We are now on Letter #5 in our series, where we read Christ's letter to the church of Sardis. Once again, Christ demonstrates that he truly knows hearts: though this church may seem to be alive to others, they are, in fact, dead. This results in a spiritual stupor that leads to hypocrisy, apathy, and laziness. All does not have to be lost, however, if they wake up and strengthen what remains. They can be vibrant again, but they are trending toward the ultimate sleep of death. Pray with us for a right response to this text in our lives individually and corporately!

This week, we read about "The Corrupt Church" in Revelation 2:18-29. This letter to the church in Thyatira is a picture of what happens when the sins in Pergamum (the previous letter) go unchecked. It's not pretty. We will consider Christ's words of rebuke with, hopefully, hearts and minds open to the ways in which we might be personally and corporately headed in the same direction.

The church in Pergamum receives its message from Christ in Revelation 2:12-17. It is a sobering letter to what we are calling, "The Compromising Church." Despite accolades for remaining true to his name, Jesus reprimands this fellowship for compromising their convictions and their character and effectively looking just like everyone else around them. We will do our best to get to the heart of the message and ask ourselves the question, "Where do we need to repent of the same?"

Jared McClain joins us this week as our guest preacher! He is speaking from Ephesians 3:14-21, a fitting passage given our recent reflection on the letter written to Ephesus. Jared is the Northside Director of Lexington Young Life and also a Pastoral Intern at Hope Presbyterian Church.

In Revelation 2:8-11, we find letter #2 written to "The Persecuted Church." Christ brings a message of tremendous encouragement to this group of believers who have already had a hard life - and discover it's about to get harder. How can they withstand and endure, and perhaps even thrive?

Christ's first letter to the seven churches in Revelation is found in Rev. 2:1-7, written to the Ephesian followers. He has some very encouraging words to share with the church, but also some very sobering comments of rebuke. For all the good they have done, what is most important has been lost: the church has forsaken its first love. This is a hard-hitting message from our Lord, and we may find as we take a look at the passage that our own hearts stand convicted of the same reality. If so, all is not lost...there is a remedy which Christ himself gives. Let's pray together we hear and take the message to heart.

As we kick off our new series looking at Christ's letters to the 7 churches in Revelation, we start with chapter one this week where we find "A Clear Vision of Christ." Let's pray for eyes to see, and ears to hear, what the Spirit is communicating to Redeemer.

Psalm 150

Psalm 24

Psalm 8