Jesus addresses his bride, calling her to faithful application of Scripture as believers assemble to worship Christ and provide a witness of his power and grace to the unbelieving world. He offers no quarter to false teachers or those who choose to sit under and follow their teaching; rather, he generously offers grace to those who will repent and the promise of a new andeternal life.

Outline:

· A Difficult Place

· The Judge Speaks

· The Real Threat

· Assurance of Victory

The message to the church at Smyrna challenges the concept of faith so often taught and loosely practiced in the West. To these Christians suffering for their faith, Jesus promised eternal glory but commanded them to be faithful, even if it resulted in death.

Outline:

· The Speaking Sovereign Lord

· The Church and the City

· The Persecuted Church

· The Command and the Promise

If your love of Jesus, his church, or fellow believers has grown cold, Jesus provides a strong warning and a loving remedy in the message given to the church at Ephesus. The letter to the church reminds us that while we must strive for holiness, stand for truth, and be uncompromising when it comes to biblical fidelity, we must never forget our first love and blessed hope, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Outline:

· The Church and the City

· Meeting the Challenge

· The Primacy of Love

· The Promise