Faithfulness Through Trials: Lessons from Smyrna

Devotional

Day 1: Striving for a Healthy Church Community**

No church is perfect, and every congregation is a work in progress. The key to maintaining a healthy church community is to identify and remove toxic behaviors. This requires ongoing self-examination and a commitment to growth and maturity in faith. By acknowledging our imperfections and striving to improve, we can create a more loving and supportive environment for everyone. [00:36]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What toxic behaviors or attitudes do you need to identify and remove to help create a healthier church community?

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Day 2: Embracing Trials as Opportunities**

Trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of the Christian journey. These hardships are not just obstacles but opportunities for us to prove our faithfulness and grow closer to Jesus. They refine us and produce eternal qualities like perseverance and character. Embracing these challenges with a positive attitude can help us develop a deeper, more resilient faith. [02:53]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you view your current trials as opportunities for growth and deeper faith in Jesus?

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Day 3: Rekindling Our First Love for Jesus**

It's crucial not to lose our first love for Jesus, as the church of Ephesus did. Our actions should stem from a place of genuine love and devotion, not mere duty or routine. This love should be sacrificial, willing to endure suffering for the sake of Christ. By rekindling our passion for Jesus, we can ensure that our faith remains vibrant and alive. [03:31]

"But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to rekindle your first love for Jesus and ensure your actions stem from genuine devotion?

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Day 4: Surrendering Our Crowns to Jesus**

We must cast our crowns—our pride, grievances, and sense of entitlement—at the feet of Jesus. By doing so, we receive the crown of life, which brings eternal rewards and a deeper relationship with Him. This act of surrender allows us to experience true freedom and strength in Christ. It is a powerful reminder that our ultimate worth and identity are found in Him alone. [36:18]

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What "crowns" of pride, grievances, or entitlement do you need to surrender to Jesus today?

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Day 5: Faithfulness Even Unto Death**

The church of Smyrna was commended for their faithfulness even unto death. This level of commitment challenges us to love Jesus deeply and to trust Him despite the outcomes we face. Our faith journey is about remaining steadfast and obedient, even in the face of severe trials. By emulating the faithfulness of Smyrna, we can develop a more profound and enduring relationship with Jesus. [30:31]

"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate faithfulness to Jesus, even in the face of severe trials or challenges?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we delved into the concept of a "Toxic Church" and how we, as a community, can strive to be a healthy and faithful church. We acknowledged that no church is perfect and that we are all works in progress. The series is based on the seven letters to the churches in Revelation, which serve as a guide to help us identify and remove toxic behaviors. Today, we focused on the church of Smyrna, one of the two churches that were commended rather than corrected. Smyrna was a church that faced intense persecution, yet remained faithful to Jesus.

We explored the trials and tribulations that the church of Smyrna endured, including harassment, martyrdom, and extreme suffering. Despite these hardships, they held tightly to their faith and love for Jesus. This serves as a powerful example for us to follow. We discussed how trials and tribulations are a part of the Christian journey and that they can actually invite more challenges into our lives. However, these trials are opportunities for us to be proven faithful and to grow in our relationship with Jesus.

We also touched on the importance of not losing our first love for Jesus, as the church of Ephesus did. Instead, we should strive to be like Smyrna, holding fast to our faith even when it costs us dearly. We were reminded that Jesus wants a deep, sacrificial love from us, akin to the love between a husband and wife. This kind of love requires us to be willing to endure suffering and to remain faithful even unto death.

Finally, we were encouraged to cast our crowns—our pride, our sense of entitlement, and our grievances—at the feet of Jesus. By doing so, we can receive the crown of life, which brings eternal rewards and a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. The message concluded with a call to remain faithful, to endure trials, and to find our strength and hope in Jesus.

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Key Takeaways

1. examination and a commitment to growth and maturity in faith. [00:36]
2. Enduring Trials: Trials and tribulations are inevitable in the Christian journey. They are opportunities for us to prove our faithfulness and grow closer to Jesus. These hardships refine us and produce eternal qualities like perseverance and character.

