Sermon Snippets with Max Taylor

Max Taylor

Each week we take fifteen minutes to explain, illustrate, and apply God’s Word to your everyday life. Thank you for listening!

  1. 9月30日

    125. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 20: The Brilliance of God’s Throne

    Revelation 4:1-5   Today we step back into the scene of the throne room of God with all of its magnificence, trying to imagine what it will be like to experience this and be in God’s presence one day. It is important for us to think about eternity and strive to live each day as if it were our last. We see the sights and sounds around the throne of God, with the people and the overall atmosphere. This should inspire us to live for Christ with everything we have and endure anything He calls us to, for it will surely be worth every last effort!

    15 分钟

  2. 9月23日

    124. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 19: Come Up Hither

    Revelation 4:1   After the letters to the churches, John was called up to the throne of God where he got to see a preview of the glory and presence of the Lord. This transition makes us think about the limited opportunity to serve God we have right now in this life. Our daily decisions have eternal implications. We need to know that (1) we should be motivated to live for the Lord now, and (2) when we do see Jesus one day, that’s what it is all about. In that moment, life will make sense, and no matter how difficult it was, the decision to live for God will be worth it.

    15 分钟

  3. 9月16日

    123. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 18: Recap of the Churches

    Revelation 3:20-22   Today we get a glimpse of all seven churches with their locations and the problems Jesus points out. One of the most comforting aspects of these churches is that Jesus knows our conditions and can use them to teach us what we need to hear as long as we are listening. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent.

    15 分钟

  4. 9月9日

    122. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 17: Church #7 - Laodicea

    Revelation 3:18-22   This church, in its pride and self-sufficiency, was blind to their own condition. Because of their apathy towards God and love of money, they didn’t even realize the dire straits they were in. Jesus counsels us to come and find our fulfillment in Him rather than in the society around us. And the call is individual, which is an incredible privilege.   Laodicea: the Lukewarm church   I. The Location (literal local church) Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid) They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve  II. The Likeness of Christ Christ addresses the individual people He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things. III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) Christ knows these people and their works They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither) They were deluded about their own condition They were marked by self-sufficiency and pride, when what they really needed was only to be found in Christ (3:18) Love of money was a real problem Jesus calls them to personal renewal of their zeal for Him IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) The parallel is with the modern church age in our time  V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Across church history, we see a trend of churches moving away from God, but we as individuals do not have to. The church was instituted to be a beautiful and good thing in its inauguration, but as Jesus foretold would happen in the kingdom parables, it has largely become something distorted, corrupt, and hideous as we will also see in the progression of these seven. While the majority of churches have moved towards the world, there is a remnant of people who have not, and the call goes out to believers to be zealous and repent. It falls to us tot let Christ into our lives and to fellowship with us and us with Him. That is the invitation of these letters.

    15 分钟

  5. 9月2日

    121. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 16: Church #7 - Laodicea

    Revelation 3:14-17   This final church is a cautionary tale to modern Christianity, because we struggle with the same apathy and lukewarmness that they are accused of by Christ. Today we start to get a glimpse of this church and the problems Jesus points out. May we have soft hearts to hear His rebukes to us and to repent.   Laodicea: the Lukewarm church   I. The Location (literal local church) Their water came from aqueducts and was lukewarm by the time it reached the city in contrast to Hierapolis had hot springs and Colossae had fresh cold water from the mountains Also known for their wealth due to its location on major trade routes (capable of rebuilding itself after an earthquake in AD 60 without Roman aid) They produced rich black wool from their sheep and also had some significant medical advancements such as their eye salve  II. The Likeness of Christ Christ addresses the individual people He calls himself the (1) Amen - the final commendation of God’s will, (2) faithful and true witness - the representation of God to man, and (3) beginning of creation - the beginning that started all things. III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) Christ knows these people and their works They are lukewarm, they make Jesus sick (hot is cleansing and cold is refreshing, but they were neither) They were deluded about their own condition We will continue to look at this church next week.

