Grace Church: Recent Episodes
Grace Church
Grace Church is all about Jesus because we believe that he transforms sinners for the glory of God. That is why we teach and learn from the Bible, grow in our affection for Christ, and love and serve the city of Racine.
As we continue through chapter 9 of Matthew, we find two situations where Jesus is the source of controversy. But it certainly isn’t because Jesus is wrong or that he is stirring the pot for no good reason. The presence of the Son of God on earth signals a complete and monumental change of everything.
In last week’s passage, we were given a taste of what it costs to follow Christ. But for this week, Matthew gives us a fuller view of the one we are following. Through the three stories presented to us in this text, we see a display of power that separates Jesus from anyone or anything before him.
Last week’s passage gave us a glimpse of the authority that Jesus has from his healings and miracles. This week, we get a look at what it really means to follow him. From the response that he gives to two different people, Jesus bluntly describes the nature of discipleship.
As we turn the page from the Sermon on the Mount, we are immediately confronted with three different stories of Jesus’ miraculous healing work. But the reason for the recording of these healings goes far beyond Jesus being kind to the people around him. The people who he serves and the way he does it tells us a great deal about the nature of our Lord.
This week's passage concludes the Sermon on the Mount. And in it, we are given an illustration that sums up the consequences of what we do with it. It is a passage that certainly holds a warning for the reader, but also serves as a great encouragement.
Matthew 7:13-23 presents to us some of the most difficult teaching from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. It is a passage that draws attention to the fact that real followers of Jesus must be a transformed people and that there is no room in the kingdom for mere pretenders.
In verse 12, Jesus wraps up a major section of his teaching with one of the most quoted portions of the Bible. The “Golden Rule” is a text that is known well beyond the walls of the church, but it serves to bring a proper close to a great portion of what Jesus has already taught in the Sermon on the Mount.
As we start to wrap up Jesus' teaching on how we treat others in the Sermon on the Mount, we come to another passage about prayer. But instead of teaching us how to pray, our Lord gives us a word about the confidence we ought to have when we pray. It is an encouraging word about the level of access we have to our loving father in heaven.
This week, we shift from the personal nature of what our hearts are serving and depending on, to our interactions with those around us. As we consider the concept of judging whether someone else is right or wrong, Jesus had strong words for us to consider before engaging in casting that judgment on others.
Last week, we looked at Jesus’ teaching on earthly versus heavenly treasure. In this Sunday’s passage, Jesus addresses a consistent pitfall that everyone experiences: anxiousness over necessities. Jesus provides a perspective that serves to free us from the worry that takes our eyes off the kingdom. He encourages us to remember that God knows us better than we know ourselves and that our daily needs do not take him by surprise.
After multiple weeks focusing on the Lord’s Prayer, we now move onto the next part of the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus begins to teach on money and possessions. And although the way we view and spend money is not a popular idea to be confronted with, it is indicative of what our heart truly values.
We now reach the last part of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 and it covers something that we may not give much thought to in our prayer lives, temptation and evil. Matthew 6:13 is an acknowledgement that evil truly exists and that we are vulnerable without the protection of God. And so our Lord commands us to include these things in our prayers to God.
After a week in First Kings, we are back to the Lord’s Prayer. And in verse 12, we are taught to pray for our forgiveness. In fact, verse 12 is such a key part to Jesus’ teaching in this section that he adds commentary in verses 14-15. How we approach forgiveness is a chief indicator of the condition of our hearts.
In reflecting on a great week of VBS, we took a slight detour this Sunday from the Sermon on the Mount to look at the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal from 1 Kings 18. It serves as a reminder that the Lord we worship really is the One True God.
In Matthew 6:11, we come to a short petition asking for God to give us our daily bread. And while this may be a familiar phrase to many of us, our regularity in praying this way might be lacking. In this verse, Jesus is teaching us something very important about God and the way that we daily interact with him.
Due to storms during service on 6/16/24 we lost power several times. You will notice the breaks in audio when listeningWe continue through the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:10 with a plea from Jesus concerning the kingdom. He is teaching us to have a heart that prays for the Kingdom’s arrival and willing obedience from its citizens to the King. Though the words of this verse are often repeated weekly in churches without much thought, it is a request for the up-ending and restoration of everything.
