REVELATION - PART 2
LEADERS NOTES:
- If you didn’t already, go back and watch the section of the Bible Project introduction to revelation that covers chapters 1-3 (included in last weeks study).
- This week we are covering the section in which Jesus dictates letters to 7 churches on a route a courier may have taken. Rather than reading the entire section we will focus on the first letter to Ephesus which samples the words of encouragement, the call to persevere as well as the warnings that are present throughout the letters.
- For those who would like to go a bit deeper into this section, consider the following options:
1) For those who are meeting in single gendered groups, you might want to dig a bit deeper into the warning to the church in Thyatira (2:18-29) That Jez spent some time on in the sermon on Sunday.. Perhaps reading this section as well and discussing the ways in which the church is either enticed or co-erced to compromising on a biblical sexual ethic.
2) After spending some time on the Ephesians churches, Divide the remaining 6 churches among pairs, small groups and have each group read, discuss and report back to the wider group: a) What is being warned against, and b) what encouragement is given.
READ REVELATION 2:1-7
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
REFLECT & DISCUSS:
1. What traits does Jesus commend in the church in Ephesus?
2. When you are in a season of hardship or perseverance, do you tend to think of Jesus seeing that, noticing that and seeking to encourage you in the midst of it? Why or why not?
3. The Ephesian church is warned against forsaking the love they had at first.. have you seen a tendency in yourself to slowly over time be less attentive towards your ‘love’ for God?
4. It is interesting that the Ephesians are known for; hard work, deeds, perseverance, disdaining wickedness and upholding truth, and yet have forsaken love. Have you ever had a season of life, in which you were doing things for God, or living a good life, or being ‘right’ and yet didn’t have a personal love for God?
5. What are the Ephesians commanded to do in light of their lost love? What might this look like for us were we to discover that we were lacking in love for God?
6. What encouragement or motivation is given to those who continue to persevere? Do you tend to see the promises of restored paradise in the presence of God as a motivation to persevere?
APPLY: In Smaller Groups if needed.
At the moment, What is one area that you feel Jesus would be wanting to encourage you in?
What is one area that you need to hear the warning to not forsake a love for God?
SHARE AND PRAY