Introduction & ice breaker
What did you love doing when you first moved to NYC that you now avoid doing?
Themes to Consider
Jesus speaks
Words of Affirmation
Words of Correction
Reminders of His Character
Promises for them to hold on to
JESUS KNOWS this church and our church
He Celebrates the good and calling out what needs to change
There is a way to do even what may be seen as the right actions, but to do so primarily for ourselves - for how our reputation will be enhanced
for how it will put others in our debt
for how will make us feel essential
for how it will give us control
for how it gives us a perceived moral high ground
THEY HAD LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE
Not their initial emotions, but their initial passionate commitment to act.
Christ shows them the way back: Remember & Repent
Remember - the height from which you have fallen
Repent - turn around and do the things you did at first
RESTORE:
DEEP AFFECTIONATE LOVE OF JESUS
AND THE OUTFLOW OF THAT LOVE TO OUR NEIGHBORS
Practices
Inhale: remember
Exhale: repent
Discussion Questions
For introspection: How does your “first love” practices differ from your current practices.
How has the church’s presence and practices change from the time of its planting to later on in its lifecycle? (specifically TGC or generally)
What does it mean to you when you hear: “You have forsaken the love you had at first”?
Guided Prayer
Jesus, tune my eyes and ears to your presence in my daily life so that my heart and vision are transformed. Remind me of your love and faithfulness that has been present throughout the ages. Forgive me for losing sight of your majesty in the monotony of the day’s tasks. Give me the patience and perseverance to continue seeking your light even in the midst of what appears to be sameness. May your light be reflected in my thoughts, words, and actions today. Reminded of your great love for me, may I be moved to consider the needs of others before my own. Amen.
Supplemental Content
“We have [noted] the unusual profusion of visual imagery in Revelation and its capacity to create a symbolic world which its readers can enter and thereby have their perception of the world in which they lived transformed.” —Richard Bauckham
Bauckham is saying that these symbols are not merely meant to be observed, but are creating a world that we can enter. With our imagination and the help of the Holy Spirit we can have our vision shaped.
Revelation’s readers in the great cities of the province of Asia were constantly confronted with powerful images of the Roman vision of the world. Civic and religious architecture, iconography, statues, rituals “and festivals, even the visual wonder of cleverly engineered ‘miracles’ in the temples – all provided powerful visual impressions of Roman imperial power and of the splendor of pagan religion. In this context, Revelation provides a set of Christian prophetic counter-images which impress on its readers a different vision of the world. —Richard Bauckham
Prophetic Charge
To the church at Brooklyn:
I understand the unique challenge of your current context. You live in a place that puts such a high value on intellectualism. And, in seeking to present a credible witness to your neighbors, you have been thoughtful about your faith--ready to answer every argument for believing in and worshipping an invisible, mysterious, all-powerful God. You have studied and shown yourself approved.
But you have become accustomed to a faith void of all extremes--one supported by good theology and a set of well-curated, palatable ideas about God. But this faith lacks evidence of exuberant joy at the good news of the gospel and of the passionate desperation to be in union with the Creator.
Remember the undignified, childlike joy with which you first received the good news--that the King of the universe traversed space and time to rescue you and bring you into union with Him. Risk everything to seek the fullest expression of faith in a boundless, eternal God who far exceeds the limitations of our finite minds. Truly then you will experience God in a way that is beyond that you would ask or imagine.
(Authored by deacons and leaders of Trinity Grace Church)
