TO FOURTH CHURCH WITH GRATITUDE (10 OF 29)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: Revelation 1:2, Revelation1:3
This content is part of a series.
To Fourth Church With Gratitude (10 of 29)
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 2-3
Have you ever wished that Jesus would write a letter to our church? What do you think He would say? What aspects of His character would He emphasize? In what ways would Jesus commend us? Would He commend us, or would there be a deafening silence? Would we escape without any correction? Or, more likely, would Jesus take us to task for areas that we can grow in? How would He challenge us and call us to respond?
For the past two months we've been reading and studying seven letters dictated by Jesus Christ to the apostle John and then sent to the angels of seven small churches in western Turkey in the last decade of the first century. These letters have been preserved for us in Revelation 2-3. They are profound, convicting, and encouraging. In each of the seven letters, there's plenty for us to individually and corporately obey because we have a lot in common with those first-century churches. So if Jesus were to address our local church, what might He say? If I may, I'd like to use a little sanctified imagination and piecemeal from the seven letters what I believe Jesus would say to Fourth Church.
1. The Character. Jesus begins each of His seven letters with a verse that lays out specific attributes or titles, primarily from John's vision of the exalted, resurrected Christ (1:9-20). He begins by telling the church at Ephesus that He is: ''The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands'' (2:1; cf. 1:20). These words are especially relevant to Fourth Church. We have been fortunate enough to have a 112-year history. How is this possible? How have we lasted over a century? How have we survived church splits and schisms? Are we particularly resilient? Not necessarily. Jesus holds the angels of our church in His right hand-the symbol of power and authority. Furthermore, He walks among us-a reference ...
Series: Live Like You're Leaving
Keith Krell
Revelation 2-3
Have you ever wished that Jesus would write a letter to our church? What do you think He would say? What aspects of His character would He emphasize? In what ways would Jesus commend us? Would He commend us, or would there be a deafening silence? Would we escape without any correction? Or, more likely, would Jesus take us to task for areas that we can grow in? How would He challenge us and call us to respond?
For the past two months we've been reading and studying seven letters dictated by Jesus Christ to the apostle John and then sent to the angels of seven small churches in western Turkey in the last decade of the first century. These letters have been preserved for us in Revelation 2-3. They are profound, convicting, and encouraging. In each of the seven letters, there's plenty for us to individually and corporately obey because we have a lot in common with those first-century churches. So if Jesus were to address our local church, what might He say? If I may, I'd like to use a little sanctified imagination and piecemeal from the seven letters what I believe Jesus would say to Fourth Church.
1. The Character. Jesus begins each of His seven letters with a verse that lays out specific attributes or titles, primarily from John's vision of the exalted, resurrected Christ (1:9-20). He begins by telling the church at Ephesus that He is: ''The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands'' (2:1; cf. 1:20). These words are especially relevant to Fourth Church. We have been fortunate enough to have a 112-year history. How is this possible? How have we lasted over a century? How have we survived church splits and schisms? Are we particularly resilient? Not necessarily. Jesus holds the angels of our church in His right hand-the symbol of power and authority. Furthermore, He walks among us-a reference ...
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