1. 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

2. Pray for Ben Calderon (Conway, Arkansas)

3. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. (Psalms 51:15 NKJV)

4. Overview of the Seven Churches of Asia
By Gustave Doré - Bulder-Bibel, Lepzig, Public Domain,
Overview of the Seven Churches of Asia

7. Jesus’ Appearance 1:13-16

8. Jesus Identifies Himself 1:17-18

9. in the midst of the seven lampstands (1:12) I know your works (2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15)
The churches were important to Jesus
The churches belonged to Jesus

10. He who has an ear, let him hear
Mk. 8:17-18
Mt. 13:9
V. He who has an ear, let him hear
A. Who coined that phrase?
B. Who has ears?
1. Mk. 8:17-18 talking about the heart
2. Mt. 13:9
a. some hearts do not want to hear (“too narrow, only one... [God, baptism])
b. some hearts are glad to hear (receive the word) until the word makes their life difficult, (I must begin [], I must... [view Sunday first as LD not my off day]”).
c. some hearts are glad to know but more glad about the cares of this world, pleasures of life, riches
d. some hearts are glad to know

11. what the Spirit says to the churches
1 Tim. 4:13; Eph. 3:4 (Rev. 1:3)
VI. what the Spirit says to the churches. How did the Spirit speak to the churches?
A. Sometimes directly by apostles or prophets but eventually they all died---could the Spirit still be heard?
B. Or, by what He said to an apostle/prophet who wrote the words down and delivered them, which had to be read and rightly divided (understood).
C. First-century Christians had to study the Scriptures to understand what the Spirit says . . .
1. Timothy was told Tim. 4:13
2. But, not just evangelists Eph. 3:4 (Rev. 1:3)
3. Many ppl claim personal, inward enlightenment of HS yet they contradict others making same claim—that is not how the HS leads anyone today.

12. He who overcomes. . . Repent Hold fast, Be faithful
VII. He who overcomes. . .
A. to each church, the reward is described in a different way
B. overcomes (Gk nikao conquer, from nike = victory)
C. in each case, there were different things to overcome
1. personal
2. outside influence of culture and false religion (Greek, Roman, Jewish)
3. internal influence of false teachings
D. In every case, the way to overcome is the same
1. repent of sin
2. hold fast, be faithful until the end

13. Do we hear what the Spirit says?
This is for us
Do we have a lampstand?
Do we have ears?
Do we hear what the Spirit says?
Will we overcome?
VIII. He is saying this to us
A. Do we have a lampstand?
1. Can we know?
2. We can just as sure of this as we can that we are right with God—compare ourselves with what is written.
3. It is helpful for us to know the strengths of churches and brethren around us
4. It is helpful for us to know of the weaknesses, compromises of churches and brethren around us
B. Do we have ears?
1. constantly examine what I do (and do not do)
2. constantly examine why I do those things: motive
3. constantly examine why I do those things: knowledge
C. Do we hear what the Spirit says? read (Eph. 3:3-4), study (2 Tim. 2:15b), discuss with others (Prov.27:17), pray (Mt. 7:7), be doers (Js. 1:22)
D. Will we overcome?
1. Do we need to repent?
2. Will we hold fast and be faithful to God, each other, and the lost?

14. in or out of Christ? (Rom. 5:1; 6:3) nearer or farther from Christ?
Where are you?
in or out of Christ? (Rom. 5:1; 6:3)
nearer or farther from Christ?
By Gustave Doré - Bulder-Bibel, Lepzig, Public Domain,
Overview of the Seven Churches of Asia