Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions in your faith—doing all the right things, but something still feels off? In this week’s sermon, “Renewed Love: Returning to Our First Love,” we dive into Revelation 2:1-7, where Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus. They were known for their hard work and endurance, but they lost their passion for Him.

This message challenges us to examine our hearts. Jesus calls us not just to action, but to renew our love for Him. He sees our efforts, but more importantly, He longs for our hearts. If your faith has become more of a routine than a relationship, this sermon will guide you back to what matters most: a vibrant love for Jesus.

Join us as we explore how to rekindle that passion, remember where we started, repent of our drift, and embrace His grace that promises eternal life to those who return. Let’s rediscover the joy of loving Jesus wholeheartedly.

Introduction

Well, have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions in your faith? Like you’re doing all the right things—attending church, serving in ministry, reading your Bible—but something feels off? There’s an emptiness, a lack of passion that you just can’t quite shake. If that’s you, I want you to know you’re not alone. Today, we’re continuing our series: Renewed: A Journey of Spiritual Revival.

We’ve explored how God renews our faith, how we can stand, and how we can trust in His power. But today, we need to talk about something that cuts even deeper: our love for Jesus. The title of today’s message is Renewed Love: Returning to Our First Love. We’ll be diving into Revelation chapter 2, verses 1 through 7.

In this passage, Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus—a church that was doing everything right, but they had lost their passion for it. Here’s the main idea that I want you to take away today: Jesus calls us to renew our love for Him, promising eternal life to those who return.

Let’s read together today’s passage, Revelation 2:1–7:

“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. 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. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 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. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 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.”

A Story of Lost Love

Let me share a story with you. Imagine a couple that has been married for decades. When they first got together, their love was vibrant. They wrote love letters, planned surprise dates, and spent hours just talking. But as the years went on, life happened—kids, jobs, and responsibilities filled their days. They still cared for each other, but one day they realized they had become more like roommates rather than soulmates. The spark was gone. They were doing all the right things: raising their family, working hard, and taking care of the home. But they had lost their first love.

Sound familiar?

Our Love for Jesus

Isn’t that often what happens in our walk with Jesus? We get busy. We fill our lives with activity, and somewhere along the way, our love grows cold. The Ephesian church experienced this too. They were a church that worked hard to discern truth and resisted evil. But Jesus looked at them and said, “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” He saw their past actions and looked into their hearts.

Today, He’s looking into our hearts too.

As we dive into this passage, let’s ask ourselves: Where is my love for Jesus today? Has my faith become more of a routine rather than a relationship? Because Jesus is calling us back. He’s offering us a chance to renew our love for Him. And He’s not just demanding more effort. No, He’s inviting us into grace—a grace that promises eternal life to those who return.

Are we ready to listen to what He has to say?

I. Jesus Sees Our Deeds

Our first point this morning is that Jesus sees our deeds. Jesus sees everything we do. Isn’t that both comforting and convicting?

In Revelation 2:2, Jesus begins by saying, “I know your works, your toil, and your patient endurance.” The church in Ephesus was known for working hard, holding fast to sound doctrine, and persevering through trials. They didn’t tolerate evil, and they tested those who claimed to be apostles. They were busy, active, and diligent.

And Jesus saw it all.

Imagine a soldier standing guard—vigilant, unmovable. Rain, heat, exhaustion—nothing sways him from his post. That’s what the Ephesian church looked like. They stood firm for truth, worked tirelessly, endured challenges, and didn’t grow weary. Jesus recognized their efforts and acknowledged their hard work.

Now, I think we need to hear this because sometimes we feel like our work goes unnoticed. We serve, we sacrifice, we push through hardships, and it can feel like no one sees or understands what we’re doing. But here’s the truth: Jesus sees your labor. He knows every prayer you’ve prayed for your family, every hour you’ve volunteered in ministry, every moment you’ve stood up for what is right. He sees it all. Let that sink in.

