masika Posted June 8, 2008 Report Share Posted June 8, 2008 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? The Local congregation can lose its "first love" for Jesus, In this way. When we see the Ephesus Church we see what Jesus said about them:- Jesus says, "I know you do not tolerate the evil doers." That is they are a spiritually strong church. They have a deeply rooted theology in the scriptures. Jesus tells them how He knows they are not carried away by theological fads by referring to their strong stand against a group called the Nicolaitans. This is the group we met a couple of weeks ago in Pergamum. They are the ones who try to teach the believers to sin, to fall back into idol worship and sexual wrong doing. The church as a whole stands firm against this teaching. We are to stand firm in our firm foundation of Jesus, and not fall into sin, into which the world is constantly trying to pull us. Only after He has found and pointed out all He can approve and praise, Jesus notes the short coming of the believers of this church at Ephesus. And it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vsdaddy4441 Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 A congregation starts to lose its love for Christ when it starts thinking about itself before thinking of others. When a congregation starts trying to be what the world "wants" rather than to offer what Jesus gives, it is in real danger. Signs of this are flambouyant activities, offering some activity to everyone, focusing on numbers and marketing rather than Christ-like emphasis and watering down the gospel in order to attract a certain segment of people. A congregation can regain its first love by turning back to Jesus and building the members' Christ-like spirit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gideona Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? In my own experience, I lose my first love when I commit sin and not ask God for forgiveness. The sins that I commit make me no longer interested in doing all the ministries that God has tasked me to do, and my passion and excitement to attend every fellowship dies down as well. These reasons are the signs of a congregation losing his first love for Jesus. On the other hand, if a Christian has genuine love for Jesus, he enjoys taking in God's Words and considers them as sweet as honey, and He is always ready to do minsitry no matter what the cost. He does everything out of love not out of compliance. As a Christian, I should repent of my sins and draw nigh to God one more time, for it is in repentance that I am able to do the things that I once enjoyed doing with Him. For sure attending every fellowship and doing my part as the body of Christ becomes more interesting and exciting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlynn Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? The congragation losed it's first love when their focus shifts from Him and Gods word and is more involved in man made plans & teachings. Real love for Jesus shows in a church whose focus is worshiping and studying the Gospel. Where believers are doing His will and not their own. The church can get their first love back by turning away from all the things that lured it away in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randall greene Posted October 2, 2008 Report Share Posted October 2, 2008 A congregation can lose its first love by doing things for their religon, self, money, number of people in church. the can regain their first love by doing everything for Christ and by doing it by the principles in the bible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurf1948 Posted December 29, 2008 Report Share Posted December 29, 2008 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? When the church turns from the teachings of Christ to the ways of the world. A church that sticks to the true teachings of God. They are a true bible teaching church. They are in the word. Repent and get back to the bible and teaching what it says not what man wants to hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ising4ujc Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 The congregation can lose their "first love" for Jesus, by becoming legalistic, concerned more with the propriety of the church body than with the purpose of G-d in the church. The signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry are a congregation who are unconcerned about their fleshly needs and desires and put the Holy Spirit before anything or anyone else. A lack of love shows up through bickering, dissension, selfishness, unforgiveness, and unconcern for each other. A congregation can regain this love through prayer, humility and repentance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delivered Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? I am reminded of Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha1 Posted August 22, 2009 Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 A local congregation loses its "first love" when its focus is on the administrative and bureaucracy rather than on prayer, worship, spreading the gospel, demonstrating love and compassion for each other and the community at large Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
royk Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? Each member has his or her own responsibility in his or her relationship with Christ. On this basis a congregation should never lose its first love, yet we know that it can happen for part of a congregation, it has not happened for my entire church, in fact only 10% felt in a recent survey that their faith was strongly challenged. So I doubt this could happen at my church. when you start giving and serving and helping as an automatic reaction, and then asking God to lead, it is a self perpetuating system that feeds on itself. So when church members are automatically loving each other and helping and praying for eachother and then expanding it into the community, all is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Weir Posted October 12, 2009 Report Share Posted October 12, 2009 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? There should be a discerning passion in the Church for Jesus. He should be the focus of what is taught and preached in the Church. Worship is centred around the life of Jesus in Spirit and in Truth and when this is not the case the Congregation has lost it's 'first love' for Jesus. Signs are doing what Jesus would have done in spirit, Word and deed. His compassion and love must be evident in the Congregation. Not just 'philial' love but essentially 'Agape' love. A 'brotherly' love for one another. A lack of this love shows up in self-centredness and a pre-occupation with what 'I' can get out of the Church with a lack of concern in the affairs of others. This love can be regained by making an effort to get to know others and have genuine concern about their lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trouble Posted January 13, 2010 Report Share Posted January 13, 2010 The congregation forgets its first love by forgetting why we are attending