OC Bereans

Gentlemen,

Please review the following questions to prepare you for next Monday night’s discussion on Revelation 2:12-17.  Download and print the handout, Message to Pergamum, and bring this with you for note-taking.

1. What does the word Pergamum mean?
2. What is communicated by the character trait of Jesus noted in 2:12?   (cf., 1:16)
3. What specific things does Jesus know [οἶδα] about the Christians in Pergamum?
4. What problem areas does Jesus identify?
5. Define the “teaching of Balaam.”  Who were Balaam and Balak in the O.T.?  (Hint: Use the Blue Letter Bible to aid your research)
6. Re-define the “teaching of the Nicolaitans.”  (cf., 2:6)
7. What remedy does Jesus provide?
8. What warning does Jesus give?
9. Identify three gifts Jesus promises to grant to the “overcomers.”  Define these terms.

Rick P. will provide the dessert, so plan to show up by 7 pm to start enjoying that … besides the best parking spots are available then, too!  Our discussion will start soon after that.  Remember to bring …

• …  your Bible
• …  a notebook or journal
• …  something to write with
• …  ears ready to hear
• …  eyes longing to see
• …  an open mind eager to learn
• …  a softened heart ready to receive God’s truth
• …  and a yielded will ready to heed His instruction!

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Three new handouts are available for download here and in the “Download” tab above.

• Revelation 2:8-11 Notes

• Martyrdom of Polycarp

• Revelation 2:8-11 (slideshow)

If you have missed one or more Monday sessions recently, I urge you to use these notes, handouts, and slideshows to stay current with the rest of the men.  These seven letters from Jesus (via John) to the churches build on each other.

Now we move on to the letter to Pergamum!  I will post some study questions later this week.

Two comments were made to the previous post … one from Chuck, and the other from Rick … I encourage you to read these … plus, consider posting comments of your own … as the Spirit leads!

Remember to pray for each other and our families … and for persecuted Christians around the globe.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

We have several unfinished questions remaining to be discussed as we take an even closer look at the persecuted believers in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11).  I have added some biblical cross references that will aid your study.

• How can Jesus say of the Smyrnan believers, “but you are rich”?  In what ways?  (Matthew 6:19-21;  Luke 12:13-21ff;  2 Corinthians 6:10; 8:9;  2 Timothy 6:17-19;  James 2:1-5, 14-17)
• Why are Jews in Smyrna called “a synagogue of Satan”?  Can you find a biblical parallel to this accusation?  (Hint: think Jesus in John’s Gospel)
• What are the two commands that Jesus issues to the believers in Smyrna?
• Define the “crown of life.”  (1 Corinthians 9:24-25;  2 Timothy 2:5;  Hebrews 12:1-2;  James 1:12)
• What is promised to the “overcomer”?  What is NOT promised?
• Define the “second death.”  (Rev. 20:14; 21:8;  Daniel 12:2;  Matt. 10:28;  John 5:25-29;  1 Peter 4:12-19)

Another way to prepare yourself for Monday night’s study is to peruse two websites that I have added to the “Worth Visiting” column of links on the right side of this page:  International Christian Concern and Open Doors.  These will open up our eyes to the plight of persecuted brothers and sisters in other parts of our world today.

In case we finish our study of Smyrna early (doubtful) … you may want to download and print a handout on the Message to Pergamum.

By the way, excursus means “a detailed discussion of some point in a book” … “a digression” … the word originates from Latin, meaning literally, “a running out, sally, digression.”   😉

Continue to pray for each other and the host of requests shared the past few Monday nights.

Rick M. will bring the dessert, so show up by 7 pm to enjoy that!  The study will begin soon after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

You know that Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling is part of my daily regimen for spiritual health.  Today’s selection is timely, appropriate, and on-point with where many of our men are at currently.  In case you have not yet read it, here you go:

WAITING, TRUSTING, and HOPING are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain.  Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most.  Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me.  Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you really do trust Me.  If you mouth the words “I trust You” while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow.  Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven.  However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present.

Because you are Mine, you don’t just pass time in your waiting.  You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust.  Keep your “antennae” out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence.

By God’s grace and assistance, make it a great rest of today … plus week!

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

The #1 take-away for me from our study of Jesus’ Letter to Ephesus:

“I feel the need to heed” (1:3) because of DEVOTION … not duty, nor doctrine.

Jesus desires and demands our “first love” devotion more than anything else we might imagine.  Click here to download the Revelation 2:1-7 Notes on the Letter to Ephesus.

Two additional resources you may want to check out:

• A 2006 sermon by Ken Baugh, pastor of Coast Hills Church, entitled “Ephesus: The Careless Church“
• Chuck Missler’s 66/40 Radio Broadcasts are now available as daily podcasts on the Book of Revelation.  You can subscribe for free on iTunes.

I have also uploaded eight slideshows that we have used on Monday nights since the beginning of the new year.  You can access these from the Downloads tab at the top of this page.

