Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

129. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 24: Seeing the Lamb

Revelation 5:5-10
 
John describes Jesus as the Lamb, humble in His rejection and exalted in His worship. And heaven erupts with praise at Who Jesus is and what He has done. Take some time to reflect on what Jesus has done for you today.

128. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 23: Who Can Open the Book?

Revelation 5:1-8
 
The Word of God—representing God’s last will and testament, His title deed to the earth, and His plan for humanity—is in the hand of God, but it is sealed, and there is no man in heaven or on earth with the authority to open it. This leads John to despair and weep until he sees the Lamb of God, who alone is worthy to open the book. We can rejoice that Christ has the power to carry out the plan of God, and He already has by purchasing our redemption.

127. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 22: Portraits of and Praise for Christ

Revelation 4:6-11
 
We’ve been introduced to two main groups in the heavenly crowd around the throne of God—the elders and the four beasts. These two parties have distinct roles in the praise of God, but both are important and beautiful. We begin this episode by examining the beasts more closely, and then we will turn our attention to the twenty-four elders as we close out Revelation chapter 4 today.

126. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 21: Going Home

Revelation 4:4-7
 
As we continue to read about this imagery of God’s throne room, we also start to see who else is there and what they are saying and doing. It is important for us to realize we will see this scene someday. That realization should shape and influence the decisions we make throughout our lives, even on a daily basis. We should live like this is our future, because it is.

125. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 20: The Brilliance of God’s Throne

Revelation 4:1-5
 
Today we step back into the scene of the throne room of God with all of its magnificence, trying to imagine what it will be like to experience this and be in God’s presence one day. It is important for us to think about eternity and strive to live each day as if it were our last. We see the sights and sounds around the throne of God, with the people and the overall atmosphere. This should inspire us to live for Christ with everything we have and endure anything He calls us to, for it will surely be worth every last effort!

124. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 19: Come Up Hither

Revelation 4:1
 
After the letters to the churches, John was called up to the throne of God where he got to see a preview of the glory and presence of the Lord. This transition makes us think about the limited opportunity to serve God we have right now in this life. Our daily decisions have eternal implications. We need to know that (1) we should be motivated to live for the Lord now, and (2) when we do see Jesus one day, that’s what it is all about. In that moment, life will make sense, and no matter how difficult it was, the decision to live for God will be worth it.

123. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 18: Recap of the Churches

Revelation 3:20-22
 
Today we get a glimpse of all seven churches with their locations and the problems Jesus points out. One of the most comforting aspects of these churches is that Jesus knows our conditions and can use them to teach us what we need to hear as long as we are listening. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent.

122. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 17: Church #7 - Laodicea

Revelation 3:18-22
 
This church, in its pride and self-sufficiency, was blind to their own condition. Because of their apathy towards God and love of money, they didn’t even realize the dire straits they were in. Jesus counsels us to come and find our fulfillment in Him rather than in the society around us. And the call is individual, which is an incredible privilege.
 
Laodicea: the Lukewarm church
  I. The Location (literal local church)
Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains
Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid)
They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve
 II. The Likeness of Christ
Christ addresses the individual people
He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things.
III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)
Christ knows these people and their works
They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither)
They were deluded about their own condition
They were marked by self-sufficiency and pride, when what they really needed was only to be found in Christ (3:18)
Love of money was a real problem
Jesus calls them to personal renewal of their zeal for Him
IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)
The parallel is with the modern church age in our time
 V. The Lesson for us (type of church)
Across church history, we see a trend of churches moving away from God, but we as individuals do not have to. The church was instituted to be a beautiful and good thing in its inauguration, but as Jesus foretold would happen in the kingdom parables, it has largely become something distorted, corrupt, and hideous as we will also see in the progression of these seven.
While the majority of churches have moved towards the world, there is a remnant of people who have not, and the call goes out to believers to be zealous and repent. It falls to us tot let Christ into our lives and to fellowship with us and us with Him. That is the invitation of these letters.