The End is All About Jesus

The Churches of Jesus

Part 3: The Vulnerable Church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

The Main Point: Right doctrine strengthens the Church.

• Strong churches endure persecution. (v.12-13)

• Strong churches reject false doctrine. (v.14-15)

• Strong churches repent of their sins. (v.16)

• Strong churches receive the prize. (v.17)

Episode Summary Pastor Grant joins the conversation to help us work through one of the most important tensions in the Christian life — the relationship between law and grace. Why do Christians still struggle with sin after salvation? Why does guilt linger even after forgiveness? And what does sanctification actually look like day to day?

Key Topics Covered

• What the law does — and what it was never designed to do
• What grace does — and what it doesn't excuse
• Why guilt lingers after forgiveness
• What sanctification actually looks like in real life

Key Scriptures

• Romans 3:20 — Through the law comes knowledge of sin
• Romans 6:1–2 — Grace is not permission to sin
• Romans 8:1 — No condemnation in Christ Jesus
• Galatians 3:24 — The law as a tutor leading us to Christ
• Philippians 2:12–13 — Work out your salvation
• 1 John 1:9 — He is faithful to forgive

Key Takeaways

• The law is a mirror — it shows the problem but cannot fix it
• Grace doesn't lower the standard — it meets it on your behalf
• Conviction leads to repentance. Condemnation leads to despair. They are not the same thing.
• Sanctification is not you trying harder — it is you cooperating with what God is already doing in you
• You are justified. You are being sanctified. You will be glorified.

Reflection Questions

• Was your faith growing up more law-based or grace-based — and how did that shape you?
• What's the difference between conviction and condemnation in your own experience?
• Are you relating to God more like a slave trying not to get in trouble — or a child who is already loved?
• What does your sanctification actually look like day to day?

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The End is All About Jesus

The Churches of Jesus

Part 2: The Persecuted Church in Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

The Main Point: Jesus is our hope to endure persecution.

• Persecuted Christians find hope in the gospel of Jesus. (v8)
  • Jesus suffered. (Isa 53:3; Lk 9:22; 1 Pet 2:21)
  • Jesus won. (2 Cor 8:9)
• Persecuted Christians find hope in the sovereignty of Jesus. (v9)
  • Jesus knows their situation. (Mt 24:9; Rom 8:35; Rev 1:9; Jas 2:5)
  • Jesus knows the true heart of their oppressors. (Rm 2:28-29; 9:8; Gal 6:15; Lk 11:39)
• Persecuted Christians find hope in the promises of Jesus. (v10)
  • Suffering is temporary. (Dan 1:12; 2 Cor 4:17-18)
  • The reward is eternal.
• Persecuted Christians find hope in the victory of Jesus. (v11)
  • Jesus has conquered. (Rev 20:14; 21:8)
  • We can conquer.

Next week’s sermon: The Churches of Jesus: Part 3, The Vulnerable Church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17)

The End is All About Jesus

The Churches of Jesus

Part 1: The Hard-Working Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

The Main Point: A faithful church must work hard to protect both the teaching of Jesus and the love of Jesus.

• Christ to his Church (v1)
• Commendation for Hard Work & Hating Evil (vv2-3, 6)
  • Acts 20:28-30; 2 Cor 11:13-14; Prov 6:16-19; Ps 11:5; Amos 5:21
  • A faithful church works hard to protect the teaching of Jesus.
• Correction for Lack of Love (vv4-5)
  • A Sinful Attitude: Rejection of Love (v4; Eph 1:4; 2:4-5; 3:17b-19; 4:1-2, 15-16; 5:1-2; 1 Cor 13:1; 1 Jn 4:20; Mt 24:12)
  • Three Proper Responses: Remember, Repent, & Get Back to Work! (v5a)
  • A Punishment: Rejection (v5b)
  • A flawed church fails to work hard in the love of Jesus. (1 Tim 4:16; Jon 4:2)
• Call to Conquer (v7)
  • A forgiven church conquers sin through faith in Jesus. (Rev 5:9-10; 12:11)

Next week’s sermon: The Churches of Jesus: Part 2, The Persecuted Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

The Old Testament isn't a confusing collection of ancient laws and violent stories. It's the first half of one unified story — and it's impossible to fully understand Jesus without it. Today Pastor Steve walks us through covenants, sacrifices, and the logic of blood — and shows us how all of it points directly to Christ.

