Sardis: Reputation vs. Reality
A good name is bad news
A fundamental change must occur
Only good news has power for a new name
Thyatira: Exceeding Growth & Excessive Tolerance
Progress, not perfection, is commended
Tolerance of sin is to be called out
Belief in the gospel is absolutely sufficient and satisfying
Pergamum: Tenacity and Negligence in the Hood
Tenacity for the gospel amid overt opposition is commended
Negligence of holiness amid covert immorality needs repentance
Result of repentance is a life beyond comprehension
Smyrna: White-Knuckled & Fearless
How does Christ’s true church flourish amidst an unjust and hostile culture?
Don’t be surprised by the trouble
Don’t be fooled by appearances
Don’t be afraid because of who’s with you
You won’t be disappointed by what you have
Ephesus: The Steadfast & Smug
The authority and humility of Jesus is essential
A love for being right can lead to doing wrong
Our motivation is the double-edged grace of Jesus
What You See Is Who You Get
We see the reality of who and where we are
We see the realization of who is with us
We see what we really have in Christ
First We Worship
God’s character is the beginning of everything
God’s actions flow from his character
Full-hearted, all-of-life worship is our proper response
Seeing is Being Blessed
The Purpose: genuine and effective encouragement to Christians in a chaotic world.
The Style: To show and make known (signify) all that must take place.
The Approach: Recapping the seen and unseen realities of Christ’s triumph
The Point: The triumph of Jesus guarantees the triumph of his church
He Came for You - The Outsiders
Debunking the insider myth
Shining light on the truth
Giving all that is deserved.
He Came for You - The Fearful
Our great fear is a loss of self
God’s great love in Jesus surpasses our fear
Only then can we show courageous faithfulness
He Came for You - The Reluctant
Short-sightedness is at the heart of our reluctance
Faithfulness is at the heart of Jesus arriving
Joyful worship is at the heart of our lives when we see God’s faithfulness in Jesus
Jesus came in real history
Jesus came from real people
Jesus came for real hope
How to cultivate and demonstrate an authentic and active thankful heart amid legitimately bad circumstance.
Be aware of the text
Beware of counterfeit thankfulness
Become before being
Enjoy what has been given
A reflection on The Life Series out of study of 1 John.
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The Heart Behind the Word
The Admonition of the Word
The Responsibility to the Word
We now that Jesus keeps us
We know that this world is hostile territory
We know that it is all by God’s grace
Sin is a real threat to the church’s vitality
Restoration is our heartfelt request
Discernment keeps our hearts soft and eyes open
The purpose of believing in Jesus is experiencing the life of God
The experience God wants for us is openness and freedom in his presence
Our openness with God is established in his attentiveness toward us in Jesus
The claim that Jesus is the Christ Son of God
The witnesses called to testify
The consequences of our belief
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world - our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
The world is opposed to God and his people
Jesus Christ decisively overcame the world
Faith in Jesus gives us the result of his victory