Sermon Podcast for Cornerstone Community Church in Galax, Virginia Mike Morris

This week, we start a new sermon series on the first three chapters of the mysterious book of the Bible, Revelation. Revelation is a letter addressed not to an individual but to seven church communities. Each letter first tells the church who Jesus is and how the hearers should live in light of that identity. The messages to the seven churches remain crucial and relevant for us today, and there is something we can learn from each church.







Today, we study the church in Smyrna. Suffering, persecution, and martyrdom have indeed been the calling of the followers of Jesus among the nations throughout history. The message to the Smyrna church was to remain faithful during their suffering because God is in control and his promises are reliable. Jesus never taught that believers would avoid troubles, suffering, and persecution by being faithful to him. Rather, believers must be faithful to Christ even when suffering. Only then will their faith prove genuine. Believers remain faithful by keeping their eyes on Christ and on what he promises for now and for the future







Sermon Notes







Smyrna was a church that suffered









* Revelation 2:8 NLT









Jesus understood they were being crushed by adversity









* Revelation 2:9-10a NLT









Will we choose fear or faith?









* Revelation 2:10b-11 NLT







* Philippians 3:10-14 NLT







* 2 Timothy 4:8 NLT







* James 1:12 NLT







* John 15:18-20 NLT

This week, we start a new sermon series on the first three chapters of the mysterious book of the Bible, Revelation. Revelation is a letter addressed not to an individual but to seven church communities. Each letter first tells the church who Jesus is and how the hearers should live in light of that identity. The messages to the seven churches remain crucial and relevant for us today, and there is something we can learn from each church.







Today, we study the church at Ephesus. On the surface, it looked like the perfect church. But they had forgotten their purpose and lost their love and passion for the mission of Christ. It’s a solid reminder today to keep our focus on Jesus.







Sermon Notes









* Revelation 1:1-3 NLT







* Revelation 1:11 NLT







* Revelation 1:19-20 NLT









What are the signs of a healthy church?









* Acts 19:13-20 NLT







* Revelation 2:1 NLT







* Revelation 2:2–3 NLT









It’s easy to forget your why









* Revelation 2:4 NLT







* Ephesians 6:24 NLT







* Matthew 24:11–12 NLT







* 1 John 4:19 NLT









John shares a simple formula to regain your passion: Remember, Repent, Repeat









* Revelation 2:5 NLT









Have you lost your passion?









* Revelation 2:6-7 NLT

Today, we continue our sermon series asking, “Who is Jesus?” Throughout history, countless individuals have encountered Him, each faced with a crucial choice. From the wilderness to the streets of Jerusalem, from the shores of Galilee to the temple, people encountered Jesus and wrestled with His identity. Some saw Him as a teacher, or a miracle worker, or as a threat. But woven through these encounters is the truth of His divine nature.







There are four Gospels but only one story. Each Gospel account helps reveal a different aspect of the character of Jesus and shows how we can grow our faith in the Son of God. In the Gospel of John, we see the divinity of Jesus throughout the book. John shows us how Jesus came to bring eternal life and make all things new.







Sermon Notes









* John 19:35 NLT









John introduces us to Jesus, the Son of God









* John 20:31 NLT







* John 1:1-5 NLT







* John 1:14 NLT







* John 1:29 NLT







* John 1:34 NLT









John shows us how Jesus makes all things new









* John 3:3-7 NLT







* John 4:10-14 NLT







* John 5:1-9 NLT







* John 9:1-7 NLT









John emphasizes belief that leads to eternal life









* John 3:16-19 NLT







* John 5:24 NLT







* John 6:40 NLT







* John 11:25-26 NLT







* John 14:6 NLT









Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?









* John 20:30-31 NLT







* 1 John 5:11-13 NLT







* John 13:34-35 NLT

Today, we continue our sermon series asking, “Who is Jesus?” Throughout history, countless individuals have encountered Him, each faced with a crucial choice. From the wilderness to the streets of Jerusalem, from the shores of Galilee to the temple, people encountered Jesus and wrestled with His identity. Some saw Him as a teacher, or a miracle worker, or as a threat. But woven through these encounters is the truth of His divine nature.







There are four Gospels but only one story. Each Gospel account helps reveal a different aspect of the character of Jesus and shows how we can grow our faith in the Son of God. In the book of Luke, we see the humanity of Jesus and how He came down to Earth for all of us.







Sermon Notes







Jesus Came for Everyone









* Luke 4:14-30 (NLT)







* Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)







* Luke 6: 20-23 (NLT)









Jesus is the Son of Man









* Luke 2:40 (NLT)







* Daniel 7:9-10 (NLT)







* Daniel 7:13-14 (NLT)







* Matthew 26:62-66 (NLT)

Today, we continue our sermon series asking, “Who is Jesus?” Throughout history, countless individuals have encountered Him, each faced with a crucial choice. From the wilderness to the streets of Jerusalem, from the shores of Galilee to the temple, people encountered Jesus and wrestled with His identity. Some saw Him as a teacher, or a miracle worker, or as a threat. But woven through these encounters is the truth of His divine nature.







There are four Gospels but only one story. Each Gospel account helps reveal a different aspect of the character of Jesus and shows how we can grow our faith in the Son of God. In the book of Mark, we see Jesus introduced as the suffering servant who could understand everything we face in life.







Sermon Notes







Mark introduces us to the suffering servant who could understand everything we face in life









* Mark 1:1-2 NLT









Mark is an invitation to follow and imitate Christ









* Mark 1:16-20 NLT







* Mark 1:40-42 NLT







* Mark 3:13-15 NLT







* Mark 6:6-13 NLT









Mark is an invitation to sacrifice and serve









* Mark 8:34-35 NLT







* Mark 10:35-45 NLT









Have you accepted the invitation of Jesus?









* Mark 7:20-23 NLT







* Mark 2:16-17 NLT







* Mark 15:37-39 NLT

Today, we continue our sermon series asking, “Who is Jesus?” Throughout history, countless individuals have encountered Him, each faced with a crucial choice. From the wilderness to the streets of Jerusalem, from the shores of Galilee to the temple, people encountered Jesus and wrestled with His identity. Some saw Him as a teacher, or a miracle worker, or as a threat. But woven through these encounters is the truth of His divine nature.







There are four Gospels but only one story. Each Gospel account helps reveal a different aspect of the character of Jesus and shows how we can grow our faith in the Son of God. In the book of Matthew, we see Jesus introduced as the long-awaited Messiah and King.







Sermon Notes







Matthew introduces us to the Messiah King who has come to rescue his people







How do we know he is the Messiah?









* Because of His genealogy: Matthew 1:1-2 NLT







* Because He was born of a virgin: Isaiah 7:14 NLT and Matthew 1:18 NLT







* Because he was born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 NLT and Matthew 2:1-2 NLT







* Because he came out of Egypt: Hosea 11:1 NLT and Matthew 2:13-15 NLT







* Because of his healings and miracles: Isaiah 35:5-6 NLT and Matthew 9:27-31 NLT







* Because of his triumphal entry: Zechariah 9:9 NLT and Matthew 21:1-5 NLT







* Because of his crucifixion: Isaiah 53:3-9 NLT









The Sermon on the Mount is our invitation to live in an upside-down kingdom









* Matthew 5:17-30 NLT







* Matthew 6:33 NLT









Who is the King of your life?









* Matthew 28:16-20 NLT