Sermons

Be the Church Week 6 – Revelation 2:18-29 – Livestream for 2/12/23

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Small Group Guide:

Open with prayer.

Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?

If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.

Revelation 2:18-29

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Message Outline:

Throughout this sermon series we are looking parts of God’s Word that involve the church, and what it looks like for us to be the church that God created us to be. Today, we’re looking at a message in Revelation that Jesus has for the church in Thyatira. His message to this church helps us to realize the dangers of wavering in Biblical theology, specifically regarding God’s design for our sexuality.

  1. The Bible clearly speaks against sexual immorality

Rev. 2:20-23, 21:8, Acts 15:20, 1 Cor. 6:13, 18, 10:8, 2 Cor. 12:21, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, 1 Thess. 4:3

  1. God’s design for sex is between one man and woman who are married

Mark 10:6-9, Matt. 19:6, Gen. 2:24-25, 1 Cor. 6:9-11, 7:1-9, Lev. 18:22, 20:13, Num. 23:19, Rom. 1:26-28, 6:1, 1 Tim. 1:10, Matt. 5:27-28, Gal. 5:19-21, Prov. 28:9, 1 John 2:3-4, 3:6

Mindset Mistakes:
  1. Devaluing or over overvaluing sex

Sol. 1-8, Heb. 13:4, 1 Cor. 7:3-5, 8-9, Prov. 5:18-19, Matt. 5:8

  1. Looking down upon being single

1 Cor. 7:8-9, 2 Cor. 6:14, Prov. 21:19

  1. Shaming and hating

John 4:1-42, 8:1-11, Gal. 6:1, 1 Cor. 5:9-13

What are we to do?
  1. Take Jesus’ mission seriously
  2. Adopt a Biblical mindset
  3. Evaluate ourselves

Reflection Questions:

Because of the content of this message, we recommend splitting up the men and the women into separate groups to discuss these questions.

  1. Have you ever studied or hear this passage or topic preached on before? What stood out to you?
  2. What would it look like in your life to take Jesus’ mission, of making disciples, more seriously?
  3. How can gain a more Biblical mindset of sexuality?
  4. How can you treat others, even if they differ from you, with the same love that God has so graciously offered to you, even before you were saved?
  5. Evaluate yourself. Are you using your sexuality the way that God designed it to be used? If not, how can you change that?
  6. What is your biggest take away from this message? What did God teach you? Do you feel led to put anything into action? If so, what, and what practical step(s) do you need to take to be obedient to what God has led you to do? Who can keep you accountable to accomplishing this?

Prayer Time:

Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.

Staying Missional:

Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:

Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

What’s next?

Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?