“Finding The Perfect Church”

 “The Loveless Church”

 

June 10, 2007

Pastor Bob See

 

 

“The Loveless Church”

 

 

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 men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
                                                                                                           
Revelations 2:1-2  NIV

 

 

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.  Yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which 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.
                                                                                                           
Revelations 2:3-5  NIV

 

 

But you have this in your favor:  You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
                                                                                                            Revelations 2:6-7  NIV

 

 

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.  I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
                                                                                                           
Revelations 2:2  NIV

 

 

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.                                                                                                                  Revelations 2:3  NIV

 

 

But you have this in your favor:  You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

                                                                                                             Revelations 2:6  NIV

 

 

Yet I hold this against you:  You have forsaken your first love.

                                                                                                            Revelations 2:4  NIV

 

 

 

 

 

CHRISTIANITY IS A LOVE-DRIVEN FAITH

 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

                                                                                                            John 3:16  NIV

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

                                                                                                            Romans 5:8  NIV

 

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

                                                                                                            Galatians 2:20  NIV

 

…and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

                                                                                                            Ephesians 5:2  NIV

 

 

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

                                                                                                            Revelations 1:5  NIV

 

 

This is how God showed his love among us:  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love:  not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

                                                                                                            1 John 4:9-10  NIV

 

 

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.                                                                                                                                                                    1 John 4:7-8  NIV

 

 

“A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”                                                                

                                                                                                            John 13:34-35  NIV

 

 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

 

“My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you.”                                                              

                                                                                                            John 15:9-10, 12  NIV

 

 

And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.                                                                                                                                      1 Corinthians 13:13  NIV

 

 

Remember the height from which 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.                                                                                                                               Revelations 2:5  NIV

 

 

REMEMBER

 

REPENT

 

RETURN

 

 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.                                                                                                                                     Revelations 2:7  NIV