| |

Seven Churches: Thyatira

ByRicky Smith

November 3, 2024
Thyatira: The Tolerant Church
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

I. Jesus Is Greater

Revelation 2:18-19
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

We Cannot Hide Our Issues from the Son of God.

II. Jesus Is Merciful and Just

Revelation 2:20-23
But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Passivity Towards Sin Creates a Tolerance of its Presence.

2 Corinthians 6:2
God says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION.”

III. Jesus Is Our Hope

Revelation 2:24-29
But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Next Steps

  • I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
  • I confess I have become tolerant of sin in my life.
  • I commit to remaining faithful, relying on God’s mercy, and demonstrating His love to others.

Deep Dive

  1. If we are forgiven of our sins, how can we justify sinful conduct? How does this compare to the church at Thyatira?
  2. Read Romans 6:1-2 and discuss how Paul challenges us to view sin in light of God’s mercy.
  3. Read Revelation 2:24-29. Does God affirm an aggressive rule toward sinful people? Does this justify violence? If not, what does it suggest?

Springboards

  1. What is the difference between being spiritually complacent and being spiritually dead?
  2. What role does repentance play in the resurrection of dead faith?
  3. Read Revelation 3:1-6 and compare the American church to the Church at Sardis.

Similar Posts