SUMMARY: Dear Churches…
OVERVIEW: Jesus encourages and rebukes four churches.
BIG IDEA: Turn back to God.
KEY VERSE: Revelation 2:3 (Jesus to the church in Ephesus)
You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
IF GOD WROTE YOU A LETTER
The best motivation for doing good is love. When you experience the extraordinary love I have for you, you will want to express your thanks. The best way to do that is by the way you live and the way you love others.
Occasionally, you will grow weary of doing good. Feelings of excitement you once had for me can be doused by cold waves of ritual, difficult times, or comfortable living. When your faith feels ordinary and useless, remember where I first found you. Remember when you first acknowledged me, how your mind opened to new understanding and possibilities, how your soul found life and freedom, and how we connected in our special way.
Work hard. Persevere. Resist temptation. Guard against false teaching. But let all of that spring out of the love we have for one another, the personal relationship we enjoy. First, seek me, enjoy me, and love me. If you’ve strayed away, turn back! Then follow where I lead.
NEXT STEP
Call a Christian friend. Ask him or her to share how he or she came to know Christ. Talk about when you first followed Jesus and how life changed. Let these reminders of God’s love motivate you to love him with your life.
LYRIC VIDEO