Key Bible Passage(s):

Rev.5-8 & 12:10-12

Tier 1:

There is a whole Study Day on the Book of Revelation available as part of the DTP schedule. This session introduces on the critical rules about how to interpret the imagery of the Book. All the images used in the Book of Revelation have been used and explained elsewhere in the Bible. When we bring those explanations to use of those images in the Book of Revelation, we discover this Book is written to strengthen and disciple the Church through suffering, persecution and hostility.

Tier 2:

Jesus - presented as the great Priest - tends the lamps of the Churches. Many are facing persecution and as He dictates His letters, Jesus teaches us how to understand and to endure such suffering. He remains concerned for their faithfulness to Him, and in spite of the hostility they face, He calls the Chruch to truth, love, purity and integrity. All of history is to be understood in terms of Christ, and of the relationship between the Church and the world.

Tier 3:

One of the most encouraging realities we are confronted with in the Book of Revelation is Christ’s sovereignty over the Church’s suffering. But what is He achieving through that suffering. We allow Josef Tson - who we’ve met before in this term - to help us navigate this unfamiliar terrain, and to trace Christ’s purposes in the persecution and death of Christians throughout the world.

Here is an overview of the whole book of Revelation, if you would find that helpful. It’s a presentation I did for my own Church a few years ago during lockdown!

God takes a safe course with His children, that they may not be condemned with the world; He permits the world to condemn them, that they may not love the world, the world hates them...

Richard Sibbes

Group Discussion:

following the talk by Ron Boyd-Macmillan we watched as part of homework.

‘Aggressive secularists are seeking to push Christians out of public life in the west’.  Do you recognise this?  Have you had any experience of this?

Did you find Boyd-Macmillan’s explanation of the ‘hierarchy of rights’ helpful to make sense of stories we’ve seen in the news over recent years?

What about the idea that secularism creates ‘a society with the presumption of unbelief’?  How does that affect us as Christians?  If Christians in a secular society ‘go with the flow’, what are they actually doing?

…and later in the session:

What have you learned this term from the New Testament about how to suffer well?

Based on Jesus’ letters in Rev.2-3, What are the key temptations the suffering Church faces? How can you resist them?

Like Hebrews, Revelations starts with a vision of the glory of Christ (1:12-16). He is worth suffering for. How can we cultivate such an exalted vision of Jesus, that we would be willing to suffer for Him?

If Jesus were to write a letter to [our Church], what do you think He would say?

and if you include Tier 3:

It may be that groups will prefer to talk about other things – e.g. are you satisfied with Tson’s reasons for the suffering of the Church?  Or do you still feel it is inappropriate?  Otherwise, here are some questions to structure the conversation around:

How comfortable are you that God has a set number of Christians He has ordained as martyrs?

Do you think we should specifically seek to support Christians in areas of conflict and disaster, or should the Church’s support be for everyone?

Do you agree that there is a link between the persecution of the Church and the progress of the Gospel?

Homework:

Watch short video on the underground Church in China

Let me know if you’d be happy talking about your experience on DTP from the front of our Church, to encourage others to be involved? Would you be interested in teaching this material in a small group?

Prepare for Invitation week (not optional). Who are you going to invite?

Here are the questions / discussion starters:

How has this term changed the way you think about being a Christian?  What inspires you?  What has caused anxiety?  Why do you think that is?

Do you think it is getting harder to be a Christian in the UK?  Why / Why not?

How confident would you be facing a growingly hostile context? 

How does the prospect of that impact how the Church might pray for and prepare (and where appropriate, parent / grandparent) children and young people?  How should this affect children’s and youth work?

How is your Rule of Life shaping up? What changes did you (plan to) make? Have you kept them going? Reflect on your experience of trying to follow a Rule of Life.