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  • Seven: Hear What Christ is Saying to You

In a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christianity and where many Christ followers are distracted, people often ask, “Is there really any value and/or relevancy to having a laser-focused and engaged faith?” Let’s be honest, resisting a life of distraction and/or indifference in order to passionately embrace the life God wants for us takes a lot of grit.

Yet, Jesus has a lot to say to us about days like these. He says it through one of His closest friends in a letter we call the Book of Revelation. Join us for this new series where you will find that Jesus’ words to seven churches are as relevant for today as they were in the first century.

Messages

  • Seven - Part 1: Prophecy

    Join us for the first part of our series on the letters to the seven churches as we discuss the purpose of the Book of Revelation and what we can take away from prophecy.


  • Seven - Part 2: The Forgetful Church

    Have you ever watched the TV series, Undercover Boss? If you haven't, it is all about a boss (CEO) pretending to be a regular employee to see what really is going on, which can be really entertaining. There is usually an off-the-rails employee in some supervisory role that gets in trouble and another employee who is exemplary who is rewarded. What do you think would happen if Jesus played undercover boss in our church? How about our personal lives? That might not be so entertaining. Or maybe it would be more satisfying if there was a commendation rather than condemnation.

    Join us for Part 2 of our new series, Seven, as we unpack Revelations 2:1-7 to see the commendation and condemnation for the church in Ephesus and what that means for us today.


  • Seven - Part 3: The Suffering Church

    This message is the next installment of Seven: Hear What Christ Is Saying To You and the subject is a difficult one. One we often don’t even like acknowledging as it is just a downer. Not only does it break our heart when it happens to others but it is tough to experience personally. That teaser may not inspire you to join us for this message but we hope you will anyway as we tackle the subject of suffering. Fortunately, Jesus knows all about it and understands as one who experienced it. You see, we have a Savior who can lead us in it and through it with compassion, grace, and empowerment. No matter where you find yourself in relation to suffering, up close and personal or far away, Jesus can use it to do some pretty amazing things in our lives. We hope you'll lean in as we talk about a difficult subject that doesn’t have to leave us down, but can bring us up! Our prayer is that you will have hope no matter where you are in relation to suffering. Corrie ten Boom has this to say on the subject:

    "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.”
    and also
    "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."


    In the meanwhile, we hope that Jesus’ words will encourage you wherever you are:
     

    I am aware of all the painful difficulties you have passed through and your financial hardships, even though, in fact, you possess rich treasure. And I am fully aware of the slander that has come against you from those who claim to be Jews but are really not, for they are a satanic congregation. Do not yield to fear in the face of the suffering… Revelation 2:9-10


  • Seven - Part 4: The Compromising Church

    None of us like the idea of being judged, especially by someone who we don't think knows us. On the hand, all of us, I hope, would welcome some grace and truth-filled advice, especially if it would keep us from making a huge mistake. That is exactly what Jesus in doing for these seven churches - just a local group of Christ followers trying to live out their faith in community - and in each letter there are significant takeaways for us as Christ followers even thought the letters were written close to 2,000 years ago.  

    Hope you will join us in person or online as we listen in on Jesus' words regarding the dangers of compromise (Revelation 2:12-17).  Overcoming compromise is timely anytime and might even be more fitting for today than ever. Jesus shares three very positive and encouraging promises for us when we travel in the direction of living compromise-free. He wants each of us to experiences those promises and that also is our hope and prayer for you!  


  • Seven - Part 5: The Tolerant Church

    When have you felt strong pressure to compromise? The church at Thyatira was under extreme pressure to compromise when a teacher came up with a work-around. Some gave it try and it seem to be working, but then Jesus inconveniently sent a letter which short-circuited the work-around. Jesus' inconvenience continues today when He calls us out on our inadequate answers for compromise especially now when that pressure seems to grow each and every day. How can we hold onto intolerance when Jesus calls us to accept people where they are at without approving what they do? Join us for this very relevant letter to the church, our church, for the year 2022.


  • Seven - Part 6: Waking Up

    This may seem like a personal question, but how good are you at waking up? How would your family answer that question about you? Has anyone ever gone to extreme measures to wake you up? How did that go? 

    Another question: do you normally wake up excited for the day or dreading the day? We all respond differently to waking up. Often what we have to face has something to do with it. This week we are going to apply the idea of waking up to our spiritual lives. This is not an original idea. Jesus had something to say about waking up spiritually to a church at Sardis. Some would say the application to the church of today is just as poignant.  

    We will try to unpack the idea of being fully awake as a church and as individuals as we resume our series: Seven: Hear What Christ is Saying to You.  We will have some fun with it before it gets serious, but my hope is that by the time we are through, we will all look at waking up spiritually as a dream rather than a nightmare.


  • Seven - Part 7: The Enduring Church

    Have you ever felt like you were “just keeping your head above water?” What kept you going? Or maybe you just couldn’t do it anymore - what happened when you couldn’t keep your head above water? Where was God in either situation? It is ok to feel like He was absent. How do you move forward after those kinds of events in life? Do you feel like it has left you walking with a limp?  By the way, we all walk with limps

    Hope you can join us as we talk about a church that was just keeping its head above water, or enduring, and what that means for us today.


  • Seven - Part 8: The Lukewarm Church

    When was the last time something made you sick to your stomach, not like a stomach bug, but something that was just repulsive? What was going on? Usually, to get that response, it has to bother you to your core. Just imagine Jesus having that kind of response to a church. What do you think would have to happen to cause Him to react that way? If you are a Christ-follower, or even someone who is interested in what Jesus is about, you probably want to know the answer to that question.  

    Join us this Sunday as we take a look at that question and its answer as we conclude our series Seven: Hear What Christ is Saying to You with Part 8: The Lukewarm Church. To get a head start, read Revelation 3:14–22.