Pastor James will post his Sermon Study Questions every Tuesday with the previous Sunday’s sermon. Our hope is for these study questions to promote deeper personal study and further edify our church body.
Sermon Study Questions – April 20, 2025
1. Read Revelation 1:9-20
2. This passage contains the first visionary prophecy in the book of Revelation. What are the three levels of meaning we must consider when interpreting visionary prophecy in Revelation, and what do they mean?
3. The first sensation John has in this prophetic vision isn’t visual, but it’s audible as he hears the sound of a trumpet. What does the sound of a trumpet signify in Scripture? What is the trumpet sound signifying here?
4. We know that the seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches (and thus the entire church). Why is the church represented by a lampstand? What does it say about the church that it is gold?
5. John sees “one like a Son of Man” in the midst of the lampstands. We know this is Jesus as He repeatedly refers to Himself by this title in the gospels. Where does this title come from? Why does Jesus use it of Himself?
6. In looking at this description of Jesus, from the golden sash, to the snow-white hair, to the eyes like flames of fire, and so on, what are these things saying about Him?
7. What does it mean when we are told that the Son of Man is walking among the lampstands? How does this impact your view of corporate worship in the church?
8. Who or what are the seven stars in Jesus’ right hand? How does this connect with Daniel 10?
9. What encouragement do you find in this text and sermon?
10. Pray!
Reading of Law: Luke 9:23-24
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Prayer of Confession:
Our Father who is in heaven, how great and glorious you are. We thank you for the great love you have for us, and how in your love for us you made the ultimate sacrifice for us, sending the Eternal Son from the glory of heaven to live a life of suffering in human flesh and to die for our sins. Yet for all you have done for us, making the ultimate sacrifice to save us, we often refuse to make costly sacrifices for you. You call us to deny ourselves, and yet we indulge ourselves. You call us to take up our cross daily, and yet we are prone to choose the easy way. We have sought to save our lives, rather than use our lives for your glory and the good of our neighbor. In all of these ways we have sinned, and we ask for your forgiveness. We thank you for who you are, that you are a God who is merciful and gracious; a God who delights in receiving and forgiving and saving sinners. We thank you as we come boldly to your throne of grace knowing we will find mercy to help in time of need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness: Colossians 2:13-14
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.
WLC: 176
Q. 176. Wherein do the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper agree?
A. The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper agree, in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefits; both are seals of the same covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel and by none other; and to be continued in the Church of Christ until his second coming.
Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 10:16; Rom. 4:11; Col. 2:12; Matt. 26:27-28; John 1:33; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23; 1 Cor. 4:1; Heb. 5:4; Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:26.
OT Reading: Daniel 7:1-14
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. 2 Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. 4 The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. 5 And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ 6 After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 11 I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.