Dear Church: The Church in Smyrna

It's better to let a church suffer and to prevent it. Today’s episode unpacks suffering, faith, and trust in Jesus.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 2:8-11

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

• 00:00 Intro.
• 01:54 Recap and overview of the series resources.
• 04:31 The strength of our faith and the strength of Jesus
• 06:52 The New Testament was originally written to groups and communities of people, not to individuals.
• 09:48 Did Jesus avoid rebuking the church in Smyrna just because they were already suffering so much?
• 12:17 What does it mean when Jesus said Smyrna would suffer persecution for "10 days"?
• 14:12 Discussion of the statement that "A dead Jesus is a worthless Jesus."
• 16:16 Trusting in Jesus rather than in teachers, pastors, and leaders.
• 18:14 People who don’t flinch are the people who love Jesus, not the people who know theology.
• 26:14 Difference between "children of the empire" or "children of the kingdom."
• 29:29 Persecution and Protection.