Regaining Our Purpose Series

I wish to begin by sharing a verse from the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 29:18 wisely cautions, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV). The American Standard Version says it like this: “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint.” Vision, or rather purpose, establishes the “restraint” or “parameters” in which God’s people can move forward in effectiveness. If a church has lost its purpose, then that congregation will be deprived of direction and momentum.

A lack of clear vision and purpose will result in confusion and shattered enthusiasm, and the abandonment of a church’s God-ordained calling and mission; and as we will soon discover in this morning’s message, a lack of clear purpose can lead to the abandonment of a church’s first love. Bill Hybels says that “a clear vision provides a compelling picture of the future that enables us to say, ‘We know our destination. Nothing will lure us off the path from here to there. We will not be distracted’.”(1)

Understanding our church’s purpose will enable us to stay on the right path – or perhaps, even return to the right path from where we have fallen – in order to remain faithful and fruitful in our kingdom efforts. If we discover that we have gone astray, then hopefully we will understand how to reacquire our church’s purpose and effectiveness, and then start working toward that direction.

The Church Was Doing Things (vv. 2-3)

2 I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

Here we find Christ’s words addressed to the church of Ephesus. “Ephesus was an ancient Greek city [and seaport] on the coast of Ionia, [located about 2 miles] southwest of present-day Selçuk in the Izmir Province of Turkey . . . According to estimates, Ephesus had a population of 33,600 to 56,000 people . . . making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas” (Wikipedia).(2)

“The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis [or Diana], completed around 550 B.C., [and] one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” The Apostle Paul once “became embroiled in a dispute with some artisans, whose livelihood depended on selling statuettes of Artemis in the Temple of Artemis” (cf. Acts 19:23-41, Wikipedia).(3)

Despite its pagan influence, Ephesus “was an important center for Early Christianity . . . Paul lived in Ephesus, working with the congregation and apparently organizing missionary activity into the [remote regions].” “Between 53 and 57 A.D. [Paul wrote] the letter of 1 Corinthians from Ephesus.” It’s also thought that “the gospel of John might have been written in Ephesus, around 90-100 A.D” (Wikipedia).(4)

Jesus gave a commendation to the church of Ephesus for its Christian influence, pointing out some of the good things the congregation had done. The church worked really hard with diligence and patience. The members despised and confronted those who would harm the church with false doctrine; and they did their very best at making sure their labors were done in order to honor Christ.

In applying this example in today’s time, the church of Ephesus represents a congregation where its members have been attending church faithfully, volunteering in different departments and outreaches of the church, diligently teaching mature Christians; and also defending the church against false doctrine by correcting those who would spread destructive heresies. The members’ speech would always be seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6) in edifying both each other and the Lord, Jesus Christ. But is this really enough?

The Church Had Lost Its Purpose (v.4)

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

At first glance, the church of Ephesus appears to be a good congregation. The members seemed to be faithful; but Jesus inferred here that something was terribly wrong. So, what was the matter? Allow me to begin elaborating by sharing an illustration:

I once pastored a church where the people had no enthusiasm for ministry. They were happy sitting on the sidelines, just listening to the pastor preach a sermon on Sunday. They would then tell me, “Don’t worry that we’re not doing much and that we’re not growing. All God expects of us is faithfulness.”

Rick Warren elaborates, “What is faithfulness? Usually we define it in terms of beliefs. We think that by holding orthodox beliefs we are fulfilling Christ’s command to be faithful. We call ourselves ‘defenders of the faith.’ But Jesus meant far more than adherence to beliefs when He used the term. He defined faithfulness in terms of behavior – [a behavior that’s willing] to take risks in order to be fruitful” (p. 64, The Purpose Driven Church, Zondervan, 1995).