Ephesus: Orthodox but Loveless. Please read Revelation 2:1-7. The center of all commerce in that region. The political capital. Where all the trade routes converge. The meeting place of all religious travelers and residents, all those who worship the gods and goddesses of the age. The place where those who dabble in occult practices like …
Harmonize with One Another. “Live in harmony with one another.” (Romans 12:16, NIV). Harmony: When separate parts intentionally combine into a beautiful whole; to reconcile apparent differences into a combined unity; to adjust in order to fit together; to be of the same mind; to unite in the same direction in will, affection and conscience; …
Sardis: Alive but Dead. Please read Revelation 3:1-6. Fortified city. Impregnable, seemingly impossible to attack successfully. Confident in its security from enemies. Safe enough to be made the capital city of western Asia. One of the richest and most powerful of all the ancient cities. A flourishing church with a solid reputation, known for its …
Smyrna: Poor but Rich. Please read Revelation 2:8-11. Church members are hauled off to prison for believing in Jesus. Pastors are tortured and killed by the authorities. The church is under attack from all sides, from hostile mobs to civil authorities. Yet the struggling church remains strong. They endure the persecution and continue to function …
Pergamum: Impressive but Compromised. Please read Revelation 2:12-17. A stunning library. A spectacular theater. Amazing architecture everywhere. Top-of-the-line medical school. Renowned for its sophisticated culture and the arts. Celebrity worship. A favorite vacation spot for the leaders of government. A wide variety of distracting things to experience. A group of believers willing to compromise Christian …
Laodicea: Rich but Poor. Please read Revelation 3:14-22. Lots of spending money. Plenty of possessions. Comfort, luxury. A lifestyle in the pursuit of entertainment and material things… The latest fashions, the best investments, the most up-do-date medical care. An interesting mix of ethnic groups. Convenient transportation and ease of travel. Believers that have grown accustomed …
Summing Up: Love One Another. “This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 15:12-13; 13:34-35). a. We …
Wash One Another’s Feet. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14-15, KJV). Foot-Washing: A simple act of hospitality; a house servant task, involving placing someone else’s dirty, smelly feet into a bowl of water and carefully cleansing those feet of all …
Confess to One Another. “Confess your sins to each other.” (James 5:16). Confess: to acknowledge openly; to freely admit to wrongdoing; to announce one’s guilt; to concede one’s shortcomings; to repent of sins; to agree with God that the sin is a sin. a. Mutual Confession. The research of the Orthodox Church states that the …
Exhort One Another. “If your gift is to come alongside others to exhort them, then give yourself to exhortation.” (Romans 12:8). Exhort: to urge to continue in the Faith; to beseech in strong terms; to come alongside to offer encouraging guidance; to inspire courage and hope; to call upon someone to act; to give affirming …
Bear With One Another. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2, NIV). Bear With: to put up with; to make allowances for; to willingly endure; forbearance; to tolerate; to have patience with; to accept despite weaknesses in another. a. If there’s one thing we know about each …
Honor One Another. “Take delight in honoring each other.” (Romans 12:10, NLT). Honor: show deference to; to prefer over one’s self; to highly esteem; to greatly respect; to revere; to focus on the importance of another. a. Honoring someone goes beyond mere respect. To honor another person is to revere that person because that person …