This Sunday, we start to narrow our focus onto individual sections of the Lord‘s prayer. And while this may be a passage that is very familiar to many of us, there is much to glean from looking at it so closely. In 6:9, we see how Jesus addresses the Father as well as a prayer concerning his name.
This week, we begin a new chapter in Matthew and a new section of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. Here, Jesus warns his listeners of practicing their righteousness before others in order to be seen. It is a message that shows us that God not only cares about what we do, but why we do it.
We now come to the end of chapter 5, as well as this section of the Sermon on the Mount. This section concludes with a command that, at first glance, might make us think that Jesus couldn’t actually be serious about. He calls us to be perfect. And while our normal use of the word “perfect” might cloud our understanding, it is a command we are meant to obey.
In this final paragraph of Matthew 5, Jesus gives a teaching that is truly emblematic of the high calling of being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. We are called to love our enemies. While this certainly would have been radical in Jesus’ day, it's still radical when it is truly lived out today and confounds a world that is watching.
Jesus' teaching throughout chapter 5 has set a different tone for what true righteous living actually looks like. His words on retaliation in this week's passage are no exception. Like the rest of this chapter before it, Jesus' words here present to us a standard for dealing with insult and injustice that can only be categorized as radical by those looking in.
As we continue on with Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, we come upon hiswords concerning oaths. While we may not live in the same type of oath-taking-culture ashis original hearers, the principles remain the same. We are to be people of our word thatfollow through with what we promise
In this week’s passage, Jesus seamlessly moves from the subject of lust to divorce and remarriage. And in these topics, he continues to teach a righteousness that goes much deeper than the surface. While these subjects may make us uncomfortable, how we approach them as citizens of the kingdom matters immensely to the Lord.
In this week’s passage, Jesus talks about the sin of lust. Just like anger, it is a far deeper issue than what we see on the surface. For citizens of His kingdom, it is not only a matter of how we outwardly act, but also of what we entertain inwardly. Jesus is calling us to a fuller righteousness.
As we enter into the main body of Jesus’ teaching, he begins with a word on anger and dissension amongst brothers. And while it may seem excessive at first glance, Jesus’ instruction on these matters is a testimony to how serious God takes our relationships with one another.
After a break for Holy Week, we are now back to our Lord’s teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. This passage is the first one that comes after the Beatitudes and connects us into the main body of Jesus’ sermon. Here, the Lord shows us that following him is a higher call than what we may expect.
Today, we celebrate together the resurrection of our Lord as Holy Week and the Lenten season come to a close. Resurrection Sunday is the highest holy day in our calendar because if Jesus isn’t raised from the dead, then we don't have a foundation for our faith. As we see in Psalm 16, not only has God raised him, but this was the plan all along.
We begin Holy Week by celebrating Palm Sunday together and walking through Psalm 118. Throughout the week we will dive into psalms that apply to the events of Christ’s passion throughout the week. Psalm 118 is not only quoted during the events of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, but it also tells us so much about our Savior and the nature of his deliverance.
We have now come to the end of this section called the beatitudes, and Jesus concludes it by comparing his people to salt and light. We get a chance here to see the impact that living rightly has for those who witness it. If last week’s passage (Matthew 5:10-12) was about the world’s effect on God’s people, this is about the effect of God’s people on the world.
This Sunday concludes our time together in the beatitudes and it ends with a word on the world’s response to the righteous. Hostility and persecution are not just a probability, they are to be expected. And even though this is the reality for God’s people, we are to rejoice because of what we already have reserved for us.
As we approach the end of the beatitudes, our Lord gives the penultimate description of the citizens of his kingdom as peacemakers. And while peace is a term that the world uses quite frequently, the worldly understanding of it certainly lacks the fullness of what Christ means by it. So as God’s people, we go forward as His representatives of the kind of peace he offers.
We are now into the latter half of our Lord’s beatitudes in which we are getting a clearer picture of the type of people who are part of his kingdom. In verse 8, Jesus calls us to purity of heart and promises the gift of seeing God. It is a simple statement, but holds profound weight that gives us a hope beyond anything before.
We have now reached the fifth beatitude which tells us that the merciful are the blessed ones. This is a unique beatitude amongst the list of others in that the outcome replicates the command. The merciful will be shown mercy. It is another insight into what citizens of the kingdom are to be like.
