Crossroads Church - Plymouth, IN
Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea - Revelation 3
Worship Gathering
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Crossroads Church
1650 N Oak Dr, Plymouth, IN 46563, USA
Sunday 7:55 AM
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https://crossroadsefc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/478788Sardis Summary: Alive and Dying
Revelation 3:1 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “
Commendation (v4)
Revelation 3:4 (ESV) - Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Critique (v1)
Revelation 3:1 (ESV) - ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Command (v2-3)
Revelation 3:2-3 (ESV) - Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.
Remember, repent, return
Conclusion (v3, 5)
Revelation 3:3 (ESV) - If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Revelation 3:5-6 (ESV) - The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Matthew 10:32–33 (ESV) - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV) - I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV) - Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. .
Revelation 3:1 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “
Commendation (v4)
Revelation 3:4 (ESV) - Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Critique (v1)
Revelation 3:1 (ESV) - ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Command (v2-3)
Revelation 3:2-3 (ESV) - Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.
Remember, repent, return
Conclusion (v3, 5)
Revelation 3:3 (ESV) - If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Revelation 3:5-6 (ESV) - The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Matthew 10:32–33 (ESV) - So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Philippians 1:12–14 (ESV) - I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV) - Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. .
Philadelphia Summary: Opportunity and Protection
Revelation 3:7 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Philippians 2:9–10 (ESV) - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…
Commendation (v8-11a)
Revelation 3:8-11 (ESV) - ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon.
Critique – none
Command (v11b)
Revelation 3:11b (ESV) Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Conclusion (v12-13)
Revelation 3:12 (ESV) - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 3:7 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Philippians 2:9–10 (ESV) - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…
Commendation (v8-11a)
Revelation 3:8-11 (ESV) - ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11I am coming soon.
Critique – none
Command (v11b)
Revelation 3:11b (ESV) Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Conclusion (v12-13)
Revelation 3:12 (ESV) - The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Laodicea Summary: Lukewarm and Desperate
Revelation 3:14 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
Commendation - none
Critique (v15-18)
Revelation 3:15-18 (ESV) - ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Command (v19)
Revelation 3:19 (ESV) - Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Conclusion (v20-22)
Revelation 3:20-22 (ESV) - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Revelation 3:14 (ESV) - “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
Commendation - none
Critique (v15-18)
Revelation 3:15-18 (ESV) - ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
Command (v19)
Revelation 3:19 (ESV) - Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Conclusion (v20-22)
Revelation 3:20-22 (ESV) - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
So what?
1. Stand for Jesus!
2. Walk through doors God opens.
3. Stay dependent on Him.
1. Stand for Jesus!
2. Walk through doors God opens.
3. Stay dependent on Him.
Discussion Questions (These questions are intentionally the same as last week)
1. What specific truth about God stands out to you in Revelation 3 and why? If needed, review the opening descriptions of Jesus in each letter to get you thinking.
2. What else stands out to you (words, phrases, concepts, themes) and why?
3. Do any of these words, phrases, concepts, or themes remind you of other Bible passages? It’s ok if you can’t remember a specific reference, just describe what you recall and the group can do a search to find it.
4. Which of these letters do think most reflects the challenge of your own life following Jesus? Explain why and give a specific example if possible.
5. In what way will you have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? In other words, how will any truth of these letters make a difference in your life today?
1. What specific truth about God stands out to you in Revelation 3 and why? If needed, review the opening descriptions of Jesus in each letter to get you thinking.
2. What else stands out to you (words, phrases, concepts, themes) and why?
3. Do any of these words, phrases, concepts, or themes remind you of other Bible passages? It’s ok if you can’t remember a specific reference, just describe what you recall and the group can do a search to find it.
4. Which of these letters do think most reflects the challenge of your own life following Jesus? Explain why and give a specific example if possible.
5. In what way will you have ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches? In other words, how will any truth of these letters make a difference in your life today?