  Chapter 14 (The Victorious Lamb and the Redeemed)
28.  Revelation 14 (The Turning Point)
29.  Revelation 14 (The Sickle and the Winepress)
30.  Chapter 15 (Comfort for the Saints)
31.  Chapter 16 (Bowls of Wrath)
32.  Chapter 16 (The Battle of Armageddon)
33.  Chapter 17 (The Scarlet Woman)
34.  Chapter 18 (Fallen  is Babylon)

35.  King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Chapter 19)
36.  The Fall of Satan  (Chapter 20)
37.  Heaven, the Home of the Soul  (Chapter 21)
38.  The Spirit and the Bride Say Come  (Chapter 22)
39.  The Dating of the Revelation


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Revelation 21:5-7

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.