The early church faced many challenges. Of course many of those came from outside forces. Religious authorities sought to suppress their message. Political powers sought to limit their influence and even used imprisonment and execution. Economic forces and social pressure were used to harass the church. When the gospel message threatened the economic order, those who had become enriched lashed out at the church. Those threats were all real and they all had an impact, but the message of the gospel spread on and could not be stopped.
The greatest threats though, came not from outside the church but within. Hypocrisy, immorality, corrupt leaders, and disunity all threatened the health of the church. A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that few threats occupied the apostles’ attention more than false teaching. Teachers would peddle a corrupt message often for personal gain, and new Christians who were not grounded in the message of the gospel were often easy targets of these unscrupulous profiteers. The greatest danger often arose from within.
Such was the case in the ancient city of Pergamum. The church in this beautiful capital city was the 3rd addressed by our Lord in the visions of Revelation. His warning to them stands as a warning to us. The danger lies within.
The Danger Within
September 27, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
On the Other Side of the Door
October 25, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
The writer C.S. Lewis observed, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” (C.S. Lewis). And yet that is exactly what many people in our culture think about Jesus, that it is somewhat important. As we come to final church in our “Flickering Lamps” series, we read about a church that is perilously described as lukewarm; they are neither hot nor cold. Abut this church Jesus has nothing good to say. The situation is so bleak that Jesus is seen as standing outside the door, as if he is a forgotten guest, or worse someone who has been deliberately cast out. It is a tragic picture, but it is too often a picture of American churches and American Christians.
Big Promises
October 18, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice
The church in Philadelphia was a small church. They didn’t possess inordinate size or powerful influence in cultural circles. They probably didn’t have a lot of financial resources. Jesus describes them as a church with “little power. This is not a criticism of their lack of spiritual vitality. Quite the opposite, Philadelphia is one of only 2 churches that Jesus does not offer a specific word of correction to. They were of little power in the way we often think of power...influence money, or size. In comparison with the great institutions of their world, the Philadelphia church seemed to have little power. But looks are deceiving. For those who feel small, I have a word of encouragement. We serve a big God who is able to do big things through people who sometimes feel small and overwhelmed.
Wake Up
October 11, 2020 • Sammy Rodriguez
We don’t know much about the Church of Sardis itself. Who led it or who it’s members were. Unlike the church of Ephesus we don’t have a letter written to them, or hear of the church in the book of Acts. One thing we do know is of a man named Melito of Sardis, an elder of the Church but he lived about a century later from when this letter would be given to Sardis. Though we will come back to Melito, so Remember his name. Although we do not know much of Sardis the Church, we do know plenty about Sardis the Ancient City.. Sardis is located to the South and slightly to the East of Thyatira. Sardis was situated at the junction of five roads and was an active commercial city. At one point, Sardis had once been the capital of Lydia, a very wealthy nation, and gold was even found in the river near the city. It was was fortified on a steep cliff with perpendicular rock walls which provided a natural citadel. Thus the city was deemed impervious to attack.