The passage from this Sunday again presents to us a truth that proves difficult for us to understand and often to accept: that God truly is sovereign over all things and has providence over all that comes to pass. But this time, the Preacher goes into a little more depth than he has before, as to how we ought to think about and respond to our circumstances. How we ultimately approach adversity says a lot about how we trust the Lord.
In this week’s passage, the Preacher zeroes in on possessions and wealth. But it isn’t the message that many of us might expect on the subject. The issue of having wealth or not isn’t as much the concern of the Preacher as the approach to it and the heart of the one who has it. It is a message that ought to resonate well with us who have been given much in comparison to most throughout the world.
This week, we looked at the first section of verses in chapter 5. And while most of Ecclesiastes up to this point has been a series of observations about the visible world, the Preacher’s approach changes toward giving advice in this passage. His concern is the careless usage of words before God and the dangers inherent to it. It is a text that exposes the connection between the words of our mouth and our heart's attitude toward God.
As we continue along in our walk through Ecclesiastes, the latter half of chapter 4 presents to us a contrast between living a life in isolation from others and one surrounded by accountable relationships. The one accentuates the vanity of our toil and the other brings to us something good and beneficial to ourselves. It is a passage that teaches us the essential place that community must have in living a good life.
Last week, we saw that God’s sovereignty over all aspects of all things is something to which we can humbly and even joyfully submit. As we continue in Ecclesiastes this week we will follow the Preacher as he ponders how one is to live or find purpose in a world filled with wickedness, injustice, and oppression. How does God’s sovereignty carry over into these aspects of our fallen world and is there any place we can truly find comfort in the midst of suffering in our own lives and those around us?
This week, we come across one of the most familiar passages in all of scripture, more for pop culture reasons than anything else. But there is more to this text than what most would care to think about. The seasons of life change, and there is a time for all of it. This is an examination of God’s sovereignty over all times and what that means for us. To many, it is a terrifying prospect to realize that we have so little control. But to those of us who fear him, our response should be different.
Last week, we were introduced to the book of Ecclesiastes. The author began with the statement that ‘all is vanity’, and in the second half of chapter 1 and all of chapter 2, the Preacher goes into a bit more detail of how this is the case. He discusses the pursuit of wisdom, self indulgence, wise living, and all toil done under the sun. He comes to the conclusion that, indeed, it is all vanity. At the very end of chapter 2, we get a glimpse that there is more to what the Preacher is saying than a cynical philosophy of life.
This week we began a new book together as Pastor Mike presented Ecclesiastes 1:1–11 to us. It’s probably safe to say that we couldn’t have picked a more dissimilar book from Revelation than this. If Revelation is a view of what is going on behind the curtain, Ecclesiastes is a study of the curtain itself. What is this world that we dwell in and what do we make of the lives we live in it?
After almost an entire year, we have reached the conclusion to the book of Revelation. The prophecy has been given to John and now we are instructed on how to go forward in light of it. Jesus is coming soon; and the reality of this truth propels his people to live faithfully until that day.
In the wrapping up of Revelation (and history as we know it), we are treated to an abundance of imagery that gives us a glorious peek at our lives to come. We will finally be with our God forever in the place that he has prepared for us. One interesting aspect of this week’s passage is how it shows us that the new heavens and the new earth are not completely different from the world we see today, but it is a renewed and far better version of it.
As of last week, we have entered into the part of Revelation where we get a clear view of the fulfillment of all things. The new heavens and new earth has arrived, and we see that it is gloriously different than the current order of things. In this week’s text, John’s vision of these things is focused in on the bride. Through some very descriptive language, we can get a picture of the final product that God is moving us towards as he works in us.
This week begins a new chapter in Revelation, both literally and figuratively. As we saw the things of old done away with at the end of chapter 20, all of God’s enemies judged and the world that was cursed gone, it is now time for something new. It is now time for God to fulfill and complete the work that he has promised to do since the days of Abraham, to create a permanent dwelling place for himself among man. As you study this passage, consider the hope that this would have given John’s original audience, the seven churches that were facing their myriad of problems and trials. Now consider the hope that this is meant to instill in us today. It’s the same hope, the same eternal destination. Let your heart desire this day more than any other, when God will dwell with us in a new and perfect world.
