Everyone knows that “actions speak louder than words,” right? Jesus sure did. He was super intentional about giving us a model of HOW to “say it,” and took the time to make sure we lived out his example. What is that, and how do we go about it?
Lifegroup discussion questions are just after the jump.
If you’re the discussion leader, have everyone open this page on their mobile devices. Assign parts to read and discuss out loud together.
If you missed Sunday’s message, you can always listen on the church podcast page. Get all previous messages in this series right here.
Have you ever been in, or personally witnessed an abusive relationship? Maybe it was physical, or emotional abuse. Maybe there was a lot of manipulation involved. Can you describe it in a single sentence?
How can our relationship with Jesus, and with the church be abusive? (Sometimes the Body of Christ abuses individuals. Sometimes individuals abuse the Body of Christ.)
I think we can all agree that abuses have happened all around. This, of course, is never right, and we should never tolerate abuse in any form.
Jesus himself dictated a letter to the church at Ephesus about their corporate relationship with him… Are you familiar with it? Let’s look at part of it here:
Revelation 2:2-3
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
What are the characteristics of the church that Jesus is pleased with?
Revelation 2:4
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
Jesus calls this group out… What two things does he tie together here?
Why is this important to Jesus?
Paul Gives us some insight into this with his marriage analogy in his letter to the same church. Here is what he said:
Ephesians 5:25-27
He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
What does John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, say about this?
1 John 5:1
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ* has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
What should this mean for us?
Back to Revelation, Jesus continues his “complaint” against the Ephesian church…
Revelation 2:5
Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.
Uh oh. Did you see that? John’s revelation shows seven lampstands, each representing churches. Jesus walk among them. He walks among the churches. What does he mean here when he says “I will remove your lampstand?”
What might that look like? Do you remember the two pie charts I showed you on Sunday? Could that be happening now to the church in America?
Back to Jesus’ dictated letter…
Revelation 2:6
But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
The Nicolaitans were a sect of Christians who taught that grace was freely given, and that grace should be fully experienced by exploring all forms of sensuality. In other words, since there was no need for further forgiveness after the cross, the Christian should therefore indulge in any sinful behavior he desired.
How is this lifestyle abusing the grace of God?
How does this relate to our willingness and ability to love the Body of Christ by serving?
So what is Jesus saying we should do here?
Revelation 2:7
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God
Tell me again… Who is “victorious?” (see Revelation 12:11, below)
Revelation 12:11
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.
Read aloud Revelation 2:2-7 again, How do you hear that passage now?
The writer of Hebrews gives us some really good advice about this.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Why wait for someone to beg for help? Why wait till you see people falling away because they just needed a little foot washing? We should always have acts of love and good works bubbling up out of us at all times! How are you serving? More importantly, how are you “motivating one another to acts of love and good works?”
Spend a few minutes in your group talking about this, before going back to your homework.