Week Five | Sunday, November 18, 2012
“Compromise”
Revelation 2:12-3:6
1.
These three middle churches (Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis) are guilty of
compromise. In each case the compromise is progressively worst. In
Pergamum they are tolerating false teaching, in Thyatira they are tolerating a
false teacher (prophetess) that is not only teaching false doctrine but leading
them to commit idolatry, and in Sardis Jesus says they are dead. 2.
Read Revelation 2:12-3:6 and in your own words describe what compromise
looks like.
3.
How does spiritual compromise happen? The good news is that Jesus is
Saviour and Lord. That means that when we place our faith in him we choose
to live under his authority. We compromise when we say we are living under
his authority but in fact we are not. What are some of the factors that lead us
to compromise the totality of the good news on our lives?
4.
What does Jesus say we should do when we find ourselves compromising? Look at Revelation 2:16; 2:22, 2:24-25; and 3:3.
5.
What motivation does Jesus give them to correct their compromise? [note Jesus
talking about how he judges compromise and rewards faithful vigilance - 2:16;
2:21-23; 3:3; 2:23; 2:17-18; 2:26-28; 3:4-6]. To what extent does knowing that
Jesus judges and rewards important as a motivation for you to not compromise
with your faith? Do you think many of us think of Jesus as a rewarder and
judge?
6.
In these churches not everyone is compromising. How hard do you think it
would be to be in the minority in a church where so many people were
compromising their faith? Are there situations today where sometimes you feel
like you are in the minority, trying to live a consistent Christian life but finding
it difficult because of some of the choices that others are making? Have you
ever had to stand for what you thought was right or best for you and your
family to do when others were not choosing that same direction? How would
you counsel someone in that situation?
7.
What advise and promises does Jesus give to those in Thyatira and Sardis who
are not compromising their faith and doing their best to remain faithful to Jesus
Christ? (2:24-25 and 3:6ff). What does this mean for your life?
8.
Truth be told we probably all slide along the "spiritual temperature"
thermometer from commitment to complacency to even compromise from time
to time. The message in Revelation should not only cause us to think about the
future but also ask honest and open questions about our present relationship
with Jesus Christ. It would serve us well to ask what signs are evident in our
lives that indicate our spiritual temperature.
9.
Committed: What is going on in my life right now that is an indicator that I
am "faithful" even to the point of death? Am I witnessing of Jesus even in
difficult circumstances? Am I consistently keeping his word in my life? Am I
denying his name? Am I enduring in my faith patiently even when it is not
comfortable to do so?
10.
Complacency: Have I forsaken my first love to the point that I am unwilling to
tell others about how amazing Jesus is? Am I just apathetic in my walk with
Christ? Have I grown comfortable in what I have achieved? Have material
things gained control of my life? Is there no tangible difference in my life so
that I am really no spiritual good or blessing to those around me? Do I even
care whether that is the case or not?
11.
Compromise: Have I become so tolerant of competing truth claims that it has
caused me to not stand for the truth of the gospel? When people look at me do
they see a good person or do they see a good person dedicated and committed
to Jesus Christ? Is Jesus Lord over everything in my life - everything - family,
work, church, bedroom, politics . . .? Am I making choices in my life that
reflect his lordship or am I making choices that would seem to indicate that I
have multiple "idols" in my life? Does the good news about who Jesus is and
what he has done have total control over my life?
12.
Remember the refrain of each of these sections written to the churches, "Let
him who has an ear to hear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches." May
that be true of our lives.
13.
Ask one another how you can pray for each other. This is important, pray
earnestly and expectantly for one another!