Revelation Series #5: When Love Grows Cold: The Church That Forgot Its First Love

"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first." - Revelation 2:4

If you had visited the church in Ephesus, you probably would have been impressed.

It was active, disciplined, doctrinally careful, and morally serious.

Its members worked hard.

They endured hardship.

They refused to tolerate false apostles.

They had not grown weary in defending the truth.

From the outside, this church appeared strong.

Yet Jesus saw something no one else could see.

Their hands were still working.

Their doctrine was still correct.

But their hearts were no longer burning as they once had.

Revelation Series #4: Jesus Walks Among His Churches

"And among the lampstands was someone like a son of man." - Revelation 1:13

Many believers imagine Jesus as far away.

We picture Him seated on a throne somewhere beyond the heavens, ruling the universe from a great distance while we struggle through the dust, pressure, disappointment, and pain of life below.

We believe He sees us.

But sometimes we wonder whether He is truly near.

Revelation gives us a different picture.

The risen Christ is not standing at a distance from His church.

He is walking among the lampstands.