Embodying Love and Worship in Community

 

Summary

In today's exploration of Revelation, we delved into the profound themes of love, community, and the anticipation of Christ's return. Reflecting on the Church of Philadelphia, we emphasized the importance of genuine connection and listening. It's not enough to simply ask someone how they are; we must be prepared to truly listen and engage with their response. This act of listening is a demonstration of love, a core value that our church strives to embody. Love is not just about celebrating the good times but also about supporting each other through challenges. Sharing our struggles and testimonies, even when they are not positive, is crucial for communal prayer and support. This openness allows the church to truly be a place of love and care.

As we continued our journey through Revelation, we focused on the vision John received, emphasizing the majesty and holiness of God. The throne of God is a central theme, reminding us of His ultimate authority and the promise of Christ's return. This vision is not just a future hope but a call to worship and surrender to God in the present. The imagery of the four creatures around the throne symbolizes different aspects of Christ's nature and mission, each representing a facet of His divine and human roles. These creatures, along with the 24 elders, are engaged in continuous worship, highlighting the centrality of worship in our lives.

The book of Revelation, while complex and open to various interpretations, centers on the certainty of Christ's return. This truth should inspire us to live in readiness, aligning our lives with God's will. The symbolism of the lion and the lamb encapsulates the dual nature of Christ's victory—He conquers not through force but through sacrifice. This vision challenges us to understand and embrace the depth of God's holiness and the call to live in anticipation of His kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Listening: Genuine love is demonstrated through active listening. When we ask others how they are, we must be prepared to truly listen and engage with their response. This act of listening is a profound expression of love and care, allowing us to support each other in meaningful ways. [13:26]

2. Sharing in Community: Our testimonies, whether positive or challenging, are vital for communal prayer and support. By sharing our struggles, we allow the church to be a place of genuine love and care, where we can support each other through life's ups and downs. [20:08]

3. The Majesty of God's Throne: The vision of God's throne in Revelation reminds us of His ultimate authority and holiness. This vision calls us to worship and surrender to God, recognizing His sovereignty in our lives. [24:51]

4. Symbolism of the Four Creatures: The four creatures around the throne symbolize different aspects of Christ's nature and mission. They remind us of the multifaceted nature of Christ's work and the importance of worship in our lives. [31:17]

5. Christ as the Lion and the Lamb: The dual imagery of Christ as both lion and lamb encapsulates His victory through sacrifice. This challenges us to understand the depth of God's holiness and live in anticipation of His kingdom. [48:54]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Revelation Part Three
- [02:15] - Reflecting on the Church of Philadelphia
- [05:00] - The Importance of Listening
- [08:45] - Sharing Testimonies in Community
- [13:26] - Understanding God's Throne
- [16:50] - The Vision of Heaven
- [20:08] - Symbolism in Revelation
- [24:51] - The Four Creatures Explained
- [31:17] - The Role of Worship
- [35:00] - The 24 Elders
- [39:21] - The Scroll and the End Times
- [44:00] - The Lion and the Lamb
- [48:54] - Christ's Victory Through Sacrifice
- [52:00] - Preparing for Christ's Return

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Revelation 4:1-11 - The Vision of God's Throne
2. Revelation 5:1-14 - The Scroll and the Lamb
3. Isaiah 6:1-4 - The Holiness of God

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Observation Questions:

1. What does the vision of God's throne in Revelation 4:1-11 reveal about His authority and holiness? How is this vision described in the sermon? [13:34]

2. In Revelation 5:1-14, what is the significance of the scroll and the Lamb? How does the sermon explain the dual imagery of Christ as both lion and lamb? [48:48]

3. How does Isaiah 6:1-4 describe the holiness of God, and how is this echoed in the sermon’s discussion of worship around God's throne? [31:17]

4. What role do the four creatures around the throne play in the vision described in Revelation, and how does the sermon interpret their symbolism? [22:42]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest that genuine love is demonstrated through active listening, and why is this important for building community within the church? [08:45]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of sharing both positive and challenging testimonies. How does this practice contribute to communal prayer and support? [08:45]

3. In what ways does the sermon challenge us to understand and embrace the depth of God's holiness as described in the vision of God's throne? [13:34]

