Seven Letters. Five Weeks.

Week 1: How Should We Live Now and Not Yet? 

• Jesus dictated seven letters to seven early churches in Asia Minor 
• Yet these letters apply to every church and Christian (INCLUDING US) until Jesus returns 
• How should we live faithfully with discernment and authority? 
• Jesus offers himself as our “Morning Star” [Rev 23b-28] 

Week 2: Starting and Finishing well 

Letter 1 Ephesus

Rev 2:1-7  
Early Church Orthodoxy: Great example, starts well yet loses first love
• Starting Well 

• Losing First Love 

• What About the Nicolaitan heresy? 

• Final Advice: remember, repent and do first works 

Letter 7 Laodicea

Rev 3:14-22  
Lukewarm, Drifting in the Fallen Culture 

• Love reproves and disciplines 

• Recognize lukewarm faith, bad works and spiritual poverty. 

• Nevertheless, accept Jesus’ redeeming offer (Rev 3:20-21) 

Week 3: Embracing Suffering 

Letter 2 Smyrna

Rev 2:8-11
Suffering Church: Walking through the Fires of Persecution 

• Promises made to martyrs and persecuted Christians 

• What about so-called Jews that are the synagogue of Satan? 

Letter 6 Philadelphia

Rev 3:7-13
“Best of the Best” financially poor yet spiritually mature and faithful 

• Open Door for the powerless yet empowered 

• Patient endurance and protected from the hour of trial 

• What about so-called Jews that are the synagogue of Satan? 

Week 4: Discerning Deception 

Letter 3 Pergamum

Rev 2:12-17  
Truth Compromised Church: Living inside the Cults 

• Dwelling around Satan’s throne 

• What about the Balaam heresy? 

• What about so-called Jews that are the synagogue of Satan? 

• Admonishing to repent 

• God’s Word = Sword of Jesus’s Mouth 

Letter 5 Sardis

Rev 3:1-6 
False Sense of Security Appearing Alive, Actually Spiritually Dead! 

• Works-based reputation for life …but you are dead 

• Still a few names 

• Wake-up …remember, return, repent 

Week 5: Accepting the Morning Star Offer 

Letter 4 Thyatira

Rev 2:18-23
Maturing in the Midst of Evil: Faithful with Discernment and Authority 

• Maturing works, love, faith, service patient endurance 

• What about the Jezebel heresy and seduction? 

• What about so-called Jews that are the synagogue of Satan? 

• Hold fast until Jesus comes! 

• Kingdom justice NOW! 

• The Morning Star offer: authority over the nations 
…even as Jesus received authority from my Father.