Jesus isn’t blind to our efforts. He knows when we labor in love and when we labor out of duty, and His grace meets us right where we are. We don’t earn His love by what we do, but it’s comforting to know that Jesus acknowledges our work. He sees when we strive to be faithful, even when our hearts might be running on empty.

That’s grace.

He doesn’t dismiss us because we’ve grown weary. No, He meets us in our weariness. But here’s where it gets real. The Ephesian church was doing a lot of things right. They were active, busy, discerning, and steadfast. If they were around today, they might be the church full of great programs and sound doctrine, where the Bible is preached, and they have a reputation for always being faithful.

And yet, as Jesus looks at them, He’s about to reveal a problem. But before He gets there, He stops to recognize their deeds.

So, where does this land for us? Are we working hard in our faith? Are we enduring, serving, and standing up for truth? If you are, know this: Jesus sees you. He sees your commitments—the Bible study, your effort to serve others, your stand for righteousness in a world that often turns its back on Him.

And He loves you—not for what you do, but because of who He is. His grace covers your labor. But we must also prepare our hearts for what He might say next, because He sees more than just our deeds.

II. Jesus Misses Our Love

That brings us to our second point: Jesus misses our love. He identifies the heart of the issue—we can do all the right things and still miss what matters most. Jesus looks at the church in Ephesus, a church that worked hard and stood steadfast in the truth, and He says, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

That’s a tough word to hear, isn’t it? The Ephesians were doing the work, standing strong, but somewhere along the way, their love for Jesus had grown cold. Their relationship with Him had become a matter of routine rather than a vibrant, passionate connection.

Think about that. These were people who had once been on fire for God. They had embraced the gospel with joy, poured themselves into ministry, and endured persecution. But over time, something happened. They became so focused on their work for God that they lost sight of their relationship with God.

Their faith had turned into a checklist: – Serve the church? Check. – Avoid false teaching? Check. – Stand against evil? Double check.

Yet in all their checking of boxes, they had missed the most important thing—love.

Picture a teacher who’s been in the classroom for 30 years. When they started, they were full of enthusiasm—staying late to create engaging lessons and connecting with each student personally. You could see the passion in their eyes as they talked about the subject. They didn’t just teach; they inspired. Fast forward to today: they still arrive on time, they deliver their lessons accurately, they grade every paper. But that spark in their eye is gone. They’re going through the motions, ticking the boxes, but the passion that once inspired students has faded.

That’s what Jesus sees when He looks at the Ephesian church. And if we’re honest, sometimes that’s what He sees when He looks at us. We’re still doing the right things, but where’s the love? Where’s the passion? Where’s the joy in our relationship with Him?

Jesus is saying, “That’s what’s happened between us.” He sees all the ways we serve, all the right things we do, but He’s not just after our deeds—He wants our hearts. And here’s the beauty of His words: they come from a place of love. This isn’t a harsh rebuke; it’s the voice of a Savior who misses His people.

It’s the same Jesus who loved us enough to lay down His life on the cross. The same Jesus who said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” He’s looking at us and saying, “I miss you. I miss the passion, the intimacy, the love that we once shared.”

Now, this call isn’t about earning His love. It’s about responding to the love He’s already given us. The fact that He misses us, that He wants us back, is pure grace. He’s not here to condemn us for letting our love grow cold; He’s here to draw us back to Himself. His grace covers every moment we’ve neglected our relationship with Him—every time we’ve chosen duty over delight. And now, He’s inviting us back into the warmth of His embrace.

Let’s make this real: Where is your love for Jesus today? Have you been going through the motions, doing all the right things, but feeling like something’s missing? Maybe you remember a time when your faith was alive—when prayer felt like talking with your closest friend, when worship filled your heart with joy. But now it feels routine, even mechanical.

You’re not alone. The Ephesians were there too, and Jesus called them out of love, not condemnation. And here’s the grace—Jesus is calling you to return. He’s not asking for more effort; He’s asking for your heart because He misses you. The same grace that saved you is the grace that now calls you back to a renewed love.

