How to Kill a Church: Lessons from Ephesians 6

How to Kill a Church: Lessons from Ephesians 6

The title “How to Kill a Church” may sound alarming, but it serves as a sobering reminder of the subtle ways a church can lose its vitality. Drawing from Ephesians 6:21-24 and Revelation 2:1-7, we uncover three critical missteps that can lead to a church’s demise: failing to prize others, neglecting to protect truth, and abandoning love for Jesus. These passages, written decades apart, offer a glimpse into the life of the Ephesian church and provide timeless warnings for believers today.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians around AD 60-62, closes his letter with words of encouragement and affection. He sends Tychicus to update the church on his imprisonment, aiming to encourage their disheartened spirits. Paul’s care for the Ephesians reflects a deep principle: prizing others is foundational to a thriving church. He had spent three years with them, teaching and admonishing “with tears” (Acts 20:31). This wasn’t a casual connection; it was familial. The Bible uses family metaphors to describe the church, emphasizing that believers are brothers and sisters called to love, bear with, and build up one another (Ephesians 4:2-3, 4:29). 

Neglecting this call can be deadly. When pride, infighting, or gossip takes root, the church turns inward, focusing on flaws rather than fostering unity. Revelation 2:2-3 suggests the Ephesians did well in this area, toiling together and enduring patiently. Their programs were robust, their activities vibrant. Yet, as we’ll see, even a busy church can falter if it misses the heart of its mission.

The second way to kill a church is by failing to protect truth. Paul’s closing words in Ephesians 6:23—“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith”—echo the gospel truths he tirelessly preached: all have sinned (Romans 3:23), the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and salvation comes through faith in Christ (John 3:16). These truths transformed the Ephesians, once pagans, into believers. But Paul warned of “fierce wolves” who would distort the gospel (Acts 20:29-30). He urged Timothy to “preach the word” faithfully to counter false teachers (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

The Ephesians excelled here. By the time Jesus addresses them in Revelation 2:2-6, they’re commended for rejecting evil and testing false apostles. They despised the Nicolaitans’ heresy, ensuring theological purity. But a church that stops guarding truth invites destruction. False teachers, described as wolves in sheep’s clothing, creep in, leading people astray (2 Timothy 3:6-7). A church that prioritizes popularity over doctrine risks losing its foundation.

The third and most devastating way to kill a church is by abandoning love for Jesus. Paul ends Ephesians with a prayer for “all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:24). This love isn’t mere gratitude; it’s a passionate, all-consuming zeal that shapes a believer’s life. Paul likely sensed a vulnerability in the Ephesians, a risk of losing the fervor they had when they first believed. By Revelation 2:4, this fear is realized: “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” 

This wasn’t about their love for each other—they were working together—but their passion for Jesus. Their evangelistic zeal, worshipful awe, and desire to reach the lost had faded. What began as a grace-fueled mission became a theologically sound but lifeless social club. Passion gave way to programs, delight to duty, and relationship to rote. A church can have flawless doctrine and bustling activity yet grow cold without love for Christ. The Ephesians’ failure here was fatal. Jesus warned that their lampstand—symbolizing their witness—would be removed if they didn’t repent (Revelation 2:5). By AD 614, Ephesus lay in ruins, its church gone for over 1,400 years.

So, how do we avoid killing a church? Revelation 2:5 offers the cure: remember, repent, and return. Remember the passion of your first love for Jesus. Repent for letting it fade. Return to the practices that fueled your faith—prayer, worship, and sharing the gospel. A church that prioritizes loving others, guarding truth, and cherishing Jesus will not only survive but thrive.

As believers, we must ask: When did we last weep for the lost? When did worship feel like a delight, not a duty? If our churches are busy but lack baptisms, conversions, or fervent prayer, we risk the same fate as Ephesus. Let’s confess where we’ve grown cold and recommit to a vibrant, Christ-centered faith. The life of our church depends on it.