“The Hopes and Fears of All the Years” (Matthew 1:1-17)
The Hopes and Fears of All the Years The Hopes and Fears of All the Years Brad Mills / General Advent: Now But Not Yet / Hope; Fear / Matthew 1:1–17 “Advent: Now But Not Yet” points to the reality that Jesus appeared 2,000 years ago, but he will appear again to usher us into the new heavens and new earth. Just as the OT saints waited for Jesus’ first coming, we anticipate his second coming. Christ’s birth marked…
“The Grapes of Wrath” (Revelation 14:12-20)
The Grapes of Wrath (Rev. 14:12-20) In his novel The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck brilliantly portrayed the consequences of the suffering people endured during the Dust Bowl migration. Their suffering was building in them a fury of wrath that would eventually explode. Essentially, he was suggesting that anger and hatred are the natural byproduct of oppressive experiences. He certainly has a point. However, one thing is clear, he was not using the metaphor in the same way that Scripture used…
“The Terror & Comfort of the Gospel” (Revelation 14:6-13)
The Terror and Comfort of the Gospel (Rev. 14:6-13) There is no denying the weightiness of the book of Revelation. Eternity hangs in the balance as John’s vision portrays the punishment of evil, and the victory of the Lamb. Symbolism increases the sense of mystery while highlighting the terrible and glorious realities they illustrate. Our passage this morning reveals how the gospel provokes both terror and comfort. Read Rev. 14:6-13 Pascal’s Wager essentially states that humans bet their lives on…
“The Lamb and the 144,000” (Revelation 14:1-5)
The Lamb and the 144,000 Revelation is a book of contrasts. The dark is stark, while the light is bright. And it frequently shifts between the two. This morning we come to another abrupt transition. After visions of a fierce dragon and beasts persecuting the church, we need to remember that victory belongs to the Lamb. This passage (14:1-5) stands in sharp contrast with the previous one (13:11-18). Last week we saw how the false prophet promotes the counterfeit worship…
“The Mark of the Beast” (Revelation 13:11-18)
The Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:11-18) Predicting the identity of the beast whose mark is 666 has become a game. So let’s play “Pin the Tail on the Antichrist” for a minute.1 Some of the obvious candidates have been world leaders such as Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and Anwer Sadat. Americans have been proposed too. In his book 666: The Final Warning!, Gary Blevins argues that the Antichrist is none other that our beloved 40th president, Ronald (6) Wilson…
“Counterfeit Worship” (Revelation 13:1-10)
Counterfeit Worship (Rev. 13:1-10) Many people search for a church to attend without ever asking the most important questions. They look for entertainment, a cool atmosphere, or even nice people. But the fundamental factor that should be considered is whether or not the worship is biblical. That question doesn’t only apply to the preaching, but to every element of a worship service. Worship should be guided and supported by Scripture from beginning to end. You might be unfamiliar with certain…
“The Perseverance of the Saints” (Revelation 12:13-17)
The Perseverance of the Saints (Rev. 12:13-17) God created everything and gave man dominion over it, but also the responsibility to “work and keep” the garden. When Adam neglected to guard the garden, the serpent deceived Eve tempting her to eat the forbidden fruit. Then she gave some to Adam. Prior to the fall, “the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Gen. 2:25). After eating the fruit, “they knew that they were naked” (Gen. 3:7).…
“The Absence of Accusation” (Revelation 12:7-12)
The Absence of Accusation (Rev. 12:7-12) The presence of shame, in its many forms, goes well beyond the scope of a challenging emotional struggle. In his book, The Soul of Shame, Dr. Curt Thompson writes, “This phenomenon is the primary tool that evil leverages, out of which emerges everything that we would call sin.” Thompson argues that shame is at the root of all other negative emotions and it eventually effects the way we think and behave. For instance, our…
“The Backstory of History” (Revelation 12:1-6)
The Backstory of History (Rev. 12:1-6) Is it too soon to wish you a “Merry Christmas”? This passage makes for the perfect Christmas text. But before we get to it, let’s review. With the blast of the seventh trumpet the wrath of God fell upon unbelievers and the saints were gathered. We came to the end of the third cycle in Revelation. The letters to the seven churches was followed by the breaking of the seven seals, which was followed…
“The Seventh Trumpet” (Revelation 11:15-19)
The Seventh Trumpet (Rev. 11:15-19) The Church needs vision to survive. But, that needs clarification. I’m not referring to a catchy slogan that summarizes the church’s objectives. Many churches use a Vision Statement to define their purpose and how they will reach the culture. They quote Proverbs 29:18 “Without vision, the people perish!” Church planting strategists suggest coming up with a simple slogan that defines our goal and guides our mission. If we ignore this critical step, they warn that…