Solid Rock Church Sermons

We returned to the Revelation series this past Sunday, looking at the final strategy of Satan to dethrone Jesus and make himself God. We learned that Satan uses the intoxicating pleasures of wealth and immorality to seduce people away from God and that the intoxication of sin always gives way to deeper and darker sin. Promising pleasure, Satan always leads his loyal followers in desperation, shame, suffering and death. Despite His greatest efforts, Satan will be destroyed according to God’s plan.  As God’s children, we must strive to not give in to the temptations of Satan and hold tight to the promises of God. 

In the sermon this past Sunday, we looked at the continuation of the plan of Satan to wage war against God and His followers through raising up two earthly leaders: the Antichrist and the False Prophet. This week we looked at how the False Prophet will use the influence of the Antichrist and economic sanctions to control the people on Earth.  Through his influence, the False Prophet will require the people on Earth to receive the mark of the beast, mimicking the Seal of the Holy Spirit with which God marks His followers in Ephesians 1:13-14 and Revelation 7:1-3.

In the sermon this past Sunday, we continued the Revelation series by looking at the character and strategies of the antichrist in Chapter 13. We noticed that Satan’s strategy is to masquerade as God in order that we might follow and worship him. Through pretending to be God, Satan’s followers are lured into finding their identity, joy and security in the things of earth. On the other hand, the Saints of God are those who find their identity, joy and security in the things of heaven.  Through hearing and believing the Gospel, the Saints of God are empowered to face trials and persecution with faith that is rooted in God’s sovereignty.

As we continued the Revelation series this past Sunday, we looked at the imminent defeat of Satan.  In this section, we saw that Satan’s primary purpose is to thwart God’s divine plan for humanity and to kill God’s people. Jesus demonstrated His power and secured the final victory over Satan at His resurrection. Despite Satan’s momentary reign on earth, inflicting suffering and persecution on God’s creation, he will be ultimately defeated at the end of human history before the eternal age begins. As the story of human history unfolds, we see God’s power to frustrate the plans of Satan and protect the souls of His children.

As we continued the Revelation sermon series, we looked at the first of three textual interludes in the book of Revelation, where the story line takes a break to provide information about the situation regarding the saints and the great conflict. In each of these breaks, there is a significant emphasis on God’s sovereign control, even over Satan and his demonic forces as they unleash suffering and persecution on God’s people. In the first half of Revelation 7, God commands His angels to seal His people before the coming destruction. Those who were sealed belong to the King of Kings and had His protection. The second half of Revelation 7 reveals God’s people after the time of suffering has come to an end. In these verses, we see a brief snapshot of eternal life where the saints of God will enjoy the protection, satisfaction and joy of the unending presence of God.   

As we continued the Revelation series this past Sunday, we looked at the blowing of the seven trumpets. With each trumpet, we see the growing crescendo towards the final coming of the Kingdom of Jesus.  As the events related to each trumpet unfold, we see the true motives of Satan revealed as he releases suffering and death on those who have rejected God and followed Him on earth. Satan always promises life and always delivers death while God always delivers what He promises. God’s mercy will never end, but His invitation to receive His mercy will one day come to an end.  Therefore God is calling the nations to repent and turn to Him for mercy and salvation.

As we continued in the Revelation series this past Sunday, we looked at the breaking of the seven seals, unveiling the plan of God to end human history and begin the eternal age. With each of the seals, God’s plan includes his sovereign control over the events of human history and Satan himself.  With the first seal, God releases human depravity to run its course. As the seals continue to be opened, the inhabitants of earth pursue conquering one another, causing an outbreak of civil war that gives way to famine and disease.  All of these seem to be guided by the intentions of Satan until a fourth of the earth has experience death.  The seventh seal reveals the return of Jesus as the Lamb to bring about the end of death and suffering, ushering in the re-creation of all things.   

As we continued the Revelation series this past Sunday, we turned a corner as we looked at Revelation 4 and 5. In these two chapters, we saw the unveiling of the throne room of God and His majestic presence. In the majestic presence of “He who sits on the throne,” all of creation, along with the church and the angels, will gather together with voice to worship God for who He is and what He has done. This beautiful and powerful image of what will be, when God’s glory is revealed, inspires and impacts our worship today. When the church gathers together in worship on a weekly basis, our worship is a snapshot of what worship will be like in eternity.

As we continued the Revelation series, we looked at the seventh and final letter to the churches, written to the church in Laodicea.  Jesus reveals himself to the Christians in Laodicea as the only one who is faithful and the source of authority over creation.  Even though they had exchanged their trust in Jesus for pursuit of security and purpose in their wealth, Jesus reminds them that he alone can satisfy their longings, he alone can clothe them in righteousness and he alone can heal their spiritual blindness.  Despite the reality that their spiritual condition made Jesus sick to his stomach, he extended an invitation to them to joyfully repent and enjoy a deep and intimate relationship with Him and experience His victory over sin and death.    