Key Topics

Covenants

• A covenant is a binding promise God makes with His people
• Every major covenant points forward to Jesus
• Key covenants: Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, New Covenant
• Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise God ever made

Sacrifices

• The sacrificial system was God's way of showing His people what sin actually costs
• Leviticus isn't boring — it's a detailed picture of what it takes to approach a holy God
• The system was never meant to be the final answer — it was always pointing forward

Why So Much Blood?

• Leviticus 17:11 — the life of the flesh is in the blood
• Blood represents life given in place of another life
• Every sacrifice was a preview of one moment — the cross
• John 1:29 — "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"

How It All Points to Christ

• Luke 24:27 — Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed how they were all about Him
• Abraham and Isaac → the Father giving His Son
• The Passover Lamb → Jesus whose blood causes judgment to pass over us
• The High Priest → Jesus our permanent High Priest
• The Suffering Servant → Isaiah 53, written 700 years before the cross

Key Scriptures

• Leviticus 17:11
• 2 Samuel 7:12–13
• Jeremiah 31:31–34
• Isaiah 53
• John 1:29
• Luke 24:27
• Hebrews 10:1–4
• Hebrews 4:14–16

Reflection Questions

• What part of the Old Testament has always confused you most?
• How does understanding the sacrificial system change the way you see the cross?
• If the Old Testament is one long arrow pointing to Jesus — what does that change about how you read it?

Want to Go Deeper?

• According to Plan — Graeme Goldsworthy
• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth — Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

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The Vision of Jesus

Revelation 1:9-20

The Main Point: In Revelation, we encounter Jesus so that we will worship Jesus.

• John heard the voice of Jesus. (vv9-11)
  • Rev 2:9-10; Ezek 2:2; 3:12; Jn 4:24; Ex 19:16
  • The book of Revelation is God’s word to a suffering people.
• John saw the appearance of Jesus. (vv12-16)
  • Ex 25:37-38; Dan 7:9-10, 13-14; 10:4-6
  • The book of Revelation promises God’s glorious presence among an exiled people.
• John received a commission from Jesus. (vv17-20)
  • Dan 10:7-9, 10, 12

The book of Revelation shows God’s grace to a sinful people.

The End is All About Jesus

The Revelation of Jesus

Revelation 1:1-8

The Main Point: The book of Revelation is all about Jesus.

• We learn something about the book: The Revelation from Jesus Christ (1:1-2)
  • Revelation is God’s Word.
  • Revelation includes symbolic visions. (Dan 2:28-29, 45b)
  • Revelation includes historical realities.
• We learn something about the reader: The Revelation of Blessing to the Church of Jesus Christ (1:3-4a)
  • God’s people will be blessed by the book of Revelation.
  • God’s people should read the book of Revelation.
  • God’s people should obey the book of Revelation.
  • God’s people should study the book of Revelation.
• We learn something about God: The Revelation about Jesus Christ (1:4b-8)
  • Greeting from God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. (vv4b-5a)
    • Our God is the eternal Father. (Ex 3:14)
    • Our God is the all-powerful Holy Spirit. (Isa 11:2)
    • Our God is the Davidic king, Jesus Christ. (Ps 89:27-29, 36)
  • Glory to Jesus Christ (vv5b-6)
    • God’s people are loved by Jesus Christ. (Rom 8:37)
    • God’s people are saved by Jesus Christ.
    • God’s people are servants of Jesus Christ.
    • God’s people glorify Jesus Christ.
  • Declaration of Jesus Christ (vv7-8)
    • Jesus is coming. (v7; Dan 7:13-14; Zech 12:10; Mt 24:30)
    • God is in control. (v8)

Next week’s sermon: The Vision of Jesus (Revelation 1:9-20)

Most of us were never taught how to read the Bible. We were just told to read it. And when you figure it out on your own, you end up with a faith built on verses taken out of context, personal feelings dressed up as Scripture, and a Bible that somehow always agrees with you.

