Ephesus: A church that lost its love

Written By Justin Spurgin

Lessons from the Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1–7

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
 — Revelation 2:4–5

This week, we began a new sermon series on the letters to the seven churches found in Revelation 2–3. These are not just historical footnotes but personal messages from Jesus to His church. Each one holds both encouragement and correction. Each one exposes something we need to hear.

We started this week with the church in Ephesus. Outwardly, they were strong. Inwardly, something had shifted. But what Jesus had to say to them still speaks to us today.

Motion Without Devotion

If you had walked into the church of Ephesus in the first century, you probably would’ve left impressed. They had sound doctrine, they worked hard, they stood firm under pressure, and they knew how to spot false teachers and call out what was wrong. They were committed. Faithful. Active.

But Jesus, who sees not only what we do, but why we do it, said something sobering to them:

“You’ve left your first love.”

In other words, they were doing everything right. But something had gone wrong in their hearts.

It’s a warning that should still stop us in our tracks today. Because if it happened to them, it can happen to us.

What Is “First Love”?

First love isn’t about a spiritual high. It’s not something that fades with time like a honeymoon phase. It’s a deep, personal devotion to Jesus—a love that overflows in obedience, worship, and joy.

It’s the kind of love that:

  • Turns off the phone to be present with God or others.

  • Pays attention to someone most people overlook.

  • Forgives before being asked.

  • Chooses humility in a conversation instead of needing to win.

  • Says “no” to something good to say “yes” to time with Jesus.

  • Asks a waiter or coworker how they can be prayed for.

  • Volunteers for something that doesn’t benefit them personally.

  • Confesses sin quickly instead of hiding it.

  • Keeps a promise when it would be easier not to.

  • Helps someone in need even when it’s inconvenient.

  • Prays for missionaries or unreached people groups by name.

  • Serves in secret with no desire to be noticed.

  • Honors others in speech, even behind closed doors.

This kind of love isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something we return to.

So here’s a question worth asking yourself: Do I love Jesus right now more than I ever have? If not, what changed? And how can I return?

How do we return?

The good news is that Jesus, in His kindness, always gives us a clear path back to our first love: Remember, Repent, and Return.

1. Remember

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen…”

Think back. When was your love for Jesus at its most vibrant? What were the rhythms of your life back then? What filled your prayers, your thoughts, your days? Sometimes spiritual renewal begins not by doing something new, but by remembering something old.

2. Repent

Repentance isn’t just for the moment we first believe, but a daily posture. And sometimes we need to repent of good things that have become ultimate things. We may need to confess not only our sin, but also our tendency to replace fellowship with God with work for God.

Repentance is a gift. It’s not just turning away from what’s wrong; it’s turning back toward the One who welcomes us.

3. Return

“Do the works you did at first.”

Go back to the basics. The quiet, faithful practices that once shaped your walk with Christ. They still matter:

  • Share the gospel… not because you have to, but because He’s worth talking about.

  • Read Scripture and pray without trying to impress anyone—not on stage, not online, not for spiritual credit.

  • Give in secret.

  • Serve someone who cannot repay you.

  • Show compassion to the poor, visit the lonely, pray for the nations.

  • Do the little things you used to do when your faith was alive and personal.

Don’t underestimate the impact of simple, faithful obedience. It may be exactly what God uses to reawaken your love.

Action Steps

If you’re feeling the pull to return, but don’t know how, here are two practical places to start:

1. Pick One “First Work” to Reclaim

Choose one of the “first works” listed above and commit to it this week… not as a performance, but as a way to renew your heart. Maybe it’s reading a Psalm before your phone. Maybe it’s calling someone who’s hurting. Start small, but sincerely.

2. Write a Prayer of Return

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just honest. You can say, “Jesus, I’ve grown cold. I want to love You again.” Use your own words. Write it out in a journal or pray it aloud, and let it be a turning point.

Dive Deeper

Here are a few ways to reflect more deeply in the days ahead:

 Scriptures for Meditation:

  • 1 Corinthians 13 – A portrait of love in action

  • Luke 7:36–50 – A woman who “loved much” because she was forgiven much

  • John 15:1–17 – Abiding in love

A Poem for Reflection:

Shared in Sunday’s message, this poem by Martha Snell Nicholson gives voice to a heart that wants to return while there’s still time.

When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ,
And He shows me His plan for me,
The plan of my life as it might have been
Had He had His way, and I see—

How I blocked Him here, and I checked Him there,
And I would not yield my will—
Will there be grief in my Savior’s eyes,
Grief, though He loves me still?

He would have me rich, and I stand there poor,
Stripped of all but His grace,
While memory runs like a hunted thing
Down the paths I cannot retrace.

Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break
With the tears that I cannot shed;
I shall cover my face with my empty hands,
I shall bow my uncrowned head.

Lord, of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy hand;
Take me, and break me, and mold me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.

A Song to Sing:

Discussion Questions

These questions can help carry Sunday’s message into your home or group!

For Families:

  • What do you think it means to love Jesus? Not just believe in Him, but really love Him?

    • How can we show that love in our everyday life?

  • Can someone do the right things like go to church, read the Bible, or be kind, and still not love God? Why do you think that happens sometimes?

  • Was there ever a time when you felt really close to Jesus? What made that time special?

  • What are some things we sometimes care more about than God without meaning to? What can help us fix our eyes back on Him?

  • What is one thing our family could do this week, not because we have to, but because we love Jesus?

For Friends/Small Groups:

  • Do you think you love Jesus more now than you ever have? Why or why not?

  • Have you ever experienced a season where your faith was full of activity but low on affection? What led you to notice, and what helped you return?

  • What’s one “good thing” in your life that might be competing with your love for Jesus? How do we discern when something good has become too important?

  • Jesus says to “do the works you did at first.” What were your “first works”—the simple, joyful things you did when your faith was new and sincere? Which of those could you return to this week?

  • How can we, as a group, help each other keep our love for Jesus strong, not just our knowledge or service?

  • If Jesus addressed a letter to our group the way He did to the church in Ephesus, what might He commend us for? What might He correct?

In Conclusion

The message to Ephesus is not just a warning but an invitation. Jesus is not standing at a distance with a clipboard. He’s calling us to come close again.

Wherever you are, however far you’ve drifted, you can return. And when you do, you’ll find Him waiting—with love that never waivered.

Justin Spurgin
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