    15 分钟

  6. 8月26日

    120. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 15: Church #6 - Philadelphia

    Revelation 3:7-13   This is the loyal church, and how we should wish to be characterized this way. This church was not impressive—they had little strength, were little in number, relatively out on their own, and misunderstood by those around them—but they are directed by God, reliant upon His strength, and assured of the destruction of the wicked. Some of the encouragements we can glean from this section are (1) God opens and closes doors in our lives, (2) we are to be an outpost for the gospel in the world, (3) God will keep us from the tribulation, and (4) we must focus on being faithful.   Philadelphia: the Loyal church   I. The Location (literal local church) “Brotherly love” is something Sardis lacked The city was a gateway to the east from the west, an outpost of Hellenization, small but had a big impact on spreading Greek culture It was a loyal frontier city with an over-sized reputation, it became known for surviving through resilience, going on for centuries even being built on a fault line that brought earthquakes and volcanos  II. The Likeness of Christ He that is holy, true, and has the keys of David He openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) God opens and closes doors Ecclesiastes 7:13 They had little strength, but God supplied the rest We must withstand being misunderstood (by the early Jews and later by the Catholics) We will be kept from the hour of temptation 1 Thessalonians 5:9 God’s judgment of the wicked is an act of mercy to us, making our suffering not for nothing IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) Represents the missionary age from the 19th century until now  V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Our job is to hold fast to what we have been given We will stand and give account for what we did with the glorious gospel

    15 分钟

  7. 8月19日

    119. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 14: Church #5 - Sardis

    Revelation 3:1-6   The church at Sardis teaches us lessons about formalism or dead ritualism. Perhaps this comes out most frequently in some interpretations of end times. Christ tells us to watch for His appearing and not defile our garments, and to those who do this, he promises white raiment when we are with Him in heaven. That is to be our hope in this life!   Sardis: the Lifeless church   I. The Location (literal local church) They were prosperous and full of immorality Located on cliffs, it was thought to be secure, but the city failed to be watchful and Cyrus king of Persia took over the city About 300 years later, the Greeks overtook the city the same way  II. The Likeness of Christ Christ that has the seven Spirits of God—making alive III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) This church had grown cold and ritualistic, they were wrapped up in formalism, but they were devoid of God’s power in their lives IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) Historically, this perfectly marks the reformation era in church history The Catholic Church had become so secular and politically mainstream that people began to yearn for a return to Scripture The reformation accomplished some good things, they “made a name for themselves” in areas such as justification by faith, study of the Word of God, and a focus on the glory of God But the reformed denominations were just as ritualistic and formal as the Catholic Church, just in their own way (exercising hierarchy, persecuting dissenters, emphasizing rigid externals) They made a name for themselves but were ritualistic and dead  V. The Lesson for us (type of church) A steadfast belief in the second coming of Christ is necessary for a Christian to be alive and filled with the power of God Right eschatology is necessary for living hope Many churches today teach post-millennial eschatology and interpret prophecy through a partial-preterist lens (the belief that many of the judgments prophesied in the New Testament and Daniel were fulfilled in the first century rather than in the distant future). This is the puritan or historical reformed eschatology, it looks good, but it’s dead. But watch what Christ says We are told to watch, strengthen the things that remain, remember the word of God, hold fast, and repent He repeats the instruction to watch We are called to live pure and holy lives as we wait for His coming The reward for waiting is that He will come!

    15 分钟

  8. 8月12日

    118. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 13: Church #4 - Thyatira

    Revelation 2:18-29   The church at Thyatira represents an age in history when the Christian church became mandatory, and that is not a good thing. In the letter to this church, Christ instructs them that He is the true Son of God, that they should not tolerate false teaching, and that we can look forward to the coming kingdom when the world will be made right. All of these things should encourage us today as we strive to live for the Lord.   Thyatira: the Licentious church   I. The Location (literal local church) This was a smaller city Dominated by trade guilds and commerce Religiously very pluralistic  II. The Likeness of Christ Son of God, establishing deity Eyes of fire, depicting judgment Feet of brass, depicting authority III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings) Commends their works, charity, service, faith, patience, and works Condemns their tolerance of false doctrine, they had an indifference towards truth, immoral mixing with the world, eating things sacrificed to idols We need to be extremely careful with those who claim to be teachers of the Bible It seems the self-proclaimed prophetess ‘Jezebel’ must have encouraged or justified participation in pagan associations and clubs We must reference the Word of God to know how we ought to live - we must study and commit to God’s commands and principles Not everyone had gone along with the undermining of Christian living To these, Jesus offered encouragement to continue holding fast IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative) The Roman Catholic Church period was a time of mixing paganism with Christianity Truth became secondary to works, ungodly sacraments, and rituals Some in this time continued to guard and follow the truth   V. The Lesson for us (type of church) Don’t justify or excuse living like the godless world Those who remain committed to the Lord will rule with Him when He sets up His kingdom of righteousness, we will be able to fully embrace the world when the world is made right

    15 分钟
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Each week we take fifteen minutes to explain, illustrate, and apply God’s Word to your everyday life. Thank you for listening!

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