SESSION 8 RETURN TO YOUR FIRST LOVE 102 SeSSion 8
GET INTO THE STUDY The Point Return to a love for Christ that permeates everything you do. 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (see p. 102; PSG, p. 100). The Bible Meets Life A steady routine to life is not a bad thing, but sometimes that routine can become a rut. We can do things merely out of habit and lose the motivation that brought us to that good habit to begin with. That s especially troubling when applied to our walk with Christ. The Book of Revelation shows us one church that did good things but had lost their first love. This study calls us back to a passion for Christ. The Passage Revelation 2:1-7 The Setting The apostle John found himself on the island of Patmos, probably as a political prisoner of Rome for preaching the gospel. While there, he received an extensive revelation from God regarding the outcome of the conflict between the forces of God and the forces of evil. The revelation begins with a state of the churches address. DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 100): What hobbies or interests have you lost touch with over the years? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 101). Acknowledge that over the years interests can change. Most of the time it s gradual. Even friends and loved ones can drift apart. Things just aren t the way they used to be, and sometimes we can t even remember why. Stress the danger of letting this happen to our relationship with Jesus. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 101): Return to a love for Christ that permeates everything you do. SAY: The church in Ephesus, though busy for Jesus, allowed their love for Jesus to drift from what it had been at first. GUIDE: Comment that this can happen to us too. Let s discover the solution if it does. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF JULY 26 103
THE POINT Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. STUDY THE BIBLE Revelation 2:1-4 15 minutes GUIDE: Offer some background before reading the passage. In the Book of Revelation, God granted John a vision about things that were to come in the future (Rev. 1:10-20). As the vision began, John saw Jesus Himself (v. 13). Jesus instructed the apostle to write letters to seven churches in Asia Minor (v. 11). The first church Jesus addressed was the church at Ephesus. READ: Invite a volunteer to read Revelation 2:1-4. GUIDE: Call attention to verses 2-3. Comment that from these verses it appeared Jesus was very pleased with all the church was doing. But when we get to verse 4, we see one very simple yet stinging statement: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Revelation 2:1-4 1 Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand and who walks among the seven gold lampstands says: 2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. 3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. KEY WORDS: Angel of the church (v. 1) The Greek word for angel means messenger and can be used either of angelic messengers or human messengers, such as pastors who were responsible for delivering God s message to their churches. Stars (v. 1) Identified in Revelation 1:20 as the angels of the seven churches. Gold lampstands (v. 1) The seven lampstands represent the seven churches in Revelation 2 3 (Rev. 1:20). Patmos, a small island in the Aegean Sea located 37 miles southwest of modern-day Turkey, was used by the Romans as a place of exile for political prisoners. John was one of those who had been exiled to the island (Rev. 1:9). As John worshiped on the Lord s day (v. 10), Jesus appeared to him with a message for the churches in Asia Minor who were facing intense times of persecution. The Lord instructed John to write seven letters to seven churches. The first of these letters was to the church in Ephesus (2:1-7). 104 SeSSion 8
Verse 1. Jesus instructed John to write to the angel of the church in Ephesus. Scholars have two opinions as to the identity of the angel of the church. One opinion is that this was an angelic being who had specific responsibilities assigned on behalf of the church. The most common usage of the word angel in the Book of Revelation is of supernatural beings. The difficulty of this view is discovering why John would write a letter to an angelic being. A second interpretation is that the angel of the church referred to a human messenger. The Greek word can refer to human messengers as well as angelic beings. In this case, it would apply if John were writing the letter to the pastor of the church who would then read it to the entire church. When this letter was penned to the church, Ephesus contained a population of somewhere between 100,000 and 250,000 people, making it an extremely large city for its day. It was located at the mouth of a harbor, making it an important commercial center in Asia Minor. The city was known for its cosmopolitan flavor, containing a theater, a Roman bath and gymnasium, and a very large market area. One of most prominent features of the city was the Great Temple of Artemis. The temple was completed by the Greeks and was recorded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Artemis was the Greek goddess of the moon and the daughter of Zeus. She was worshiped as a fertility goddess who gave life and fertility to all those who worshiped her. As one of the mystery religions of