WHAT DO PEOPLE LOOK FOR IN A CHURCH?
ISSUES IN CHRIST S LETTERS 1. Doctrinal Orthodoxy 2. Spiritual Passion 3. Persevering 4. Satanic Preaching 5. Immorality 6. Dead Orthodoxy 7. True Spiritual Wealth
THE CHURCH EXCELLED AT BIBLICAL PREACHING BUT WAS LACKING IN THE AREA OF SPIRITUAL PASSION.
RETURN TO SENDER! Light But No Heat Revelation 2:1-7
MT. MORIAH VS. MT. GERIZIM God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24) Truth VS. Emotions
LIGHT BUT NO HEAT When Love Grows Cold John MacArthur Deserting Devotion Ken Quick & Mark Barnard Labor Without Love Lehman Strauss The Fallen Church John Phillips Everything But The One Thing Gordon Curley After The Honeymoon Jeffrey Anselmi
1. Destination 2. Description 3. Dispensation 4. Diagnosis 5. Demand 6. Dynamic
I. DESTINATION (1A) Though Christ may have addressed the Ephesian church first because it was first on the postal route, it was also the most prominent church of the seven. It was the mother church out of whose ministry the other six were founded (John MacArthur).
A. LOCATION ON THE MAIL ROUTE
B. OTHER SIX CHURCHES FORMED FROM PAUL S STAY IN EPHESUS But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks (Acts 19:9-10).
C. Paul Ministered In City For 2 ½ Years D. Paul, Timothy, Onesiphorus, Tychicus, & Possibly John Were Shepherds There E. Known As Metropolis Of Asia F. Four Major Crossroads
G. MAJOR BANKING CENTER FOR ASIA MINOR H. INLAND FROM AEGEAN SEA 3-7 MILES
I. TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS (DIANA)
J. VATICAN OF THE DAY K. OUTDOOR THEATER FOR 25K 25K
L. CITY LEVELED BY GOTHS IN 252 A.D. M. CITY A PERPETUAL CITY OF VICE.
N. LIBRARY OF CELSUS
O. CITY TODAY IS SELCUK, TURKEY
II. DESCRIPTION (1B-2A) 1. Ephesus 2:1 With 1:13, 16 2. Smyrna 2:8 With 1:17-18 3. Pergamum 2:12 With 1:16 4. Thyatira 2:18 With 1:14-15 5. Sardis 3:1 With 1:16
STARS AND LAMPSTANDS As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Revelation 1:20
REVELATION 2:1-2A 1. His Possession He Holds The Stars 2. His Power In His Right Hand 3. His Presence Walks Among 4. His Perception I Know
III. DISPENSATION (2-3, 6) A. Standing Up To The Task Serving (2a) I Know Complete Knowledge As To Accumulating Knowledge
B. STANDING UP FOR TRUTH (2B, 6) 1. Against False Lifestyle Immoral Men 2. Against False Prophets Imitating Men 3. Against False Authority Intimidating Men
C. STANDING UP TO THE TEST (3) Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them (Acts 20:28-30)
IV. DIAGNOSIS (4) From A Church To Which So Much Was Given, Much Would Be Required R. C. Trench
MARK BARNARD & KEN QUICK One Of The More Astonishing Facts To Rise From The Protestant Reformation Is That People Who Love The Truth And Emphasize Doctrine Cannot Stay Unified In Large Numbers For Very Long.
TEASER QUESTION Is Our Abandoned Love For Christ Related To Our Abandoned Love For One Another?
WE NEED BOTH LIGHT AND HEAT! The Church Today May Have State Of The Art Technological Bible Knowledge But Without State Of The Heart Passionate Worship It Is Just A Building That Has Light But No Heat!