The Assimilated Church

The readings this week will get us into the book of Revelation’s apocalyptic imagery. This imagery speaks to God’s wrath and the seriousness of God’s intent to punish evil and restore the world. This stark and startling picture of God’s hatred of sin serves as a warning to the “assimilated church” to take sin seriously and flee from it

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Revelation 2:1-7

For more help use this Bible Study method

You will find the Sermon Notes for today’s message here.

REFLECTION

First Loves Rekindled
by Elaine Pierce

Do you remember your first crush? How you could think about nothing else but this new love in your life? How all you wanted to do was spend time with him?  How you hung on his every word, and wanted only to please him? How his eyes lit up when you walked into the room?

Of course you do! You also know why the phrase ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ is true, as that intense first love flame doesn’t burn as brightly as the days and the years go by. As you find yourself irritated with how he doesn’t squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom, or how he tells the same story over and over, or how he doesn’t seem to listen to what you have to say. [Note: in all seriousness, these are just random examples, and I may think them about my wonderful spouse, I recognize how very blessed I am to be married to a guy I still love a lot, despite MY MANY flaws and imperfections!]

John encourages the church at Ephesus as he points out their deeds, their hard work and their perseverance. He points out that they hate the Nicolaitans (an off-shoot sect who had a warped view of sex and favored eating meat sacrificed to idols, among other heresies) just as he does. But then he says this:

“Yes, I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love...If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (v.4-5). “

Their love for Jesus had gone stale. They no longer had that passion they had when they first became believers. John longs for them to regain that first love. And today, we, too, must ask the Lord to give us a heart that longs for him.

I took a walk today in Walhalla Ravine, which is right outside my door. I happened on a fawn frolicking in the creek, staying close to his mother, but clearly delighting in jumping through the water (I wanted to join him – it’s hot today.)  I was reminded of Psalm 42:1-2

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Lord, help me to rekindle my first love for you. I have followed you, faithfully and not so faithfully, for many years, and right now, I’m weary. I’m tired of this pandemic, and I’m afraid for the future. Yet, fear and anger will only drive a wedge between you and me. Help me now to return to my first love, and to remember every day that this is the day that YOU have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - SUNDAY

SCRIPTURES - Pray the Scriptures. Some examples are Psalm 91:1-15 / Psalm 121:5-8 / John 14:27 / Philippians 4:6-7 / 2 Timothy 1:7

The Church at Ephesus

The church in Ephesus is both commended and warned. As you read, look for what is praise-worthy about this congregation. What is challenged in this congregation? How do you relate to the church in Ephesus?

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Revelation 2:1-7

For more help use this Bible Study method

REFLECTION

The Church at Ephesus

By Diane Ward

The Apostle John is old now, a slight figure walking through jagged rocks on a beach. He is in exile, socially distanced as we are now in this epic pandemic. I dare say what John experienced as a measure of time and memory is petabytes distant from our isolation of 2020.

As Jesus was nearing his last breath, he asked John to look after his mother. Soon after, John and Mary went to Ephesus and lived there 8 years until John was exiled by Roman Emperor Domitian to Patmos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea.

Jesus commended the church at Ephesus. Through the ministry of Paul, it was firmly established and spiritually discerning in keeping with the Word of God. It was one of the largest churches of New Testament times. The Ephesians had endurance, but their love for Christ and for one another was not what it had been, they had forsaken their first love. Despite Jesus’ commendation, this serious problem afflicted the church. They needed to repent, for a church without love will die.

Jesus loves his church and all who belong to him in faith. He knows when our love and zeal for him grows weak, when we are persecuted and world-weary. He calls us to look to him, to remember his mercy and grace, to remain focused through the lens of his love.

When our love and passion for God and for others chills, we must sharpen our focus on the Word, relating to each other in love, quick to forgive, willing to defer to each other, demonstrating that love is at work in our church.  “Holy Spirit renew our passion with fresh warm love for Jesus, for our church and the peripheral community we are called to serve.”

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” (Helen H. Lemmel)

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - TUESDAY

TRUTH In the midst of all the messages being heard, pray for accurate information to drown out false reporting and click-bait tactics.