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 1:1 - 2:11 to regain the context of the book of Revelation and to review the first letter to the church at Ephesus.
• Look on a Bible Map to identify where Smyrna is in relation to Patmos and Ephesus.
• How is Christ identified in Revelation 2:8 to the church at Smyrna?  
• How does this identity of Christ in verse 8 relate to the following verses in 9-11?  (Hint: Look also back to descriptions of Christ in chapter 1)
• List the types of suffering found in verse 9, are these separate from one another, or related to each other?
• What are those in the church as Smyrna going to suffer?  (Hint: the answer is in these verses)
• What does verse 10 state is the purpose of being cast into prison and their suffering?

Prayerfully Meditate

• How does Christ’s identity to this church and the following words, "I know your…”  bring comfort to the church at Smyrna during their tribulation?
• What is the point of stating that the tribulation will last ten days and then stating to be faithful until death?
• What is the second death (according to Scripture) and why is it good to not be hurt by it?
• What encouragements and exhortations can churches today find in the letter to the church at Smyrna?
• How well do we faithful suffer under trial?  Does it glorify God in our responses to the tribulations?