the Roman people, worship at this temple involved cultic prostitution and other sensual acts of worship. In the middle of this cosmopolitan city with its pagan worship, the gospel had taken hold. The apostle Paul spent three years there, more than in any other city (Acts 20:31). Timothy served as a pastor in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3), and later John, the writer of Revelation, was its pastor. While the city of Ephesus had a strong connection to pagan worship, its church had strong leaders and healthy growth. However, like most other churches at that time, the church at Ephesus faced the challenge of the rising persecution in Asia Minor. Jesus addressed this struggle in His letter to this church. Jesus identified Himself as the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand. The identity of the seven stars is made clear in Revelation 1:20: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. Jesus clearly held the angels or To highlight the good things the church was doing, lead the group to review the numbered statements on PSG page 103: 1. They worked hard for the Lord, had patient endurance, and did not tolerate evil. 2. They had rooted out false prophets. 3. They had endured much for His name while not growing weary. SAY: The church at Ephesus is a perfect example of the statement Good things are the enemy of the best thing. (Write this statement on a board or large sheet of paper.) SUMMARIZE: To clarify the statement above, reference Jesus encounter with Mary and Martha from Luke 10. Martha was busy doing good things for Jesus. For Mary, time spent with Jesus was more important. 105
THE POINT Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. Martha was upset about Mary s lack of help, but Jesus said, Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:41-42). Martha was doing nothing wrong, but it was not the best thing at that moment. Spending time with Jesus at was the one thing that would affect everything else. The church at Ephesus was like Martha. Our own churches are often the same filled with things we do for Jesus to the neglect of being with Jesus. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 104): If Jesus looked at our church and said I know your works, what do you think He would say next? (Alternate: How would you compare and contrast doing things for Jesus and spending time with Jesus?) the pastors of the churches in His own hand. He exercised authority over them. He also identified Himself as the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands. Again, Revelation 1:20 gives us the identity of the lampstands. It says the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Each lampstand represented one of the seven churches of Asia Minor. How comforting it must have been to the persecuted churches to know that Jesus was walking among them. Verse 2. Jesus letter to the church in Ephesus began with a commendation. He commended the church for four things. First, He commended them for their works. This is a general word for the work of the church. He also praised their labor. This word described the difficult things that the church had to do, probably in the face of extreme opposition. Whether the church s works were easy or difficult, Jesus saw and praised their actions. He also praised the church s endurance. They did not shirk their responsibility in the face of persecution. Rather, they continued to bear the burden of it with zeal for the Lord. One of the specific ways the church showed endurance was they did not tolerate evil. Whether the church was infiltrated by those who were worshipers of Artemis or by the Nicolaitans (2:6), the church stood for purity. They had correct doctrine and could discern when others deviated from that doctrine. They tested those who call themselves apostles and are not. They did not gullibly accept all leaders but tested them to make sure they lined up with the truth. This was a good practice, for they found that some were liars. Unfortunately, not everyone who claims to be a church leader is following Christ, so the Bible must be the measuring stick to test those who desire to lead. Verse 3. The church did not tolerate immoral behavior or false doctrine (v. 2), but they did tolerate hardships and persecution. They did not grow weary because they carried in themselves the name of Jesus Christ. Based on verses 1-3 we might describe the Ephesian congregation as a diligent, hardworking church that stood strongly in the face of persecution and stood against incorrect doctrine and improper behavior in the church. However, this was not 106 SeSSion 8
