Trinity Evangel Church

Revelation 3:19-22 Series: Just Conquer #13 # Introduction The church of God has often been found in bad shape, but not abandoned. She regularly deserves rebuke, but even the rebuke is a sign of God's love for her. It's one thing for a church to think that she doesn't really need God, it is a much worse thing for God to let a church keep thinking that. The Laodicean church is infamous for invoking...

Revelation 3:14-18 Series: Just Conquer #12 # Introduction Here is the final message of the seven Jesus sent to the churches in Revelation 2-3. The message to the Laodiceans in verses 14-22 may be the most well-known due to a couple striking images. The message is severe, with no commendation for the church, to the point that they are making Jesus sick. And yet, I think I might also call this the...

Revelation 3:10-13 Series: Just Conquer #11 # Introduction The church in Philadelphia was being harassed, and it was religiously motivated. Religious harassment is the most tenacious, because it's based on judgments of right and wrong that are justified out of the box, no understanding required. In Philadelphia there was enough of a Jewish population that they were making life miserable for the Ch...

Revelation 3:7-9 Series: Just Conquer #10 # Introduction Most of my sermons follow a fairly simple pattern. A pattern isn't necessarily bad; a good pattern can be comfortable, though it could become predictable in a way that makes one feel as if he’s heard it before. These messages to the churches in Revelation follow a pattern. Jesus identifies Himself, usually in some manner that is especially r...

Revelation 3:1-6 Series: Just Conquer #9 # Introduction This might be the most severe letter of the seven that Jesus sent through John to the churches. What was their problem? It’s possible that Sardisians had some of the same issues that the others churches did, but Jesus doesn't explicitly say so. The church in Sardis may not have been super loving, though they didn't have a bad reputation for t...

Revelation 2:18-29 Series: Just Conquer #8 # Introduction We don't have a Jezebel in our church. No one should actually name their daughter Jezebel anyway, but even in a symbolic way, we don't have any Jezebels. The church in Thyatira did. And like Ahab's wife, this woman led at least some of those among God’s people into trusting gods who aren't really gods and into sexual sin that wasn't really...

Revelation 2:12-17 Series: Just Conquer #7 # Introduction There has been a popular line of sentimental argument for at least the last few years that says, "I want to be on the right side of history." I actually think it's an oddly spatial reference to a chronological discussion. History is like a river, but being on the "right side" is not a comment on which bank is better, it's a declaration that...

Revelation 2:8-11 Series: Just Conquer #6 # Introduction It is possible to learn by watching others who have problems. It is also possible to learn from those who *don't*. The church in Ephesus had problems, Jesus called them to repent, and the Spirit calls everyone with an ear to hear and learn. The church in Smyrna had a different sort of problem, a kind that didn't require repentance. Likewise,...

Revelation 2:1-7 Series: Just Conquer #5 # Introduction You can learn a lot from other people's problems. Of course it’s possible to become more proud when you see someone else's issues, especially if you think those aren't your issues. But it can be really beneficial to see what sort of damage comes from another person who is failing in a way *you* could also fail. In my testimony, as I look back...

Revelation 1:9-20 Series: Just Conquer #4 # Introduction When we come to the Bible, we are always trying to get the point. Part of a teacher's job is to show and tell what has been written; good preaching is making the original author’s intended meaning obvious. But for as long as there have been men coming to the Bible, there there have also been apocalyptic-sized exercises in missing the point....

Revelation 1:4-8 Series: Just Conquer #3 # Introduction Every church service I went to as a kid ended with an altar call. Right before the altar call, though, was a time between the sermon and the singing of "Just As I Am," or whatever song it was that Sunday. That in between time was a time between you and the Lord, and the preacher. At our church, the preacher started his post-sermon prayer and,...

Revelation 1:1-3 Series: Just Conquer #2 # Introduction I made a couple personal commitments for teaching through Revelation, and it is already time to break one of them. But it's important. It's also pertinent. And hopefully it's the last time. Last Sunday I promised that I would not use the phrase, "If you just read the Bible...." Then I realized in a conversation after the service that I missed...

Revelation 22:18-19 Series: Just Conquer #1 # Introduction One potent way to mess with your enemies is to get your enemies to fight with each other. Give the opposing soldiers something to bicker about between themselves, it should at least distract them. Jesus told the scribes that a house divided couldn't stand (Mark 3:25), and Abraham Lincoln borrowed the same metaphor. Even Gandalf, in _The Ho...