church. We start and are misguided to think church attendance, singings, meetings, furniture, looks of the church and everything associated is the true meaning of church. We attend church to worship and praise God, to build up our physical bodies which have been drained due to service for God, and when we put I ahead of God things start falling apart. The lack of love for each other and God shows up by not caring for one another, not having time to serve one another and God ( a good indicator that the world is becoming first in your life ), and the lack of serving your local church. To gain this love back, and I can only put it this one way, PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ritad Posted February 9, 2010 Report Share Posted February 9, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? We can lose our first love by being so busy doing, we don't take time to nurture our relationship with the Lord. Jesus came to serve, and we should follow His example, however we can only do this effectively when our relationship with the Lord is where it should be. Signs of genuine love is a desire to know Him more each day through sincere fervant prayer, study of His word, and time for praise and worship. Putting Him first in every aspect of our lives helps us to "love Him more than these." We exhibit a lack of love when our attitude in working or helping others is not that of "working unto the Lord." Doing things because of legalism or "have to" rather than out of love for the Lord causes our ministries to be less than effective along with our attitudes being less than they should be. Churches can regain this love by concentrated and fully committed prayer, Bible study and regaining a desire to love and know Him intimately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramon Yap Posted February 14, 2010 Report Share Posted February 14, 2010 One sign of a congregation losing its Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted February 24, 2010 Report Share Posted February 24, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? A local congregation can lose its "first love" for Jesus when its love for the world is causing slackness in it carrying out its assignments. It is not letting it's light shine in the world. The signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry is submission to the Word of God. Seeking to obey the commands of God and living a life of true worship in words and in deeds. The lack of love show up when we mistreat those we come in contact with, now showing them agape love and leading them to Christ. A congregation regains this love when it turns its complete faith and trust in the Savior and take the challenge to do our very best to live as Christ taught us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted April 5, 2010 Report Share Posted April 5, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? We can unfortunately have a church that preaches sound doctrine and are actively involved in serving their community, but their true motive of worship and service is missing. There are churches more interested in their financial affairs and the number of people attending. We see their leaders living an extravagant lifestyle. Without an intense and enthusiastic devotion to Jesus Christ they are not functioning properly. It is only when the congregation, and leaders have an intimate and personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour can they be a shining light for Jesus. Work for God must be motivated by love for Jesus. Jesus also said that the love for Him will grow cold if there is an increase of wickedness (Matthew 24:12). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josephine Koh Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? - When we lose focus on Jesus, we lose our original "track". That's why we are reminded to "keep our eyes on Jesus". As the church grows over time, as we plan our activities and ministries, we lose focus by focusing on the people and activity itself. We forgot why we are doing all these. We take for granted our first-love-relationship with Jesus. What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? - Genuine love can be seen through our actions towards each other; care and concern, love, the way we communicate with each other, as well as our "involvement" of Jesus. We give praise, give thanks, engage in genuine prayers and good fellowship. How does the lack of love show up? - Lack of show is extremely obvious to visitors of the church. Because they are not part of the congregation, they are more oblivious to what is happening. When we become accustomed to each other, sometimes we do not stop to think and consider our relationship with each other. But since a visitor does not have any strong relationship with the members yet, he is more "sensitive" to how people treat him. How can a congregation regain this love? - This is common theme in churches : "church revival". Just like any relationship, in order to keep the relationship good and going, we need to renact the "dating" process. Read the Bible, change the way the things function and work, organise retreats and get-together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marloes Posted June 27, 2010 Report Share Posted June 27, 2010 In the beginning we Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 There are cults and non-biblical teachings that are big ways, but there are also the little ways that can destroy even a 'good bible teaching' congregation. Things of the world can be more than just a distraction. I have moved around the country and been part of many different congregations and the undercurrents can become the focus of peoples' worship. They miss the mesage and the opportunity to worship because other things consume their thought time. One way a church might lose its first love is to focus on might be termed 'measures'. How much money did we spend? How many members do we have? How big is the 'other' church? What do we want to do to increase the 'numbers'? Another way might be to focus on the details of 'worship'. What kind of music? How loud? What instruments? Who sits where? What time should we start? Or end? How long did he talk today? Did the order of worship change today? Then there is the 'who do we want?' way. Which might really be the 'who don't we want?' way. It could include: Did you see what he/she was wearing? Do we want 'them'? Should children be permitted? How many black/white/hispanic/professional/oriental/etc. do we have? 'Those' people waved their hands and arms when we sang! When the focus is not on God, it's easy to go from one thing to another and never get back to the real reason for worship or the real reason for a church. When you go to small group meetings for months and all the talk is on topics like those above, you have to wonder 'where is God?' and 'where is Jesus?'