CHRISTIAN FAMILY FELLOWSHIP (PDO)

Visible Churches warned (Revelation 2)

Golden text: … I saw . . . in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle". (Rev 1:12-13)

Introduction:

In our study today, we see Christ standing in the midst of His churches, all seeing, all-powerful, eternal and all knowing. Our Lord searches the hearts and minds and He knows our strengths and weaknesses. As the Lord reveals the weaknesses of the churches, He beckons on them to hear and turn from their evil ways that they may inherit eternal life. He repeatedly admonishes that "He that overcome shall.. .". May the Lord help us.

General: What is our understanding of the term "church"? Why was the message to only seven churches? - were there only seven churches in the province of Asia then?

1. The church in Ephesus: Rev 2:1-7; Col 1:22-23; Eph 5:1-2, 8-21

Sometimes, we get ‘so busy’ in the church that we tend to lose sight of the real essence of our Christianity. The church at Ephesus seemed to be doing great, yet they had a little problem.

Q1 What were the ‘marks’ (i.e. good works) of the Ephesian church? Do we see the same in our churches today?

Q2 What was the sore point of the Ephesian church? What is the consequence of losing our first love for the Lord? Discuss the term ‘first love’.

Q3 Reflect on when you just gave your life to Christ, are you still serving the Lord with the same vigour as when you newly began? In what ways can our love for the Lord wax cold even while we’re yet so busy in the church? Do we follow Christ’s method of rebuke? Do we spend so much time identifying other people’s faults while we remain blind to ours? How can we come out of such a state and what is our reward?

2) The church in Smyrna: Rev 2:8-11; Mat 5:11-12; John 16:33; Phil 3:13; Isa 52:7; Luk 6:46-49; 2Tim 3:12 Christianity is not a bed of roses and as ‘a saying’ goes, "as you make your bed, so shall you lie on it". Suffering for the work 3f Chris may be unpleasamt but must be expected by all Christians at sometime in the race. Are we prepared for such hardship?

Ql What were the marks of the church in Smyrna? List some of their sufferings.

Q2 What was the theme of the Lord’s message to them and how important was the message at that point in time?

Q3 Should sufferings or persecutions separate us from the Lord?

3) The church in Pergamos: Rev 2:12-17; Num 25:6-12;

Pergamum was a city full of idolatry, where satan lives and has his throne. The Christians there were faced with either adhering strictly to true Christian teaching or diluting it with pagan practices. As Christians, we’re sometimes faced similar situations in our daily lives.

Q1 What was the main problem facing the Pergamum church? Should we permit false teaching or tolerate sin in our churches?

Q2 How should the church handle similar situations today?

4) The church in Thyatira: Rev 2: 18-29

The church in Thyatira appeared to be thriving, yet there was a pernicious sin in their midst.

Q 1 What was the theme of the Lord’s message to the Thyatira church?

Q2. Can our visible acts of righteousness be a covering for our hidden sins?

Q3. Are there strongholds you’re contending with - do you need help for release from them?

Conclusion:

Wherein the message in Revelation chapter 2 was to the seven churches in Asia in those days, the same is applicable to the churches today. Next week we shall conclude this study by looking at Rev. chapter 3, but as we depart this day, if the Lord has convicted us of any sins, let us turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and obey the Lord’s bidding that we might receive our healing. We all have the potential to overcome l John 5:5 - the responsibility is ours to exercise.

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