Grace and peace to you all! Here's the pump-primer for this week's sermon.
- First, read the text, Rev 1:9-20 fully and more than once. Try more than one translation.
- Second, try to break the text up into divisions. [Hint: note the paragraphs. Sometimes they help.] And label those divisions.
- Third, Think about John. Why was John on Patmos? Why did he call himself their brother and partner? Look at those three things he's a “brother and partner in.” Do you see that they are all attached to the phrase “that are in Jesus.” What does that tell you?
- Fourth, look up in your Bible some of the cross references. Read some of those especially from Daniel 7. That might help you understand it better.
- Fifth, work through some of those images you see about Jesus. What do you think the Lord is trying to tell you about Jesus? And why is that important? Make sure you see the point about the two-edged sword. Look up where that pops up in the book of Revelation and other places. What's he telling us?
- Sixth, look at what Jesus says to John in vv17-18. What's his message to him and why does he tell him this?
- Seventh, look at v19. What do you think “the things …” are referring to?
- Eighth, how should you respond to this text? What do you need to believe or do or say because of it?
In Christ,
Pastor Brandon