4. How does the dual imagery of Christ as both lion and lamb in Revelation 5:1-14 challenge our understanding of victory through sacrifice? [48:48]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent conversation where you asked someone how they were doing. Did you truly listen to their response? How can you improve your listening skills to demonstrate genuine love? [08:45]

2. Think about a personal struggle or testimony you have not shared with your church community. What steps can you take to open up and seek communal prayer and support? [08:45]

3. How can you incorporate the practice of worship and surrender into your daily life, recognizing God's sovereignty as described in the vision of His throne? [13:34]

4. The sermon highlights the importance of living in readiness for Christ's return. What specific actions can you take to align your life more closely with God's will? [13:34]

5. Consider the dual nature of Christ as both lion and lamb. How does this understanding influence your perspective on leadership and sacrifice in your own life? [48:48]

6. Identify one aspect of Christ's nature, as symbolized by the four creatures, that you feel called to reflect in your own life. What practical steps can you take to embody this characteristic? [22:42]

7. How can you create a more open and supportive environment in your small group or church community to encourage sharing and listening? [08:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Genuine Listening as a Pathway to Love
Genuine listening is more than just hearing words; it is an act of love that requires presence and empathy. When we ask someone how they are, it should be an invitation to truly engage with their response, offering our full attention and care. This kind of listening reflects the spirit of the Church of Philadelphia, where love and community were paramount. By being present for one another, especially in times of need, we embody the love that Jesus calls us to share. Listening is not just about understanding others but also about creating a space where they feel valued and supported. [13:34]

"Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you asked someone how they were. Did you truly listen to their response? How can you improve your listening skills to better show love and care?


Day 2: Reverence in Worship
The vision of heaven in Revelation emphasizes the majesty and holiness of God, reminding us that worship is central to our faith. Heaven is depicted as God's throne, a place of ultimate holiness and majesty. Our worship should begin with reverence and acknowledgment of God's greatness before presenting our requests. This understanding of worship calls us to approach God with humility and awe, recognizing His sovereignty and the sacredness of His presence. By prioritizing reverence in our worship, we align our hearts with the heavenly vision and honor God as He deserves. [22:42]

"Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness." (Psalm 29:2, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more reverence into your personal worship time this week? What specific actions or attitudes can help you focus on God's majesty and holiness?


Day 3: Embracing the Multifaceted Nature of Christ
The creatures around the throne in Revelation symbolize different aspects of Christ—King, Servant, Man, and Savior. This reminds us of the diverse ways Christ is present in our lives and the importance of recognizing His multifaceted nature. Each aspect of Christ's character offers us a unique perspective on His role in our lives and His relationship with us. By embracing the fullness of who Christ is, we can deepen our understanding of His love and His work in the world. This awareness encourages us to seek a more comprehensive relationship with Him, acknowledging all the ways He impacts our lives. [31:17]

"And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" (Revelation 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Which aspect of Christ's nature do you find most challenging to relate to? How can you explore this aspect more deeply in your spiritual journey?


Day 4: Unity in God's Covenant
The 24 elders in Revelation may symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, representing the unity of God's people. This symbolism highlights the continuity of God's covenant and the fulfillment of His promises through Christ. The unity of the elders serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of the Old and New Testaments and the shared heritage of faith among believers. As we reflect on this unity, we are called to embrace our role in God's ongoing story and to live in harmony with one another, celebrating the diversity and richness of our faith community. [39:21]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your faith community this week? What steps can you take to foster a sense of belonging and connection among fellow believers?


Day 5: Living in Anticipation of Christ's Return
The scroll with seven seals in Revelation represents God's ultimate plan and the end times. Understanding this symbolism encourages us to live in anticipation of Christ's return, preparing our hearts and lives for His coming. This anticipation is not about fear or anxiety but about hope and readiness. By focusing on Christ's return, we are reminded of the temporary nature of this world and the eternal promises of God. This perspective calls us to live with purpose and intentionality, aligning our lives with God's will and seeking to make a positive impact in the world around us. [48:48]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life that needs realignment with the anticipation of Christ's return? How can you actively prepare your heart and actions for His coming this week?

