Week of October 6, 2024
We’ve divided the seven churches of Revelation into 3 groups: churches that were called to bear fruit (Ephesus, Sardis, and Laodicea), churches called to stop compromising (Pergamum and Thyatira), and churches who were commended for their faithfulness (Smyrna and Philadelphia). This week, we consider churches that compromised God’s commands and fell into idolatry and sexual immorality. The personal question becomes, in what areas of life are you tempted to compromise spiritually and morally?
Monday | Revelation 2:12-17; Numbers 25:1-3, 31:15-16
Pastor Mark suspects that one of the reasons we find Revelation to be a difficult read is that so much of the language and imagery is borrowed from the Old Testament which many Christians know little about. Balaam was a prophet hired by the King of Moab to speak a curse against the people of Israel. God prevented him from doing this. Still, Balaam devised a plan to have Moabite women entice the men of Israel into moral and spiritual adultery. It was a kind of spy novel honey trap in which the women were used to entice Israel’s men into sexual sin and then idolatry. What do you think made Balaam’s strategy to disrupt Israel so successful? What is the function of Jesus’ word being like a “double-edged sword”? What was the last time reading or hearing God’s Word left you deeply convicted about your own sin? Martin Luther once said that the first commandment to have no other gods is the toughest one to fulfill. What things tend to take the place of the highest honor in your life away from God?
Tuesday | Revelation 2:18-29; 1 Kings 16:31-33
Jezebel was a queen of Israel who led her people into Baal worship -- worshipping the fertility gods and goddesses of Israel's neighbors. This included participation in cult prostitution, the idea being that sexual relations with the representatives of the gods would lead to fertile fields and abundant harvests. How might the “Jezebel” in Thyatira have led Christians into sexual and spiritual adultery? What if any connection is there between the two? Jesus said that he would judge “Jezebel” and her followers severely. How do we reconcile Jesus as gracious Savior and Jesus as condemning Judge? What would it mean for the Christians in Thyatira and for Christians today to “overcome”? (v.26)
Wednesday | Genesis 16:1-16
The Old Testament is full of stories of compromise in faith and morals. In this story, Sarai and Abram lose confidence that God is going to keep his promise to give them a son. So they take matters into their own hand and Sarai’s servant Hagar bears Abram a son, Ishmael. What causes people to lose patience in God’s timing? From what you know of Abram and Sarai’s journey, why should they have known better? What helps you keep trusting God despite disappointments and troubles?
Thursday | 1 Kings 11:1-8; Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Why did God command Israel not to intermarry with their Canaanite neighbors? What was the result of Solomon’s marriages with many foreign women? What are spiritual dangers today when Christians marry non-Christian partners? More generally, how can friendships and family relationships be both a source of spiritual help and of undermining one’s faith?
Friday | Galatians 2:11-16
How was Peter’s drawing away from Gentiles a compromise of the Gospel? What had led Peter to such a compromise? Why should Peter have known better (see Acts 10 especially vs. 34-36)? What has led you in the past to compromise the truth? What invaluable role did Paul play in getting Peter back on track?