Last week, we saw Satan defeated and thrown into the Lake of Fire. Now, we come to the last enemy of God and His people: Death. From upon His great white throne judgment is poured out upon “the dead” and ultimately upon Death itself. Though the punishment of an eternity spent in a Lake of Fire is a terrible reality to face, in this latter part of Revelation 20 we see that the One who sits on this throne is indeed holy, just, and true in His judgments.
Last week, we went through one of the most striking images in the entire Bible, Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords and King of Kings rides into battle on His white horse. The battle ends in total victory with the Beast and the False prophet being cast into the lake of fire for eternity. The original readers, reading this letter for the first time, might pause at the end of ch19 and ask what about Satan? What about that great Dragon, the deceiver, the accuser, the father of all lies and murder, the serpent which opened wide the door of temptation and invited Adam and Eve to step into sin. What about Satan? And maybe, just maybe, asking where are the Saints? Revelation 20:1-10 answers those questions, but leaves much to the reader's imagination as well.
We have now arrived at the anticipated moment that all of history has been building up to, the return of Jesus Christ in glory. And this passage describes it in clearer detail than anywhere else in Scripture. We see heaven opened up and the King of Kings return to judge the world in righteousness. Though we may expect an epic struggle with such an event, Revelation 19 tells us of something a little different.
The beginning of 19 presents to us a view from heaven of the celebration over God’s judgment of Babylon. This is followed up with an announcement of a marriage feast to happen soon. This text shows us that a new reality is upon us. The old is passing away and the new is about to come. The goodness of this news is dependent on the object of a person’s worship.
Last week, we got a vision of a prostitute riding the beast. In chapter 18, John is made privy to a detailed word on what will truly become of her. This is a passage that continues to show us what the final judgment of all things will look like. Babylon is fallen. And with it, we see a very sharp contrast in the reaction to this news; depending on the perspective it comes from.
As we continue in John’s vision in chapter 17, his attention is now drawn to a woman. But this woman is very different from the one in chapter 12. This is a fantastically repulsive picture that actually causes John to marvel for a moment. Though this part of Revelation is, again, chock-full of difficult imagery it is important for us to understand what is being said here since it helps us further understand the world we live in.
In Chapter 16, the hour of judgment has come. And the image in which we see it here is with seven angels pouring out the seven bowls of God’s wrath. Each bowl seemingly more intense than the last. But its in the contrasting responses over these things from heaven and on earth where we truly see the difference between those who stand with the Lord. and those who stand against him.
In chapter 15, John sees another sign. It is a moment of final preparation before the final judgment comes down. And the reaction that John sees in this moment is one of praise and worship to the Lamb. This new mini-series within our walk through Revelation marks out the final death throes and destruction of the world system as we know it. It is dark, but it will bring us to the doorstep of the glorious new heavens and ne earth.
After a mountain-top vision from the text last week, John now gives a startlingly dark description of what awaits those who reject the living God and worship the beast. This week’s passage contains probably the most explicit reference to the nature of God’s wrath in all of the scriptures and so it is rightfully met with a sense of trembling. But ultimately, this is a word to encourage the saints to endure all the more.
This week, we are back in the book of Revelation and walked through the first five verses of chapter 14 together. This chapter comes on the heels of John’s visions of the two beasts that make war on the saints cause those who do not worship the image to be slain. But chapter 14 opens up with a vision of pure joy and hope for God’s faithful. It is a vision to give God’s people the encouragement to sustain them through tribulation.
A king is coming for his people and he will set up a city and kingdom unlike any before. This was true in the days of Zerchariah and it still remains true for us today. We just have more information now. Palm Sunday is the recognition that Jesus has always been the king that his people have been waiting for. He has come to us already, but will come again to finish the job completely.
Last week in Chapter 12, we saw the dragon, Satan himself, thrown down from heaven and begin his great war on those who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Now in chapter 13, John sees the infamous beast rise from the sea. There is a lot of confusion about this beast. But if we read carefully, we can come away with a clear sense of what God is revealing to us about the nature of evil and the hope we have in enduring and faithfully following Christ to the very end.
