A Congregation's Evaluation

Teaching, Preaching, Reaching (Ephesus)

Teaching - (Head) impart knowledge, instruction of the “How’s”, learning, principles

Preaching - (Heart) emotion, earnestly advocate, public proclaiming, answering the question of motives “Why”

Reaching - (Hands) applying the instructions, with a proper motive, to accomplish a task or to overcome an obstacle.

Matthew 4:23-25

Matthew 22:37

Internal Relationships (Smyrna)

Affliction and comfort

Rich and Poor

Accuracy and Gossip

Courage and Fear

Life and Death

Political, Theological, Philosophical (Pergamum)

Understanding our dwelling place (Capital City)

Academics - Indoctrination (Balaam and Nicolaitans)

Medical and Healing (Facilities)

Warning: Religion has always had a precarious relationship to political power. When power is on the side of religion, it tends to corrupt it. But when power is against religion, it tends to persecute it. Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series - The Book of Revelation: Unlocking the Future.

Lifestyle (Thyatira)

Works: Love, Faith, Service, and Endurance

Toleration - Sexual deviation, Sexual Immorality (Fornication), Adultery

Challenge: Morals, Ethics, and Doctrines

Evangelism, Missions, Welfare (Sardis)

A Dead congregation - No praise, no worship, no fellowship, no relevancy, no impact

A Prejudice congregation - No like, uniformed instead of unified, ignorant

An Apathetic congregation - No want, no desire, no heart

Challenge: Overcoming the trends and the fads of the modern day.

Commitment and Devotion (Philadelphia)

Little Strength and yet kept to sound teaching, did not deny Jesus the Christ, and receives an open door that no one or no thing is able to close.

Holds onto and becomes a pillar

Overcomes the hour of testing

Endurance and perserverance

Finance and Business (Laodicea)

Spiritually inept

Jesus is no longer the Head or Leader of the Congregation

No need

No one in the congregation even recognizes that Jesus is the one knocking

No commendations, only condemnation

Proverbs 30:7-9

Challenge

After everyone of these critiques, Jesus simply says: “Anyone who has an ear should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.” I pray that we at CFRBC are listening to the commendations and the condemnations that Jesus the Christ has made to these congregations. First, thanking Him for these examples, second repenting for following the evilness of these congregations, and then submitting to following those who received the commendations for their deeds. My prayer is that Jesus the Christ is not standing outside knocking, but is in here dining with us.