What Jesus Thinks of the Church
Wednesday Night Study Dec - Feb 2020/21
What Jesus Thinks of the Church: The Corruption of Thyatira.
January 13, 2021 • Matthew Carver
To the church of Thyatira Jesus comes out strong, but His response is only due to the how strongly the sin of sexual immorality had rooted itself into this church. It had moved in and set up camp as part of the culture of the church. And the message to Thyatira is the message to the church of our day as well: there is no other option but to take advantage of the gift of grace of repentance. Repentance will take an admission of their dire situation, a confession of the corrupt loves of their heart, a recognition that there is no other way but back, and a humility to turn backwards from the road they're on. Let us also commit to taking advantage of this great gift of repentance.
Press on. Special Wednesday Service.
January 6, 2021 • Tony Castro, Matt Carver, and Paul Paopao
This day in history was a unique day. Many have been troubled by the deep distress coming upon our nation. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:12-16 to press on for what Christ has reserved for us. By using the word "press" he encourages us to put effort into our relationship with Christ. It implies that there are things coming against us, whether temptations or fears or self-denying situations, that we are going to have to press through in order to have a flourishing walk with Christ. In fact these resisting factors actually give us the opportunity that we value Christ more than we value our lives in this world. So we are exhorted tonight to set our aim on what Christ has laid hold of us for, and run the race set before us.
What Jesus Thinks of the Loveless Church: Ephesus.
December 2, 2020 • Brad Lambert
In this very first study of our pursuit to know what Jesus thinks of the church, we find a phenomena that will occur in most churches at one point or another. This is a church full of activity, producing, bearing fruit, involved in the community, helping others, speaking truth, and calling out that which is false. Everything looks like life, but it is dead on the inside. Evident only to Jesus and the most discerning among them is the glaring reality that the they have left the original love they had for God and God alone. Their motivation has slowly shifted over time and the church is eroding in the secret places from the inside out. The reality of their situation will soon come to the surface, but Jesus wants to catch this slowly growing yeast before it becomes fully matured. He wants this church to return to its first love. The temptation to become like Ephesian church is especially a hazard for any church or person in whom God has begun to work to produce fruit. May we find in our hearts the need to respond as Jesus counsels. http://remember...repent...and do the first works.