In Revelation 12, we begin a new sequence of visions, following the seven trumpets. The Apostle John sees two great signs in heaven: a woman giving birth to a son and a great red dragon. And he witnesses a great battle that rages in heaven and on earth between the dragon and those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. As you study this section further, remember that we are dealing with highly symbolic literature that is representative of spiritual realities that we can’t see with our eyes. To interpret these visions we must look at the context surrounding these symbols. How do we understand chapter 12 in light of everything else we’ve read so far in Revelation, as well as what has come before in all of scripture?
This week we finally come to the seventh trumpet. Like the seventh seal that was opened in chapter 8, this final trumpet blast serves to symbolize the end of God’s judgment and the beginning of the new order of God’s kingdom. Verse 15 sums this up when it says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” That describes the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan for all creation, a plan where heaven and earth would be united as one kingdom under God. As you reflect on this passage this week, consider how that end goal of unification between heaven and earth might affect the way you live your life today.
Last week in chapter 10, the Apostle John, the author of Revelation, received a commission from God to “prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” Now in this vision, John receives a measuring rod to measure the temple of God and those who worship there. Then he is told about the two witnesses and what will happen to them. This whole scene takes place in the context of the sixth trumpet blast back from chapter 9, which is also the second of three woes first referenced at the end of chapter 8. Which is to say, things are really starting to get confusing. But while we can get lost in the details of this winding road, we mustn't lose sight of the purpose of this highly symbolic vision—this revelation is given to strengthen the faith of the church as it waits for the return of Christ.
In this week’s passage, we find ourselves at a break in the action. The opening of the seven seals gave way to seven trumpets. The first six trumpets have been blown, bringing about the judgments of God upon the earth and the hardened hearts of those who refuse to repent. Now, before the seventh trumpet is blown, just as we saw before the seventh seal was opened, John is shown something special. Before the seventh seal he saw the great multitude of those who worship the Lamb. Now before the seventh trumpet and final judgment, John sees a mighty angel come down from heaven with a scroll. And on this scroll would be a sweet and bitter message for all peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
In this sermon, Pastor Mike walked us through the first six ‘Trumpet Judgments’. In this passage, we are given a continued picture of the sovereignty of Christ as well as the instability of this world. In true apocalyptic form, we get to clearly see just how foolish it is to place our faith in this present order of the world and that true security can only be found in the Lamb who moves these events at his will.
This Sunday, we jumped back into the book of Revelation by looking at 8:1-5. In this short passage, we have a continued vision of God’s throne room as there is a preparation for judgment in the blowing of the seven trumpets. It is a unique passage where we get to see how God responds to the prayers of his suffering people.
In this final week of our series on the local church, we look at the idea of membership. We highly value church membership here at Grace, but what about it makes it so important? In the sermon this week, Pastor Mike drew out the principles of church membership from Philippians 3 and showed us that our relationship and responsibility to each other is deeper and more profound than we probably thought.
We have now reached week 4 of our series on the local church. Jumping off from Matthew 20, Pastor Mike shared a Christ centered view of leadership when it comes to the oversight and carrying out the work of the local church. Just like so many other aspects of the Kingdom of God, the function of church leadership differs greatly from the values of the world. But it serves to magnify the Lord greatly when carried out as scripture prescribes.
In this third week of the current series on the local church, Matthew Lautz shared about the centrality of worship in the life of the believer. But specifically, the centrality of worship as participants in the body of Christ. Though the gathering of believers on Sunday is something that we may take for granted at times, it is far more crucial in regards to God’s glory than we may understand.
We are now into the second week of our month-long series on the local church. This is a chance for us to take a step back and think through our life as a local body in a biblical, yet practical and strategic manner. This Sunday, Pastor Mike walked us through what this looks like in the area of stewardship. What we have been given and the way we use it is an essential part of our lives as followers of Christ.
We now move on from chapter 6; which culminates in the Wrath of the Lamb, to a vision that certainly strikes a different tone. In it, we are privy to a wide angle view of the people of God before the throne. It is a passage that serves to remind all believers as to why faithfulness to our blessed Lord in this life is worth it.
