Main Idea: It is not enough for a church to simply be doctrinally pure, she must also love the Lord and love what the Lord loves.

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

The Importance of Doctrinal Faithfulness Within the Church

• 2, 3 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
  • Colossians 1:28
  • Galatians 1:8, 9
  • 2 Timothy 4:3–5

The Necessity of Love Within the Church

• 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
  • Matthew 22:34–40
  • John 13:34, 35
  • 1 John 4:7–11
• 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:1–3
• 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
  • Romans 12:9
  • Proverbs 6:16–19
  • Proverbs 8:13
• 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

So What?

• Are we a church marked by love?
  • Ephesians 4:13–16