As we continued the Revelation sermon series this past Sunday, we looked at the letter to the church in Sardis. In this letter, Jesus points out that their inner identity doesn’t match their outer identity. While they are trying to portray on the outside that they are people of eternal life, on the inside they are dying. Jesus reminds the believers that He alone is the authority over the church and that He sees the content of their hearts. In response to their unfaithfulness and inconsistency, Jesus instructs the church to wake up, find strength for their faith by remembering and keeping the Gospel, and walk in repentance. For those who respond, Jesus alone will clothe them in righteousness and establish their permanent identity.

As we continued the sermon series in Revelation this past Sunday, we looked at the identity markers of the church in Thyatira. A midst a great deal of temptation and seduction from the pressures and leaders of the culture, there were those who remained faithful and held to the teachings of Jesus rather than giving in to compromise. In many ways, the church of Thyatira reminds us of who we are as a church and what we are to be known for in the world. Jesus calls His church to be known for its love, faith, service and patient endurance.

  This past Sunday, we examined the church of Pergamum. Jesus praises the church for holding fast to His name and not denying their faith in Christ even in the midst of persecution. However, Jesus warns the church that they have compromised their theology and the church by allowing false teaching. Because of the false teaching and their toleration of the false doctrine, Jesus tells them He will come and judge them by the "sword of His mouth". Christ's solution is to repent.

In the sermon this past Sunday, we looked at the letter that Jesus wrote to the church in Smyrna. While acknowledging the very real suffering that they were facing, Jesus gave them courage by reminding the believers in Smyrna that He is the first and the last, the one who died and came to life.  Because of this, believers can face involuntary suffering and voluntary sacrifice with joy and courage.  Even though we may not be able to completely rid ourselves of fear, when we see Jesus as the Creator, Sustainer of the Universe, and the One who Conquered Death, we can submit our fears to Him and find courage to remain faithful. 

In the second sermon in the Revelation series this past Sunday, we began by looking at the imagery used to describe Jesus.  In Revelation 1:10-16, there are 9 attributes used to describe Jesus.  While these attributes are not a literal description of His appearance, they give us a metaphorical image of Jesus returning as a powerful and triumphant ruler of earth. Nothing will be hidden from His sight and no one will be able to hide from His judgment. Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus first. In the midst of persecution, Jesus commends the Ephesians because they maintained the sound doctrine of the Gospel and pursued good works.  But then He issues a warning because they have neglected the command to love.  As Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus, we see how he addressed real issues within their church that are also issues we struggle with in the modern day American church.  Our solution is the same solution that Jesus gives to the first century Ephesians: repent and return to the L

In the opening sermon in the Revelation series, we first looked at the foundations for understanding the book of Revelation. We discovered that it is essential for Christians to study, think about and discuss the end times. When we give our attention to the end times without losing sight of the responsibilities of today, we discover more deeply the beauty and majesty of God’s character and complexity of His ways, and join the rest of creation in increasing our longing to see Jesus return and make all things new.  

After 13 sermons covering 12 of the 13 chapters of Hebrews, we wrapped the Hebrews sermon series this past Sunday.  Throughout this series, we found that the resounding message of Hebrews is incredibly relevant to our everyday lives.  In the same way the author points these early Christians to put their faith into practice and endure suffering since Jesus is better than anything else in heaven and on earth, God has challenged us to do the same.  By fixing our eyes on Jesus and learning to see our hardships as loving discipline from our Heavenly Father, we are empowered to live out our faith, endure hardships, stay the course and finish the race.    In what areas of your life do you need to increase your focus on Jesus? (Examples: work, marriage, parenting, friendships, etc.)  How does your understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done impact the way you live out your faith and endure hardships?

In the sermon this past Sunday we looked at the fruit that comes out of our lives when we truly trust in God for our salvation.  Jesus taught that where there is saving faith, there will also be an outward evidence.  In the same way that a tree produces fruit according to the nutrients provided by the roots, our faith serves as a foundation or “root system” for our lives.  There is a fine line between obeying God because you don’t want Him to be mad at you and obeying God because you have faith that His ways are better than your ways.  In Hebrews 10:26-11:40, God declares that saving faith produces the fruit of obedience, trust, hope, endurance, compassion and joy.     Do you strive to obey God because you believe your obedience will lead to more blessing? When you face hardships and suffering, are you more likely to give up because of doubt or endure because you trust God?