enough. The commendation was followed by a condemnation. Verse 4. In spite of right actions and right doctrine, Jesus condemned the church at Ephesus for a matter of the heart. A change in tone of the letter is marked by the word but, a transitional word. The church in Ephesus seemed to have everything except the main thing love. In the midst of their work, their toil, and their endurance in opposing false teaching, they had abandoned the one thing that mattered most. The Greek word for abandoned is the same word used for forgiveness, which means to let go of something. In other contexts, it refers to leaving something behind or cutting something loose. The Ephesian church had cut loose something important, but what was it that they cut loose? Jesus condemned the church because they had abandoned the love they had at first. The church had lost love, but love for whom? Some commentators think it was the love the believers had for one another. It is possible the Ephesian church had become so focused on testing their leaders and maintaining doctrinal purity that they had stopped loving one another. If this interpretation is accurate, Paul s words to the Corinthians come to mind: [If I] do not have love, I am nothing I gain nothing (1 Cor. 13:2-3). While the passage makes sense if it refers to their loss of love for each other, it seems stronger if it s a reference to their love for the Lord. It is possible their love for the Lord had dimmed as they tried to maintain doctrinal purity and to labor in an environment where persecution was growing stronger every day. The greatest commandment in the Old Testament was to love the Lord with all one s heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut. 6:5; Mark 12:30). Though the church at Ephesus had maintained doctrinal purity and continued to do good works, they had forgotten that everything they did needed to be motivated by a love for Christ. It is easy to continue acts of devotion out of habit or duty when the devotion no longer exists. Married couples sometimes go through the motions of marriage without any real love. They exist on opposite ends of the house and maintain an appearance of marriage, but they have abandoned their first love. Christians can maintain an appearance of devotion while abandoning the first love they had for Christ. So which is it? Did Jesus condemn the church for abandoning their love for one another or their love for GUIDE: State that the greatest commandment, Jesus said, is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Matt. 22:37). Our love for Jesus is the number one thing we must hold on to. Everything we do must be motivated by our love for Him. Note that when a marriage fails, often a question that comes up is, Why don t you love me the way you used to? Pause for a moment of quiet reflection as you ask group members to consider this question: Is Jesus saying to you, Why don t you love me the way you used to love me? DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 105): How can we evaluate whether we ve lost our first love for Christ? (ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item 7: First Love to enhance your discussion. Ask volunteers to compare and contrast losing one s first love for Jesus with a happily married couple losing the love they had for one another on their wedding day.) 107
THE POINT Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. TRANSITION: If we discover our love for Jesus has drifted, we must do all we can to return to a passionate love for Him. STUDY THE BIBLE Revelation 2:5-7 15 minutes Christ? Perhaps it s best to see that neither view necessarily eliminates the other. When one abandons love for Christ, love for Christ s bride cannot be far behind. In fact, when asked to describe the greatest commandment, Jesus said it was to love the Lord and the second was to love one s neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). Loving God and loving people are two sides of the same coin. Saying you love God but hating your neighbor is contradictory. In another place John wrote, The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8). Certainly, if the church had abandoned its love for Christ, it would show up in a lack of love for one another. In spite of their hard work and effort, they needed to be motivated by a love for Christ. READ: Invite a volunteer to read verse 5-7. GUIDE: Lead into discussion by inviting a volunteer to read the brief opening paragraph on PSG page 105: The church at Ephesus may have lost its first love, but Jesus gave them the solution. Twice in verse 5 He used the word repent. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 105): What does it look like for a Christian to repent? (Alternate: What are some things people do when they first become Christians but neglect as time goes by?) Revelation 2:5-7 5 Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. 6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in God s paradise. KEY WORDS: Nicolaitans (v. 6) A heretical group in the early church that taught idolatry and immorality. Tree of life (v. 7) A tree originally found in the garden of Eden designed to give access to eternal life. Return to a passionate love for Christ. Verse 5. The cure for the loveless church included two steps. First, Jesus told 108 SeSSion 8
the church to remember then how far they had fallen. They were to recall the love they had for the Lord and for one another when they first believed. The words have fallen do not indicate that they had lost their salvation, but they had gone backward in their devotion to Him. The first step in changing attitude or behavior must be admission of guilt. By remembering where they once were in their love for the Lord, they would immediately see the need for the next step. As the Ephesian Christians compared their love for the Lord with what it was when they first believed, they would naturally see the need to repent. Repentance involves a change of mind or a turning from one thing to another. Jesus encouraged the Ephesian Christians to turn from good works that were not motivated by love and do the works they did at