Quotes



it's good i trust to testify sometimes things aren't that good and sometimes you want somebody to say it'd be okay and sometimes it's not just one person you want the church to pray for you and pray with you the church can't pray with you when you're not willing to share it's impossible to share with us with things that come from and how can i pray with you and praying with you is not when everything is great [00:04:25] (40 seconds)


what we're going to try to do today okay um when the people think of heaven as a peaceful place you know when you think of the helms it's going to be peace animals and men who get we all together and no problem nobody fighting and all things are good okay and it's true but we got to also understand that it's god's throne it's god's throne now we can we can debate whether that throne is up there or here you know that you know that conversation we can have a debate about there's no debate that yields a throne there's no debate that yields a throne okay now i remind you as we're going through this is that the book of revelation has several different interpretations but the main interpretation will change the main thing is that christ is returning now what happens when he returns when he returns when he returns we can have a lot of conversation about i don't forget the main thing the main thing is the price will return okay and we need to be ready okay all right [00:08:29] (84 seconds)


Glasses of lightning and thunder. Exodus 19 .16. You will find that God's power and judgment. In heaven. Okay? Find that in heaven. Okay? God's power. Okay? Spirit. Okay? Steel glass. A symbol of purity. And holiness. And holiness. All right. And the application. Do we truly with God's holiness? Or do we take him lightly? Do we stand? Who is? [00:14:07] (38 seconds)


Before you even talk about, asking for anything, how do we stand? okay i'm thinking you're thinking about anything the very first thing is to get a recognized who he is and then once we recognize who he is and all the actions [00:14:56] (19 seconds)


when i was a child yesterday okay oh we have a hymn book okay i know most churches have hymnals now and the very first psalm and that hymn was holy holy holy holy holy right lord god almighty okay that was the very first again and and that's really what we're talking about it's everything is about god and we're in him okay all right so that's what we got to say that's where the came from that's where the song came from okay that's where it came from okay all right any questions there all right okay okay okay um now he talks about the four creatures four creatures okay all right okay the four creatures that we find that john saw around the the throne okay so i'm going to read those for us please [00:15:23] (76 seconds)


remember that john is writing based upon what he understood what he was sharing but people as a norm would know so what's looking at it is not meant not necessarily literal but it's based upon what he's he saw okay so he says what he says the first living creature is like a lion like a lion seven almost like an ox the third had a face of a like a man and the force was like a flying eagle and we're going to talk about what they'll symbolize or what people think they'll symbolize okay because it wasn't a an actual lion okay it wasn't an actual eagle it's it's what you look like [00:18:33] (54 seconds)


all right all right the lion okay the lion represents represents what represents jesus take that from the book of matthew look at the four gospels matthew mark luke and john matthew mark luke john the four gospels to talk about the christ and you have what the lion matthew why why why why somebody tell me why [00:20:04] (41 seconds)


okay sorry we will share some people will we'll interpret that as being matthew lion okay matthew what was written to reflect that christ was me if you look at the books of matthew mark and john they're very similar they were different purposes that they were written matthew was written to the jews not to the gentiles but them to the jews to show that christ was king he that's what that's what he was so the matthew went back to the generations matthew went back and looked and showed that christ was from who from david that's what that's what he did he went back to the generations from david because the jews believed that messiah was going to come from david because that's what the old testament said that was a covenant okay of the covenant all right so matthew's response to that was so let me show you this [00:20:56] (78 seconds)


we eat cows right did we eat oxes did we eat oxes did we eat oxes huh no no a cow is left on a farm for what eat okay are you kidding milk from it okay but that's what it's there for why is an ox on why is an ox on a you know on a farm why is an ox on a farm huh work to work that's right to work not yeah it's not not for meat and not to eat it's for working every country that i know of has an ox and you see people throwing hearts with an ox in front right it's working okay so when you're working and you have an ox you are right it's serving the ox is serving okay the ox is serving okay [00:22:42] (69 seconds)


so that's what i was gonna talk about it's a man i want to tell anyone else okay not christ the savior not christ the king not Christ a servant Christ was just a man he was the term son of man okay so Luke was John had and then the eagle okay eagle John [00:23:56] (37 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?