The Messages to the 7 Churches

OBJECTIVE

The seven messages to the churches are seven different spiritual lessons that we can still apply to each of us today. The workshop is to personalize Christ's message to each of us. Come up with a title of the church? What would Jesus suggest for me to work on? Which message can you relate to and benefit from the most? What's common between all messages or any message from God?

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

Revelation Chapters 2 and 3 contain "The Message to the Churches." This message was not only intended for the community at the time, but also applies to the Church today. The letters are for all time. The struggles these Churches endured at that time are the same struggles the Churches struggle with today, and that each Christian struggles with individually.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Revelation 2-3

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. (Revelation 1:10-12)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS)

Lesson Idea: Do this lesson as a workshop, with students split into groups. Give each group one church, have them answer the questions about what was good, bad, and the advice to each Church. Ask them to identify modern versions of this, and what "church" or type of person they are in each Church. The idea is to end with a message that each church is called to repent or else "lampstand will be removed."

7 Churches:

  • Ephesus - Loveless - "first desirable"
  • Smyrna - Persecuted - "Bitter affliction"
  • Pergamos - Compromising - "Earthly Height"
  • Thyatira - Corrupt - "Sacrifice of Labor"
  • Sardis - Dead - "Prince of joy"
  • Philadelphia - Faithful - "Love of a brother"
  • Laodicea - Lukewarm - "Just people"

Identify the main characteristics of each of the churches by answering the following questions after reading each of the messages; discuss the answers below and write them down to present to the group (Each has a certain pattern... "I know your works" and then what is missing, the advice, and then the reward)

  • What are the strengths? What are the weaknesses of the church? What was the solution? What's the prescription? Where would your church fit?

The Nicolaitans are a group of people who followed wrong teachings and were a great threat to the church of God. Notice that they hated and rejected the doctrines, works, and doctrines of the "Nicolaitans." The Ephesus church was historically a type or antitype of the first and second century churches of God -- essentially, the first generation of the church and their early descendents. But Christ said, "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to all the churches" (v.7). Then, to the Pergamos church, "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus i.e. therefore you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. REPENT, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth"

Notice that their teachings are comparable or the same as the doctrine of Balaam, the arch apostate deceiver and prophet who tried to use divine magic against Israel when they came out of Egypt. When God would not allow him to place a curse on Israel, he later taught the Midianites and their allies to "seduce" Israel from their faithfulness to God, by sending their daughters and wives to use their sexual charms on them, and to entice them to commit immorality and the partake of pagan festivities and idolatrous worship, combining paganism with the worship of God -- something which God abominates and thoroughly detests

The Church of Ephesus (The Loveless Church)

  • Was there a time when you were closer to God?
  • Do you believe that God knows all of your deeds and works?
  • Are you patient?
  • What would you do if you found yourself exposed to evil things (drugs, alcohol) at school?
  • Do you do work for the sake of the name of God?

The Church of Smyrna (The Persecuted Church)

  • Have you been persecuted for your faith?
  • Did you have fear at the time? Fear of what?
  • Do you wish that God wouldn't allow suffering and temptation to take place? Why?
  • Do you believe in eternal life?
  • Do you fear death?

The Church of Pergamos ( The Compromising Church)

  • Do you recognize evil around you at school, work, and on the street everyday?
  • How do you react to evil?
  • Do you have any close friends that accept pre-marital sex?
  • Do you have any friends that had exposure to drugs?
  • Do you have any friends that drink?

The Church of Thyatira (The Corrupt Church)

  • Do you think that as time passes you grow spiritually or you walk away from God's way?
  • Are you guilty of generalizing the bible's message to us? Or do you believe that all of it applies to you?
  • If you think that all of it applies to you, have you been in a situation where you allowed something to enter your life that God didn't want you to?
  • Are you prepared to stand before Christ on the judgment day?
  • What do you need to do to be prepared?

The Church of Sardis (The Dead Church)

  • We are all Christians by name, have you thought if your works define you as Christian?
  • What does it mean to be spiritually alive?
  • What does it mean to be spiritually dead?
  • Are you alive or dead?
  • What do you need to do next, to be or continue to be spiritually alive?

The Church of Philadelphia (The Faithful Church)

  • Have you ever denied God's name? Denied any ties to the church? Denied that you are Christian? Why?
  • Have you experienced personal love by Christ? He saved you from something? Helped you in something? Protected you from something? What was this like?
  • Do you keep God's commandments? How?
  • Do you know the results of not keeping God's commandments?
  • Do you know the promise and the reward of keeping God's commandments?

The Church of Laodiceans (The Lukewarm Church)

  • Do you feel empty without Christ? Do you feel the need to talk to him often "prayers"?
  • Do you pray when you are about to make "a big decision"? Or do you think you don't need God?
  • When you pray, do you "hear God"? Do you look for signs and responses from Him? Do you search for answers to your questions in His words?
  • Do you have a spiritual father that can help and direct you to where you will find answers?
  • How often do you seek your spiritual father's advice? Is it enough?

CONCLUSION

As each Church had strengths and weaknesses, so do each one of us have strengths and weaknesses. Christ and the Holy Spirit's role is to identify it and encourage us to grow and transform. Every sin we have does have a solution. With the victory over our sins there are promises for our heavenly rewards.

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