The Seven Churches

I'm listening to a sermon series (9 sermons) on the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. John, who was exiled to an island after being boiled in oil, was delivering the words of Jesus to the churches of the first century in modern day Turkey.

Jesus admonished them all and rebuked six. What did they learn? How did they respond?

Today, it is interesting is that Turkey has about 70 million people and only 3,500 evangelical Christians. Most of these seven churches do not exist today. The seven growing churches then were booming. Now, Turkey is probably the most unreached country in the world.

3,500 churches close in America each year. 4,000 are planted. What if Jesus specifically wrote us a letter commending and condemning us? How would we respond? He did. As He said to all the churches, "Let him who has ears hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches." (Hello, that's us!) Philadelphia, the church Jesus didn't rebuke, lasted about 1,200 years. Wow! What an anniversary party I'm sure 1,000 years was. But now, the ruins of the church is shadowed by a Muslim mosque.

Where will our church be after we are all gone? Who are we imparting to, discipling, and evangelizing to ensure the future of Jesus' church in our area? How strong is the generation beneath our supervision? Legacy or forfeit? What we do today directly affects those years from now-your grandkids and great, great, great, etc. grandkids. It is more specific than how is Family Church doing. How are you doing? You-the church. Hear the Spirit and respond. Let us (it will take us all) plant many churches (even the ones we may question locations of) that will extend beyond our grandest dreams and give Jesus the glory due Him.

I did a wedding rehearsal in Sheridan last night and spent 30 minutes driving around town praying for doors to open. I will do the wedding Sunday and pray some more. How exciting as I see Sheridan as a mission field and potential church plant to reach those who are lost without Jesus.