first. Have you ever noticed that you can do the same activity with two different attitudes and get two different results? You can do the right thing out of duty and obligation alone and miss the joy of doing it out of love. One child can get bitter while caring for an aging parent because love is absent. Another can get joy out of what many think is a thankless task because the love for the parent is what motivates him. Jesus promised that if they did not repent, He would come and remove their lampstand from its place. Some inaccurately believe that this teaches He will take away a Christian s salvation if he does not repent. However, remember that the lampstand represented the church. The congregation would cease to exist because it had lost its love for the Lord, which in turn caused it to lose its love for people. God s judgment on a loveless church is necessary and actually enhances His kingdom s work. As tragic as it is when a church s lampstand is removed, it is even more tragic for a church to remain open without loving the Lord and loving people. This removal is not automatic, though. The hope is that by remembering their first love, the church will turn. Jesus used the word repent for the second time in verse five. He didn t reprimand the church to make them feel bad but to heal them. Verse 6. After chiding the church for losing its first love, Jesus again stated a positive aspect of the church. He commended them because they hated the practices of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans were a heretical group that had infiltrated the church. They had infiltrated the churches SUMMARIZE: The word repent goes far beyond a onetime experience of repentance before God. We are continually turning our backs to sin and choosing to live for Jesus instead. DO: IN ADVANCE, obtain a photo album or scrapbook filled with family photos and remembrances of happy times. Display the album. Show a few of your favorite pictures to the group. If your group is not too large, you may choose to pass the album around the group. GUIDE: Explain that pictures are often valuable to us because they help us remember happy times. Call attention to verse 5. Note that Jesus wanted the Ephesian believers to, in a sense, recall pictures in their minds of the days when He had been their first love. Remember then how far you have fallen would help them repent. 109
THE POINT Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. READ: Ask a volunteer to read the first sentence of verse 7. GUIDE: Note that here Jesus gave the key to the entire process of returning to our love for Him. Write the word LISTEN on a board or large sheet of paper. Emphasize that our lives are useless if we don t listen to what God is saying to us. When we stop listening, it s very easy to stray into a life that is apathetic toward God. Call attention to the numbered words on PSG 108. Summarize what the Spirit wants us to hear. 1. Remember. If you find yourself at a place where your love for Jesus has waned, remember the kinds of things that charged your spiritual batteries when you were walking closely with God. 2. Repent. Anything that permeates your life more than your love for Jesus no matter how good it may seem is a sin. If a sin is putting your love for Jesus on the road to ruin, repent... today! in Pergamum and Thyatira as well as the church in Ephesus. This group taught immoral practices and idolatry, probably in a similar style to the heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 31:16; 2 Pet. 2:15). In a cosmopolitan center like Ephesus, believers had to battle pagan influences that crept into the church, and this could explain how some in the church at Ephesus embraced the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Jesus was not saying to the Ephesians that love was the only thing in the church. Doctrinal purity and moral behavior mattered, but without love the church could not continue to thrive and exist. In fact, the Lord revealed that He also hated the practices of the Nicolaitans. Love does not mean turning a blind eye to wrong doctrine or behavior. Verse 7. Jesus echoed the warning to His hearers at the end of the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:9) when He said, Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. All seven letters in Revelation 2 3 include this expression. The church needs to listen to the reward for those who heed Jesus words. Jesus promised a reward to the victor. The victor obviously was the one who has remembered from where he had fallen and repented of his sin. Ultimately, a believer s victory is based on the blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:11), not human effort. Since the Holy Spirit is active in remembering and repentance, this victory is not some human achievement but a work of God in the life of a believer. The victorious one was promised a special privilege. God would grant the victor the right to eat from the tree of life. The tree of life first appeared in Genesis 2:9, where it was one of the many trees that God made available to Adam and Eve for food. However, when Adam and Eve instead ate from the one forbidden tree the tree of the knowledge of good and evil God made this tree off limits (Gen. 3:22,24) and He banned Adam and Eve from the garden. The tree of life is mentioned again in Revelation 22:2. Jesus mentioned the location of the tree with the phrase, in God s paradise. Paradise was a word that literally meant a garden. The Book of Revelation, beginning here in chapter two, portrays Jesus as the Restorer of the lost 110 SeSSion 8
