Key Thought: Today we will look at Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary among the candlesticks and the first of His messages to His church.
January 12, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 1:11,19,20.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why did John only speak about seven of the churches in Asia, when there are many more than that?
3. Personal Application: What content about the spiritual condition of you local church today might be in a letter from the Lord to you? Which church message would it be similar to? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “These messages were for local churches in Asia in the early days of Christianity and have no application to us today or to some historical events. There is no symbolism in these messages.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 1:12-18.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How does Jesus appear in John’s vision? What is He doing?
3. Personal Application: What is the significance to you that Jesus is our High Priest and is found standing in the midst of the candlesticks? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What does it mean that Jesus was dead and is now alive forevermore? If Jesus were God, then He couldn’t have really died, could He? If He did, how could He take up His life again like He said He could?” How would you reply to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 2:1-4.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. How does Jesus present Himself to the church in Ephesus?
3. Personal Application: How does your church match the commendation of Ephesus and the concerns Jesus had for Ephesus? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “How can we revive our first love and devotion to Christ and to fellow believers? Have we fallen into a rut and need revival? What steps can we take that Jesus suggested to Ephesus?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 1:9,10.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Which day was the Lord’s day according to the Bible evidence?
3. Personal Application: What does it mean to be “in the Spirit”? Is this referring to visions that John received, or a state of mind that is submitted to God that made Him receptive to God’s communication? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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