Prepare your heart for our Sunday Morning Gathering by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together.
You will find tangible suggestions for putting scripture to action in your personal life and in our corporate body, links to the songs we will sing, and lyrics for you to prepare for our corporate singing.
Sermon Text for Sunday: Revelation 13:1-6
Critically Think
- Read Revelation 13:1-6 through three times in succession. Then close your Bible and attempt to list the events in sequence and in detail as best as you can from memory. Go back and check. What did you miss? What did you get right? What details stood out to you as primary and noteworthy?
- Some translations of the Bible place the sentence “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore” as the last sentence of Revelation 12:18, rather than at the beginning of 13:1. Based on your observation of the text of 13:1, in context with what we have seen so far, why might some Bible editors consider this sentence as belonging in Chapter 12, rather than Chapter 13?
- Some translations of the Bible place the sentence “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore” as the last sentence of Revelation 12:18, rather than at the beginning of 13:1. Based on your observation of the text of 13:1, in context with what we have seen so far, why might some Bible editors consider this sentence as belonging in Chapter 12, rather than Chapter 13?
- This beast is described as coming from the abyss in Revelation 11:7, and in 13:1 he is identified as coming from the sea. Is there a contradiction here? Read Deuteronomy 30:13 and Paul’s citation of that verse in Romans 10:7. How might Deuteronomy 30:13 and Romans 10:7 shed light on the origination of the beast in Revelation 11:7 and 13:1?
- The beast is given authority to act for 42 months. Where else have we seen this reference to 42 months—and should this time period be understood literally or figuratively?
Prayerfully Meditate
- Summarize the main idea of Revelation 8:1-12 in 21 words or less.
- The “diadems” which the beast wears on its horns are derived from the Greek διάδημα/diadēma, which relates to “ruling authority”, rather than στέφανος/stephanos, a crown of victory or award. How does this specificity of word usage inform us about the rule that the beast has?
- In 13:2 and 13:5, what is different about the sources of the five things that the beast is given? In light of what we have previously seen, is this distinction significant?
- The beast is not just Satan’s agent, raging against Christ. He would also appear to be a counterfeit Christ. What descriptors in this passage demonstrate parallels to Christ, as previously described in Revelation?
- Why is it important that these details regarding the beast, his appearance, what he is given, what he says and does, and the period of 42 months for which he will act are revealed to us?
Intentionally Act
- Considering God’s perfect, authoritative revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17), how can we submit to what God has revealed in this passage?
- How should Revelation 13:1-6 reassure us?
- In what ways should this passage cause us to act?
- In what ways should this passage push us to change the posture of our attitudes and emotions?
- Given that the beast cloaks itself with various characteristics that are similar to Christ, how can Christians guard against being distracted or led astray by counterfeits?
- How should Revelation 13:1-6 impact our private devotion to God? Our corporate worship? Our evangelism?
- Click the links below to find the lyrics and recordings of the songs planned for our gathering this Sunday; practice the songs, study the lyrics and sing together.
- Pray for those leading our corporate gathering this week and for the Holy Spirit’s work as the Word of God is further explained and applied: Dawson Bryant: music; Brett Harris: elder prayer & scripture reading; Bret Capranica: teaching.
Songs for Sunday
Morning Gathering
- May the Peoples Praise You (sheetmusic)
- All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name (sheetmusic)
- Still, My Soul, Be Still (sheetmusic)
- There Is a Fountian (sheetmusic)
- In Christ Alone (sheetmusic)
Evening Gathering
Lyrics
Lyrics Morning Gathering - ... by Summit Woods Baptist Church