This Sunday, February 21st is Week 4 of our series on the 7 letters of Revelation 2 & 3. We are halfway home! This week’s letter is addressed to the church in Thyatira. They like most of the other churches have some issues that Christ calls to their attention. But they have a unique quality that I believe should be the dream of every church. Jesus says that their “latter works exceed the first” (Rev. 2:19). In other words, they are getting better with age. Their works, love, faith, service, and endurance is increasing each passing day!
I compare this to two realities of our day. First, most believers will agree that although their knowledge of Scripture generally increases as they follow Christ, their passion and excitement does not. It has become normal for seasoned Christians to be less enthusiastic about sharing their faith than new converts. Second, statistics consistently show that the overwhelming majority of new converts (around 80%) come to Christ through churches that are less than 3 years old.
Conclusion: The 21st Century American church has much to learn from our brothers and sisters from Thyatira.
I for one want to throw a wrench in that status quo! I want my passion for God’s kingdom to expand as I get older. I want to be part of a church that is getting stronger week by week! Let’s come together this Sunday in search of God’s word to accomplish that very goal!
Great sermon series so far, and well presented. I pray that we the congregation grasp it’s meaning to us as individuals and as a collective group. That we can absorb it and take it to the community.