To the church in Ephesus

1″To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Here we see Jesus’ message to the church in Ephesus. He addresses how the church has fallen away from its first love and how without intentionality, things fade over time. Jesus extends a second chance to the church when He challenges the church to “hear what the Spirit says” and to “overcome.” How the church responds is yet to be determined.

Pastor Mitch challenged us by asking, “Is it possible that the church could dictate popular culture instead of the other way around?” Also, we must return to Jesus with repentance and acceptance of the Good News!

Mark 4:21-34 (New International Version)

A Lamp on a Stand

21He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? 22For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. 23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24″Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

30Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. 32Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”

33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.34He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Through these three parables, Jan presented how the Kingdom of God is ever irresistibly expanding through genuine humility, which is the way of Jesus.

Worship was continued after service with a time of fellowship and a delicious lunch, which was graciously provided by Christy and Christine.

This week, our second pastoral candidate will be speaking and will be meeting with the congregation over lunch after the service.  Please join us to hear what he has to say and get to know him.