Sermon at the Haynes Street church of Christ on September 14, 2014. Topic: "What Kind of Letter Would We Receive?" Preacher: Steven Matthews
Transcript of What Kind of Letter Would We Receive?
1. Welcome to the Haynes Street church of Christ TIMES OF
SERVICES SUNDAY: 9:30 A.M. BIBLE CLASS 10:30 A.M. WORSHIP
WEDNESDAY: 7 P.M. BIBLE CLASS
2. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? We all like to receive
mail (except bills). Birthday cards, anniversary cards, thank you
notes, letters, etc. How would you react if you received a letter
from Jesus? 2,000 years ago, Jesus wrote letters to the seven
churches of Asia. Have you ever thought: What if we were one of the
seven churches of Asia?
3. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? Would Jesus rebuke us
for declining or praise us for improving? Revelation 2:4:
Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first
love. Matthew 22:37-38: The greatest commandment love the Lord your
God. Revelation 2:19: I know your works, love, service, faith and
your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the
first. II Peter 1:5-8: Continually growing.
4. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? Would Jesus rebuke us
for being lukewarm or praise us for using our strength? Revelation
3:15-16: Are you hot, cold or lukewarm? Revelation 3:8: I know your
works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut
it, for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not
denied My name. What little strength they had, they were using it
to praise God.
5. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? Would Jesus rebuke us
for focusing on the physical or praise us for being spiritually
minded? Revelation 3:17: Laodiceans were rebuked because they were
confident in their riches, yet blind to their spiritual needs.
Revelation 2:9: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but
you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are
Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Colossians 3:2:
What are we focused on?
6. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? Would Jesus rebuke us
for trusting in ourselves or praise us for trusting in God?
Revelation 3:17-18: Church at Laodicea was told to repent and clear
their eyes so they could truly see God and His beauty. Revelation
2:9-10; 3:8-10: Smyrna and Philadelphia unmoved despite
persecution. V. 11: Victory in Jesus! Matthew 10:28: And do not
fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
7. What Kind of Letter Would We Receive? Would Jesus rebuke us
for only having a reputation or praise us for real strength and
life? Revelation 3:1: All Sardis had was a reputation. They were
spiritually dead. Jesus praises several other churches because they
had real strength in them and they used it (Revelation 2:2-3, 9,
13, 19). So, if Jesus were to write us a letter, what would it say?
But do we need a letter? We have the Bible to tell us what areas we
need to improve in.
8. Gods Plan of Salvation Hear (Romans 1:16; 10:14,17) Believe
(John 8:24; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6) Repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19;
17:30) Confess (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33) Be baptized (Acts
2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16) Live faithfully (Revelation 2:10; Matthew
6:33; Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 15:58)