Hillside Foursquare Church

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #8 - Laodicea

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:

• Laodicea #1
• Laodicea #2

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #7 - Philadelphia

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.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #6 - Sardis

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
4. He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
5. Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #5 - Thyatira

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
4. He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
5. Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action

BACKGROUND ON THYATIRA

• -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

What is so special/expensive about the purple dye? Purple dye was expensive because of the difficulty in extracting it. Thousands of mollusks were required to dye a single yard. Purple dye was derived from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of the Murex shellfish. This snail was especially prominent in Lydia’s home town of Thyatira (Acts 16:14; Revelation 1:11, 2:18, 24), a city 250 miles southeast of Philippi in the Roman province of Asia (modern day Akhisar, Turkey). Murex produces a deep blue violet dye that, unlike others, is colorfast and permits the washing of garments. This celebrated purple dye is cited in texts dating as early as 1600 BCE. Aristotle (384-322 BCE) and Pliny the Elder (23-79) document that snails were gathered in autumn or winter and kept alive until a huge quantity had been collected as each shell produced only a single drop of dye. The dye was extracted by crushing smaller shells and piercing larger ones. The milky fluid was then put into brine where vinegar was added and was then left in the sun until the color gradually transformed from a yellowish hue to a deep purplish red. It was then boiled down to further concentrate it. It took approximately 12,000 shellfish to extract 1½ grams of pure dye. One gram of purple dye was valued more than ten grams of gold and a pound of wool dyed with a favored purple could be sold for 1,000 denarii, a sum that would take a laborer three years to earn. A whole cloak of such material might cost three times that amount. Info on purple dye gleaned from the TrivialDevotion.blogspot.com Blog -Many thanks for the background!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #4 - Pergamum

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
4. He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
5. Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #3 - Smyrna

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 2^nd 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 2^nd century from Carthage – defender of the faith

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #2 - Ephesus

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:

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. He offers a challenge to change - to repent from the area of sin
4. He describes what the consequences of inaction/lack of repentance will be.
5. Finally, Christ delivers the promise of blessing and life that are assured to the ones who put His words into action

For background on the church at Ephesus, you can look at the following Bible passages: -The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19 -The Letter to the Ephesians -The First Letter to Timothy - 1Timothy (Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus)

I'm looking forward to our time in this book, & to the blessing attached to reading, hearing, and keeping it NOTE: If you want to read Ch. 1,2,3 & write down any questions that you might have from those chapters, I would love to try & help find answers to those questions. Just send your question to hillside4@mac.com

The Revelation of Jesus Christ #1

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.

Over the next several weeks, we will be studying what the Apostle John calls, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" - we're looking at the first few chapters that address 7 churches in Asia. Today, as we go through Chapter 1, I want to focus on a couple of things:

1. 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)
2. The ministry of Jesus Christ (1:4-8)
3. Christ revealed in all His glory & majesty (1:12-16).

I'm looking forward to our time in this book, & to the blessing attached to reading, hearing, and keeping it. NOTE: If you want to read Ch. 1,2,3 & write down any questions that you might have from those chapters, I would love to try & help find answers to those questions. Just send your question to hillside4@mac.com

Psalm 121 - The Goodness of God

Psalms 120 - 134 are referred to as the "Songs of Ascent" - these psalms served as the songbook for pilgrims heading to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, & Tabernacles. As the travelers ascended the hills towards the City of David, they sang the songs as a point of reference, a reaffirmation of their identity as God's people, & a reminder of God's continued goodness to them. Psalm 121 in particular is a call to remember where our help comes from - its not the from the stronghold behind the city gates, & its not from pagan deities offering their capricious protection in exchange for costly sacrifices. Rather, their help (& their hope) is found in the God of Israel, maker of Heaven & Earth.

Honestly: I Just Want God

In today's message, Hillside-er Danae Lear tells of her journey of faith that led to the discovery that healing, wholeness, & transformation begin at the foot of the cross & in being 100% HONEST with God.