FirstSF

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” What is the main thing for the Church? What things tend to distract us from the main thing?2. Have doubts ever made you feel unqualified for the mission? How can seeing the doubts of the disciples and the grace of Jesus encourage you?3. In what ways is Jesus' authority the foundation of our mission? How should Jesus' authority practically change the way you live each day?4. How have you been involved in disciple making? How is God calling you to step into new ways of carrying out the mission of making disciples?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What did Jesus mean when he called the church in Laodicea lukewarm? Have you ever been lukewarm in your Christian life? Have you ever been in a church that was lukewarm?2. What caused Laodicea to be lukewarm (see v. 17)? How might we be in danger of this?3. What does Jesus mean in verse 18? What does it practically look like for you to buy from Him?4. How have you experienced the discipline of the Lord in your life? Are you able to see that He did it out of love? Is there an area where you need to be reproved or corrected by the Lord?5. After studying all 7 of the letters, what do you think Jesus would say in a letter to FirstSF?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. How can a church or an individual Christian have the reputation of being alive, but really be dead? Is there anything we can do to see past a false reputation?2. Jesus said that their works were incomplete in the sight of God. What do you think that means? What might that look like in your life?3. What kinds of things does God use to help us to recognize our true state?4. Have you ever experienced being revived by the gospel? What things can we do to help see this revival happen in our lives and church?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: 1. In what ways should the church be tolerant? In what ways should the church be intolerant?2. Jesus commended the church in Thyatira because their latter works exceeded the first. What does this mean? In what areas of your walk with Christ have you grown? Where are you stagnant?3. How should the church in Thyatira have responded to Jezebel? To those who were following her teachings? What would it look like for us to apply this in our church?4. We are drawn away from sin as we are drawn to Christ. Why do we sometimes lose sight of who Christ is? What can we do to be drawn to Christ and away from sin?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS1. Why does Jesus describe himself as the one who has the sharp two-edged sword? Why do we often think of God's judgment first coming to the outside world? Why is it important to remember that judgment begins at the household o God?2. How does opposition to Christianity look different in our culture than it did in Pergamum? Are there any similarities?3. In what areas do you think we as Christians are most likely to compromise today? What can we do to prevent compromise in our lives and in our churches?4. Jesus points out the error of some to the whole church. What should we take away from this? How can we restore those who are caught in sin with a spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1)?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS1. In what ways has suffering been a part of your story? Have times of suffering ever made you question your faith? Have you seen suffering be used to help strengthen your faith?2. The church in Smyrna was poor and suffering but Jesus said they were rich What does this mean? Does anyone come to your mind when you hear this description? What should this mean for our lives?3. Jesus mentions the work of the devil in verses 9 and 10. Do you think we often neglect the spiritual component of our lives? How might keeping spiritual realities in view change the way we approach times of suffering?4. How can God's sovereignty and Jesus' resurrection help us endure trials and sufferings? How can we keep these truths in mind and how can we remind each other of them?

INTERSECTIONS is a FirstSF podcast series that discusses the merging of faith and life from different members of our FirstSF family.

Sermon Discussion Questions1. How do we see Paul's love for the people of God in these verses? Do we have that same type of love for other believers? What are some things that tend to diminish our love for those in the Church? What are some things that help our love to grow?2. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10. How are these verses similar to what we've read in other passages in this series? Is there anything that is different?3. Discuss the connection between a loving community and a holy community (as we see in verses 12-13). How have you seen this be true in your own life? How can our community grow in our love and holiness?4. Do we pray with passion and purpose? How can we grow in this? Spend sometime earnestly praying for others.

James Westbrook, Founding Pastor of Realm Church and NAMB Send City Missionary

Gilbert Foster, Executive Minister of Growing Healthy Churches