Today, as we conclude our series on the letters in the book of Revelation to the seven churches in Asia Minor, I invite you to reflect on some important questions.
Question 1: Do you have a distorted perception of yourself? I believe that many of us would answer affirmatively. This issue is addressed by Jesus Himself in Matthew 23:27-28, where He pronounces a woe upon the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. He compares them to whitewashed tombs that may look beautiful on the outside, but are filled with the bones of the dead and everything unclean on the inside. Jesus explains that although these individuals may appear righteous to others, they are actually consumed by hypocrisy and wickedness within.
It is a common tendency for us to carefully shape a particular image of ourselves to present to the world, while concealing our true inner struggles. Even when we engage in introspection and sincerely attempt to address our sins, we often still fall prey to this distorted perception. So, let us pause for a moment and consider: Where within myself do I harbor this distorted perception?
Sermon Notes
The Village Church’s sermon podcast is more than just a weekly message. It is an invitation into the great and ongoing story of God’s work in the world. Pastors Eric, Mark, Susan, Daniel, and other leaders open the Scriptures not as a collection of abstract ideas but as the living, breathing witness to God’s kingdom breaking into our midst. Each episode is a call—not merely to listen, but to take part, to step forward into the life of faith with renewed vision and purpose.
Week by week, the pastors and leaders explore the deep rhythms of Christian discipleship—prayer, fasting, generosity—not as isolated duties but as part of a larger, richer, and more beautiful whole. They unpack these ancient practices in light of Jesus himself, the one in whom heaven and earth have come together. But they also turn their attention to the realities of everyday life—relationships, finances, the struggles and joys of being human—demonstrating how the gospel is not merely about what we believe but about how we live as God's renewed people in the present age.
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