Text: Revelation 1-3 In recent years South Africa has followed in the footsteps of America by having a SONA (state of the nation) address where the president will outline the success stories of past year and challenges for the current year. In Revelation 2&3 we are privileged to eavesdrop on the Lord Jesus Christ asContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 1”
Category Archives: State of the Church Address
State of the Church Addresses | Part 2
Text: Revelation 2:1-7 In recent years it has become customary in South Africa to have a State of the Nation address. Indeed, this has been extended to more localised State of the Province addresses. Often-times this is nothing more than a talk shop. However, when the risen Lord Jesus Christ issues a state of theContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 2”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 3
Text: Revelation 2:8-11 Each of these seven letters is addressed to the angel of. The Greek word can refer either to a literal angel or a messenger. In this context it surely means “messenger.” Angels are never leaders in the church. The letters are most likely addressed to key elders in these seven churches. SmyrnaContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 3”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 4
Text: Revelation 2:12-17 We have examined the loveless church (Ephesus) and the suffering church (Smyrna). Now we must consider what the risen Christ has to say to the compromising church. Pergamum was situated about 160Km north of Ephesus and about 25Km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Ephesus and Smyrna may have been the commercial capitalsContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 4”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 5
Text: Revelation 2:18-29 We turn this morning to consider Thyatira, the overly tolerant church. It was situated about 60Km South East of Pergamum. TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRAIt was originally built as a military outpost. Its sole purpose was to delay the advance of an army approaching Pergamum long enough so that Pergamum could organizeContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 5”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 6
Text: Revelation 3:1-6 This morning we are introduced to the church at Sardis. In vrs 1 Christ tells this church, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Jesus comes to the sleeping corpse of Sardis and takes their pulse and finds it to be very faint indeed. Imagine if sick churchesContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 6”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 7
Text: Revelation 3:7-13 Out of the seven churches Jesus addresses there are only two that he only has good things to say about. The first of these was the suffering church, Smyrna and the second was Philadelphia – the faithful church. The city was founded in 190 BC by a man called Atallus who wasContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 7”
State of the Church Addresses | Part 8
Text: Revelation 3:14-22 Laodicea was about 160Km east of Ephesus. It was a leading banking and textile centre. It was a centre for the wool industry and was particularly famous for a soft, glossy, black wool. Laodicea also had a medical school and was particularly well known for a certain eye ointment known as PhrygianContinue reading “State of the Church Addresses | Part 8”