Ephesus (1 of 6)
Series: Revelations
Will McGee
Revelation 2:1-7
Introduction: Not too long ago, I was sent a YouTube video from a friend. It was of this young, healthy, half-naked, bearded, hipster guy in a high school gym. He was balancing on a 12ft tall stack of dumbbells.
It was interesting. It was impressive. But, I couldn't understand why he sent this to me. So, I texted him back, ''What was that? Why did you send that to me?'' He replied, ''That old guy can really shoot free throws, can't he?''
I was confused. So, I watched the video again. This time I noticed something very different. In the background, there was an old man, quietly doing his thing. No camera in front of him. Fully dressed. Not being flashy. Not craving attention.
But he was draining free throws--he didn't miss.
I didn't see it at first, because my attention was given to the hipster angling for Instagram likes. My attention was on the foreground, when what was most impressive was happening in the background.
We live in a culture that is so impressed with Flashiness.... Attractiveness.... Influence.... Prestige... Youth...We care so much about appearances that we've failed to appreciate what is truly impressive... Meaningful.
This is why our culture can feel so shallow at times. Music. Film. Social Media. Politics.
I think churches and Christians are often no different. We celebrate appearances and size/influence just like everyone else. A. W. Tozer said, ''Modern religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.''
But one of the great themes of the Bible is that God doesn't look at the outward, he looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 - ''For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.''
This morning, we are beginning a seven-week study on the letters to the seven churches from the Book of Revelation.
In these letters, Jesus himself ...
Series: Revelations
Will McGee
Revelation 2:1-7
Introduction: Not too long ago, I was sent a YouTube video from a friend. It was of this young, healthy, half-naked, bearded, hipster guy in a high school gym. He was balancing on a 12ft tall stack of dumbbells.
It was interesting. It was impressive. But, I couldn't understand why he sent this to me. So, I texted him back, ''What was that? Why did you send that to me?'' He replied, ''That old guy can really shoot free throws, can't he?''
I was confused. So, I watched the video again. This time I noticed something very different. In the background, there was an old man, quietly doing his thing. No camera in front of him. Fully dressed. Not being flashy. Not craving attention.
But he was draining free throws--he didn't miss.
I didn't see it at first, because my attention was given to the hipster angling for Instagram likes. My attention was on the foreground, when what was most impressive was happening in the background.
We live in a culture that is so impressed with Flashiness.... Attractiveness.... Influence.... Prestige... Youth...We care so much about appearances that we've failed to appreciate what is truly impressive... Meaningful.
This is why our culture can feel so shallow at times. Music. Film. Social Media. Politics.
I think churches and Christians are often no different. We celebrate appearances and size/influence just like everyone else. A. W. Tozer said, ''Modern religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity and bluster make a man dear to God.''
But one of the great themes of the Bible is that God doesn't look at the outward, he looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 - ''For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.''
This morning, we are beginning a seven-week study on the letters to the seven churches from the Book of Revelation.
In these letters, Jesus himself ...
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