Christ Church Bartlett

Session 10 — The Church at Laodicea [Revelation 3:14-22] — March 21, 2021 I. When we become spiritually lukewarm and useless, we literally make God want to vomit! II. The desire to get rich plunges us into ruin and blinds us of our need for God! III.Total commitment to follow Christ – though costly – will always leave us completely satisfied in the end. IV.Only two things in this world last forever – the Word of God and the souls of men. V. God disciplines those whom He loves as a father disciplines his son. VI. Those who are wise will stay awake and be ready for the Lord when He returns. VII. The prosperity gospel perverts the Word of God, appeals to the carnal nature of man, and denies the cost of discipleship. VIII.Those who overcome in Christ forever will reign with Him have a place at the table of the King. Personal Application ➡ Abide in Christ — your Source or life — and remain useful. ➡ Count the cost to follow Christ and believe He is worth it! ➡ Store your treasures in heaven by investing

Session 9 — The Church at Philadelphia [Revelation 3:7-13] — March 14, 2021 Our opportunity to ________ the ________ for Christ often comes against the backdrop of our ________ ________. We are commanded to hold fast to the ________ of God and ________ His ________ as our most valued ________ on earth. God is quite capable of rescuing the godly from ________________ by always providing a way of ________. God has promised to ________ us with Holy Spirit, ________ us ________ the ________ ________ of tribulation and ________ us from the ________ of the ________. God always ________ for Himself a faithful ________ for His own ________, as a witness on the earth.  Personal Application Make the most of every open door God gives for us to bear witness to Jesus until the end. Treasure the Word of God in your hearts to sustain you through the coming trials. Trust that God is able to keep you to the very end!

Session 8 — The Church at Sardis [Revelation 3:1-6] — March 7, 2021 I. We all by nature are born spiritually dead and powerless apart from Christ and His free gift of eternal life. II. True saving faith always will be completed by works and expressed in love for the least of these. III.The Day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night to surprise only those who are not spiritually alive, awake and ready for His return. IV.Although no one knows the exact day or hour of the Lord’s coming, we can and should know when His return is very near. V. When we believe in Jesus and are justified, God clothes us with the righteousness of Christ. VI.Many churches maintain the appearance of godliness while denying the true power of God and robbing Him of His glory. VII.It is infinitely better to stand alone with Jesus and be judged by the world than to to stand with the world and be judged alone by Jesus. Personal Application ➡ Has the life of Jesus Christ transformed you from death to life? ➡ Wake up church and repen

Session 7 — The Church at Thyatira [Revelation 2:18-29] — February 28, 2021 I. Jezebel was a pagan priestess and wicked queen of Israel, who led the entire kingdom to worship Baal and his consort Ashtoreth. [1 Kings 16-21] II. The Jezebel spirit despises authority and primarily uses the arts of sexual seduction to gain total control over men in positions of power and influence. III.Passive leaders who elevate and prioritize “tolerance” above truth are easy targets for the Jezebel spirit. IV.God is grieved when we misrepresent Him and His name and there are serious consequences when we fail to repent. V. God’s people cannot tolerate sin in attempting to coexist in this wicked and perverse generation, no matter what it costs! VI.To the overcomer in Christ, God will grant authority to rule and reign in His coming kingdom. Personal Application ➡ Repent of our immoralities and idolatry before it’s too late. ➡ Pray for your leaders and pastors that we would be courageous and vigilant in protecting our families and

Session 6 — The Church at Pergamos [Revelation 2:12:17] — February 21, 2021 I. The Lord Jesus is coming to judge both the living and the dead by the Word of His mouth! II. The pagans of ancient Pergamos worshipped at the massive altar of Zeus – which is the Greek equivalent of Baal, or Satan. III.Satan is the ruler of this world and god of this age, but like all principalities and powers, his seat of authority is limited by locality. IV.When we take the name of the LORD, we are claiming Him as our Heavenly Father and representing Him to the world. V. The doctrine of Balaam produces greedy leaders who take advantage of others for selfish gain and who compromise holiness for sexual indulgence. VI. The church is called to be a witness for Christ in the world but never is to become of the world. Personal Application ➡ We must engage in spiritual warfare using the weapons God gave us! ➡ We must Repent of our worldliness, sexual immorality and idolatry ➡ We must hold fast to the name of Jesus and never be ashamed

