If you like short sermons, the messages of Jesus in Revelation chapters two and three should get a thumbs-up from you. That’s because in never more than three short paragraphs the Son of God makes clear what He has to say to each of seven congregations. Here is how I would summarize His various challenges:
- To Ephesus: Return to your “first love” relationship.
- To Smyrna: Don’t be afraid to suffer for my sake.
- To Pergamum: Beware of compromises that sidetrack you spiritually.
- To Thyatira: Stop tolerating sexual immorality.
- To Sardis: Wake up spiritually.
- To Philadelphia: Keep on keeping on.
- To Laodicea: Face reality, you’re not as great as you think.
Because John, on Jesus’ behalf, is to convey these messages to their proper locations, they take the form of short letters. In each case, however, the importance of the contents is underscored by the words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
There is no question but that Jesus was addressing specific congregations in Asia Minor (the country we today call Turkey). But these congregations were also representative of the kind of churches found throughout the world at just about any time. So, a relevant and fair question to ask would be, “Which of these seven messages seems to be most appropriate for the 21st-century American church to hear from Jesus?” Go back over the list and come up with your answer.
After making your pick, decide whether this message from Jesus you chose as being most appropriate is presently what is being preached from our American pulpits. If it isn’t, why do you think this is so?
Which of the seven messages do you think Jesus would say is most appropriate for your home church to hear? Explain your choice.
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