Sermons on Red Letters:

The Letter To The Church At Ephesus Series

Contributed by Alan Hamilton-Messer on Jun 22, 2014

The seven churches described in Revelation 2-3 are seven literal churches at the time that John the apostle was writing Revelation. Though they were literal churches in that time, there is also spiritual significance for churches and believers today.

The letter to the Church at Ephesus Reading Revelation 1:9-11 & 2:1-7 Most Christians today will accept that we are approaching the time when Jesus will return to this Earth. Many prophecies concerning this event have happened, and the present state of the world confirms that something drastic ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Letter To The Ephesian Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

The danger of being dutiful and pure without love for Christ Jesus.

Verse 1 - The message is sent by the One Who walks among the congregations and Who supports and holds accountable the leadership of the congregations. Verse 2 - Jesus begins with the statement "I know". Because He walks among the congregations, He knows everything about each congregation. Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:1-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Smyrna Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Persecution is to be expected by the godly and enduring persecution can bring great spiritual good.

Verse 8 – Jesus introduces Himself as being “the First and the Last, Who was dead, and has come to life.” The importance of this particular self-designation to the Smyrna Church of Christ will be seen when we have studied the challenges facing this congregation. Verse 9 ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Pergamum Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Compromising in holiness is far more dangerous than severe persecution of a congregation and individual Christian.

Verse 12 - Jesus introduces Himself as having a two-edged sword. The significance of that will be plainly understood later in this letter. Verse 13 - Jesus first tells the congregation that He knows that one of the greatest challenges they must deal with is dwelling where they do - Pergamum - ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Thyatira Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Both Christ and the Apostle Paul warned that the leaven of sin can destroy a congregation. The leadership at Thyatira are chastened for not practicing congregational discipline.

Verse 18 – Jesus introduces Himself to the leadership and, secondarily, to the congregation at Thyatira as “the Son of God, Who has eyes like a flame of fire.” The significance of this designation in relationship with the Thyatiran brethren is twofold: (1) This city's god and ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Sardis Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Congregational leaders need to keep themselves and their members alive and zealously active by invoking and cooperating with the life-reviving Holy Spirit.

Verse 1 - In each of the seven letters, Jesus introduces Himself differently to each church congregation. He does this because, in each case, the way He introduces Himself is relevant to the situations of each church congregation and the message they need to heed. Jesus introduces Himself to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-5

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Philadelphia Congregation Series

Contributed by Scott Coltrain on May 24, 2015

Due to their rejection of Christ, the Jews lost their position as being God's Chosen. The Church, composed of the believing Jewish Remnant and Gentiles, is now God's Chosen. Christians, alone, have access to the throne of God.

Verse 7 – Again, we see that this letter is sent to the angel of the church; that is, to the leadership of the congregation in Philadelphia. In the other Letters to the six other congregations, Jesus introduced Himself by taking phrases from the vision of Christ in Chapter 1. This is not ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Church In Thyatira

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jun 20, 2020

For some people today tolerance is the only real virtue and intolerance the only vice. The message to Thyatira goes against the grain of modernity by setting limits to tolerance.

Letter to the church in Thyatira Rev. 2:18-29 In the opening pages of Revelation, our Lord introduces Himself as heaven’s holy warrior (1:12–20) who would prepare His people to overcome their enemies (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) by exhorting them to hear what the Spirit has to say in the letters ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Faith In Three Letters

Contributed by Isaac Magsino on Jun 24, 2020

What if you could see the future, what will you do? This is the question of Clark Kent to his mom – Martha in Smallville series. Clark: Mom, if you could see anything, what would you do? Martha: Learn to close my eyes

FAITH IN THREE LETTERS Text: Habakuk 3:18 June 21, 2020 Riverside Church of Christ Intro: What if you could see the future, what will you do? This is the question of Clark Kent to his mom – Martha in Smallville series. Clark: Mom, if you could see anything, what would you do? ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Church In Sardis

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jun 26, 2020

The church in Sardis was a perfect model of an inoffensive Christianity. They apparently invented the concept of “political correctness.

Letter to the Church in Sardis Rev. 3:1-6 Sardis was located about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira The ruins of 1st century Sardis are located near a city in modern day Turkey named Izmir. The city was at the converging point of several inland roads. One road led northwest to Thyatira and then ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Letter To The Church In Philadelphia

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jul 4, 2020

The church with the "open doors"

The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia Rev. 3:7-13 Ancient Philadelphia is now called Alesihir in modern day Turkey. Philadelphia was the youngest of all the seven cities. It was founded by colonists from Pergamum under the reign of Attalus the Second, who ruled in Pergamum from 159 to 138 B.C. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Letter To The Church In Laodicea

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jul 14, 2020

Laodicea is nothing more than a “room temperature” church. It has become just like its environment

The Letter to the Church in Laodicea Rev. 3: 14-22 The book of Revelation is often viewed as a strange book full of mysterious symbols that are difficult or impossible to understand. Yet the Bible states just the opposite! The word "revelation" means "to unveil" or "to ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Letters To Leaders- Character Series

Contributed by Jeffery Anselmi on Sep 6, 2019

Leaders must be aware of how they live life. Conduct, ethics, habits, actions all reflect the inner life we have with God. Our ethics show us what our theology is.

INTRODUCTION • MOVIE CLIP • SLIDE #1 • Today as we continue with our Letters to Leaders series, we will delve into a subject that is important for all of us to consider. • When we dig into our text today, it will appear that we are talking about one thing, when we are actually talking about ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Letter To The Church In Smyrna

Contributed by Claude Alexander on May 20, 2020

The church poor by wordly standards but rich by heavenly standards.

Letter to the church in Smyrna Rev. 2: 8-11 The Book of Revelation is an example of apocalyptic literature, a type of Jewish-Christian writing that flourished especially between 250 BC and 150 AD. The chief example in the Old Testament is Daniel 7-12. This type of literature communicates about ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:8-11

Denomination: Assembly Of God

Letter To The Church In Pergamum

Contributed by Claude Alexander on Jun 10, 2020

Pergamum was the first city of Asia to openly support the imperial cult or emperor worship, and therefore was considered the chief seat.

Letter to the Church in Pergamum Rev. 2:12-17 As we begin our study and draw some application to present day, let’s look back historically to get an idea what was happening 19 centuries ago. We find that Pergamum was the capital of Asia, and had been the capital city of Asia for almost 400 years. ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17

Denomination: Assembly Of God