Session 5 — The Church at Smyrna [Revelation 2:8-11] — February 14, 2021 I. God the Son had to take on flesh as a man to suffer and die as an atoning sacrifice for our sin. [Isaiah 53] II. Jew hatred is the essence of the spirit of antichrist. III.God will keep His promises to save a remnant of the Jews and restore the fortunes of Israel when Jesus returns.[Ezekiel 37:15-28] IV.God promises that Christians will suffer tribulation in this world and encourages us to remain faithful, even unto death. V. God will reward faithful stewards with imperishable crowns in the kingdom. VI. Those who are born once will die twice and those who are born twice will only die once! Personal Application ➡ Have you been born again? Are you secure in Christ? ➡ Continue to prepare for increased persecution and coming tribulation in this hostile culture ➡ Pray faithfully for the persecuted church

Session 4 — The Church at Ephesus [Revelation 2:1-7] February 7, 2021 I. The church at Ephesus was intentional about defending sound doctrine, contending for the faith, and exposing false apostles. II. Unlike the Nicolaitans, Jesus is the ultimate servant leader, setting the example for all who follow after Him. III.The church at Ephesus had replaced devotion with doctrine and were too busy doing the work of Jesus that they quickly forgot about the worth of Jesus . IV.God’s love is the most powerful force in the universe and remains our deepest need to see us through times of great difficulty ahead. V. Jesus was nailed to a tree at Calvary to restore us to God and give us access to the tree of life forever. [see Galatians 3:13-14] Personal Application ➡ Return to Jesus – your first love, supreme love – the One who loves you perfectly. ➡ Show your love for Jesus by serving Him and others with the right motives and so prove you are His disciples. [John 13:34-35]

Welcome and Prayer Before the Throne, Revelation 4-5 Before the Throne of God Above No Longer Slaves Lord’s Supper Four Horses–Revelation 6 Four Horses The Two Witness Days of Elijah The 7th Bowl–Revelation 16 When the World Caves In Revelation 21–He Is Our God Good, Good Father Prayer of Blessing

Session 3 — 7 Letters to the 7 Churches January 24, 2021 I. The church exists to be light in a dark world. [Matthew 5:14-16] II. The church consists of all people who have been redeemed by God and adopted into His eternal family by faith in Messiah. III.The church is expressed both locally and universally – with Jesus being the Head of the body and the Chief Shepard. IV.Jesus has total authority and is holding everything in His mighty hand. V. The letters Jesus wrote to the seven churches have never been more relevant than they are today. VI.God’s promises are only for the overcomer in Christ. [1 John 5:4-5] VII.Each of us must ask God to give us ears to hear, but then we must do what He says. [James 1:22-25] Personal Application ➡ Pray for ears to hear and understand what the Spirit is saying ➡ Obey God’s commandments and do what He says! ➡ Read the letter to the church at Ephesus [2:1-7] out loud and make personal notes.

Session 2 Vision of Jesus — January 17, 2021 I. God’s people must enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations with patient endurance to the end. [Revelation 1:9] II. Revelation was written for those who will endure tribulation in general, and specifically for those who must endure the great tribulation. [Revelation 1:9] III.John’s vision reveals Jesus in all His power and great glory, as the Son of Man who is coming on the clouds. [Revelation 1:12-16] IV.Only Jesus Christ holds the keys to death and life! [Revelation 1:17-18] V. The seven stars are the seven angels and the seven lampstands represent the seven churches. [Revelation 1:20] Personal Application ➡ Prepare for coming tribulation by fixing your eyes and setting your hearts upon the coming Son of Man – the risen Lord Jesus Christ – who has been given all authority in heaven and earth and who holds the keys to death and life. ➡ Continue to go in His authority as His witnesses to the end of the age!

Session 1 — Alpha and Omega — January 10, 2021 I. We discover a heptadic thread running throughout the entire Bible, especially in the book of Revelation, where the number 7 is uniquely emphasized. [Revelation 1:4-8] II. God’s eternal nature is revealed in the three tenses of salvation. [Revelation 1:4-8] III.John’s greeting to the seven churches reveal seven distinct titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. [Revelation 1:4-7] IV.Jesus Christ is the Alpha as Creator and Omega as Judge, and the Central Figure in all of history as Redeemer! [Revelation 1:8] Personal Application ➡ Marvel at the manifold works of God and give Him glory for who He is and what He has done! ➡ Worship the King Jesus Christ, who has loved us and set us free from sin and death. ➡ Repent and draw near to God today, seek Him while He may still be found, so that you will not shrink back in fear when He comes with the clouds in all power and glory!

