The church of Christ on McDermott Road

Those who are loyal to the Lamb do not have a comfortable and easy life. They are pursued, persecuted, and put to death. They cry out to God, “How long before you will judge and avenge our blood?” They are told to wait, because even more loyal followers of the Lamb would be killed. However, this entire section reveals that the world’s actions have consequences. Their sins will bring destruction, both as a natural consequence and as divine retribution. Michael Gorman says about these visions of judgement, “Their primary purpose…is not to instill fear but to provide a wake-up call for those who are sleeping, not merely through life, but through empire.” There are Christians in every generation who need to wake up and realize there are consequences to idolatry, injustice, and immorality? (Scripture: Revelation 6:1-11)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-20

The world thinks that a conqueror must be a lion. In order to win and be worthy, a king must devour his enemies. However, Revelation reveals that the Lion who has actually conquered has done so as a Lamb, “standing, as though it had been slain.” This is how God and his people conquer, not by slaughtering others, but by being faithful to the point of death. Death might seem like defeat, but when we see the world through the lens of Revelation, we realize that we conquer by following the slain Lamb, “wherever he goes." (Scripture: Revelation 5:1-10)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-23

John shares seven messages from Jesus, addressed to seven representative churches in Asia Minor. These messages set the stage for the rest of the book. They reveal the struggles Christians were facing, how some were compromising the faith, and how others were being loyal to the Lamb. Pay special attention to the fact that the churches who seem to be rich are actually poor; and those who seem to be poor are actually rich. Just as first-century Christians received both reassurance and rebuke from these messages, we need to do the same. (Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

From all appearances, Caesar was running the world. He was glorious, powerful, and ruling over the kings of the world, but Caesar’s rule was a farce. Revelation reveals reality: Jesus is the actual “ruler of the kings on earth.” Jesus, “the faithful witness” and “the firstborn of the dead,” has been glorified. He is the one who died, but is “alive forevermore.” More than that, he has “the keys to Death and Hades.” Consider what it would like today to rest confidently in the knowledge that Jesus, as revealed in Revelation 1, is truly on the throne. (Scripture: Revelation 1:9-18)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Summer Series 2024 - Lesson 13