Kaleo Church Sermons
Web Site: Kaleo Church
Total Sermons: 411
Total Amens: 17
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The Church of Philadelphia: Revelation 3:7-13
The church of Philadelphia was a weak church. It wasn’t like Sardis. It didn’t have a reputation for being alive; it had a reputation for being weak and small. This church was constantly being persecuted by the Jews. Jesus knows they had little power, and he was not disappointed in their weakness because in it they turned to him. This church chose to cling to Jesus because they knew they needed him more than peace with the Jews, more than a comfortable life, and more than a good reputation. They knew that they were weak and that his grace alone was enough. They knew that they were sinners and that his blood alone could rescue them from the wrath of God and give them peace with him. Jesus loves those who cling to him above all else. No one whose hope is in Jesus will ever be disappointed, so Jesus comes to show them why they have chosen wisely. He comes to show them, and us, why he is better than everything else.
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The Church of Sardis: Blood Washing
Sardis has religious people who compare themselves to others and then fill themselves with religious pride. “Well, sure I have committed some sins but my neighbor Frank doesn’t even go to church. I go to church therefore God loves me more than Frank.” Religion separates people into two groups. Good people and bad people. The bible separates them in two groups, too. Bad people and Jesus.
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The Church of Sardis: Revelation 3:1-6
This church’s strength is its greatest weakness. This church has the reputation of being alive. However, this reputation has caused them to take their eyes off of Jesus and look to themselves. Jesus calls them to remember the message they received and heard. They were dead in their sins until Jesus came and lived a perfect life and shed his precious blood on their behalf on a roman cross to wash away their sins and clothe them in clean garments of his righteousness. He is the one who is alive and we only live, if we live, through him. All boasting must be in him and in what he has accomplished on the cross. This letter is a call for the church which bears the name Christian to need, love, and treasure Christ. We need to wake up from our delusional self-reliance, and remember when Jesus was our only hope. Remember that you are dead and you need Jesus and the Holy Spirit, which he alone can give, to make you alive.
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The Church of Thyratira: Revelation 2:18-28
In America, most of us have not been physically threatened for our faith. However, like the church at Thyratira, I would argue that most of our greatest temptations to compromise stem from either economic or social pressures. The church today is radically tempted to compromise by valuing the same things that the culture around us values. We serve a God who calls us to consider everything rubbish in order that we might gain Christ and be found in him. We cannot cling to the values of this world and still hold fast to the righteousness of our savior. Jesus offers us himself. Jesus calls us live lives of repentance, constantly letting go of our sin and clinging to his blood, shed on the cross for our sin, to forgive us and give us his perfect righteousness.
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Jezebel, Jehu and Jesus: Revelation 2:18-29
Thyatira is a simple, blue-collar town. The people there listened to the blue-collar comedy tour, wore hard hats and flannel and had union stickers on their camels. The majority of the population made their money as guild workers. Working with bronze, a pretty metal that provided their livelihood, Thyatiran metal workers would be very familiar with the power of fire and the value of bronze they worked with day in and day out. This would remind them of not only the strength and beauty of the feet of Jesus but also the power to crush and destroy. They would well know the usefulness and comfort a flame of fire could bring. Fire can bring us warmth when we are cold, cook meals, and even shape the metal they sold for their livelihood. But fire can also burn. Fire can devour when there is nothing in its path that can stop it from consuming whatever is in its way. Once again we see a picture of Jesus that brings comfort to his people and would strike fear into those who are compromising. Does this image of Jesus bring you comfort or fear? If it brings you fear, what sin are you hiding or holding that keeps you from running to Jesus?
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Pergamum: Revelation 2:12-17
Today we will take a look at the church in Pergamum. Out of all the cities written about in the letter to the seven churches, perhaps none is more flamboyant in its worship of false gods that Pergamum. Pergamum rested on what was called an acropolis, a large city on a hill that was 16 miles from the Aegean Sea it overlooked. It was a wealthy city with many attractions, including the second largest library in the world. It was a major tourist attraction with large and expensive theatres, gymnasiums and temples built throughout the city. Pergamum had temples built for the goddess Athena, the goddess Asclepius, Demeter, Dionysus, the goddess Hera, and of course, an altar to Zeus.
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The Church of Pergamum: Revelation 2:12-27
The church at Pergamum, much like many of our American churches, was filled with three kinds of people: the faithful, the compromisers, and the people who didn’t know which group was correct. As the political capital of the region, emperor worship was at its zenith in Pergamum; it was the place where Satan had his throne. In this context, Jesus rebukes the faithful for tolerating people in their church who are both compromising and telling others that it is ok to compromise. He calls the church at Pergamum and us to confront sin, root it out, and fight it. Our Savior calls us to repent of everything that threatens us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of joy that he has come to offer.
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The Church of Pergamum: Revelation 2
The church at Pergamum, much like many of our American churches, was filled with three kinds of people: the faithful, the compromisers, and the people who didn’t know which group was correct. As the political capital of the region, emperor worship was at its zenith in Pergamum; it was the place where Satan had his throne. In this context, Jesus rebukes the faithful for tolerating people in their church who are both compromising and telling others that it is ok to compromise. He calls the church at Pergamum and us to confront sin, root it out, and fight it. Our Savior calls us to repent of everything that threatens us from knowing and experiencing the fullness of joy that he has come to offer.
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The Church in Smyrna: Revelation 2:8
The church in Smyrna was made up of poor people who had endured many hardships. Jesus, the First and the Last, who defeated death, knows their tribulation, poverty, and the slander from the Jews that they have endured. Jesus tells them that he hears them, and yet they continue suffering. Not only does he call the church to not be afraid, he calls them to be faithful by treasuring him above all else, even to the point of death. He promises that the sufferings we experience right now, no matter how heavy they are, will one day seem light and momentary compared to the glory that he holds in store for his people. He suffered to end our suffering. He suffered so that no matter how much we have suffered at death, it is over. We will have an eternity with him.
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Fall From Grace
John is writing to the church in Ephesus by the power of the Holy Spirit a message from the one who walks among the church. Jesus Christ is among his church. He knows our thoughts, sees our deeds, and is with us for our triumphs and trials. He is aware of both what the church in Ephesus is doing well and where they are failing. He knows this not just of the church in Ephesus but of the universal church worldwide and each local, individual church. The seven churches are a sign of the complete church and this letter ends in verse seven with a warning for the church to hear what the "Spirit says to the churches." Every church would be wise to listen and respond to this word spoken to the church in Ephesus.
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