Keeping Our First Love

Sermon Summary

There is an ancient orientation of our hearts that sometimes gets lost in all the good works we do. It’s the central desire of our hearts. It’s the deepest longing of who we are to simply be with Jesus. We are strengthened in the LORD by spending time with Him, not just hours on end like a monk, but by taking the attention of our mind and our heart throughout the day to be turned towards God. When we pay attention to who He is and what He is doing, it allows our hearts to burn again. The love that we had at first often gets stifled by an increase of knowledge; let’s return to our first love, stirring our hearts in response to all that God has done. Let us not give responsibility to others for the lack of passion; let us not blame church hurts, busyness, or what others have done to us to dictate our love for God. The slow burn of our hearts is to manage our affections for God over our difficulties and distractions. 

Scripture References from the Sermon

Ephesians | Revelation 2:4b   |   Mark 3:14   |   Daniel 11:32b   |   Deuteronomy 8:11-14

Discussion Questions

As you get into the first few questions, think about and discuss through the beginning of the message. Discuss what it would have been like to be in the Church of Ephesus with Paul as the pastor and teacher, and running a daily discipleship school. 

• Would you have attended? Discuss what it would have been like, and what you would have learned. 
• Talk about having Timothy and John as your next pastors. What would those Sunday morning teachings have been like? 
• How would their input in your life have changed you?
• Discuss Mark 3:14, Daniel 11:32, and Deuteronomy 8:11-14, and how they are oriented towards keeping your heart’s affection for God.
• In what ways are there Judas-like attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, in your life? Wanting to be included in Jesus’ 12 but not choosing the cost of intimacy.
• Discuss John Piper’s quote and how you might be focused on the things of God more than God himself. Desires to go to heaven, motives about church, reading the Word, prayer, etc.
• How do you need to change your schedule or change your perspective to keep your first love?
• Discuss ways you have blamed others for a lack of love, passion, and a burning heart for God.

John Piper

“If we don’t want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel.”

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