Revelation - Endurance (Sermon)

 Certain hope for uncertain times.

Where is it written?

Read Revelation 2:12-17

* What attribute of Jesus is highlighted?

* What is the church commended for?

* What persecution have they experienced?

* What is the church chastised for? (See Numbers 22-25 for background on Balaam)

* What is the church promised if they endure?

Read Revelation 2:18-29

* What attribute of Jesus is highlighted?

* What is the church commended for?

* What is the church chastised for? (See 1 Kings 16-22 for background on Jezebel)

* What is the church promised if they endure?

How goes your walk?

* What “pressures to compromise” do you see the Church today facing?

* How are our pressures similar to the pressures the early church experienced?

* What does it mean to you to build an enduring faith?

Historical and Biblical Background

Pergamum was known for the raised area at the center of the city where the Roman temples on it could be seen for miles around. It was a major center for the Roman Imperial cult and had a shrine for the Roman god Asclepius - whose symbol was a serpent. The local stones were black, so all buildings would be black. Imported white stones were only used for special signage.

See Numbers 22-25 for the story of King Balak of Moab and the Israelite prophet Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak to pronounce a curse on Isreal, but God prevented Balaam from doing so. After multiple attempts at cursing Isreal failed, the nation was compromised by seduction.

Thyatira was known in the region for its smelting of bronze and producing purple dye (See Acts 16:14). Its patron Roman deity was Apollo Tyrinaeus.

See 1 Kings 16-22 for the story of Jezebel, known in the Old Testament as a wicked queen who influenced the nation of Israel to compromise their faith and act like the Canaanite nations around them - including sexual excesses and child sacrifice.

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Values Throughout Our Study of Revelation:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)

Revelation - Endurance (Full Audio Service)

   Certain hope for uncertain times.

Where is it written?

Read Revelation 2:12-17

* What attribute of Jesus is highlighted?

* What is the church commended for?

* What persecution have they experienced?

* What is the church chastised for? (See Numbers 22-25 for background on Balaam)

* What is the church promised if they endure?

Read Revelation 2:18-29

* What attribute of Jesus is highlighted?

* What is the church commended for?

* What is the church chastised for? (See 1 Kings 16-22 for background on Jezebel)

* What is the church promised if they endure?

How goes your walk?

* What “pressures to compromise” do you see the Church today facing?

* How are our pressures similar to the pressures the early church experienced?

* What does it mean to you to build an enduring faith?

Historical and Biblical Background

Pergamum was known for the raised area at the center of the city where the Roman temples on it could be seen for miles around. It was a major center for the Roman Imperial cult and had a shrine for the Roman god Asclepius - whose symbol was a serpent. The local stones were black, so all buildings would be black. Imported white stones were only used for special signage.

See Numbers 22-25 for the story of King Balak of Moab and the Israelite prophet Balaam. Balaam was hired by Balak to pronounce a curse on Isreal, but God prevented Balaam from doing so. After multiple attempts at cursing Isreal failed, the nation was compromised by seduction.

Thyatira was known in the region for its smelting of bronze and producing purple dye (See Acts 16:14). Its patron Roman deity was Apollo Tyrinaeus.

See 1 Kings 16-22 for the story of Jezebel, known in the Old Testament as a wicked queen who influenced the nation of Israel to compromise their faith and act like the Canaanite nations around them - including sexual excesses and child sacrifice.

----------

Values Throughout Our Study of Revelation:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)

Revelation - Victory = Faithfulness (Full Service)

  Certain hope for uncertain times.

Getting to Know Each Other:

Have you ever had a very moving experience of worship? What was that like?

Where Is It Written?

Read Revelation 1:12-18.

How did John experience Jesus? What might you do if you saw Jesus like this?

How did Jesus win the victory over death and Hades? (See vs. 18. Read also Phillippians 2:5-11)

How is Jesus’ means of victory different than the way we might otherwise assume victory to happen?

Read Revelation 1:19-20.

What do the lampstands represent?

What do the stars represent? (Remember these symbols for later.)

Read Revelation 2:1-7.

What has the church is Ephesus done well?

What have they neglected?

Have you ever seen a church faithfully defend truth, but forsake loving actions in the process? How do Christians struggle to show both truth and love today?

What will happen if they continue to forsake love?

Read Revelation 2:8-11

What is the church in Smyrna enduring?

What are they about to endure?

How do Christians today experience slander and persecution?

