Rediscovering Your First Love For God | Live Free with Josh Howerton

About this sermon

What happens when a church starts strong but loses sight of what truly matters? The early church in Ephesus had an incredible legacy—planted by the Apostle Paul, led by Timothy, and even home to the Apostle John and Mary. But despite their theological strength, Jesus had a serious warning for them: they had lost their first love. In this conversation, Pastor Josh and Jana Howerton, along with Pastor Carlos Erazo, dive into the powerful message behind the letter to the Ephesians in Revelation 2. They explore how distraction, culture, and even good theology can become barriers to genuine love for Christ. Plus, hear about Pastor Josh’s eye-opening journey through the ancient ruins of Ephesus, the surprising history behind the Jesus fish symbol, and what it all means for believers today. If you’ve ever felt like your faith has lost its fire, this conversation is for you! 👍 Like, Comment, & Subscribe for more life-changing podcasts! 🔔 Turn on notifications so you never miss an update! 👇 DON’T MISS OUT! Whatever your gifts are, we want to help you find YOUR Serve Team! Once a month, you’ll have the opportunity to see Serve Teams in action, ask questions and get hands-on experience to find where you can make a difference -- https://lakepointe.church/serve/ ⛪ ABOUT LAKEPOINTE CHURCH: We believe that Lakepointe is a movement for all people to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover their Calling, and Make a Difference. With 6 DFW locations and programs for all ages, there's something for everyone. 🤝 Support this ministry and help us reach more people with the Gospel: https://www.lakepointe.church/give STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 Website: https://lakepointe.church/ 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lpconnect/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lpconnect 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LakepointeChurch 🎧 LISTEN ON THE GO! ▶️ Live Free on Spotify / https://open.spotify.com/show/353ryGdZNlebaiqkCcy3Yc ▶️ Live Free on Apple Podcasts / https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-free-with-josh-howerton/id1669321198 00:00:00 Virtue and Vice: Bible's Take on Tolerance 00:06:05 The Church of Ephesus: A Look into Its Start and Legacy 00:12:33 Apollos as a Potential Author of Hebrews 00:19:14 Symbols of Early Christianity in Ephesus 00:25:44 Rekindling Your First Love in Faith 00:31:36 A Passionate Journey Through Faith 00:37:33 Biblical Perspective on Tolerance and Hate 00:44:06 The Metaphor of AIDS in Society 00:51:00 The Purpose of Studying Scripture 00:56:57 Paul's Farewell to Ephesus: A Prophecy Fulfilled 01:03:27 The Lydia and Daniel Models of Ministry 01:09:51 Embracing Authentic Preaching Styles 01:16:07 A Prayer for Renewed Faith and Joy in Salvation

Topics

• Love & Compassion
• Overcoming Obstacles