In my cycle of readings, I am currently starting on the Revelation of St. John. It is also referred to as "The Apocalypse", or simply "Revelation." (Sometimes, in error, it is referred to in the plural - as if it contained many revelations. There is only one thing revealed in this book - God's care for us demonstrated by His victory over all that would oppose us.)
The opening chapters of Revelation address the seven churches. These were actual, real churches. In the words John writes to them, he exposes his understanding of what life was like in these congregations.
Too often, we allow the words of scripture to become a philosophy or a doctrine or a collect of abstract truths. It is a collection of letters sent by real people to actual persons. The events in the lives of those who send and those who receive affect the content. They reveal a God who interacts with us, rather than send directives to us.
In preaching class we learned that if we prepare a sermon intended for everyone, no one will hear what we say. If we prepare a sermon with 3 or 4 persons in mind, the majority of those in attendance will leave thinking the message was directed at them.
God speaks through scripture to us, to the real life situations we face, and to the very real challenges which come our way.
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