Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are part of a study about how Jesus views His Church. Even though we preached this messages more than 40 years ago, nothing about the Lord’s critique and command have changed since then and when He first spoke the words to the Apostle John almost 2,000 years ago.
[These notes are from a message preached more than 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]
I. The Active, Bible-Believing Church – Revelation 2:1-17
A. Strong points – Works, patient, endurance, hatred of sin, perseverance
B. Weak points – Deficient in love for Christ and what He loves
II. The Poor but Rich Church – Revelation 2:8-11
A. Strong points – Works, persecution, poverty
B. Weak points – None mentioned
III. The Tolerant Church – Revelation 2:12-17
A. Strong points – Works, faithful
B. Weak points – Toleration of error in the church
IV. The Compromising Church – Revelation 2:18-29
A. Strong points – Works, love, service, faith
B. Weak points – Compromise with sin and the world
V. The Dying Church – Revelation 3:1-6
A. Strong points – None mentioned
B. Weak points – Complacency
VI. The Loyal Church – Revelation 3:7-13
A. Strong points – Works, kept God’s Word, faithfulness to Christ
B. Weak points – None mentioned
VII. The Lukewarm Church – Revelation 3:14-22
A. Strong points – None mentioned
B. Weak points – Lukewarm, self-righteous, self-satisfied, proud, spiritually destitute, spiritually blind and naked
Which are we and what should we do about it?
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:5
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:16-17
“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:21-23
“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” Revelation 2:26
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” Revelation 3:3
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:5-6
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Revelation 3:11-12
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 3:18-22
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you, your family and your ministry.]
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Founder & Director of GraceLife Ministries View all posts by gracelifethoughts
