Lulled to spiritual complacency by an appearance of vibrancy and peace, the church at Sardis presents us with the grave dangers of Nominal Christianity. Jesus provides warnings and the remedy, which are as applicable to the church today as they were almost 2,000 years ago.

Outline:

· An Encouraging Introduction

· The Walking Dead

· Reviving a Dead Church

· Comforting Truth

The issues Jesus addressed in his messages to the first centurychurches are no different than the issues faced by the Christian church today. We only pray for ears to hear “what the Spirit says to the churches.” The church at Thyatira was inviting and had much to commend; however, Jesus gave very direct warnings about its choice to permit a false teacher and to embrace sin as a cultural accommodation. In doing so, Jesus also provides us a model to follow in how issues within the church family should be approached.

Outline:

· A Significant Church

· The Divine Judge

· Great Works

· The Condemning Issue

· The Glorious Promise

Jesus addresses his bride, calling her to faithful application of Scripture as believers assemble to worship Christ and provide a witness of his power and grace to the unbelieving world. He offers no quarter to false teachers or those who choose to sit under and follow their teaching; rather, he generously offers grace to those who will repent and the promise of a new andeternal life.

Outline:

· A Difficult Place

· The Judge Speaks

· The Real Threat

· Assurance of Victory

The message to the church at Smyrna challenges the concept of faith so often taught and loosely practiced in the West. To these Christians suffering for their faith, Jesus promised eternal glory but commanded them to be faithful, even if it resulted in death.

Outline:

· The Speaking Sovereign Lord

· The Church and the City

· The Persecuted Church

· The Command and the Promise

If your love of Jesus, his church, or fellow believers has grown cold, Jesus provides a strong warning and a loving remedy in the message given to the church at Ephesus. The letter to the church reminds us that while we must strive for holiness, stand for truth, and be uncompromising when it comes to biblical fidelity, we must never forget our first love and blessed hope, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Outline:

· The Church and the City

· Meeting the Challenge

· The Primacy of Love

· The Promise

As Jesus closed his High Priestly Prayer, his words are a cause for every believer's hope and the great assurance of Christ's never-ending love for those who belong to him by faith.

Outline:

• The Glorious Reunion
• The Grand Invitation
• The Mark of His People

When Jesus prayed for all people, past, present, and future, who are and will be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, he did not pray for health, wealth, and prosperity. Jesus prayed for unity. Unity initiated by the Holy Spirit. Unity in truth and unity that witnesses the power and love of God and his redeeming work to the world.

Outline:

· Foundations of Christian Faith

· Christian Unity Understood

· Christian Unity Essential

Jesus prayed that those who follow him savingly be sanctified by the truth, which is all of Scripture. As he sends us into the world with the amazing message of God’s saving grace, we are to do so always living for the glory of Christ in accordance with his perfect word.

Outline:

· The Danger

· The Mission

· The Source of Strength