THE CHURCH WE CHOOSE TO BE
Part 5 – Living Out What We Believe
Revelation 2:12-17
September 22, 2024
Xavier Maryland, Pastor of Missouri City Campus
RECAP
In Revelation 1, we see that Jesus revealed His glory and authority, and now we must choose as a church to live in that truth. Just as the seven churches faced this choice, so must Sugar Creek. This requires personal responsibility as we choose to be a church that:
• Sees Jesus Christ as Our First Love• Is Willing to Suffer for Christ• Has an Unwavering Commitment to God’s Word
It’s not enough to just Say the right things.
God’s ___________ is that we Say and Do the right things.
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. Revelation 2:12-16
1. GOD CELEBRATES THOSE WHO FAITHFULLY FOLLOW JESUS. (v13)
• There is a difference between a Christ follower and a Christ acknowledger.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19
Christ Acknowledgers
Only “Worship” on Sundays
Desire Comfort and Convenience
“God Knows My Heart”
Hears and Claps
Christ Followers
Practice Spiritual Disciplines
Desire to Serve Sacrificially
God is Worth Obeying
Hears and Adapts
3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-7
2. GOD CONFRONTS THOSE WHO COMPROMISE THE TRUTH OF JESUS. (v16)
3. GOD COMFORTS THOSE WHO PLACE THEIR TRUST IN JESUS. (v17)
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17
The Church We Choose To Be Lives Out What We Believe.