Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ! We gather Sunday at 9 AM (class), 10 AM, 5 PM, & Wednesday at 7 PM Check the bulletin for various announcements www.160thavechurch.com

Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas) Sept. 17, 2017

Express thanks to God for our recent gospel meeting. How did you grow?

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. . . . But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 115:1, 18 NKJV)

“I Know Your Works, Smyrna & Philadelphia” Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13

Smyrna The city Jesus is. . . I know your . . . No rebuke but dangers were present I. Smyrna A. The city 1. Nothing else is said of Smyrna in Scripture 2. The gospel probably came here when Paul was in Ephesus and preached throughout Asia (Acts 19:10) 3. Typical Roman city, values, and religion: Temple to Zeus; Synagogue of hard-hearted Jews B. Jesus presents Himself as 1. First and Last Nothing before or after = from everlasting to everlasting (Ps. 90) 2. who was dead, and came to life This claim was not based on cultural myths (Roman gods, eastern religions)---elsewhere John has recorded the details of this literal event, which we assemble to remember. C. I know your 1. works (from the beginning), even though we don’t know them 2. tribulation (from pagans and Jews) similar to what happened in other cities (lies, riots, beaten) 3. poverty- cause of their poverty is not told (because they knew): small number, r/t tribulation, or ?? 4. upcoming suffering a. hope for suffering saints is a theme of Revelation b. thrown in prison- making the problem of poverty worse c. tribulation for ten days 5. be faithful a. as they had been--continue and grow in everything you are doing and do not change b. I will give to you the crown of life D. No rebuke but dangers existed 1. Ephesus nearby (35 mi): left first love, false apostles, Nicolaitans---any of these could come to Smyrna 2. persecution from Temple to Zeus and Jews---could Acts 8:3 happen again? 3. poverty- would it weaken their trust in God’s care? would some of them compromise to avoid poverty?

Philadelphia The city Jesus is. . . I know your . . . I will . . . II. Philadelphia A. The city 1. Nothing else is said of Phila in Scripture 2. The gospel probably also arrived here when Paul was in Ephesus and preached in all Asia (Acts 19:10) 3. Typical Roman city, values, religion 4. John only refers to the synagogue of Satan who say they are . . . 5. Troubled by earthquakes B. Jesus presents Himself as 1. He who is holy and true Making all Roman religion in this city unholy, untrue 2. He who has the key of David (Is. 22:22) a. Jews loved David—often sang his psalms b. Any claim the Jews made from Scripture (Abr seed, children of promise) are answered c. Jesus is not making random claims---He is debating the claim of those in the synagogue of Satan d. We must fight false religious claims, like Jesus did 3. He who opens..., including set before you an open door and no one can shut it C. I know... 1. your works (from the past to the present) 2. your strength is little (sufficient to enter the door He set before them) 3. you have kept My word 4. you have kept my command to persevere (v10) and not denied my name   D. I will... 1. humble the Jews (v9) 2. keep you from the hour of trial (v10) a. Without complete trust in God, the church in Smyrna might be jealous “We’re faithful too, why won’t they have 10 days of tribulation?” b. Being spared from the suffering, while knowing that others would not be spared, gave them the opportunity to either serve their suffering brethren or just relax and enjoy the time of peace. 3. make him a pillar... (v12) no earthquake could shake this pillar or temple 4. write on him... (v12)

I know your works, Portland How have we handled tribulation? How would we handle tribulation? Mt. 13:20-21 What doors are open? 1. How have we handled tribulation? a. as church, generally spared from outside tribulation Prov. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:1-2 b. one reason this church started, back in 1959, was because of the tribulation that came when churches began offering money to churches not in need or to colleges, provide education in math/science, or to whatever they want. - in Scripture, did churches taught by the apostles use their funds for a limited or unlimited # of reasons? c. there are lessons available to us from the tribulations of brethren decades ago. 2. How would we handle outside tribulation—any form of threat, attack, isolation? a. Mt. 13:20-21 Some grow until...---are your beliefs growing deeper, stronger? No one stays the same. b. individually, how do you handle occasions when you must choose between what you know pleases God and what you want, or someone else wants? c. Asia was plagued by the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and our region is plagued by compromise on the Lord’s teachings about marriage and divorce—churches who battle that error face tribulation by brethren (talk to the Franklins and others among the church in Tacoma). 3. What doors are open, among us and around us? a. at each phase of life we have unique needs—are you seeking to meet the needs of new Christians, young families, poor health, lonely among us who need your individual attention? b. at each phase of life we have unique opportunities---are you using the opportunities your youth, your wealth, your children, the faith of your family (parents, grandparents), your latter years offers? c. Has God set an “open door” for this church to have elders or are we just tired of business meetings? That is what this period, through Oct. 29, is intended for us to determine. d. as culture is quickly changing what can we do now? We need to put our abilities and ideas together. 4. Will God commend us if we continue in our current commitment to God in each assembly, each class, zeal to teach the lost, daily habits, or are there weaknesses common to the majority/all of us that must change? - the only way to answer is to constantly hear what the Spirit. . . - we must listen because He sees our works - He will judge each of us based on our works. * have your sinful works been forgiven? * have your returned to those works? * are you working by faith, like the ppl of Smyrna and Philadelphia?

“I Know Your Works, Smyrna & Philadelphia” Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. " (Acts 2:38, NKJV) "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God. . . " (Acts 8:22, NKJV)