In last week’s chapter, John is shown a vision of the Lamb being the only one who is worthy to receive the scroll and to look into it. In Chapter 6, he sees the result of that as Jesus breaks open each of the seals. John (and we also) are privy to what is really going on behind the scenes as the last days unfold. It is not a world in chaos or evil winning the day. It is a righteous king sovereignly orchestrating all things to God’s glory as history comes to a culmination.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, through John’s vision of the throne in heaven, we learned that God is sovereign over all the cosmos. He is seated on His throne, in control, forever. This week, we find ourselves in the same scene. However, the worship and glory only intensifies as we direct our focus on the One who is worthy to take the scroll. As the four living creatures and the elders and the myriads of angels and every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them raise their voices to declare Him worthy, we cannot help but ask ourselves: What could we lose by following the Lamb? What could we gain by following the Lamb? He who is worthy to take the scroll and to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing is worthy of our allegiance. He is worthy of our worship. He is worthy of our very all.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we concluded our study of the proclamations to the seven churches. In the proclamations to Philadelphia and Laodicea, we found imagery about doors. This week, we find a door standing open in heaven! In the proclamation to Laodicea, the risen Jesus promised that those who conquer will sit with Him on His throne, as He conquered and sat down with His Father on His throne. This week, we are given a glorious vision of the throne in heaven! On the throne, we find God seated, in control, forever. He is sovereign, not just over all the churches, but over all the cosmos. As we consider what this glorious vision would have meant for the seven churches, we must consider what it means for us. May we join the heavenly chorus in worshiping the One who is holy and worthy, who was and is and is to come!
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. We have learned a lot in the last seven weeks. So this week we conclude our study of the proclamations to the seven churches by narrowing down our focus. In Revelation 2-3, the phrases “He who has an ear” and “The one who conquers” each are repeated seven times. Such repetition demands our attention. Through careful examination, we will find that only those who truly hear truly conquer. The words of the risen Jesus to the seven churches are words to us as well. Today may we turn to ask ourselves: Do I have ears to hear? Will I be counted among the conquerors?
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we learned about the church in Philadelphia. This week, we continue our study of the proclamations to the seven churches with Laodicea. Here, we find a shocking contrast between this week’s passage and last week’s passage: The One just described as having the power to open and shut (3:7-8) now stands outside the door of one of His churches, knocking and waiting to be let in. In Laodicea, we find a comfortable church whose complacency has rendered them as useless as lukewarm water. Even so, the risen Jesus reminds them of His love for them and calls them to be zealous, repent, and open the door. Might we find our own reflection in the Laodicean church? He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we learned about the church in Sardis. This week, we continue our study of the proclamations to the seven churches with Philadelphia. Similar to the church in Smyrna, the church in Philadelphia receives no rebuke from the risen Jesus. Instead, Jesus promises to preserve and vindicate them because they have persevered. Although they are small in the eyes of the world, they are greatly loved by Jesus. Although they have but little power, they are promised true security and a fixed identity forever if they will hold fast. The One who opens and shuts has the power to give access to the place of permanent stability: The people of God in the presence of God. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we learned about the church in Thyatira. This week, we continue our study of the proclamations to the seven churches with Sardis. Unlike most of the other churches, the church in Sardis faced no external threat. Their problems came from within. This church was satisfied with the name it had made for itself, but Jesus wanted to give it the right name—an unsoiled name in the eyes of the One who matters most. Through this church, we are challenged to ask ourselves: Would Jesus find us to be alive or dead? Do we cling to the only One who can give us life? He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: Wake up!
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we learned about the proclamation to the church in Pergamum. This week, we turn our attention to Thyatira. Through this church, we are challenged to consider the ways we might tolerate what we should not. Here we learn that Jesus really cares about the purity of His church—and we should too! The One with eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze searches our minds and hearts. Do we keep His works, or the works of the world? He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. It also gives us a glorious portrait of Jesus that is meant to encourage us. Last week, we learned about the proclamation to the church in Smyrna. This week we turn to look at Pergamum. While those in Smyrna were warned that some of them may die for the faith, one in Pergamum already has. Through this church, we are motivated to hold fast to Jesus’ word and reminded of the dangers of compromising our allegiance to the Lord. Here we learn that whoever’s word means the most to us will have the most influence over us. Jesus’ proclamation to Pergamum calls us to ask ourselves: If we are willing to die for our faith in Jesus, are we willing to live for Him—adhering to His word alone? He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The last book of the Bible, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. Last week, we learned about the first of the proclamations to the seven churches: If the great Ephesian church was to let its light shine in the world, its sound teaching must also be manifested in works of love. This week, we learn about the proclamation to the church in Smyrna. Unlike Ephesus, the church in Smyrna receives no rebuke from the risen Jesus. Instead, it is called to maintain its witness in the face of suffering. It is called to face persecution with faithfulness and without fear. Through the church in Smyrna, we learn that true Christianity does conquer—even to the point of death. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
In our sermon series, The Son of Man at the Center, we have been walking through the last book of the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation is meant to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus. Last week, we learned that the One described in John’s vision is the One who walks with His people. This week, this One who walks with His people has a jarring message for them. The great Ephesian church, planted and nurtured by Paul, Timothy, Apollos, Priscilla, and Aquila (Acts 18: 24-28; Acts 19), is in danger of losing its place among the lampstands. If they are to let their light shine in the world, their sound teaching must also be manifested in works of love. His message for the Ephesian church is also a message for us. Do we as individuals and as a church prioritize both sound teaching and works of love the way that Jesus does? Do we have ears to hear?