paradise (Rev. 22:1-4). What a beautiful thought to think that Jesus is able to restore everything that was lost in the fall of humanity. By eating of the tree of life, death and suffering are banished and cannot touch the one who has trusted in Jesus (v. 2). Sometimes Christians and churches get caught in a routine or rut. They go through the motions rather than doing what they do out of love for Christ and love for people. True awakening involves remembering one s first love and repenting of the deeds that are done without it. 3. Return. We simply must return to Jesus if we want God to do what He desires to do in our lives conform us into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 109): How do we train ourselves to listen to what the Holy Spirit says throughout the day? (Alternate: What are some costs Ionian Confederacy. The port at Ephesus gave merchants access and benefits when it comes to listening to the Spirit?) to the coastal road running north through Smyrna to Troas, as well DO: Invite volunteers to share as an interior route to Colossae, their responses to More Hieropolis, Laodicea, and further Love To Thee, O Christ ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ The grand theater at Ephesus was built in the 3rd centurty B.C. The following excerpt is from Ephesus: A Historical Survey (Spr. 2008), which can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. The history of Ephesus is long and to the Phygian regions. As nearby ports succumbed to erosion and political intrigue, Ephesus flourished in importance and prestige. Previous articles, Lampstands in Revelation (Fall 2004), The Cities of Revelation 1 3 (Win. 1999-2000), and The Churches Around Ephesus (Fall 1979), relate to this session and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Bundles: Bible Studies (PSG, p. 109). SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We love Christ because He first loved us. His love led Him to the cross to take your sin and punishment. To love Christ in return begins with turning from sin and letting Him be your Lord and Savior. storied. Evidently established as a free Greek colony for the purpose of opening trade routes into the interior, the city dates at least to the mid-11th century B.C. Ephesus was 1 of 12 cities comprising the for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at www.lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator, or call 1-800-458-2772. Make yourself available to speak with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. 111
THE POINT Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: Return to a love for Christ that permeates all you do. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 110; see text to the right). Emphasize the importance of doing an honest appraisal of our lives to see if our love for Jesus is our top priority. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Comment that it is never too late to return to a true love for Christ, even if our love has been drifting for a very long time. He is waiting to receive us and forgive us. LIVE IT OUT Long-time Christians can let their love of Jesus wane slowly over many years in ways that may be almost imperceptible. Perhaps this session has brought on a sense that your love for Christ has slipped down the list of priorities in your life. Consider what you can do this week to start moving it back up to the top. > > Remember. Write down three things that described your relationship with Christ when your love for Jesus was the most important thing in your life. Remember that time, and ask the Lord to help you do what it takes to restore that precious fellowship you once had with Him. > > Repent. Ask God to examine your heart and to bring to your mind any desire that has become more important to you than your love for Jesus. Write down what he shows you. Confess each sin and turn from it. Begin each day by asking God to let your love for Him inform everything you think and do all day long. > > Return. Examine the priority you give to Bible study, prayer, and serving others on a daily basis. Examine your motives as well. Is your love for Christ, or something else, behind each activity? Invite a mature Christian friend to join you in this examination so you can support and encourage each other. PRAY: Lord, thank you for calling us to return to you when we stray. Strengthen us by the power of your Spirit to respond in ways that always please you. Amen. 112 SeSSion 8
My Thoughts My Group's Prayer Requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Afloat and Alone Drifting is something that happens over time. It s slow and steady, almost imperceptible. It can happen so gradually, in fact, that it goes without notice. That s the real problem with drifting spiritually you don t know it s happening until it s already happened. That s actually true in all areas of life. Drifting is bound to happen unintentionally. To continue reading Afloat and Alone from Mature Living magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles, and enter the article title in the search bar. Or use your smartphone to access the article directly by scanning the QR code. 113