Sermons

This Sunday afternoon, join us as we explore what the Bible teaches about our eternal destiny. From the sobering reality of hell as eternal separation for those who reject Christ, to the glorious hope of heaven as eternal restoration with God, to the all-important day of judgment—this message will challenge and encourage you. Discover how the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only path to a secure eternal home. Don’t miss this life-changing truth that determines where we spend forever!

Earthly identities are temporary. What is your eternal identity? What promises has God made? How does that challenge, comfort or change how you see yourself?

This morning, as we finish 2024, we will reflect on the Church of Laodicea, exploring the dangers of self-sufficiency and the need to recognise our dependence on Jesus and the power of the gospel.

We are urged to sing, praise, worship, because of who God and the Lamb are.

In the final of the 7 letters to the churches, Jesus has no commendation for the church in Laodicea. His criticism is that they are neither hot nor cold, rather they are lukewarm. Spiritually this amounts to Apathy. They are not against God, but not excited or passionate about him either. It is not criticism of something we think is shocking and false or bold, outright wrong. But in many ways, it is worse. It is the harshest criticism of all – You are apathetic and I want to spit you out Jesus says!

None of us like to face the antagonism and hatred of Christ in the places we work in or study at. None of like it when we are under the blowtorch of opposition to the Gospel. None of us like it when those who make films and movies make up a Christian caricature that is totally inaccurate or the Christian is the perverse villain in the film. All these things are difficult and yet we find inspiration here. How does Jesus’ minister to them? What does Jesus tell them?

I wonder whether I/you am a bit like some of the Christians in Sardis? A bit too confident in ourselves? A Christian in Sardis who thinks that since they are not undergoing persecution that they must be doing something right. They must be blessed! Sadly, they are more dead than alive says Jesus. They have spiritually speaking fallen asleep at the wheel and are about to crash. If I were to say what the sin of the Church of Sardis was I would say this! They were a tired church. They were overconfident that they were blessed by God! They weren’t doing what Jesus called them to do, which is to keep watch and pray!

We seem to live in a world today where tolerance is seen as a virtue. The only thing not tolerated is intolerance. This 4th letter, to the church in Thyatira, addresses a church who are commended for their love, faith, service and perseverance. And on top of that their latter works exceed the first, yet they tolerate false teaching. Yet even those with whom we disagree and find to be false, we are still to love. Jesus gives them a chance to repent.

Pergamum is a godless place, the throne of Satan, polytheistic and pluralistic. Yet the church there has remained a faithful witness even in the midst of persecution. But some among them hold to false belief and false behaviour. Jesus has harsh rebuke for them. Sin is no trivial matter. We likewise today have no excuse for sin and must never minimise, tolerate or justify our sin. Jesus is coming as the judge.

In His 2nd letter, to the church in Smyrna, Jesus addresses a church that face severe persecution. The danger for them and for Christians today is that we might compromise. We possibly do not face death for our faith but must die to ourselves (Luke 9:23). We can grow weary in the temptation of the world, being marginalised, intolerance and disappointment. Yet Jesus calls us to persevere that we might receive the crown of life.

This series looks at the letters to the 7 Churches in Revelation. In His 1st letter, Jesus writes to the church in Ephesus. A church commended for hard work and patient endurance and yet criticised for having lost their first love. Perhaps love for God or possibly love for others, but it is a failure to keep the commandments of God. Yet Jesus comes and offers repentance and with it, eternal life.

The city of Laodicea was independent. After a particularly bad earthquake, where much of the city was destroyed, they said to the Roman government, that they could look after themselves. They were proud people, who didn’t need any help! The church itself, seemed to reflect the character of the city. They too were proud and independent, which spiritually speaking is dangerous. That is why there is such a profound warning here! The less we depend on ourselves and the more we depend on Jesus the better!