3. First Love: It's crucial not to lose our first love for Jesus, as the church of Ephesus did. Our actions should stem from a place of genuine love and devotion, not mere duty or routine. This love should be sacrificial, willing to endure suffering for the sake of Christ.

4. Casting Crowns: We must cast our crowns—our pride, grievances, and sense of entitlement—at the feet of Jesus. By doing so, we receive the crown of life, which brings eternal rewards and a deeper relationship with Him. This act of surrender allows us to experience true freedom and strength in Christ.

5. Faithfulness Unto Death: The church of Smyrna was commended for their faithfulness even unto death. This level of commitment challenges us to love Jesus deeply and to trust Him despite the outcomes we face. Our faith journey is about remaining steadfast and obedient, even in the face of severe trials.

### [00:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:36] - Introduction to Toxic Church Series
[01:13] - Identifying and Removing Toxic Behaviors
[01:59] - Trials and Tribulations
[02:53] - Persecution in Smyrna
[03:31] - Losing First Love
[04:16] - Commendation of Smyrna
[05:01] - Sacrificial Love
[05:42] - Faith Inviting Trials
[06:07] - Misunderstanding Persecution
[06:43] - Correction with a Smile
[07:24] - Hardships Leading to Healing
[07:58] - Understanding Christ's Suffering
[08:25] - Eternal Kingdom
[08:57] - Faith as a Race
[09:29] - Unprepared for Trials
[10:04] - Humiliation in Trials
[10:32] - Faith Journey and Trials
[11:40] - Hitting a Wall in Faith
[12:17] - Decision to Endure
[12:59] - Different Types of Persecution
[13:35] - Personal Trials and Faith
[14:02] - Encouragement to Endure
[14:41] - Revelation 2:8-11
[15:10] - Commendation and Caution
[15:39] - Strength in Weakness
[16:13] - First and Last
[16:52] - Encouragement from Scripture
[17:28] - Relying on God
[18:01] - Ultimate Encouragement
[18:36] - Jesus Knows Our Trials
[19:07] - Rich in Jesus
[19:41] - Comfort in Hardship
[20:15] - Encouragement for the Faithful
[20:51] - Experiencing Christ's Suffering
[21:25] - Word of Caution
[22:01] - Do Not Fear
[22:40] - Victors, Not Victims
[23:25] - Power of the Tongue
[23:57] - Complaining Brings Death
[24:33] - Standing on God's Promises
[25:06] - Weakness Reveals Strength
[26:11] - Promise of Limited Suffering
[27:05] - Enduring for Jesus
[28:28] - Jesus as Our Comfort
[29:18] - Expect to Be Challenged
[30:31] - Faithful Unto Death
[31:35] - Counting Everything as Loss
[32:20] - Loving Jesus to the Point of Death
[32:59] - Gaining Confidence
[33:46] - Crown of Life
[34:34] - Pressure Produces Character
[35:30] - Obedience in Trials
[36:18] - Casting Our Crowns
[37:03] - Remaining Faithful
[38:05] - Faithfulness in Trials
[39:00] - Abiding in Jesus
[39:55] - Call to Remain Faithful
[40:29] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[41:04] - Prayer of Dedication
[42:10] - Closing Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the main trials and tribulations faced by the church of Smyrna as mentioned in the sermon? ([02:53])
How did the church of Smyrna respond to their intense persecution according to the sermon? ([04:16])
What does the term "first love" refer to in the context of the church of Ephesus, and how did they lose it? ([03:31])
What does it mean to "cast our crowns" at the feet of Jesus, as discussed in the sermon? ([36:18])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it significant that the church of Smyrna was commended rather than corrected in the letter from Jesus? ([01:59])
How can trials and tribulations serve as opportunities for growth in our faith, according to the sermon? ([05:42])
What does it mean to have a "sacrificial love" for Jesus, and how does this compare to the love between a husband and wife? ([05:01])
How does the concept of "casting our crowns" relate to our sense of pride and entitlement? ([37:03])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent trial or tribulation you have faced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about your faith through that experience? ([02:53])
Have you ever felt like you were losing your "first love" for Jesus? What steps can you take to rekindle that love and devotion? ([03:31])
In what ways can you demonstrate a sacrificial love for Jesus in your daily life, even when it costs you something significant? ([05:01])
What are some "crowns" (pride, grievances, sense of entitlement) that you need to cast at the feet of Jesus? How can doing this bring you closer to Him? ([36:18])
How can you remain faithful and steadfast in your faith even when facing severe trials or persecution? ([30:31])
Think of a time when you felt weak or unprepared for a challenge. How did you find strength in Jesus during that time? ([11:40])
What practical steps can you take this week to ensure that your actions stem from genuine love and devotion to Jesus, rather than mere duty or routine? ([03:31])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "There is no perfect church, and we even say this on our website. If you want a perfect church, then you might need to leave right now. There are no perfect churches. We are all a people in progress. That's why we named Project Church, Project Church, because Project Church, we're all a work in progress." [00:36](