So, what will you do with His invitation?

But Jesus doesn’t just point out the problem; He gives us the path forward. He shows us how to rekindle that love, how to move from routine back into relationship.

III. Jesus Calls Us to Repent

Let’s look at what He says next: Jesus calls us to repent. Jesus doesn’t just point out what’s wrong—He gives us a way forward.

In verse 5, He says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” This is an incredible invitation. Jesus doesn’t leave us stuck in our complacency. He doesn’t say, “Oh, you’ve lost your love, too bad for you.” No, He calls us to come back, and He does it with grace.

First, He says, remember. Remember where you were and how you felt when your love for Christ was alive and burning. Think about when you first realized the depth of His love for you—the joy of salvation, the excitement of knowing you were His and He was yours. The eagerness to read His Word, to spend time in prayer, and to worship with everything you had.

Remember that. Jesus is saying, don’t forget what it was like when your relationship with Him was fresh and real. It’s like looking through an old photo album, remembering the early days of marriage—the smiles, the laughter, the memories, the spontaneous adventures, and the simple joys. That’s what Jesus wants us to do: to recall the passion and closeness we once had with Him. Not to make us feel guilty, but to awaken a longing for that kind of relationship again.

Next, He says, repent. Now, let’s be honest—repentance can be a tough word. It sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But in reality, repentance is one of the greatest gifts of grace we can receive. Repentance is simply turning around and saying, “Lord, I see where I have drifted, and I want to come back.” Jesus isn’t calling us to wallow in shame. He’s inviting us to change direction, to turn from the routines that have replaced our love for Him, and to run back into His arms. This is the grace-filled heart of Jesus.

He calls us to repentance, not to condemn us, but to restore us.

And then He says, do the works you did at first. What are those works? They are the simple acts of love that flowed naturally from a heart captivated by Christ. Spending time in prayer—not out of obligation, but out of a desire to be with Him. Reading His Word—not to check a box, but to hear His voice. Worshiping with joy, serving others with love, and sharing the gospel because it overflowed from a heart full of Jesus.

But here’s the warning. Jesus continues, “If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” This is serious. The lampstand represents the church’s witness and influence, and without love, our witness becomes dim. We might still be doing good things, but the light we’re meant to shine in a dark world is just barely flickering.

Jesus doesn’t want us to lose our influence—He wants us to burn brightly again. And that starts with love.

Here’s where the grace steps in. Jesus isn’t asking us to manufacture love on our own. He’s inviting us to receive His love afresh. Remember, He is the One who first loved us. This call to repent is a call to return to the grace that saved us in the first place. He’s saying, “Let’s start fresh again. Let’s go back to where our relationship was built on love and grace.”

See, He’s not looking for a perfect performance—He’s looking for willing hearts. His grace meets us right at the place of repentance, covering our failures and reigniting our love.

So, how do we respond?

1. Start by remembering. Take time to reflect on your relationship with Jesus—what it looked like when your love for Him was new.

2. Repent. Be honest with God about where you’ve let things grow cold.

3. Take action. Go back to those simple acts of love. Carve out time for prayer. Dive into His Word with an eager heart to hear from Him. Worship Him with abandon—not out of duty, but to rekindle the flame.

Jesus doesn’t leave us in uncertainty. He gives us a promise for those who return to their first love. It’s not just about the here and now—it’s about eternity. Let’s see what He promises to those who overcome.

IV. Jesus Promises Eternal Life

Our last point is that Jesus promises eternal life. He ends with a promise that fuels our hope.

In verse 7, Jesus says, “To the one who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” Wow. What an incredible promise! Jesus is saying that those who repent and respond to His call—those who overcome the struggle of a cold heart—will experience eternal life in His presence.

This is not just about going through the motions now; it’s about what lies ahead for those who stay close to Him. Let’s unpack this. The Tree of Life is a powerful image in Scripture. It takes us all the way back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis, where humanity first walked with God in perfect fellowship. When sin entered the world, access to the tree of life was lost. But here, Jesus tells us that those who conquer, those who respond to His invitation to return to their first love, will be given the right to eat from that tree once again.