In today's conversation, we break down the difference between devotional reading and proper interpretation — and why learning to read the Bible correctly changes everything about your faith.

Key Topics Covered

• The difference between devotional reading and biblical interpretation
• Why context, genre, and author intent matter
• How to approach different types of writing in the Bible
• How proper Bible reading always leads you back to Jesus

Key Scriptures Referenced

• 2 Timothy 2:15 — Correctly handling the word of truth
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17 — All Scripture is God-breathed
• Luke 24:44–46 — Jesus opening the whole Bible to His disciples
• Nehemiah 8:8 — Reading with understanding and meaning

Key Takeaways

• The Bible was not written to you — it was written for you. That distinction matters.
• A text without context becomes a pretext.
• The Bible contains many genres — narrative, poetry, prophecy, letters, wisdom literature — and each one reads differently.
• Meaning doesn't change. Application does.
• Random verse-picking produces a fortune cookie faith — sweet for a moment, no real substance.
• The goal of Bible reading isn't to find yourself in every story. It's to find Jesus.

Reflection Questions

• When you open your Bible, are you reading to hear from God — or to hear from yourself?
• Has a verse ever meant something personal to you that turned out to be taken out of context? How did that shape your faith?
• What would change if you started reading whole books of the Bible instead of single verses?
• How do you balance personal encounter with Scripture and proper understanding of it?

Want to Go Deeper?

• According to Plan — Graeme Goldsworthy
• How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth — Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart
• The Jesus Storybook Bible — Sally Lloyd-Jones (a great reminder that every story whispers His name)

All About Jesus

The Christian Life is All About Jesus

Romans 13:1-14

The Main Point: The Christian life is all about Jesus.

• The Christian life involves Christlike respect. (vv1-7; Rom 1:16)
  • Obey earthly leaders. (vv1-5; Dan 2:21a; Jer 27:5-6; Acts 24:16)
  • Pay earthly obligations. (vv6-7; 1 Tim 2:1-2; 1 Pet 2:13-17, 21-23; Mt 22:21b)
• The Christian life involves Christlike love. (vv8-10; Mt 5:17; Jn 10:11; 1 Jn 3:16; Jn 13:34-35; 1 Jn 4:7-11)
• The Christian life involves Christlike holiness. (vv11-14; 1 Jn 1:5; 3:5; Col 1:13-14; Mt 5:14-16)

Next week’s sermon: The Revelation of Jesus (Revelation 1:1-8)

All About Jesus

The Church is All About Jesus

Ephesians 4:1-16

The Main Point: The Church is all about Jesus

• The Church is united in the godliness of Jesus. (vv1-3)
  • We have a calling. (Gal 5:22-23)
  • We have an example. (Phil 2:1-8)
• The Church is united by the gospel of Jesus. (vv4-6)
  • We have the same Savior. (Jn 17:21-22)
  • We have the same salvation.
• The Church is united through the giftings of Jesus. (vv7-12)
  • We have many giftings. (vv7-10; Ps 68:18-20; Jas 1:17)
  • We have many gifted people. (vv11-12)
• The Church is united to grow in Jesus. (vv13-16)
  • We exist to grow in knowledge and wisdom of Jesus. (vv13-14)

We exist to grow in the love of Jesus. (vv15-16; Jn 13:34-35; Jn 11:23-26, 35)