We will wrap up our study of the Letter to Ephesus this coming Monday night with a “necessary excursus” on the “tree of life” in Genesis 2-3 … then onto a study of the Letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11).  To aid your preparation for this next letter, here are several questions for you to explore prior to Monday night:

1. What titles / traits of Jesus are used in the greeting?  Why are these significant to believers in Smyrna?
2. Identify three specific things which Jesus knows [οἶδα] about believers in Smyrna.  Think about the details of each of these.
3. How can Jesus say of them, “but you are rich”?  In what ways?
4. Why are Jews in Smyrna called “a synagogue of Satan”?  Can you find a biblical parallel to this accusation?
5. What are the two commands that Jesus issues to the believers?
6. Define the “crown of life” … look for biblical cross-references.
7. What is promised to the “overcomer”?  What is NOT promised?
8. Define the “second death” … look for biblical cross-references.

Rick H. will bring the dessert, so show up by 7 pm to enjoy that! … our study starts shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Click here to download Revelation 1 Notes.

This coming Monday, we will look closely at the letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11).  Some questions will be posted prior to then.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

We will finish our in-depth look at the Message to Ephesus this coming Monday.  To help prepare for that, think about these two items:

• Define “first love” (Rev. 2:4).  *Consider these cross references … Jeremiah 2:1-2; Psalm 51:12; Hosea 2:19-20; Micah 7:18; Luke 10:38-42.

• Who are “overcomers”?  *Compare 1 John 5:4-5.

As you also begin to prepare for our discussion of the Message to Smyrna, read carefully through Revelation 2:8-11, looking for the “design elements” in this letter.  Click on the title to download a one-page handout, or download this from the Downloads tab at the top of this page.

Mike W. is scheduled to bring the dessert, so show up by 7 pm to enjoy that, before we jump into our study and discussion.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Click here to view a template of the Design Elements in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters two and three.  Please download, copy, and bring with you to Monday’s study this handout, plus the handout I included in the previous post.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

The former rector of All Souls Church in London, England, John R.W. Stott, wrote a small book in 1958 entitled “What Christ Thinks of the Church.”  In 128 pages he succinctly discussed various aspects of the seven letters that Jesus instructed the apostle John to write to seven distinct churches in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), in Revelation chapters two and three.  For the next several weeks, beginning this Monday (2/25), we will unpack each of these letters in great detail in order to capture a clear picture of what Jesus desires for His church to look like … and act like.

As you might expect, there are seven “design elements” incorporated into these form letters that will help us compare and contrast what Jesus is saying to each group of believers.  I am in the process of creating a template that will show these elements side-by-side, and should have this finished by Monday.

In the meantime, I urge you to read through chapters two and three at least one time before Monday evening’s study.  Be on the lookout for repetitive words and phrases.  See if you can discern the seven “design elements.”  Can you guess what our next memory verse will be?

After we tie up a couple loose ends from chapter one, we will jump into an exploration of the first letter to the church at Ephesus (2:1-7).  Click here to download a one-page handout on the Message to Ephesus.

I am eager to be back with all of you men, studying God’s Word together!  I have a bit of a persistent, residual cough left over, but otherwise, I’m healthy … and rarin’ to go!  Jon Y. will bring the dessert, so show up by 7 pm to enjoy that.  Our time in the Word begins shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Although my personal battle with the flu has caused the cancellation of this coming Monday night’s Bible study (2/18), there is a “silver lining” …  an opportunity for your personal growth in the Word.  Our normal tendency as “guys” may be to say, “Cool!  What’s on TV on Monday nights that I’ve been missing?” … or something related.  Instead, I exhort you not to take that detour … not to be tyrannized by the urgent … but I invite you to consider three alternatives for investing that two-hour block of time Monday night.

1.  Find a quiet place where just you and Jesus can talk about your relationship.  A handout has been created that will help you do this:  Meditation on “First Love”

2.  Consider sharing this handout with your spouse or another family member.  Follow the handout’s guidelines for the first hour, then share with each other during the second hour what Jesus said to you.  By the way, this will give that person a taste of what we experience every other month during our “Meet Jesus @ the Beach” gatherings.

3.  Or, you may want to gather together two or three of our OC Bereans for the same small group exercise.  In addition, by Monday I will post here on the blog my compiled teaching notes for Revelation chapter one, so you may want to simply review with each other what we have gleaned so far in our study of Revelation.

Although I will personally miss (immensely!) our weekly time of teaching and fellowship this Monday, I will be focused on listening to Jesus as He speaks to me out of Revelation chapter 2.

The Lord willing, we will all be back together again on Monday, February 25th!  In the meantime, the dessert rotation will be updated to reflect this interruption … Jon Y. is next on the list.

Let’s all continue to pray for each other’s health, as well, since other men are struggling with various ailments.

Shalom!

~ tr