This week we continue our sermon series on the last book of the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Although its imagery may be confusing and the theories surrounding it may be distracting, this is actually a book about discipleship. Its purpose is to motivate and equip us to be mature disciples of Jesus Christ—to be faithful witnesses like Him. Last week, we were reminded to focus our attention on Jesus. This week, we are given one of the biggest, clearest, and most encouraging portraits of Jesus in all of Scripture: The One described in John’s vision is the One who walks with us. The One like a Son of Man with eyes like fire and feet like burnished bronze is close enough to touch us and say, “Fear not.”
This week we begin a new sermon series on the last book of the Bible: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Although it is easy to be confused by the imagery in the book or distracted by theories that surround the book, this is actually a book about discipleship. Ultimately, this book gives us one of the biggest, clearest, and most encouraging portraits of Jesus in all of Scripture. Its purpose is to be a blessing to the church and to help us follow Jesus until He returns. Our passage this week focuses our attention on Jesus, the primary source and subject of the revelation. He has a message of blessing to those who keep it. Although our context is very different from the context of suffering and persecution in which this book was written, the stakes are as high as ever. Are we ready to hold fast to Jesus, no matter what comes? Are we ready to walk the road of discipleship and lay down our lives to follow Him?
This week we stand between two sermon series: “Know the Story” and our upcoming Revelation series. In this in-between, we are invited to pause and examine our hearts. We look at Proverbs to learn the great irony of humility: The road to obtaining honor is not pride, but being lowly in spirit. The way up is really the way down. As we walk this road, let us look less at ourselves and more at Someone greater: Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Note: Due to a power failure, a clip of the audio cuts out. In our sermon series “Know the Story,” we can see that God has woven together one narrative about His redemption of His creation for His glory. And at the very center of this narrative is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. For the past couple weeks, we have been learning about Jesus’ life, teaching, and works. Most importantly, we have learned about what He accomplished through His death and resurrection. As we transition to the book of Acts, we find a transition in the narrative itself. As Jesus ascends into heaven, the story of His time on earth comes to an end and the story of the church begins. This story runs throughout the New Testament and continues on today. Like the disciples, we have been given the Holy Spirit and have been called to be on mission and to be witnesses to Christ. Like they did, we too will see the gospel triumph.
In our sermon series “Know the Story,” we have been tracing the big picture storyline of the whole Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God has woven together one narrative about His redemption of His creation for His glory. Although there are many passages that capture the essence of this sweeping narrative, Romans 3:21-26 is one of the most powerful and succinct. In these six verses, we find the very center of the Bible’s narrative: God’s Son, Jesus Christ. And we learn that the problem of righteousness is solved in Christ. Not only has He made a way for us to be righteous before God, but He has also revealed and vindicated the righteousness of God. On the cross, God’s love and wrath meet. On the cross, His mercy and justice are reconciled.
Last week, we learned that the direction of the king’s heart determines the direction of the kingdom. An imperfect king turns the heart of the kingdom away from God, but we long for a better King in Jesus who never turns the kingdom away. This week, we learn that God is doing a new thing. He is making a new covenant. His people had broken the covenant, failing to keep terms that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai. And now they are facing exile as punishment. So on what basis is God going to make a new covenant when all that people have ever done is sin? He is going to forgive them. And what is this new covenant going to take? A radical heart replacement. This week we learn that our relationship with God is broken, but through Jesus God has made a way to fix it permanently.
