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 through Revelation 2-3. List out the seven churches by name and the verses that address them.
- What phrases or patterns do you see repeated in some or all of these letters to the 7 churches?
- Compare the 1st and 7th church (Ephesus and Laodicea). How are the problems being addressed in these churches similar?
- How does Jesus state he will deal with the sinful issues in these two churches (Ephesus and Laodicea)?
- Read and compare the letters to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th churches. What similarities are there between these churches? Write out any common problems you find.
- How does Jesus deal with the sinful issues in these three churches?
- Compare the letters to the 2nd and 6th churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia). List out similarities and differences between these two letters.
Prayerfully Meditate
- What title or description(s) of Christ is given to each of these churches? Are they all the same? List them out. Why might there be differences?
- How does each title relate to the specific details of each individual church and the issues they are facing? Support your ideas with Scripture references.
- Summarize what Jesus “knows” about each church in 10 words or less (Rev. 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15).
- Is there a commendation found for each church? What does it highlight for those who do/don’t?
- Summarize each promise to those “who overcome” found in chapters 2 and 3 in 15 words or less.
- List the problem and corresponding commands for what each church is instructed to do. (For example: Ephesus – left their first love -> “remember”, “repent”, “do the deeds.”) In summary they are being called back to their first love.