Many letters have made their ways into the New Testament. However, the only recorded letters from Jesus are found in Revelation 2–3. These were seven real letters dictated to a messenger (or angel) and written specifically to seven historic churches in Asia. My conviction is that Jesus knew that each of the churches had a couple of major issues that he had to focus on when he wrote to that particular church. But, the matters he spoke about to one church still offered general relevance to each of the other churches too. And, I think we will see, the letters speak to us today too.
The letters are brief but powerful. We will be reading them throughout the fall here at LAC.
- Jesus' Letter about Love (Ephesus in 2:1–7)
- Jesus' Letter about Suffering (Smyrna in 2:8–11)
- Jesus' Letter about Facing Opposition (Pergamum in 2:13–17)
- Jesus' Letter about Purity (Thyatira in 2:18–29)
- Jesus' Letter about Being Self-Deceived (Sardis in 3:1–6)
- Jesus' Letter about Faithfulness (Philadelphia in 3:7–13)
- Jesus' Letter about Discipleship (Laodicea in 3:14–22)
Our series will be called Listen and Hear: Letters from the Lord. Do you know the difference between listening and hearing? When we listen well, we seek to comprehend. However, we all know that it is possible to comprehend what a person says and still not to respond to it. In the Bible, the word translated "hear" goes beyond comprehension. When the Bible calls us to hear, it is also calling us to obey. This is particularly true when Jesus is the speaker. Throughout the fall, we are going to listen to the words of Jesus found in his letters to the churches. And, we will find that Jesus also calls us to hear, i.e., to obey.
Here is what I would like each of us to do in preparation for this series: First, read Revelation 1 and see how Jesus, the letters' writer, is introduced to us. Jesus met his old friend, the Apostle John. So, remember that, as a young man, John had met Jesus by the Sea of Galilee. But in Revelation 1, both John and Jesus seem to have changed. John is over 80 years old. And Jesus—well, Jesus is now the majestic and glorified Son of God that John had only seen glimpses of before Jesus' resurrection and ascension to heaven.
Second, read through the letters from the Lord in Rev. 2–3. As you do, listen carefully about what each letter says about Jesus, about the church, and about living faithfully for Jesus in this imperfect world. Then, ask what you should be hearing. What is Jesus saying to you personally? Read the letters with Jesus' admonition in mind: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says..." In other words, listen and hear.
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
