Revelation 2:8-11

Message to Smyrna 

Not Prophesy, written in about 95 A.D. by John.

Each church section has a pattern;

·         Description of Jesus

·         Commendation

·         Criticism

·         Exhortation

·         Potential judgement

·         Promise to Overcomers

As we read about Smyrna, let’s identify each component.

Revelation 2:8-11

The Angel to the church in Smyrna – Polycarp.

A disciple of John

Bishop of Smyrna\

Martyred in 156.

Description of Jesus

First and last – Why is Jesus eternal nature important in this particular church’s message?

Commendation

Endured tribulation, persecution. NOT FUN. Does the Bible promise that Christianity will be fun? How does scripture address (what does it say about) tribulation and persecution?

Criticism

None – Wow.  Philadelphia is the only other church with no criticism.

Exhortation

Do not fear what you are about to suffer, Be faithful unto death.

Potential Judgement – None

Promise – Crown of Life, not be hurt by the second death. What is the second death?

The church at Smyrna was on the front end of ramped up persecution by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Is it possible that we might be headed for a time of persecution? What do you think the Spirit would say to us? How would we do that?

Psalm 23

God as the Shepherd

Last week we discussed Isiah 40. V11 says:

¹¹ Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

This morning I’d like for us to talk about understanding God using the Shepherd picture and go through Psalm 23.

READ Psalm 23

The first 3 verses describe actions. What are the 4 actions ascribed to Him?

Makes me lie down, Leads me, restores my soul, and guides me

When has God done one of these for you?

Why is the reason behind these actions important? It’s not all about me!

The next 2 verses (4 and 5) describe some actions, but they also show that God has power. What can we determine that God has power over through these verses?

Death, Evil, enemies

God doesn’t usually (lately) demonstrate his power over death by miraculously reviving dead people. He has done it a few times in the Bible, but that is not usually how He demonstrates His power over death. How does God show His power over death to us?

Evil is all around us. I sometimes drive down streets not that far from my house and see people that look like they are up to no good. I am probably wrong a lot of the time, but sometimes I’m not. I see evil in this world. How does God demonstrate His power over evil?

V6 sounds like if the Lord is your shepherd, your life will be all roses and happiness. The last part of the verse is eternal life, but we know that Christians have lots of challenges in this earthly life. What is the promise in V6 for today?

Isaiah 40

God's Power

Intro – Favorite football team or player

What do you notice about football players? Their size and strength.

Isaiah 40 talks about human strength so let’s look at what it has to say about it.

1-8

ALL flesh is grass. Grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

When we compare our strength with God’s there is really no good way to get the proper scale. The grass in my yard is looking pretty sorry right now.

9-17 Isaiah uses rhetorical questions to describe God in this section. As we read it, think about what he is saying about God and how it helps us understand God’s power.

Read 9-17

What does this section tell us about God?

                He will come with MIGHT

                His Arm ruling for him

                His reward is with him

                His recompense is with him

                He is like a shepherd

                He tends his flock

                He carries the lambs and gently leads the nursing ewes.

                He is so awesome that He holds the waters in the hollow if His hand.

                He has a Spirit, no one council him

Skip to 28-31

                He does not become weary

                V30 –football players

                If you wait on the lord you will not get weary.

How many of us have the kind of patience Isaiah is talking about in v31?

Why do you think God wants us to wait on Him?

Isaiah went to such great lengths to describe God’s power and contrast it with human frailty, then at the end of this section he says that we can gain strength through patience. (My paraphrase).

Do you think understanding God’s power affects our ability to be patient?

Romans 16

Friends

Romans 16: 1-5 Paul sends a lot of greetings to people.

It is a little odd to find such a list in Romans, because Paul had not been to Rome. He identifies 27 men and 9 women (7 by name).

It is unclear whether he knew the people by reputation or by personal relationship, but he spends a lot of ink on them.

What I’d like us to talk about this morning is the importance of relationships we develop when we serve the Lord together. I think those relationships we form with other believers, while we are serving, are very different than the relationships we might have with others.

Richard Williams

Johnny Morrison 

Paul sent greetings to these folks because he was not in close proximity to them. Can I get a few of you to describe someone who you have served in ministry with, but with whom you no longer have frequent contact?

Do you think the relationships we build with believers in service is different than the relationships we have otherwise? Why or why not?

