Sharon Church | Sermons

We all have a worldview - a way in which we see the world and interpret our circumstances. Throughout the Bible, God has given us His worldview and therefore how we should see the world and interpret our circumstances.This Biblical worldview should determine, then, how we understand the Gospel and therefore how we see ourselves and others. 

Our student pastor, Codi Schutz, shares from 1 Timothy 4 and addresses each of our deep seated insecurities that keep us from doing hard things.

The most important city for the Roman Empire in Asia Minor was Ephesus. It was a port city with great wealth and influence. And their influence largely came from their worship of the goddess Artemis and their practice of magic arts - black magic. Their entire economy was built on idolatry and magic arts. When the Gospel transformed the Christians in Ephesus, the economy felt it. When the church in Ephesus was first founded, they shook the core of the darkness of Ephesus by their bold proclamations and work in the community.Over time, they became less concerned with bringing light to the darkness and instead grew more concerned with protecting their light. In Revelation 2, 45 years after the church in Ephesus was established, Jesus sees what is happening and calls them out on it. He calls them back to the works they did when they were a young church.

As the letter of Revelation makes its way to the church in Smyrna, the Christians there are under intense pressure from all sides. Jesus knows their struggle and suffering, yet His comfort for them is not that it is almost over but that it has just begun. 

As Christians, suffering often feels like the anger of God rather than His love and grace but as we see in the narrative of Scripture, there is a point to suffering for the Christian. God is doing something with it and there is joy to be found both in the middle of it and on the other side of it.

For the church in Pergamum, it wasn't the frontal assault of persecution and martyrdom that had Jesus worried for them - it was their handling of the subtle inside job of false teaching and perversion of grace. They were zealous about their faith in Jesus and about salvation but had grown thoughtless in their approach to teaching and learning.

This is a call to be mindful, to be transformed in our thinking. We must use our brains when following Jesus.

Over the next four weeks, we will look at four of the seven churches to whom the letter of Revelation was written in light of the season of Advent.This sermon is from the first Sunday of Advent, focused on Hope.In this sermon we are looking at the church in Thyatira. There seems to be much good happening at the church but Jesus is concerned about their willingness to tolerate the spirit of compromise that is seeping into the church. It is in this introduction that Jesus shows His disdain for any sort of false teaching that you can love and worship both God and whatever other god we choose.

As we finish Revelation, we are going back to look at each of the seven churches to whom the letter of Revelation was written. Each city is unique and therefore their introduction to the letter is unique. In this sermon we are looking at the church in Sardis. Sardis was a wealthy, safe, comfortable city along five major trade routes and blessed with a river that produced gold. Its geography kept it safe except for two embarrassing moments when its walls were breeched because they had no one standing guard.Jesus see the church in Sardis in much the same way - comfortable and active, yet dead. They are missing the very thing He offers - the Spirit of God.

Over the next seven weeks, we will look at each of the seven churches to whom the letter of Revelation was written. Each city is unique and therefore their introduction to the letter is unique. In this sermon we are looking at the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia was once an important city along a major trade route in Asia Minor. The Greeks saw Philadelphia as an open door to the rest of the world. But over time, Philadelphia became beat down and essentially left for dead. Opportunity seemed to be years in the past. But Jesus has a different perspective. As the One who has the power to open doors and give purpose, Jesus encourages the church in Philadelphia to keep going!

Over the next seven weeks, we will look at each of the seven churches to whom the letter of Revelation was written. Each city is unique and therefore their introduction to the letter is unique.  In this sermon we are looking at the church in Laodicea. Laodicea is known for a few great things but it is ashamed of its water supply. Without their own supply of fresh water, they have to have water brought in via aqueducts and Jesus sees their spiritual state in much the same way. 

With the final chapter of Revelation (and the Bible), we are taken back to the beginning. The Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden appears again, this time alone and in the New Heaven and New Earth. We are being shown that eternal life is not found here on earth. There is no thing, no person, no financial status, no relationship, no job, no diet that will save and satisfy us here. And that is why the cry of Revelation 22 is, "Come, Lord Jesus".