Judgments. Fire and hail. A beast from a bottomless pit. Taken on their own, quite frankly, these things seem like the stuff of nightmares. In the midst of such frightening images, we might ask, where is hope to be found? In this week's message from Revelation 8–11, Pastor J.D. encourages us to find hope by keeping our gaze on this glorious picture: Jesus reigns victorious, his mission will ultimately be accomplished, and his Word will triumph.

No one likes being caught off guard or feeling unprepared. But the truth is, though we don't know the exact time that it will happen, we know that Jesus' return is certain. In this week's message from Matthew 24, Pastor John encourages us to ready ourselves by living lives that are fully surrendered to God. When we do so, we can be sure that wherever God leads us and whatever he has for us is ultimately for his glory and our good.

If you're like most people, once you make it to Revelation 6, you decide your devotional time would probably be better spent elsewhere. After all, what are those seven seals about, anyway? And the “great tribulation”? Forget it. But as we'll see in this week's message from Pastor J.D., Revelation 6–7 is essential to understanding the very culmination of biblical history, when people from all tribes, nations, and tongues will worship God together. It's a beautiful vision, and it's one that gives us confidence that the sacrifices we make for Jesus are well worth it.

We were created to worship. Even those who claim no interest in religion will inevitably worship something, whether it's fame, wealth, family, or another thing entirely. In this week's message from Revelation 4–5, Pastor J.D. gives us a glimpse of heavenly worship that is motivated by the sovereignty of God and the salvation found in Jesus. This Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb, is the one our hearts yearn for and the only one who can give us life to the full. 

The proper perspective can change everything. What we see is limited by our human nature, and the temptation at certain points in life is to conclude that everything is out of control and chaotic. But as Pastor Curtis shows us in this week's message from Revelation 4, the vision that the Apostle John receives is the eternal, heavenly perspective that we need. The fact is, everything comes into focus when we see our lives through the lens of God's glory. And this heavenly perspective should ultimately change how we live on earth.

The art of letter writing is one that has largely fallen by the wayside in today's highly technological society. But taking the time to write a personal letter communicates something in a way that simply sending a text never can. In this week's message from 3 John, Pastor John shows us the value of just such a personal letter. What we learn from reading this communication from the Apostle John to a man named Gaius is how to walk in the truth. And this, of course, is only possible when we know the truth found in God's Word and live in alignment with it.

“Lukewarm” isn't really a desirable trait in, well, just about anything. After all, is there anyone who actually looks forward to a lukewarm cup of coffee in the morning? But when Jesus uses this word, what he has in mind is something far worse. In this week's message from Revelation 3, Pastor J.D. takes us through John's last three letters to the churches. Though Jesus doesn't have anything negative to say to the church at Philadelphia, he has plenty to say to the congregation of Laodicea, and it begins with his visceral reaction to their halfhearted Christianity. We, of course, have to be careful not to fall into the same trap: claiming the name of Jesus with our lips but living lives that are in no way distinct from the world.  

There are many threats that the church faces today, but the most dangerous may lie within, in the form of sin that we tolerate and compromise that we engage in. In this week's message from Revelation 2, Pastor Curtis examines how John's letters to the churches at Pergamum and Thyatira reveal the dangers of compromising to blend in with the surrounding culture. What often disguises itself as tolerance is little more than excusing sin, and this is the very thing that Jesus warns against. But when we hold fast to our convictions even when it's hard, we find the true rest and peace that Jesus alone can give.

In this week’s message from Revelation 5–7, Pastor Mitchel Lee of Grace Community Church speaks about multiethnic unity.

We may think that making a small compromise here and there doesn't matter. But the truth is that there is inherent danger in compromising our beliefs or morals, danger that can sometimes lead to disaster. In this week's message from Revelation 2, Pastor J.D. takes us through John’s letters to the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna, showing us where Jesus both commends and challenges these congregations. Jesus' warning should serve as a sobering reminder to us today: It's possible to be faithful to the doctrines and practices of Jesus while having hearts that are cold and far from him.