Sermons About Letter
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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The Church in Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-7
The letter to the Ephesians in Revelation begins with a commendation. Jesus commends the Ephesians for their doctrinal purity. They have fought false teachings and have remained faithful to the truth without growing weary and giving up. Yet, though they have remained doctrinally pure, they have ceased to be faithful witnesses for Jesus because they lost her first love for Jesus. Jesus calls them to remember the depths of their sin and how much they have been forgiven. Some of us are like the prodigal son or the sinful woman in Luke 7, and we know we have been saved from a life of sin. We have been overwhelmed by his grace, but over time, the memory fades and we grow prideful and self-reliant. For others of us, the danger is that we have never had a sinful woman experience. We may not have ever felt desperate, out of control, absolutely empty, and needy. Our savior walks among his people and he sees them all. He will forgive us if we will stop trying to be perfect and simply fall at his feet and beg him for mercy. Run to the one who, though his face shown like the sun, willingly took on flesh to die on the cross in our place.
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A Vision of Jesus for the Church: Revelation 1
Revelation is an amazing book written to a church struggling with whether or not to compromise the Gospel to avoid persecution. They wanted to know if they could have Jesus and still live like everyone else. Some had already begun to compromise, some had refused to compromise and were suffering persecution, and others where stuck looking at both of them and wondering what they should do. Jesus speaks to all three groups by saying "Look at me!" In answer to their questions, Jesus shows them a magnificent picture of himself that few Christians have ever really taken the time to contemplate. It is a vision of a massive Jesus whose face shines like the sun, whose voice is like the sound of rushing waters, and out of whose mouth comes a sharp two-edged sword. This vision is meant to comfort the suffering and to rouse the compromising from their foolishness and call them all to follow Jesus. We will discuss how such a vision could possibly comfort anyone and we will address how this whole series applies to us today.
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Letter To Philadelphia
Special Music followed by Pastor Don's Sermon on Jesus' Letter to the Church in Philadelphia.
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The Letter To The Church Of Thyatira
Pastor Don goes over Jesus' Letter to the Church Of Thyatira.
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The Letter to the Church at Ephesus
Pastor Don Trest discusses God's letter to the church in Ephesus from the book of Revelation.
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Ministries and Vision at the AGM 210409
Celebrate with the church and hear what God has done in various PBC ministries in 2008, what is hoped for in the future and also a special opportunity to hear Wayne Alexander's AGM vision talk on 1 Corinthians 13 vs 1-3, 'without love, you have nothing'.
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Triumph and Treachery
How do we deal with others who deceive us, mistreat us, threaten us, and misunderstand us? By saying today, Father forgive them, they don’t understand what they’re doing. Help me to love them as you have loved me. Help me to not cling to my life and need their approval. Help me to love and fear only you. Thank you for freeing me from the need to control my life and to need approval from others. Let me live out of that truth as you restore me so that others can see how good you are.
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Fight the GOOD Fight
Most of us see fighting as wrong...but here's the truth- there are some things worth fighting for! This week the Apostle Paul delivers a charge to young Timothy to fight the GOOD fight. Following Christ means getting uncomfortable and it truly is the fight of our lives. Christ fought and died for us so that we can win the fight.
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