Churches in the World (First Edition)

This is an early version of a Sunday School lesson I gave on January 4 as part of a rotation of teachers for a Baptist youth class.  I’d appreciate any comments and/or suggestions on the content and the lesson’s format/style.

This is a first for me, so please bear with any stutters of mine.  I doubt I’ll get through this whole lesson, but if I don’t then maybe I’ll have a chance to finish it.  And these two chapters are a great source of study material, so don’t think I’m coming close to exhausting them.

In the Revelation to John, chapters 2 and 3, seven types of churches are identified and their members encouraged by Jesus. Who here has already heard someone characterize evangelicals (that’s us) according to this passage? (Mark their names.) You won’t be allowed to answer questions you already have the answers to, but you can help the others.

Out of these seven churches, one has nothing to be commended and is in a spiritual coma; another is thriving and receives nothing negative.  (Mark the continuum below on the board.) Each of the remaining five has its problems but also some merit. I’ve marked them on the continuum according to my estimation; does anyone disagree with me? (Open the room for discussion.) Which one are we in? (Open the room for discussion.)

Sardis      Laodicea     Ephesus     Thyatira      Pergamos      Smyrna     Philadelphia
  |------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
 Dead       Lukewarm     Loveless     Corrupt    Compromising  Persecuted    Faithful

(In case they don’t have an answer…) Richard Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was an American architect, engineer, and entrepreneur who made it his goal to anticipate the needs and wants of society and invent accordingly.  He’s best known as the inventor of the geodesic dome, an arrangement of triangles which achieves maximum structural integrity with minimum use of raw materials.  This expert on our consumerist society said:

Let architects sing of aesthetics that bring Rich clients in hordes to their knees:

Just give me a home, in a great circle dome
Where stresses and strains are at ease.

Revelation 3:15-17 – the problem

Revelation 3:18-19 – the solution

What other modern churches fit any of these labels?  (Open the room for discussion.)  I have some of my own estimations, but I generally rate the churches I know less about as higher than the ones I know more about. (Replace the names above for those below.) That could be because we’re all doing pitifully, or because I actually know very little about the more outstanding churches, or maybe a little of both.  But I base each of them on the characterization seen in these chapters.

Mainline       [  Evangelical ]       Catholic     Anglican [Arabic & Indian] Orthodox
   |------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|
  Dead       Lukewarm     Loveless     Corrupt   Compromising   Persecuted    Faithful

I know zilch about the Eastern Orthodox Church, so they’re at the top. I’ve read about the persecution (but nothing else) in Islamic nations and especially India, so they’re next. I’ve read about the Anglican Communion’s compromise on homosexuality and how the African, South American, and some North American churches are having big disagreements with the rest. I strongly believe the management of the Roman Catholic Church to be corrupt, so they get my fourth place. And then here we are in fifth, evangelicals generally being loveless and some even lukewarm. Finally, we have the mainline Protestant churches, such as Joel Osteen – the only group that I think is doing worse than us.

Now, how can we improve our position?  Those who are lukewarm must acquire a zeal, a love for God and His word, and then they’ll be loveless.  The loveless (probably including me) must further acquire a love for men.  When we get that far, we will naturally discuss what we can do about it because love prompts action.  If we don’t compromise after that, maybe we’ll be in the faithful church.  (Open the room for discussion.)