Last week, we caught a glimpse of God's ultimate plans for His people. He was forming a kingdom that would one day culminate in a King whose throne would be established forever. In our passage this week, we learn just how important who the king is. The direction of the king's heart determines the direction of the kingdom. David's son Solomon is on the throne, and the people he's surrounded himself with lead his heart after other gods. As king Solomon turns away from the one true God, he is effectively leading the kingdom to do the same. His actions effectively break the kingdom. Solomon's story reminds us that the person we marry and the people we surround ourselves with matter. His story also makes us look for a better King in Jesus who never turns the kingdom away, and who holds the kingdom together.
As we saw last week with the Passover, God expects the Israelites to follow His instructions in order to live in fellowship with Him. But after the Israelites failed to follow God’s covenant before it was even ratified (e.g. the golden calf), God graciously gives Moses the terms of the covenant on Mount Sinai again. The rules that Moses is receiving are the rules that Israel needs to follow in order to live with a God who is too holy for them. In our passage this week, we learn what it takes for an unholy people to covenant with a holy God, and we catch a glimpse at how the veil, the boundary between humanity and the glory of God, can be lifted.
This week we are continuing our series “Know The Story” where we are taking a wide view look at the whole Bible to see that it tells one cohesive story, from Genesis to Revelation. In this week's passage, God’s people the Israelites, the sons and daughters of Abraham, have been made slaves in Egypt. But God has a plan to rescue them. In His final plague, He will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down all the firstborn. In order to protect the Israelites from this judgment, God tells them to slaughter a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts of their house, so that the destroyer might pass over them. This is their Independence Day. And every year they are to celebrate it every year by remembering what God has done.
In our passage this week, we find the dynamics of the temptation and fall into sin. While last week we found God’s original design for His creation, this week we find the breach of that design and God’s response to that breach. We find the origin of the pattern played out in the rest of Scripture: Why is there struggle and toil? Why is there fear and shame? Why are the relationships with creation, each other, and God so broken? Why must we die? In this story we see the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for humanity: The man and the woman ate from the tree which God commanded them not to eat. The effects of this sin were severe. Yet God came to find them, made a way for them to get back to Him and paradise, and provided a solution for their nakedness and shame. In the temptation and fall of the first man and woman, how might we see ourselves and our circumstances today?
This week we begin a new series tracing the big picture storyline of the whole Bible. Even though the Bible is written by about 40 individuals over thousands of years in multiple languages, the story it tells is singular. From Genesis to Revelation, God has woven together one narrative telling of His redemption of His creation for His glory. In our passage this week, we find a detailed and dynamic account of the creation of the first man and woman. And, here, we see God establishing His purposes uniquely for humanity within creation. At the center of His purposes, in this account, we find humanity’s relationship with creation, each other, and with God. At the center of His purposes, we find a picture of unity, peace, and delight. As we read about the Garden, we cannot help but long for this reality and wonder how it can be restored.
In our passage this week, Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians with final instructions. For the last couple chapters, Paul has been discussing how the Thessalonians can live lives that are pleasing to God (4:1). Now, he wraps up this discussion with a string of imperatives (see vv. 13b-22 and 25-26 in particular). And while this may seem like a disjointed list of imperatives at first glance, Paul was actually giving them four categories for being a healthy church. The questions he answers for the Thessalonians are the same questions we need answered today: How should we treat leaders? How should we treat everyone? How should we behave all the time? And who is the One who will ultimately bring these things about in us?
In our passage this week, Paul turns from discussing the fate of the Christian dead to the fate of the Christian living. Since the Thessalonians were fully aware that the Day of the Lord was inevitable, yet unpredictable, Paul moved to discuss his primary concern: That they prepare themselves. Knowing ahead of time that this Day would come, they could prepare themselves like an owner of a house would prepare for a thief in the night by keeping awake and being sober. And as they waited, they were girded with the breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. Because of Jesus’ saving death on the cross, they could know that they were not destined “for wrath, but to obtain salvation through” Him (v. 9). In the end, Paul’s words to the Thessalonians are the same as they are to us today: We can live lives that are pleasing to God by encouraging one another to be watchful and ready.