June 4th, 2008 at 3:47 pm (3:1-6, Revelation)
Dear Disciples:
Jesus’ letter to Sardis was written to a church that looked great on the outside but lacked spiritual life on the inside. A few people were alive, but the rest were zombies - looking alive, but really dead.
Jesus gives them a 3-step approach to regaining life. If they take it, He’ll pronounce them innocent. [...]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:42 pm (3:7-13, Revelation)
Dear Disciples:
In this letter, Jesus gives hope to the faithful church at Philadelphia. They will be rewarded for withstanding their current persecution. Some day the entire church will experience an even greater period of tribulation - worse than anything it will have experienced before - and Jesus will preserve it through that time, too.
We recognize [...]
June 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pm (3:14-22, Revelation)
Dear Disciples:
Laodicea may not be familiar to you or me, but in the first century it was an important and wealthy city.
Paul wrote a letter to the church there which, unfortunately, has not been preserved (see mention of it in Col. 4:16).
As for wealth, the economy of the city was so strong that when it [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 3:12 pm (Church, Focus Studies, Israel, Kingdom, OT Prophecy, Revelation)
This Focus Study provides an overview of the relationship between the church and Israel and how that relationship affects our understanding of the kindgom of God.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:48 pm (4:1-5, Revelation)
Dear Disciples:
Remember back in 1:19, Jesus gave John the basic outline for the Book of Revelation when He told John to write in three sections:
“What you have seen” (the description of John’s vision - chapter 1)
“What is now” (the letters describing the current state of the churches -Â chapters 2-3)
“What will take place later” (what the [...]