The Revelation may be the most misunderstood book in the Bible. What if Jesus’ message to the seven churches was not a mystical prophecy about the end of the world but rather a practical guide for believers seeking to follow Him in a lost and broken culture?

Join us at VOUS for a 7-week conversation around The Revelation of Jesus Christ and what it means for your life today.

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Dive into weekly sermons and journey through the book of Revelation in community.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

Lost Love

Jesus gave 2 commandments to his early followers which are to Love God with all of our mind, soul, and heart and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We love because Jesus first loved us. But what happens when this love goes away?

This week, we kick off a new collection of talk titles “Seven: Revelations of Jesus for His Church”, where we dive deeper in the book of Revelations. As Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. shares the first talk titled “Lost Love” we are reminded to come back to our first love.

Scripture

Revelation 1:1-3

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

Under Pressure

Pressure is a necessary element of the refinement and purification of any material.

Our second talk of the collection “Seven” aptly titled “Under Pressure” serves as an opportunity for Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. to teach us about Jesus’s message to the Church of Smyrna, which was under intense persecution during an age of Roman empirical rule.

Evidence of pressure while following Jesus indicates the fostering and testing of true faith. Let’s encourage each other to remain steadfast in our faith in Jesus, who has conquered death, despite the crushing ‘thlipsis’ we are all destined to face at one point or another.

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 2:8-11

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ 

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

Mindslayer

Grace is the license to live free, not to crash willfully.

Pastor Rich Wilkerson, Jr. talks about the church of Pergamum in his collection titled “Seven: Revelations of Jesus for His Church.”  This sermon explains Jesus as the “Mindslayer” who uses the Word of God to cut through the lies, deception, and corruption in the church of Pergamum. Discover how to filter your thoughts, fight what’s in your mind, and focus on Jesus.

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 2:12-17

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

Cosmic Jesus

What we believe affects what we do. Our beliefs drive our thoughts, and our thoughts determine our actions. Out of God’s abundant love for us, he reveals the areas where we are confused and making compromises. Tune in as Brooke Ligertwood continues our collection “Seven: Revelations of Jesus for His Church” with her  message “Cosmic Jesus.”

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 2:18-29

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

The Root of the Problem

We can learn a lot about a plant by the fruit it produces. What does your fruit say about you? Pastor DawnCheré brings the latest installment of our collection “Seven: Revelations of Jesus for His Early Church.” Tune in as we learn the importance of being rooted in God, the true vine.

Scripture

Revelation 3:1-6

1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

The Open Door

Have you ever stood outside of a locked door without a key? It’s impossible to get inside. Out of God’s love for us, he opens the doors we should walk through and closes the doors we should avoid — our only job is to obey. Tune in as Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. brings the latest installment of our collection “Seven: Revelations of Jesus for His Church” with his message “The Open Door.”

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 3:7-13

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

SERMON: 7 CHURCHES

When God Knocks

Jesus is our message.

Our faith is built on the firm foundation of Jesus; the beginning of all creation. As we close this year’s final collection of talks titled “Seven”, Pastor Wilkerson Jr. presents a powerful word called “When God Knocks”. The talk is premised on Jesus' message to the church of Laodicea, where he confronts the church in the city about who he is and dangers of being a lukewarm follower.

God is good and He corrects those he loves. Today we have the opportunity to open the door, and turn to Him, the true source.

SCRIPTURE

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Study

7 Churches all focused on blazing a path for Christ. As they went, Jesus gave correction and clarity. Although they had made movement for the mission, they each had a fatal flaw. We can learn from examining their patterns and Jesus' response.

The Church Of

Ephesus

Strength: Hard work, patience, endurance, perseverance.

Flaw: Loss of identity, forsaking their first love.

Lesson: Truth and love must go hand in hand. Doctrinal purity without love and truth miss Jesus.

THE CHURCH OF

Smyrna

Strength: Endurance through suffering and poverty.

Flaw: None. Smyrna was faithful in the face of persecution.

Lesson: Although we may suffer greatly, the length of tribulation will be short compared to the promise of eternal life.

THE CHURCH OF

Pergamum

Strength: Loyalty to Christ.

Flaw: Compromise. Tolerating the teachings of people who practiced idolatry.

Lesson: We cannot let the patterns of the world dilute our values. Instead, we are being transformed daily by God's word.

THE CHURCH OF

Thyatira

Strength: Deeds, love, faith, service, patient endurance, constant improvement.

Flaw: Justifying teachings that led to idolatry.

Lesson: To share in Christ's victory we must avoid false teaching and hold firm to the truth.

THE CHURCH OF

Sardis

Strength: Faithfulness.

Flaw: Idolatry that led to spiritual death.

Lesson: Going through the motions of faith without feeding our spirit leads to death. Engaging faith in community leads to life.

THE CHURCH OF

Philadelphia

Strength: Faithful to the word, true to Jesus’ name.

Flaw: None. Despite its weakness, the church in Philadelphia remained strong because of its faithfulness.

Lesson: Blessings come when we maintain our faith despite life's tribulations. When we persevere despite weakness, we stand strong.

THE CHURCH OF

Laodicea

Strength: None.

Flaw: Loss of identity. Trying to be self-sufficient and searching for wealth led to loss of love, faithfulness, and relationship with Jesus.

Lesson: It's easy to become complacent in our faith during times of abundance. Keep seeking the Lord's face even after His hand has bestowed riches in our lives.

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