- Affirmation (v.19)
- Rebuke (vv.20-21)
- Warning (v.22-23, 29)
- Promise (vv.24-28)
Summary: We now focus our study on Jesus' letter to the church in Thyatira. While affirmed for their continued growth in love and faith and service and endurace, Thyatira was rebuked for tolerating a false teacher, "Jezebel," whose seductive teachings have lead some church members into great moral compromise. Therefore, Jesus warned them (and all churches) that He searches minds and hearts and will exercise His authority to repay every person according to what they actually deserve (vv.18,23). On a brighter note, Jesus acknowledges that, in spite of "Jezebel's" influence, there were some in the church in Thyatira that did not embrace her teaching nor practice her works (just as there were seven thousand in Elijah's day that resisted her influence by refusing to bow the knee to Baal). It is those who hold fast to Jesus' teachings and embrace His works to the end who will receive the promise.
Main Point: All churches and christians are called to conquer by resisting false teachings and deceitful influences that cause one to stray from faithfully following Jesus.
Main Point: All churches and christians are called to conquer by resisting false teachings and deceitful influences that cause one to stray from faithfully following Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
- What effect should the words "I know" have on the church in Thyatira? (v.18)
- What is Thyatira affirmed for? (v.19) How does this compare with Ephesus? (2:4)
- What is Thyatira rebuked for (vv.20-21)?
- Why did Jesus call the false teacher(s) in Thyatira "Jezebel"? What dots were they to connect?
- Background study: Read 1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 9:21-37. Who is Jezebel? What does she do?What effect does her influence have on Israel? How do things turn out for her in the end?
- How does the character, actions, influence, and demise of the Jezebel of the Old Testament serve as a warning to all churches?
- What will Jesus do to those who embrace Jezebel's teaching and practice her works? (vv.22-23)
- What does Jesus promise those who embrace His teachings and practice His works? (vv.24-28)
- What past or present teachings or influences have pulled or currently pull me away from God?
- What would it look like for me to resist those influences in order to stay faithful to Jesus?
- Take time to dream about the honor it will be to reign with Christ.
- Is there a brother or sister in my life who is wandering from the truth? If so, what actions should I take to help bring them back?
- Praise Jesus for proving who He is so that I can know with confidence I follow the real God
- Praise Jesus for his long-suffering, His patience willingness to receive those who repent
- Ask God to help you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to resist any teachings or influences that would draw your heart away from Him
- Ask God for wisdom as to how to lovingly help bring others back from their wanderings
