A (14) To the Angel of the Church in Laodicea…
B (14) The words of… the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the
beginning of God’s creation.
C Praise…
D (15-17) Criticism & warning… I know your works… I will spit you
out…
E (18-20) Command… get ‘rich’, get dressed, attend to your sight,
repent, listen and open the door
F (21) Promise for the conquerors… divine enthronement
G (22) He who has an ear
7a To the messenger of the Church in Philadelphia
7b The words of him: the one holding the key of David
8-9 I know your good works: you have not denied my name
But, I have this against you:
10-11 Hold fast: faithful endurance
12 To the one who conquers: bear the name of God
13 He who has an ear:
V1. To the Angel of the Church in Sardis
V1. The words of him… who has the seven spirits of God (1:4; 4:5; 5:6;
Is 11:2-3) and the seven stars (1:16, 20)
V1. I know your works… reputation: alive, reality: dead
Vs 2-3. Commands… (i) wake up; (ii) remember; (iii) repent
V3. Warning… I will come like a thief
V4. Praise… a few are worthy
V5. The one who conquers… (i) clothed in white garments; (ii) name
indelibly recorded; (iii) name confessed in heaven
V6. He who has an ear…
Introduction
Psalm 2; Daniel 3:1-30; Revelation 2:18-29
18a To the Angel of the Church in Thyatira:
18b The words of him: the Son of God (Daniel 3)
19 I know your works: excelling in good works
20 But, I have this against you: tolerating ‘Jezebel’ the false prophetess
21-25 Repent and be faithful: repentance or mega-tribulation
26-28 To the one who conquers: rule of the nations (Psalm 2; Num. 24)
29 He who has an ear;
Revelation is a letter from Jesus to equip his people (then and now) to conquer satanic threats. The seven letters to the churches all deal with problems that could potentially affect any church in any place or time. Even ours! For the church in Ephesus, the threat was loveless orthodoxy, being concerned for truth but without love. The second of the seven churches was Smyrna, threatened by fear of suffering. The third church is Pergamum facing the temptation of compromise. If Jesus’ message for Ephesus proved that truth without love is bad, his message for Pergamum shows that he still wants his churches to put a very high value on gospel truth. The challenge of compromise faces all Christians and churches. We all want to fit in, to belong and not appear too odd. So, do we belong to the world under the rule of the devil or to the kingdom of God to be revealed in its fulness when Jesus returns. Where is our loyalty?”
The following aspects of a worship service are included as a suggested guide to worshipping as a household for Sunday 15th November, 2020
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (6 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can all be found.
As a city, Smyrna had metaphorically once been dead, but now had sprung back to life. It was a proudly pagan city, intensely loyal to Rome and Rome’s gods. The Church suffered real tribulation for remaining faithful to Jesus. Jesus, who had literally once died, but now is truly alive, speaks to His suffering people to encourage them. Their faith in Him even unto physical death is unquestionably worthwhile, since in Jesus they are absolutely immune from humanity’s real enemy, the second death.
The following aspects of a worship service are included as a suggested guide to worshipping as a household for Sunday 15th November, 2020
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (6 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can all be found.
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (6 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can all be found.
John the apostle of Jesus receives a vision of and a message from Jesus himself, now ascended to heaven and glorified. The message is for Jesus’ persecuted people gathered in churches in Asia Minor then and for believers everywhere now. John, the human author, sets a great example for his readers. His experience of tribulation has landed him in prison on the island of Patmos, but he is in the Spirit presenting a vision from another world to inspire new heart, fresh hope and patient endurance.
The following aspects of a worship service are included as a suggested guide to worshipping as a household for Sunday 1st November, 2020
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (5 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can all be found.
The word ‘apocalypse’ simply means to reveal or unveil something previously hidden. Ironically, the book of the apocalypse (Revelation) seems far from clear revelation to many and is surrounded by controversy. However, if understood in light of the Old Testament background, the book of Revelation gloriously reveals the triumph of the lamb that was slain.
The following aspects of a worship service are included as a suggested guide to worshipping as a household for Sunday 25th October, 2020
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (5 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can all be found.
How are we to make sense of our world? The Bible is very clear, there is another world, an eternal world, while the one we live in is passing away. Yet, this present world is where we live, often in the midst of profound struggles with the effects of evil. Apocalyptic literature provides a view of this world from the vantage point of the other, heavenly world. It reveals the true nature of the conflict that surrounds us. Daniel 7 is a classic apocalyptic passage, revealing the fate of four terrifying beasts, and the judgment of the Ancient of Days in favour of the divine Son of Man which restores humanity to its proper place in his creation.
The following aspects of a worship service are included as a suggested guide to worshipping as a household for Sunday 18th October, 2020
Steve Messer Wisdom/Job talks (5 of 10) now available
Steve has graciously agreed to re-work his Job series for us.
Given his own personal difficult circumstances this is a book that he has thought about deeply and we look forward to his presentation of the wisdom to be found in that book as we consider our own circumstances.
There will be a series of 10 talks and they will be available on our website. Click on the Owls to jump to the Job web page where they can be found.