. Genuine signs of love? I am not sure. For one, there is a love for, an interest in, the bible. People read the word and want to learn. People take an interest in one another's lives. There is a desire to help one another with no self-interest or gain other than to help. And I think another sign is an outreach to the community. An interest in showing others what a christian life can be. And an interest in helping others come to know the Lord. Maybe not by knocking on doors or having a basketball league. But by sharing one-on-one with people. Not to get them to come to chruch, especially, but to help them know Jesus. Maybe the people in a healthy church could plant seeds and cultivate. Then let the Holy Spirit do the reaping. Change is not comfortable. Any change in a person's life, or a church's life, will only happen once a real need to change is realized. The question might be 'How do you get a church to see it doesn't love Jesus?' John seems to use confrontation from someone who has respect. Even some threats and fear-of-the-Lord. Not all 7 of these churches listened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l.a. Posted August 9, 2010 Report Share Posted August 9, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? A see that local congregations can lose their first love by getting so busy in groups, etc. that they do not experience the joy of the Lord anymore. They do things out of obligation without having the 'heart' to do it in genuine love. Genuine love is acts that are done because we share the love of Jesus and are led in the Spirit; a true heart is what leads to our acts of kindness and compassion towards others. A congregation needs to identify acts that are done only out of obligation and a quest to grow, repent, and ask God for guidance to lead ehem back to a true spirit of love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASTOR D Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? A local congregation loses its love for Jesus when it becomes more concerned with community affairs than with proclaiming the gospel to the community Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramon Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? Answer:The Local congregation loses its first love,for Jesus if they deviate from the purpose of their salvation,that is to love God and put first God above all things(Matthew 22:37).If they busy themselves with other things,and in the case of the Church in Ephesus,I think they busy themselves in uprooting the false apostle in their midst,exposing him,and act as judge and juror,that they forget that the true judge is Jesus himself.(Romans 2:1-Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things/ 1 Corinthians 2:15 -But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.) The signsof genuine Love for Jesus and His ministry,are those that agrees and are united in one Faith,and Spirit,(Ephesians 4:13)where the fruit of the Spirit are manifested in their daily lives.,Galatians 22-23-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlite80 Posted October 5, 2010 Report Share Posted October 5, 2010 The congregation can get caught up with works of the flesh (envy, striving, bickering, etc.), worldly pursuits, become self absorbed in meeting church goals/projects instead of people (growth, watered down messages) who need to see the love of Jesus. Genuine love represents itself in obedience, faithfulness and unselfish acts of love. If we begin to grumble, complain, become envious, jealous, and proud and seek human praise we are headed on the wrong track and will soon fall off the bandwagon. Soon we will lack focus, heart and purpose to continue in worship and ministry. Our ministry/worship becomes exactly that OURS, and not THEM! We are saved to be a blessing to others; our congregations should reflect the love and heart of Jesus Christ- redemption of lost souls! A congregation can regain its first love by working out salvation with fear and trembling. A complete focus on Christ firstly, embracing the heart of Christ which was to save a lost and dying world, we must rid ourselves of the works of the flesh while walking in unity, oneness in spirit, love and faith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABS Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? With any relationship there must come a committment to maintain it...to keep the fires burning...to keep that magical feeling of wanting to be with that person and do everything you can to please them. The same goes for our relationship with Jesus. When we are new Chrisitans, we yearn and seek Him everywhere; it's like the greatest poem composed or read. Then we let things get in the way...busyness, pride, selfishness, etc. We forget those powerful "first" feelings. The same goes for a congregation -- on fire for Jesus, bringing in new converts, growing, evangelizing and then it begins to wane slowly and most of the time without consciousness. A lot of churches have fallen victim to Jesus as a fad rather than a lifelong commitment of keeping Him first in their lives. When I enter a church, I can tell pretty quickly who is on fire for Jesus and who is on fire for the idea of Jesus. The message delivered is scripture bound and not a scripture reading followed by half-way related stories before quickly ending. There is also true, genuine fellowship and love that reaches beyond the human touch or smile. It's like an aura surrounding the congregation. People understand love, and it is readily seen. The lack of love shows up in the lukewarm demonstration and waterdowned views of scripture and the change in character of the congregational members outside the walls of the church. For a church to regain their first love they must guide their heart and commit to the teachings and words of Christ. They must uphold one another in this endeavor. The often misused statment, "My heart leads and I must follow" is a cultural misnomer. We lead our heart, whether it's in recommitment to Jesus or recommitment to a marriage. Francesca Battistelli's song, "Forever Love," is a great example of using music to remind us of the power and commitment in loving Jesus with our whole heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara A. Lee Posted October 7, 2010 Report Share Posted October 7, 2010 Q1. How can a local congregation lose its "first love" for Jesus? What are the signs of genuine love for Jesus in worship and ministry? How does the lack of love show up? How can a congregation regain this love? As with any relationship there has to be committment. If you and your congregation are committed to the relationship of member vs Jesus, then you will have a perfect harmony. In todays society so many people put the worldly things above Jesus. When this happens the Love for Jesus is not there. When you lose the love for Jesus the world steps in (satan) and takes over. The church splits and then you have no church. In order to regain the Love of Jesus we have to first Love Him. Put the worldly things aside and say, "Today I will from this day forward, give my all to Jesus." He gave his all so we might love him first. Love, honor, faith, all go hand in hand. We have to get back to the basics of faith. When we do this then we will begin to live the love of Jesus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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