Teaching

Sunday 15th September, 6:30 service, Tom Pollard.

Revelation 2:1-7.

What does God want His church to look like? John Stott writes in his commentary on Revelation; “although their message is related to the specific situations of those churches, it expresses concerns which apply to all churches. By praise and censure, by warning and exhortation, Christ reveals what he wants his church to be like in all places and at all times.”

Notice the reading structure: The Address (2:1a), The Description (2:1b), The Commendation (2:2-3, 6), The Complaint (2:4), The Command (2:5a), The Warning (2:5b), The Appeal (2:7a) & The Promise (2:7b).

Christ commends His church for their activity in ministry and observes the suffering that they face, yet what Christ seeks above all is their love; love being the mark of a true and living church. Jesus seeks our love.

How might we repent of our activity being given greater priority then our first love, Jesus? Christs appeal, his invitation is to pay attention to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. How might we listen to the Spirit at this time in our church life?

Other passages that relate to the life of the church in Ephesus: Acts 18:19-21, 24-26, Acts 19, leadership transition 1 Tim 1:3.

Sunday 28th July 2024, 6:30 service, Tom Pollard.

Nicodemus, the Pharisee, approaches Jesus at night, out of fear that he will be seen. He knows Jesus is from God but asks Jesus what it means to be born again.

Jesus explains that new life in Christ comes from a work of the Spirit in us. To be a Christian means that we live a new life in Christ – to what extent do we live in this new identity?

Speaking from Ephesians 1, Tom shares on how the blessings we have received from God are not measured or scarce, but abundant.