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Grace World Outreach Church
The Seven Churches: Letter One
Pastor Daniel K Norris
Locations & Times
Grace World Outreach Church
20366 Cortez Blvd, Brooksville, FL 34601, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Greetings from Grace World
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these requests on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at
http://www.graceworldag.org
https://www.facebook.com/graceworldag
https://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
Thank you for joining us today at Grace World. Whether you are joining us in person or watching online, we are so glad you are here! It's our prayer that you discover life in all its fullness.
If you have a prayer request, you can send that to us here at https://www.graceworldag.org/prayer-requests
Every week we place these requests on the altar of the church and our entire team lifts up each request by name.
We'd love to hear from you and be a friend. Connect with us online at
http://www.graceworldag.org
https://www.facebook.com/graceworldag
https://www.instagram.com/graceworldag
Letter One: Return to First Love
The Seven Churches Series
Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown truth, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way
apokalypsis (greek) to disclose, to make fully known
What is being revealed or disclosed?
The Seven Churches Series
Revelation - a surprising and previously unknown truth, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way
apokalypsis (greek) to disclose, to make fully known
What is being revealed or disclosed?
Fix This Thought Firmly In Your Mind: Revelation is about Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Some Important Background:
Written By:
* The Apostle John
* about 95 AD
* Written 30 years after the great persecution of Emperor Nero
* John is exiled on an Island called Patmos
* 25 years after Jerusalem is seized by Rome and the Temple is destroyed
Key To Remember: This is a time of great tribulation politically, culturally, and spiritually
Written To:
* 7 Real Churches
* Issues Facing The Church: Immorality, Sexual Sin, Paganism, Apathy, Division, and Persecution
* The Temptation is to deny Christ and join the Roman spirit of the age
The First Letter
To Ephesus - The Apostolic Church
* John was an elder in this church
* Mary, the mother of Jesus, attended.
* It was planted by Paul and later pastored by Timothy
* Ephesus was a port city and major hub for commerce in the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is important strategically to Rome.
* The congregation at Ephesus is caught up in controversy over acceptable and unacceptable forms of Christian worship. A major point of contention is who could claim the title “apostle.” A second controversy is the teachings of the Nicolaitans, who encourage compromise with roman pagan practices.
THE GREETING
Some Important Background:
Written By:
* The Apostle John
* about 95 AD
* Written 30 years after the great persecution of Emperor Nero
* John is exiled on an Island called Patmos
* 25 years after Jerusalem is seized by Rome and the Temple is destroyed
Key To Remember: This is a time of great tribulation politically, culturally, and spiritually
Written To:
* 7 Real Churches
* Issues Facing The Church: Immorality, Sexual Sin, Paganism, Apathy, Division, and Persecution
* The Temptation is to deny Christ and join the Roman spirit of the age
The First Letter
To Ephesus - The Apostolic Church
* John was an elder in this church
* Mary, the mother of Jesus, attended.
* It was planted by Paul and later pastored by Timothy
* Ephesus was a port city and major hub for commerce in the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is important strategically to Rome.
* The congregation at Ephesus is caught up in controversy over acceptable and unacceptable forms of Christian worship. A major point of contention is who could claim the title “apostle.” A second controversy is the teachings of the Nicolaitans, who encourage compromise with roman pagan practices.
THE GREETING
THE COMMENDATION
I know your works...
* a serving church
* a sacrificing church
* a steadfast church
* a separated church
* a spiritual church
* a suffering church
* a strong church
If you are looking for a church with good programs and ministries… it would be hard to beat this church... But Jesus judges on a different scale
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
... For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
THE CORRECTION
* a serving church
* a sacrificing church
* a steadfast church
* a separated church
* a spiritual church
* a suffering church
* a strong church
If you are looking for a church with good programs and ministries… it would be hard to beat this church... But Jesus judges on a different scale
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
... For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
THE CORRECTION
It’s human nature to obsess over WHAT we do for the Lord, but Jesus cares about WHY we do it.
Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
LOW GRADE BURN OUT:
When the functions of life continue, but the joy of life is gone. ~ Carey Neiuwhof, At Your Best
It happens when you think WHAT YOU DO and HOW MUCH YOU DO is more important than WHO YOU ARE and WHY YOU DO IT.
Six guaranteed ways to burn out
* Run and never walk
* Trade your MVPs (Most Valuable Priorities)
* Ignoring your emotional needs
* Give your time to the wrong people or things
* Say Yes to everything
* Believe you are the answer to every problem
LABOR is no SUBSTITUTE for LOVE
What we do for the Lord matters, but why we do it matters more.
THE COUNSEL
Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV) On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
LOW GRADE BURN OUT:
When the functions of life continue, but the joy of life is gone. ~ Carey Neiuwhof, At Your Best
It happens when you think WHAT YOU DO and HOW MUCH YOU DO is more important than WHO YOU ARE and WHY YOU DO IT.
Six guaranteed ways to burn out
* Run and never walk
* Trade your MVPs (Most Valuable Priorities)
* Ignoring your emotional needs
* Give your time to the wrong people or things
* Say Yes to everything
* Believe you are the answer to every problem
LABOR is no SUBSTITUTE for LOVE
What we do for the Lord matters, but why we do it matters more.
THE COUNSEL
1) Remember…
- Not THAT you've fallen, but from WHERE you've fallen
God does not condemn… Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
His discipline is always to heal, not hurt.
2) Repent…
Metanoeo - to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness
3) Return…
* Return to Worship
* Return to Word
* Return to Witness
THE CHARGE
- Not THAT you've fallen, but from WHERE you've fallen
God does not condemn… Romans 8:1 (ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
His discipline is always to heal, not hurt.
2) Repent…
Metanoeo - to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness
3) Return…
* Return to Worship
* Return to Word
* Return to Witness
THE CHARGE
Conquer - To win the victory over
Put to death this notion that you can substitute labor for love.
Put to death this notion that you can substitute labor for love.
Ask... Holy Spirit what are you saying to me?