I think the “serving God”-based relationships are rich in trust, and allow us to do more than we might be able to do alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:12: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

After listing all the people he wanted to greet, Paul ends his letter with a few warnings.

17-20 Last Advice/Warnings

Unity is critical. (has been done)

Smooth talkers can deceive the unsuspecting. (false teachers)

Be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

God will crush Satan.

Romans 15:7-21

Romans 15: 7-21 –Gentiles, Paul and the Gospel

Sum Up 1-6  Bear the weaknesses of other Christians, be of the same mind and with one accord and one voice glorify God.

Read 7-21 Looking for Paul’s description of his Ministry Mission. (Preach the gospel of Christ to the gentiles or where it has not been preached before). V16

·         Paul was called to minister to gentiles

·         Paul was let by the Holy Spirit

·         Paul focused his speech on what Christ had accomplished through him.

This passage is an interesting comment on the idea of dispensationalism. Paul cites OT prophesy about how Jesus would come and ultimately rule over the gentiles and give them hope. The OT focuses on God’s interaction with His People, the Jews. But the NT, particularly Paul’s ministry spreads out to other people and nations. This section of scripture highlights the change in how God is moving on earth after Jesus came.

BUT I have advertised this section of Romans as the “practical” part of Romans, so let’s talk about a practical application from these verses.

Paul characterizes his sermons/ministry as highlighting God’s work over his own. He says, “¹⁷ Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. ¹⁸ For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me,

For thought as we go:

Let’s take a few minutes and think about 2 or 3 conversations you have had this past week. How much of them boasted on things pertaining to God? For that matter, how many of them contained any mention of God at all? I will come back to this idea in a minute, but let’s look at a few other things first.

Of course we can all claim, “I’m no Paul”. We would be right about that. But if Jesus is your Savior, you have a lot in common with Paul. Let’s explore that idea a little.

Paul was called to minister to the Gentiles. I am sure that God has called me to be the best husband I can be (Karen is helping me with that), to lead this class, and to Obviously live for Him at work and in other places where I interact with People. What has God called you to do?

 There may be some folks here that are not sure what God has called them to do. What would you say to a person who is a believer but is unclear about how to respond to a question like that?

The next thing that Paul mentions is the leading of the Holy Spirit. I am sometimes a little skeptical of what people claim to be led to do by the Holy Spirit. Can you be sure that something that you want to do is from the Holy Spirit? How?

Finally, Paul focused his speech on what God had accomplished through him. I find that hard to do. At work, I’m usually thinking about teaching, getting tasks done, etc. Does anyone else feel like they sometimes go days without mentioning the Lord in a conversation? What kind of shift in thinking or actions can help us to use Paul’s technique (bragging on God) to fulfill the mission God has given us?

Romans 14

Pepsi Challenge

We are going to look at Romans 14 this morning. This chapter talks about amoral practices – those things which are not sinful in themselves, like one food or another. There are a couple of different examples in the passage, so let’s read through it.

Romans 14

Background – Some of the people Paul is saying have “Weaker faith” are Jewish believers who believe that they still needed to follow the Mosaic laws related to food and Holy days. The passage is directed to believers, not unbelievers.

This chapter is not really addressing food, holy days, or any amoral behavior, but is teaching us that we should not judge one another.

Paul gives 2 major arguments against one believer judging one another. What are they?

V10-12 We will all be judged by God

and 13 Don’t put an obstacle or stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Can you think of any examples of things that we as believers have the liberty to do but that might be a stumbling block for another believer?

Drinking Alcohol

Spanking children

Eating at a restaurant on Sunday

Working on Sunday

Repeat 17 and 19

V17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁹ So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

The problem arises over how we interpret what is immoral vs what is amoral.

How can you handle disagreements over amoral things?

Does this mean that if someone professes to be a believer, we should never challenge them on their behavior or choices?

Romans 13:11-14

The Day Is Near

Intro on Supreme Court decision on same sex marriage.

Romans 13:11-14

    

SALVATION is  Justified/Sanctified/ Glorified

The next event in God’s ‘Big Picture’ plan involves us meeting Him. Paul describes how he thinks we should live as we wait for the Lord to appear.

How would you summarize the behaviors he wrote in v 13-14?

Paul wrote this letter over 2000 years ago. It is still true that our Glorification is closer now than when we first believed, but does all that time make you think that it could be another 2000 years before Jesus returns?

Would it make a difference in your behavior if an angel appeared to you and said, “Jesus will return on Tuesday, get ready!”