Author: Michael Lawson

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Ground Zero: Facing the Fall and Finding Freedom (Session 4): Ephesians 4:17-32

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

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Ground Zero: Facing the Fall and Finding Freedom (Session 2): 2 Samuel 11-12:7

11 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

  • 3 Factors that often lead men into sin:
    • Shirking responsibility
    • Idleness
    • Isolation
  • APP: Find something to do with your time: Read, develop a hobby, invest in others, exercise, etc.

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Ground Zero: Facing the Fall and Finding Freedom (Session 1): Genesis 3

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’

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Phyllis Wingo: Participation Trophies and Finishing Well

A Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Phyllis Wingo (1937-2025):

Apr. 7, 2025

When my two youngest girls were barely old enough to stand on their own two feet, they began, what would become a long career in dance. Around the ages of 7 and 8 years old, they entered the world of competition dance and became members of the competition dance team at their dance studio.

I was ignorant and naive about this new world. Now, I know better, and try my hardest to avoid any type of thing called a dance competition. I don’t have time to elaborate, but the best description I could provide you would be a combination of the Bill Murray movie, Groundhog Day and artistic purgatory.

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The Victorious Church: Learning From the Seven Churches of Revelation – Revelation 3:1-6; 14-22 – The Churches at Sardis and Laodicea

SARDIS (3.1-6)

A little background concerning the church at Sardis:

  • About 30 miles SE of Thyatira, a city located in a fertile area (thus commercially important), but was really known for their dedication to the arts, especially music. One might think of Sardis as an ancient New Orleans. Much of the “entertainment” found on Bourbon St. could be found in Sardis as well.

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The Victorious Church: Learning From the Seven Churches of Revelation – Revelation 2:18-29 – The Church at Thyatira

A Bit of Background Concerning the Church at Thyatira

  • Although we’re uncertain how the church came to be in Thyatira, Acts 16.14-15 mentions the conversion of Lydia who was from the area.

12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

  • A small city, but important for trade. The major road that led to Pergamum ran though Thyatira.

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The Victorious Church: Learning From the Seven Churches of Revelation – Revelation 2:12-17 – The Church at Pergamum

A Bit of Background Concerning the Church at Pergamum

  • about 60 miles north of Smyrna.
  • known for being a great religious, intellectual, and medical hub of the day.
  • the city was known for containing the alter of Zeus, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Also had the first temple dedicated to Ceasar.
  • the city contained a medical center which accompanied the worship of the deity of medicine, Aesculapius (signified by a coiled snake on a pole).

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The Victorious Church: Learning From the Seven Churches of Revelation – Revelation 2:8-11; 3:7-13 – The Churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia

SMYRNA

A Bit of Background Concerning the Church At Smyrna:

  • A port city located about 35 miles north of Ephesus. Current location is known as Izmir, Turkey.
  • A disciple of the apostle John served as pastor there until he was martyred around 155 AD.
  • A city of obvious wealth, known for its resorts, spas, and market places (Hunter, 29). First-hand geographical accounts in the first century describe Smyrna as “a beautiful city”.
  • We are not told in the Bible how the church came to exist in the city, many assume the gospel spread there from Ephesus.
  • The normal pattern for the letter given to each of the churches includes a: Commendation, Correction, Consequence of unheeded correction, and Conquering Promise. The church at Smyrna is one of two churches (along with Philadelphia) not given a Correction/Consequence.
  • This is also the shortest of the 7 letters.

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Revelation 2.1-7 – Commentary

The Church at Ephesus: A Call to Love

Ephesus was one of the most influential cities of the ancient world, a thriving metropolitan center at the time of John’s writing. As the capital of Asia (modern-day southwest Turkey), it was a powerful economic hub, boasting a large seaport that made it a key player in trade and commerce. Ephesus was not only wealthy but also highly cultured—yet deeply corrupt. The city was known as the center of worship for the goddess Diana (Artemis), and this religious devotion led to a widespread acceptance of dark arts, necromancy, and exorcisms. Paul ministered here for three years, as recorded in Acts 18-19, and left behind a strong Christian community. Later, Timothy was placed in charge of the churches in the region, and according to church tradition, the Apostle John also ministered there in his later years. Some traditions even suggest that Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her final days in Ephesus. The church in this city was not merely a small group of believers but a large and influential congregation. It had a strong foundation and a rich history, making Jesus’ words to them in Revelation 2:1-7 all the more significant.

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