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2. "Sometimes when we come into faith with Jesus, we just hope that everything gets better. But did you know that having faith in Jesus actually even invites trials into our lives? If you've been walking with Jesus for any amount of time, you've experienced this. You're like, what? Not everything just gets better." [05:42](

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3. "Following Jesus doesn't mean that you escape trials, but rather you step out in faith into some trials. And what I want you to understand about the church of Smyrna, though, is that they were being tested in the midst of being faithful to God." [06:07](

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4. "When you experience hardships, you experience suffering. And in our suffering, we start to understand what Christ did. And Christ had, he had a perfect life. Woo! But he experienced so much trials. Perhaps that we may, perhaps we can start understanding Christ's suffering and experiencing trials and understanding that he's producing something eternal in us." [07:58](

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5. "When you don't stand on the promises of God, but rather the pressures of this world, then you fail to see an all-powerful, all-knowing God who is in control of your life, who has good for you, who intends good for you, who wants the best for you, who says that you have a future and a hope." [24:33](

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### Quotes for Members

1. "But listen to me now. We are doing this series on the toxic church, and we're basing it off of the seven letters to the church that are found in Revelation because the king of our hearts, the king of all kings, has left us letters to help direct us and to help guide us. But can I tell you right now, if we are going to remain a healthy church, I think that there is a semblance of health in this church. I truly believe that." [00:36](

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2. "And you know what they did in the journey of the trial and tribulation or the persecution that this region was facing? What they experienced was losing their first love. They lost their love for Jesus. They lost their reason for living for Jesus. They began to become busy, active, very discerning, doing all the right things, doing all the right things in church and being the church, but not doing it out of a place of love." [03:31](

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3. "I want to encourage you to endure. I want to encourage you that I'm not here to correct you in feeling like this is hard. It's okay. It may be painful. It may be hurtful. It may be long suffering. You're like, I don't know if I have the patience for this anymore, but whatever it is that you're facing, I'm wanting to say, endure a little longer. Have faith, have faith. Your faith may be tested, but we have an opportunity in this trial to be found faithful." [14:02](

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4. "When you're experiencing hardship, receive the commendation that you can find. Even though it feels hard, you are rich and you have the opportunity to experience what Christ experienced here on earth. Can we start to experience suffering the way Christ suffered? It's a blessing to experience weakness because then we're free from controlling things on our own. We're free to experience the way Christ suffered. It's the strength that comes from knowing Jesus, the strength from knowing him." [20:51](

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5. "When you hit that 200 meter mark, don't just quit. Don't just call it quits. Jesus is saying to push through because there's a confidence that you're going to have from knowing him. You will receive the victor's crown. You don't have to be the victim who walks in fear. You can be the victor who, despite the outcome of your situation, produces an obedience in Jesus." [35:30](

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