This is a promise of a restored relationship, of eternal life, of Paradise regained.

Picture a lush garden, vibrant and full of life, with a tree in its center, its branches heavy with fruit. This tree represents more than just life—it represents abundance, satisfaction, and the joy that comes from being in God’s presence. And Jesus is saying, “This is what I have for you.” He promises more than just a momentary renewal; He promises eternal life, eternal fellowship, and eternal joy.

This is what awaits those who conquer the distractions, routines, and complacency that can take hold of our hearts.

And here’s the grace we need to hold on to: Jesus is the One who makes this promise possible. It’s not about us conquering on our own. The Bible tells us that Christ Himself has already overcome sin and death on our behalf. Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

Jesus’ victory empowers us to overcome. Our part is to respond to His love and grace, to return to Him, and to abide in Him. For He has already secured the victory, and now He invites us to share in it.

This promise isn’t a carrot on a stick meant to drive us to earn our way back into His favor. It’s a declaration of grace. Jesus says, “I’ve done the work. I’ve conquered sin and death. Now, if you come to Me, if you rekindle your love for Me, you will share in My victory.” It’s a grace that sustains us and empowers us to live in renewed love. And it’s His grace that holds out the promise of eternal life to those who overcome.

So what does this mean for us right now? It means that our journey of returning to our first love is not in vain. It’s not a temporary fix; it’s a pathway to the eternal joy that Jesus has prepared for us. When we recommit to loving Him, when we repent and return to those simple works of love, we are stepping into the life He promises. And that life starts now and stretches into eternity.

This promise should fill us with hope and encourage us to keep going, even when it’s hard. We don’t do this in our own strength; we do it through His. We draw near to Jesus because He is already drawing near to us. We conquer—not by our own power—but by abiding in the One who has conquered for us.

So here we are. Jesus sees our deeds, but He longs for our love. He calls us to remember, to repent, and to return. And He promises that if we do, we will experience life both now and forever.

Let’s take a moment and let that sink in.

Conclusion

As our worship team comes forward, I believe Jesus is inviting us today to come back to our first love. He sees your efforts. He knows your heart. He’s not here to condemn but to call you back into a deeper relationship with Him. Yes, we can do all the right things—serve, stand for truth, labor in ministry—but without love, it’s just noise.

Jesus misses you. He misses the closeness, the joy, the relationship that once burned brightly. And today, He is inviting you to return, to rekindle that love.

So, what will you do with His invitation?

Will you continue to go through the motions, or will you take that step of faith and return to your first love? Remember, this isn’t about guilt or striving—it’s about grace. For Jesus has already conquered, and His arms are open wide, ready to embrace you and fill you with His love once again.

In a moment, we’re going to sing. As we do, I’ll be standing down here at the front. If you feel God tugging at your heart today—if you realize that you’ve been going through the motions and want to return to that place of deep love for Jesus—I invite you to come. Maybe you need prayer. Maybe you need to confess where your love has grown cold. Or maybe you simply need to come forward as a step of saying, “Lord, I want to come back to You.”

Whatever it is, don’t ignore this call.

But if you’re not quite ready to come forward or would prefer to talk later, I encourage you to fill out the connection card. Let us know how we can pray for you and how we can support you on this journey of renewal. You can drop it off in the offering plate at the back or hand it to me as I greet you.

Know that we are here to walk this road with you.

Let’s bow our heads and close our eyes as we pray.

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your Word, and we thank You for Your love—a love that You have shown us through the shedding of the blood of Your Son on the cross, to offer us life, not just life, but abundant life. Lord, I pray for those who have not yet trusted You as their Savior and Lord, that today would be the day of their salvation.

I also pray for those who feel like their faith has grown cold. God, I pray that they would return to their first love. We know we cannot do this on our own, but through Your grace, we can. May we repent, and may You fill us once again with Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.