Introduction to the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:1-3)

Outline: In Revelation 1:1-3

1. Introduction: the Book of Revelation as apocalyptic literature
2. The Book of Revelation is a gift
3. The Book of Revelation is a gift to the churches
4. The Book of Revelation is for our joy
5. The Book of Revelation is meant to produce urgency

Summary: This sermon serves as an introduction to the Book of Revelation in general and the first three chapters in particular.  To help us get our bearings, we began by focusing on the meaning of the term revelation and how "the things that must soon take place" come to us in the form of apocalyptic literature, that is, laden with words of prophecy, symbols, numbers, and Old Testament quotations. Revelation is a gift from God to the Church and it is designed for our joy in this life and our eternal joy in the life to come.  And Revelation is framed by one all-consuming truth--Jesus is coming soon!  Therefore, we are called to hear and heed the message of Revelation with great urgency.

Main Point: Revelation is God's gift to the Church to produce conquerors who will live with joyful urgency in light of the Jesus' return.

Discussion Questions:

• According to v.1, what is being revealed or made known in the book of revelation?
• In vv.1-2, note the sequence of how the Revelation is passed on: Revelation is a gift from God passed on to _____, _____, _____, and finally to the _____.
• "The things that must soon take place" are revealed to us in the form apocalyptic literature.  What are some of the features of apocalyptic literature?  Why might it be helpful to keep these features in mind as we study the Book of Revelation?
• How do these characteristics of apocalyptic literature serve to "turn the volume up."
• Who is the one who is truly blessed in v.3? (cf. James 1:22-24)
• Discuss this point: we can understand the message of the Book of Revelation without understanding every detail within it.
• What do you think is the basic message of the Book of Revelation?

Application Questions:

• What does God want to do in my life through the Book of Revelation?
• What is one thing that stood out in this sermon that I want to keep in mind throughout this study of the Book of Revelation?  

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for the hope of Jesus' return and the fact that the darkness is almost over
• Ask God to help you understand message of the Book of Revelation
• Ask God to help you be a doer and not just a hearer of the message of the Book of Revelation

The Heart of the Law

Check out this word study of "heart" in Deuteronomy! 

As we've been studying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we've learned that Jesus is teaching the law how it was always to be taught.

 

He isn't abolishing the law.

Or contradicting the law.

Or adding to the law.

Or even teaching "hidden" things from the law. 

 

Jesus taught the true "heart of the law." The Pharisees missed it completely. They focused on external obedience to rules and in doing so they misunderstood most important part of the law: the heart. 

It really isn't difficult to see that the law focuses on the heart primarily. For instance, a quick word search for "heart" in Deuteronomy shows it's mentioned 43 times! 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL 43 INSTANCES AND EASILY SEE THE HEART OF THE LAW YOURSELF!

Notice the gospel in this word study:

• God has set His heart in love on His people
• God has required complete obedience of our hearts to Him. His word is to be hidden in our hearts, loved completely, and fully obeyed with joy.
• But our hearts have a severe problem. Our hearts are stubborn and hard and fearful and unloving and prideful and wayward and worship other gods. We need a changed heart.
• The solution? God promises that by His sovereign power He will change our hearts so that we can fully obey and love Him!

Deuteronomy gives us the good news of the promise of changed hearts, and Jesus fulfills this by being the man with the perfect heart that loved God and obeyed God fully. By His death for our sins He now changes our sinful hearts by giving us His heart, His Holy Spirit, and now we can live as the law always intended: out of genuine obedience from the heart. 

Discipleship 101: Run Like Your Master Ran! (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Visit fbcpierz.org/sermons to listen to this sermon.

Outline: Hebrews 12:1-2

Three “Secrets” to Running with Endurance the Race Set Before Us

1.     Run Light (v.1)

2.     Run for Joy (v.2)

3.     Run Together (vv.1-2)

Summary: Like a stadium filled with cheering fans, we are surrounded by a great multitude, vast “cloud of witnesses” whose legacies testify of the faith it takes to run the race that is set before us (12:1, cf. Ch.11).  The stage is set and the follower of Christ gets one shot to run this race.  In order to run this race well, the disciple must learn three “secrets” to endurance: run light, run for joy, and run together.  First, we must run light, that is, we must lay aside anything that would tend to slow us down.  Weight and sin bog the Christian down and make running the Christian life a miserable experience.  Second, we must run for joy just as Jesus did, peering through our present pain and trial and difficulty to an unspeakably glorious finish line ahead.  Third, we must run together, thinking of this as our race not merely as my race.  We run this race with an eye to the rest of our brothers and sisters, doing all that we can to help them endure to the end. 

Discussion Questions:

• What is the therefore there for in v.1 (Hint: the “Hall of Faith” in ch.11)?  What is the significance of being surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses”? 
• What are sins of omission and sins of commission?  How do these unconfessed sins affect Christians as they seek to run their race?  Are their any sins in your life that remain unconfessed (cf. 1 John 1:9)?
• How is weight different from sin? What question do you tend to ask: “is ____ sin” or “does ____ help me run”? On a scale of 1-10, (1 being not very seriously and 10 being extremely seriously), how seriously do you consider the need to lay aside not just sin but also weight in your life? Are their any weights in your life that are hindering you from running well?  
• What does it mean that Jesus is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith?
• How did your Master run His race?  What is the joy set before you?  How is joy designed to help you endure your race?
• Reflect on this statement: “this is our race not merely my race.”  Do you genuinely appreciate the fact that we are not meant to run the Christian race alone?  In what ways are you currently making an intentional effort to be helped and to help others run the race?

Prayer Points:

•  Pray that God would bring to mind any unconfessed sin in your life that you need to lay aside by confessing it (cf. 1 John 1:9).  Take time to listen.
• Pray that God would bring to mind any unnecessary weight in your life and ask God for the strength to lay it aside so that you can run faster. Take time to listen.
• Ask God to help you to be a serious and passionate runner, one who is faithfully asking the question: “Does ______ help me run or does it slow me down?”
• Ask God to show you more of the glory and joy of what is to come, to help you run for joy, to look beyond your present difficulties to the breathtaking joy that awaits you. 
• Thank God that there is a finish line and that Jesus has paved the way.
• Thank God for the brothers and sisters that He is allowing you to run this race with.
• Ask God for wisdom as to how you can intentionally encourage others as they seek to run their race.