How Goes Your Walk?

How might Jesus’ victory through faithful endurance, even death, change how you personally define victory?

How is your faith being tested?

How are you building an enduring faith?

----------

Values Throughout The Series:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)

Revelation - Victory = Faithfulness (Just Sermon)

 Certain hope for uncertain times.

Getting to Know Each Other:

Have you ever had a very moving experience of worship? What was that like?

Where Is It Written?

Read Revelation 1:12-18.

How did John experience Jesus? What might you do if you saw Jesus like this?

How did Jesus win the victory over death and Hades? (See vs. 18. Read also Phillippians 2:5-11)

How is Jesus’ means of victory different than the way we might otherwise assume victory to happen?

Read Revelation 1:19-20.

What do the lampstands represent?

What do the stars represent? (Remember these symbols for later.)

Read Revelation 2:1-7.

What has the church is Ephesus done well?

What have they neglected?

Have you ever seen a church faithfully defend truth, but forsake loving actions in the process? How do Christians struggle to show both truth and love today?

What will happen if they continue to forsake love?

Read Revelation 2:8-11

What is the church in Smyrna enduring?

What are they about to endure?

How do Christians today experience slander and persecution?

How Goes Your Walk?

How might Jesus’ victory through faithful endurance, even death, change how you personally define victory?

How is your faith being tested?

How are you building an enduring faith?

----------

Values Throughout The Series:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)

Revelation - Jesus - Risen Savior, Constant Friend, Coming King (Sermon)

Certain hope for uncertain times.

Discuss:

Getting to Know Each Other:

What emotional response(s) to the book of Revelation have you experienced? 1) Ignore? 2) Obsess over the details? 3) Integrate into a life of preparation?

What scholastic “camps” have you been exposed to in the teaching you’ve heard about Revelation - if any?

* Historicism - Focus on linking Biblical prophecies with current world events.

* Semi-Preterism - Focus on the many prophecies already fulfilled.

* Idealism/ Allegoricalism - Focus on timeless symbols that are true at all times.

* Futurism - Focus on future events - believing that all remaining prophecies will be fulfilled just prior to the return of Jesus.

Where Is It Written?

* Revelation 1:3 describes this letter as a prophecy. How is this significant?

* Who was this letter first written to?

* How is Jesus described in verse 5? How is this significant?

* What have we been saved from? (Verse 5?) What have we been saved for?

* Read verse 8 several times. How are the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet) and ”is, was and is to come” attributes of God significant?

How Goes Your Walk?

* What emotions does the Book of Revelation evoke for you? Why?

* How are you hoping to grow in your faith through our time in this book?

* How is your faith affected by knowing that Jesus will return as King?

Values Throughout The Series:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)

Revelation - Jesus - Risen Savior, Constant Friend, Coming King (Full Service)

 Certain hope for uncertain times.

Discuss:

Getting to Know Each Other:

What emotional response(s) to the book of Revelation have you experienced? 1) Ignore? 2) Obsess over the details? 3) Integrate into a life of preparation?

What scholastic “camps” have you been exposed to in the teaching you’ve heard about Revelation - if any?

* Historicism - Focus on linking Biblical prophecies with current world events.

* Semi-Preterism - Focus on the many prophecies already fulfilled.

* Idealism/ Allegoricalism - Focus on timeless symbols that are true at all times.

* Futurism - Focus on future events - believing that all remaining prophecies will be fulfilled just prior to the return of Jesus.

Where Is It Written?

* Revelation 1:3 describes this letter as a prophecy. How is this significant?

* Who was this letter first written to?

* How is Jesus described in verse 5? How is this significant?

* What have we been saved from? (Verse 5?) What have we been saved for?

* Read verse 8 several times. How are the Alpha and Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet) and ”is, was and is to come” attributes of God significant?

How Goes Your Walk?

* What emotions does the Book of Revelation evoke for you? Why?

* How are you hoping to grow in your faith through our time in this book?

* How is your faith affected by knowing that Jesus will return as King?

Values Throughout The Series:

* Expect literal future fulfillment. But be careful about predictions!

* Look for past fulfillment.

* Look for timeless biblical symbols, truths, and principles.

* Be teachable.

Series Challenges:

* Read Revelation (Bonus - Read Daniel 7-12)

* Develop and Deepen a Christian Worldview

* Focus on the Finish Line (Memorize Revelation 21:1-4, 22:1-5)