Episodes
Sunday Nov 18, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #11 - The End
Sunday Nov 18, 2012
Sunday Nov 18, 2012
Today, we're finishing our series, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" - I'm calling this message "The End." The text for today is Revelation 21 & 22.
Sunday Nov 11, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #10 - The Great White Throne
Sunday Nov 11, 2012
Sunday Nov 11, 2012
This week's message comes from Revelation 20:11-15. It addresses the Final Judgment, where each person stands before God - He has 2 sets of books - the Book of Deeds, which contains the accounts of everything we've done for our whole lives. The other is the Book of Life - in it are the names of every person who has come into relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, by way of repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
Sunday Oct 28, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #8 - Laodicea
Sunday Oct 28, 2012
Sunday Oct 28, 2012
Today, we review the last of the 7 letters to the 7 churches of Revelation - the Church at Laodicea. This particular church gets no commendation from the LORD, only a challenge to quit taking on the deadly characteristics of the culture & environment of the region of Laodicea, & a call to repentance & renewed relationship with Christ. If you'd like to review some historical background on Laodicea, check out these links:
Sunday Oct 21, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #7 - Philadelphia
Sunday Oct 21, 2012
Sunday Oct 21, 2012
Our series, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," is an exploration through the first 3 chapters of Revelation, & the letters to the 7 churches in Asia. This week, we're looking at the church at Philadelphia & our text is Revelation 3:7-13. The Philadelphian church had experienced a great deal of persecution from the established Jewish synagogue, yet had remained faithful, persevering through difficulty, & bringing glory to Christ's Name in the process. In the speech from this week, we're talking about faithfulness, perseverance, and STANDING where we're planted, no matter what.
Sunday Oct 14, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #6 - Sardis
Sunday Oct 14, 2012
Sunday Oct 14, 2012
Over the last several weeks, we have been studying what the Apostle John calls, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" - specifically, we'll be looking at the first few chapters that address the 7 churches in Asia. Today, we're exploring Revelation 3:1-6, the letter to the Church at Sardis. There is a general 'framework' that Christ uses when He addresses each of the churches:
- He greets the church and identifies Himself with one of the phrases used to describe Him from Revelation 1. When He addresses the Sardisian church, He says: ‘The words of Him who has the 7 spirits of God and the 7 stars... (referencing Revelation 1:12-16).
- Christ addresses the current state of the church, giving encouragement for the areas they are doing well, and correction for the areas that need repentance.
- He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
- He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
- Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action
Sunday Oct 07, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #5 - Thyatira
Sunday Oct 07, 2012
Sunday Oct 07, 2012
Over the last several weeks, we have been studying what the Apostle John calls, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" - specifically, we'll be looking at the first few chapters that address the 7 churches in Asia. Today, we're exploring Revelation 2:18-29, the letter to the Church at Ephesus. There is a general 'framework' that Christ uses when He addresses each of the churches:
- He greets the church and identifies Himself with one of the phrases used to describe Him from Revelation 1. When He addresses the Thyatiran church, He says: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze...." (referencing Revelation 1:12-16).
- Christ addresses the current state of the church, giving encouragement for the areas they are doing well, and correction for the areas that need repentance.
- He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
- He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
- Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action
- -Politically insignificant but economically wealthy city
- -Main industries: metal workers (guild of the coppersmiths) & dealers/makers of specially dyed purple cloth (guild of the dye-ers)
- -Located between Pergamum & Sardis – not on a major trade route – dealers had to travel to distribute their wares
- -Acts 16:14 – Apostle Paul’s visit to Philippi – 1st convert is Lydia of Thyatira, dealer of purple
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #4 - Pergamum
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
Sunday Sep 30, 2012
Today, we're exploring Revelation 2:12-17, the letter to the Church at Pergamum. There is a general 'framework' that Christ uses when He addresses each of the churches:
- He greets the church and identifies Himself with one of the phrases used to describe Him from Revelation 1. When He addresses the Ephesian church, He says: "The words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands..." (referencing Revelation 1:12-16).
- Christ addresses the current state of the church, giving encouragement for the areas they are doing well, and correction for the areas that need repentance.
- He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
- He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
- Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action
Sunday Sep 23, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #3 - Smyrna
Sunday Sep 23, 2012
Sunday Sep 23, 2012
Our text today is Revelation 2:8-11 - we're exploring & discussing what it means to be a witness for Christ in the context of the letter to the church at Smyrna.
If you're interested, here are a few of the notes I used for the background on Smyrna.
Background on Smyrna
· Wealthy & beautiful city – paved streets, gymnasium, library, tribute to Homer
o Temple designated for Mother Goddess
o Temple to Tiberius
o Significant Jewish presence
· Polycarp - Bishop of Smyrna – 70-155 A.D.
o Disciple of Apostle John, active with early church fathers
o Key figure – provides a bridge from apostles/disciples to 2nd century church of Christ-followers
§ John à Polycarp à Iranaeus
§ First recorded martyrdom outside of Bible
· Accusations: Romans – seeking to put an end toChristianity – a politically dangerous anti-Emperor cult, an Illegal religion of annoyance & violence
o Basic complaint - Caesar is Lord vs. Jesus is LORD
o Just say it, offer pinch of incense to the statue of Caesar
o “For 86 years I have served Christ. He has never done me wrong. How can I blaspheme the One who saved me?”
o “The blood of the Christians is the seed of the Church”…Tertullian – Christian writer in 2nd century from Carthage – defender of the faith
Sunday Sep 16, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #2 - Ephesus
Sunday Sep 16, 2012
Sunday Sep 16, 2012
Over the next several weeks, we will be studying what the Apostle John calls, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" - specifically, we'll be looking at the first few chapters that address the 7 churches in Asia. Today, we're exploring Revelation 2:1-7, the letter to the Church at Ephesus. There is a general 'framework' that Christ uses when He addresses each of the churches:
- He greets the church and identifies Himself with one of the phrases used to describe Him from Revelation 1. When He addresses the Ephesian church, He says: "The words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands..." (referencing Revelation 1:12-16).
- Christ addresses the current state of the church, giving encouragement for the areas they are doing well, and correction for the areas that need repentance.
- He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
- He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
- Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action
Sunday Sep 09, 2012
The Revelation of Jesus Christ #1
Sunday Sep 09, 2012
Sunday Sep 09, 2012
In the last few weeks as I've been preparing for this series in the Book of Revelation, I've been talking to people to hear their perspective/experience with it. So far what I've heard has been pretty consistent:
- I don't understand it.
- It's confusing.
- I think it's scary.
- It bugs me when people try to predict when Jesus will come back.
- There is a blessing on all who READ the Revelation out loud, on all who HEAR it, & on all who KEEP what is written in it. (1:3)
- The ministry of Jesus Christ (1:4-8)
- Christ revealed in all His glory & majesty (1:12-16).