The city of Ephesus, the “Light of Asia.”

• Ephesus was a captivating city, called Luminasia in Latin, the “Light of Asia” and was highly regarded for many reasons, one of which was having the greatest harbor in Asia Minor. Four highways connected Ephesus on an established trade route. Ephesus was also a prominent religious center, being the hub for the worship of Artemis.
• The church at Ephesus was regarded by some as “the leading church in the province of Asia.” Because of its size and dedication this church became a relevant threat to the local idol-making industry. The Ephesian church diligently pursued doctrinal purity, testing those who claimed to be authoritative teachers and leaders, and not tolerating those making false claims.

The Church at Ephesus …

• The church at Ephesus was built on a strong, biblical infrastructure, having been founded and instructed by what sounds like a Who’s Who list of famous first century Christian leaders. Some of the best of the best, including the Apostle Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy, Tychicus and eventually the Apostle John.
• What a resume! By any human measurement or observation, right up until the time of this  letter addressed to them in Revelation, this appears to be a good, strong church. In fact, if you were to move to Ephesus around AD 95 and were looking for a new church home, you would be thrilled to find this church.
• Their commitment to faithfulness and duty was reflected in the words of Christ himself. They worked hard and patiently endured. They exposed fake church leaders, endured suffering and hardship for Jesus’ sake and did not grow weary in well-doing.
• This was one excellent church! And these people had it together.
• Except … it wasn’t and they didn’t. The church was flawed and unsound and was, in fact, in danger of Christ removing its gospel witness. Why? How could they appear to be so focused and on target and biblical and together and yet be so far off that Christ himself would threaten to level judgment if they didn’t repent? Why?
• Because in the busyness of doing church, and caught up in the importance of their agendas and programs, and in working hard at fighting the bad guys, they had forgotten what was most important.
• And so this church, which by all appearances was faithful and true, was on the brink of having the light of its testimony removed by Jesus himself.

Message: “First Love—Remember & Repent!”
Message Text: Revelation 2:1-7