Most Bible students have considered the churches of Asia Minor listed in Revelation 2 and 3. In this lesson consider those churches from the perspective of Christian responsibility. Each is an illustration of Christian responsibility and accountability.
The image is of lampstands. At the time of writing, candles did not exist. Stands allowed their small oil burning lamps [remember there was no kerosene] to be elevated and give maximum useful light. By today's standards, these lamps provided inferior light. However, compared to pitch black, their light blessed and was helpful. The word picture is of a royal personage standing among the lampstands. He can remove a lampstands. If a lampstand is removed, the room darkens. If a congregation has its lampstand removed, they contribute to the darkness rather than the light.
The church in Ephesus:
They have numerous positive qualities:
(1) They were an active, working congregation--deeds and toil.
(2) They were a steadfast or persevering congregation--they would not endure evil people.
(3) They tested those who claimed leadership, and rejected false leadership.
(4) They did not get tired of enduring for Jesus' name sake.
(5) They refused to be influenced by false teachers known as the Nicolaitans.
They also had some problems:
(1) They left their original love for God.
(2) They had fallen from their first deeds that expressed love.
Responsibility: repent, and return to love as your motivation. If you refuse to repent, your lampstand will be removed.
Use this congregation to stress the importance of godly motivation for godly acts. God places enormous importance on love being the motivation for obedience. Read 1 John 4:7-11. God's love sent Jesus. God's love forgives us. God's love saves us. God's love is patient enough to allow us to grow. If we are God's children, we are a people devoted to God's love. Love for God always will be our motivation. By our common criteria, they were a 'faithful congregation.' By God's criteria, they needed to repent.
The church in Smyrna:
Their positive quality:
(1) In spite of major discouragement, they remained rich.
Their encouragement:
(1) Do not allow suffering to prevent you from receiving your reward.
Stress that in God's criteria, wealth is not measured by what we regard to be favorable circumstances. We may be in horrible circumstances but be considered rich by God. Human suffering is not an obstacle to God granting us His reward. God's attitude toward us is unaffected by the reality of suffering. The challenge is for us not to allow our attitude toward God to be affected by the experience of human suffering. Even in the face of suffering, Christians exercise responsibility.
The church in Pergamum:
Their positive quality:
(1) They were not ashamed to belong to Jesus Christ in hostile, discouraging circumstances.
Their problems:
(1) Some of them were stumbling blocks.
(2) Some followed the influence and teachings of the Nicolaitans.
If the situation was not addressed and corrected, Jesus would make war with those two groups.
Stress that not all in the congregation actually belonged to God. Also stress that if some in the congregation do not belong to God, that does not relieve me of the responsibility to be God's man or woman. It is good not to be ashamed of Jesus Christ, but a lack of shame for Jesus does not excuse us from encouraging others and influencing others for good.
The church in Thyatira:
Their positive qualities:
(1) They were a congregation of love, faith, service, and endurance.
(2) Their last deeds were greater than their first deeds.
Their problem:
(1) They allowed evil influences in the teachings of a specific person to lead Christians away
from God into immoral practices.
If those Christians who influenced others to practice immorality did not repent, they would endure dire consequences. Those who did not engage in immoral practices were urged to 'hold fast.'
They were a growing congregation who valued serving others and enduring. As wonderful as that is, it cannot be used to excuse immoral behavior. We do not belong to God for the purpose of indulging physical desires. Dedication to God and immoral behavior are mutually exclusive.
The church in Sardis:
No good qualities were listed.
(1) They pretended to be godly, but were not.
(2) They completed nothing they started.
(3) Some good they started was on the verge of dying.
They needed to repent. However, there were a few who lived righteously and refused to practice evil. They were commended.
They were a self-deceived Christian community. Please stress there were a few who maintained godliness though they were surrounded by ungodly Christians. Note that God looks at and sees godly individuals even when the congregation is evil.
The church in Philadelphia:
Good qualities:
(1) Despite having little power, they kept Jesus' word and did not deny his name.
(2) Jesus would 'keep them' in the coming time of testing.
No bad qualities were given. Encouragement was given.
(1) Jesus would force their enemies to realize he loved them.
(2) He would bless them if they continued to overcome.
This was a godly congregation in spite of the fact that they had little power. They were true to whom they were in Christ. Their love for God was not seen in their power, but in their loyalty. Despite difficult circumstances, they were encouraged to overcome. Overcoming was not a matter of defeating enemies, but enduring as victims.
To the church in Laodicea:
No good qualities were given. They were self-deceived about being godly people. They needed to see themselves for who they were and come to Jesus.
This congregation was thoroughly self-deceived. The way they viewed themselves and the way God viewed them was completely opposite. They needed to become what they thought they were.
For Thought and Discussion
The answers will be as individual as the persons who respond. Have each person explain his/her reason(s) for fascination.
The answers will be as individual as the persons who respond. Have each person share his/her reason(s) for being frightened.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 11