The Lord, His Lampstands, and Our First Love

Reformed Baptist Church of Kansas City

Revelation 1 and its vision of the Son of Man is foundational to the letters to the seven churches of Revelation 2-3--and both are foundational for the whole book of Revelation.-This sermon reviews Revelation 1 to use it as a foundation for all the letters, but specifically for the letter to Ephesus of Revelation 2:1-7. Jesus' commendation, condemnation, and exhortation for the Ephesian church leads us to seek to love Christ, His people, and His Gospel more so that our churches would be the lampstands for Christ that they are created and designed and empowered to be.-The Lord, His Lampstands, and Our First Love--(remember, repent, and return)--Introduction (1:1-9)I. The Lord (1:9-19)---A. Explanation by John (1:9-11)---B. Description of Christ (1:12-16)---C. Encounter with Christ (1:17-19)II. His Lampstand (1:20)---A. Seven Stars in Hand?---B. Seven Lampstands in Midst?III. Our (First) Love (2:1-7)---A. Description of Christ for this church (v1)---B. Christ's Commendation of Orthodoxy (vv2,3,6)---C. Christ's Condemnation of Lack of Love (v4)---D. Christ's Exhortation for Lack of Love (v5)---E. Christ's Conclusion and Reward (v7)