Introduction to the Book of Revelation The book of Revelation is the ___________ ____________ of Jesus Christ in all His glory and the ______________ _________________ of this present age with His triumphant return to earth. [Revelation 1:7] While the Apostle John — the ____________ ________________ — was inspired by the Holy Spirit as the _____________ ______________ of the book, Jesus Christ is the _____________ _____________. The book of Revelation was _______________ to John using _____________ ______________ and _____________ _____________ that already have been clearly established in Scripture. [Revelation 1:1-2] Jesus provides the ______________ of the entire book, along with both a _____________ _______________ and _______________ _______________ to all who read it. [Revelation 1:3, 1:19, 22:18-19] Personal Application Begin praying daily for ears to hear and a spirit of wisdom and understanding. Read at least one chapter aloud every day and take good notes. Pray for opportunities to share the gospe

A Kingdom that Cannot be Shaken —  Hebrews 12:18-29 * The Exodus provides one of the most comprehensive prophetic profiles of the last days and the revelation of Jesus Christ. [Hebrews 12:18-21] * God came down and revealed Himself on the holy mountain — Sinai — in power and glory. [Hebrews 12:18-21] * The LORD will come down from heaven again to remove all the mountains out of their place and judge the earth with an all-consuming fire. [Hebrews 12:22-27] * Only those in Christ who receive immortal bodies will be able to stand before God on that Day and inherit a kingdom that cannot be shaken. [Hebrews 12:27-29] As We Go …  Will you be able to stand when Christ comes as an all-consuming fire or will you shrink back in fear? Will you inherit God’s kingdom that cannot be shaken?

The Christmas Star and the Sign of Immanuel • From the beginning, God created the heavenly bodies to serve as prophetic signs. [Genesis 1:14-15] • The magi were Gentile astrologers who were looking for the King of the Jews. [Matthew 2:1-4] • The star of Bethlehem most likely involved both natural and supernatural phenomena around the time of Jesus’ birth. [Matthew 2:1-23] • There certainly was an astronomical connection to the prophetic sign of the virgin birth. [Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:20-25, Revelation 12:1-6] • Cosmic signs will also accompany the second coming of Jesus and the Day of the LORD. [Matthew 24:27-31] • Most importantly, we have been saved to shine like the stars forever — Amen! [Matthew 5:16] As We Go … May we seek the Son of God more diligently than the magi and may we shine bright as the stars against the ever darkening days ahead before the Lord returns!

Holding on to our Blessed Hope Luke 2:22-35 • Simeon waited in HOPE for the CONSOLATION of Israel — so must we. [Luke 2:25-28] • Simeon lived to see the promised SALVATION of his God — so can we. [Luke 2:29-33] • Simeon understood that Jesus had to bear the CROSS before He could wear the CROWN — so must we. [Luke 2:34-35] As You Go … Believe in the promises and the power of God, who loves us so much that He would give His only Son to die for us and prepare a place for us in His kingdom!

We are the Shepherds The shepherds' story reflects Point 1: Our unworthy condition Point 2: The choice to obey the Lord’s commands Point 3: The testifying of God’s goodness Point 4: Giving glory of the Lord

God is Faithful to the End 1 Thessalonians 5:18-28 • Sanctification is a COOPERITIVE effort. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-28 • Our part simply is to be joyful, prayerful, thankful, and OBEDIENT to the end. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-28 • God’s part is to FINISH the work that He STARTED in us. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-28, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:8-10 • God’s promise is that we will be like JESUS in the end. 1 Thessalonians 5:18-28] As We Go ... Live every day like we are one step closer to the kingdom of God and the coming of our Lord Jesus!

How Daniel Did It Daniel 1:8- But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:21- Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. • Don’t give in. Resist. • Be Consistent. • Don’t give up. Be persistent.

Rejoice Always • Rejoice always in the Lord. [1 Thessalonians 5:16] • Consider it pure joy when you face trials. [James 1:2-4] • In Christ alone we have fullness of joy. [Psalm 16:11; John 15] As We Go … May the joy of the Lord forever be your strength as you continue to trust!

Simple Steps to Sanctification 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Step #1 — Get CONNECTED and stay COMMITED to your Christian community. [1 Thessalonians 5:12-15] Step #2 — LOVE and RESPECT your leaders. [1 Thessalonians 5:12-13] Step # 3 — Find your ROLE and do your PART in the church. [1 Thessalonians 5:13-15] As We Go … Trust Jesus through every changing circumstance and while you’re at it, become a contributor to the work of the ministry in your church.