“Dear Worldly Church” (Revelation 2:12-17)
Dear Worldly Church (Rev. 2:12-17) Chapter one concludes with the vision of the son of man as our Prophet, Priest, and King. Chapter two transitions to letters written to seven church. There is an interesting relationship between the letters that follows a familiar pattern. A. Ephesus – Loveless B. Smyrna – Only Commendation C. Pergamum – Worldly D. Thyatira – Immorality E. Sardis – Dead ‘B. Philadelphia – Only Commendation ‘A. Laodicea – Lukewarm We will cover the escalation in…
“Eliminating Our Enemies” (Luke 9:49-50)
Eliminating Our Enemies (Luke 9:49-50) Luke is assuring his Christian readers with an orderly account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In this final conversation of Jesus’s Galilean ministry, the disciples are being humbled. They were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in heaven, and Jesus brought a child to his side as an example. Instead of taking up their cross to follow Jesus they were far more concerned with securing positions of honor. We…
“Dear Suffering Church” (Revelation 2:8-11)
Dear Suffering Church (Rev 2:8-11) John has been commissioned by Christ to write these letters to the seven church in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. What he writes addresses the specific needs of these particular churches, but Jesus also has in mind the broader, universal Church which spans time and place. The Lord is informing the churches of persecution that they will face. Some of that tribulation has already begun, but a more intense form…
“Who Is the Greatest?” (Luke 9:46-48)
Who Is the Greatest? (Luke 9:46-48) We have come to the final accounts of Jesus’s Galilean ministry. Chapter nine has focused on the question: Who is Jesus? The answer is that “He’s the glorious and majestic Messiah.” Peter could say this, but then prove his ignorance about what this actually meant with regard to Christ’s ministry. The irony of this passage is that it follows after the display of the majesty of Christ in his authority (casting out a demon)…
“Dear Loveless Church” (Revelation 2:1-7)
Dear Loveless Church (Rev. 2:1-7) This may be one of the most important sermons I ever preach regarding the longterm viability of Grace Clovis. I’m convinced there is something very important for all of us to hear in this letter to Ephesus. At some point in the next thirty minutes all of us should feel targeted by this passage. These are not words the Lord has for a handful of individuals. This is a message for us all. I am…
“The Majesty of God” (Luke 9:37-45)
The Majesty of God The Majesty of God Brad Mills / General Luke / Healing; Demon Possession / Luke 9:37–45 Most of us instinctively think humility is a sign of weakness. There is an assumption among leaders that they need to avoid showing any gaps in their armor. They have to be guarded at all times. To show any vulnerability is to throw in the white towel. But, in reality, there is a direct connection between our willingness to…
“The Announcement of Glory” (Revelation 1:17-20)
The Announcement of Glory The Announcement of Glory Brad Mills / General Jesus has commissioned John to write his vision down into a book and send it to seven churches located in Asia Minor. He is writing from the island of Patmos, where he was likely banished for disrupting emperor worship. On the Lord’s Day, probably reflecting upon the saints he pastored some fifty miles away in Ephesus, he was “in the Spirit”. John received this vision of the…
“Our Glorious Judge” (Revelation 1:12-20)
Our Glorious Judge Our Glorious Judge Brad Mills / General Son Of Man / Revelation 1:12–20 In the prologue (1-3) John informed us about how the revelation came to him by an angel sent by Jesus. The Triune God has greeted his redeemed Church with grace and peace reminding us that we are a kingdom of priests (4-8). Then Christ commissioned John to write a book and send it to the seven churches in Asia Minor (9-11). John addressed…
“The Transfiguration of Jesus” (Luke 9:28-36)
The Transfiguration of Jesus The Transfiguration of Jesus Brad Mills / General Transfiguration / Luke 9:28–36 Herod was confused by Jesus, intrigued by his popularity and yet, only interested in learning more about Christ to ensure his own position and authority were not being threatened. The feeding of the 5,000 puts the question of Jesus’s identity before the crowd. In Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked his disciples who the crowds thought he was. They were perpetuating various theories—which Herod had…
“Take Up Your Cross” (Luke 9:21-27)
Take Up Your Cross Brad Mills / General Luke / Crucifixion; Discipleship / Luke 9:21–27 Luke continues his orderly account of the ministry of Jesus providing his readers with a certainty about the truth of the apostles’ teaching. This purpose heightens the need to be clear and honest about the challenges they would face living in a culture that was oftentimes hostile towards Christianity. Jesus never minimized the cost of discipleship in order to win more followers. He was…