PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SERMON BY LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER HEARING GOD'S WORD.
You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.
Carefully Think
- Read Revelation 1:1-20.
- Review Revelation 1:9-16 and Revelation 1:17-20. What words or phrases are repeated or similar between these two sections? Why is the purpose for the repeated words or phrases in verses 17-20?
- What does John's response demonstrate about seeing the Messiah in verses 12-16 ? Can you think of any other times this happens in Scripture? (Read through Daniel 10, Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1)
- What does the Messiah do in response to John in verses 17 and 18?
- What is John commanded by the Messiah to write down?
- Write out the clarification of what the lampstands and the stars represent as found in verse 20.
- How do the clarifications in verse 20 regarding the lampstands and the stars help the reader of Revelation in chapters 2 and 3?
Prayerfully Meditate
- Why would the Messiah respond to John like He does in verses 17 and 18? How does this response help us today with reading and using the book of Revelation?
- How does the outline that John is commanded to write down help us understand the entire book of Revelation as revealed by the Messiah?
- Why would the Messiah need to clarify the symbolic meaning of the lampstands and the stars, but not items as found in verses 12:15: robe, golden sash, head and hair white like wool, eyes a flame of fire, etc.?
- What views do you hold regarding the symbols found in Revelation 1? Where do you learn your views? Confirm that you let Scripture interpret Scripture and that the intended meaning is that of John (as carried along by the Holy Spirit).