Followers of Jesus should bring light to the world, but certain behaviors and attitudes can stand in the way. What stands in the way? This message shares both hindrances and the solution to shining.
Sunday Questions ~ April 26, 2020
sHine: Hindrance (Part 2)
~Opening Question: Pastor Nathan shared a story about a time Kelsey found herself in the dark. Do you have a story about a time you found yourself in darkness and needed light?
~Digging Deeper: Today’s passage is Revelation 2:1-7. We have also just finished a study on the book of Ephesians. This passage was written to the Ephesian church. Let’s look at the direct connections between these two.
~Read 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Can you think back to the weeks we spent in Ephesians and remember what the church had been doing to live well in its first love?
Look to these passages for suggestions of how the Ephesian church loved:
1:15-16
3:16-19
4:2
4:15-16
5:1-2
5:25
When you think about your first love for Christ, what comes to mind?
~Read Revelation 2:5a. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
From what height had they fallen? Read Ephesians 2:1-10 to find a possible answer for this question.
The Ephesian people began by following a different ruler of a great height. Who was it? Why was this a bad choice?
BUT because of verse 4-5 they were seated somewhere new. Where was this?
Why were they placed there?
What is the result of this action? See verse 10.
Have you come to realize a good work God has called you to do?
~Read 2:5b If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
If a lampstand is removed, what remains? Darkness.
Had the Ephesians experienced living in darkness?
Read 5:8-16
What characterizes the deeds of darkness? Read verses 3-7.
What characterizes deeds of light? Read verse 9.
If you were to give an inventory of your life, which characterizes you most? Darkness or Light?
~Thinking over these discussion passages, how does forgetting ones first love end up in the consequence of having ones lampstand removed?
Revelation 1:5 gives us a big “If.” …If you do not repent…
What step is required to keep the light shining bright?
Ephesians 1:7-8a 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us.
Is there anything you need to repent of and ask God to remove in order to allow your lampstand to SHINE bright?