Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. We are here together. In this place of hope and faith. We are here to listen. To learn. To grow. We have a gift. A gift of words. Words that guide us. Words that inspire us. Words that challenge us. They are words from the Bible. Our guide. Our inspiration. Our challenge.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people." We laugh, but we know it's true. We know it's hard. But we also know it's important.

Today, we will look at words from the book of Revelation. Words that tell us about love. About forgetting love. About remembering love. "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 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." (Revelation 2:4-5)

These words are not easy. They are not simple. They are not comfortable. But they are important. They are necessary. They are true. We will talk about the basics. The foundation of our faith. The importance of God's word in our lives. And how we can use that word to overcome struggles.

Let's pray. Dear God, we thank you for this day. For this place. For these people. We thank you for your word. Help us to understand it. To live it. To share it. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rediscovering the Basic Foundation

In our text we find a call to return to our first love. This is a call to go back to the basics, to the foundation of our faith. It's a call to remember what it was like when we first fell in love with Jesus. When our faith was fresh, vibrant, and full of life. When we were passionate about our relationship with God and eager to learn more about Him. This call to return to our first love about rediscovering the essence of our faith. It's about rekindling that passion and enthusiasm that we once had for the Lord.

The first love mentioned in Revelation is more commitment than emotion. We must be putting God first in our lives and making Him the center of everything we do. It's about living out our faith in a way that reflects our love for God and our desire to serve Him.

In our return to our first love, we also return to the basic teachings of our faith. We return to the truths that we first learned when we became followers of Jesus. We return to the principles that guide our lives and shape our decisions. We return to the values that define who we are and what we stand for.

When we return to our first love, we also return to a sense of purpose and mission. But what is our mission and purpose? To glorify God and enjoy him forever. One way we do this is through our worship, praising God for who He is and what He has done. We return to a sense of gratitude, thankfulness, fulfillment, and satisfaction.

Recap/Transition. The call to return to our first love is a call to return to the basics of our faith. It's a call to remember, to rekindle, to renew, and to revive. It's a call to rediscover the basic foundation of our faith and to live out that faith in a way that honors God and blesses others.

Understanding the Importance of the Word

In Revelation, we find a powerful message ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO