Weekly Sermon Reflection Questions

READ | SERMON NOTES (Sermon notes and recording available after 30 Sep 2025.) PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

God reveals our future Home — the Holy City, the Bride of the Lamb — where He dwells with His people in a renewed, perfect world, free from pain, death and sorrow.

Revelation is not just about the end times; it is about revealing Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1). Through vivid visions, John shows how Satan deceives the world (Rev 12:9) and tempts believers to compromise kingdom values. He reveals the judgment to come (Rev 20:11-15) and the hope reserved for the faithful (Rev 21:7).

Revelation tells us that there is a cosmic battle that we need to be aware of, a battle that has raged through the ages, manifesting itself through the rise and fall of human empires and ideologies. Through it all, Jesus remains the final authority and victor.

Seven visions reveal Jesus as victorious King: He leads heaven’s armies, defeats evil forces, binds Satan, reigns with believers, judges the world and ushers in a new creation.

In Rev 17, John sees a vision of a women on a beast. This is Babylon, the chief of prostitutes with whom the kings have committed prostitution. The word “Babylon” comes from “Babel” which is described in Genesis 11. The infamous towel of Babel is an expression of mankind’s arrogance and denial of God.

READ | SERMON NOTES For sermon summary, please visit: https://tidings.wesleymc.org/sermon-reflection/the-fall-of-babylon-traditional/ PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Revelation 15-16 illustrate the outpouring of God’s wrath as punishment that comes after repeated warnings and calls for repentance. God’s wrath is poured out not in haste but in holiness.

God’s terrifying yet justified judgement is coming. It targets evil and idolatry, but offers hope through repentance. Revelation reveals this through seals, trumpets and bowls — each showing a unique perspective.

The book of Revelation is not a timeline for predicting the future but a divine unveiling of reality from heaven’s perspective. It pulls back the curtain on history to show that even amid chaos and cosmic conflict, God is on the throne.

Revelation 11:19 –15:4 span the entire history of Redemption with 5 acts which reveal the great conflict that happens in heaven between God and Satan, and the aftermath that follows. The answers we seek about who and what the visual images represent should not divide but draw us closer to Jesus, the leading figure in Revelation – to fight with courageous Hope!

The late Eugene Peterson read Revelation not to gain more information but to revive his imagination. We too can use our imagination as we visualise the scenes foretold in Revelation. The seven trumpets in Revelation are a solemn warning from God to the world of impending judgement. The trumpets are neither celebratory nor ceremonial, but to warn an unbelieving world which lives in rebellion to God and violates God’s will and creation.

Jesus had the authority to break the seals on the scroll that would unravel what will happen in the history of the world.

We often approach Revelation searching for answers to questions like: Who is the anti‑Christ? or What is the mark of the beast? John’s vision of the happenings in God’s throne room offers a more vital truth — a reality that transcends time: the unchallenged sovereignty of God, His way of victory through self-sacrifice, and the unceasing worship that surrounds His throne.

First century Christians suffered greatly for their faith. There are places around the world today where Christians still suffer for their faith. We too may experience burnout and depression as we serve and people scorn and reject our service. Some may question if God is in control when we see what is happening in the world. God knows we are in need of encouragement. In Rev. 4, He invites John to look into the throne room through a vision.

Unlike good work that secular charities do in terms of outreach, our discipleship in society is anchored on the hope of Christ’s return. Revelation is a pastoral document written to people of God who were pressurised to compromise and needed encouragement to be faithful disciples in the midst of sweeping political and cultural changes, just like us today.

READ | SERMON NOTES For sermon summary, please visit: https://tidings.wesleymc.org/sermon-reflection/the-church-in-the-world-traditional/ Seven Churches (Rev 2-3) Church Affirmations Rebuke Instructions Consequences Ephesus(Rev 2:1-7) Hard work and perseverance(v2, 3) Endured hardship for the sake of Christ (v3) Not tolerated wicked peopleand false apostles

Freed from hellish darkness to Hope-filled restoration. That’s what Jesus did for a spiritually oppressed man, reigned and ruined by a legion of demons.

Romans 12:9-21 is often seen in two parts: verses 9–16 focus on love within the Christian community, while verses 17-21 deal with love toward enemies. But the heart of it all is verse 9: “Let love be genuine.” Paul teaches that Christian love must be authentic; not a performance or pretence.

In this scripture passage Paul reminds us what it means to labour for the Church; not out of duty but from a place of deep devotion.

Jesus was traveling throughout the country. When He entered a certain village, Martha and Mary welcomed Him into their home.

The 13 July 2025 Traditional Service emphasised church-wide responsibility in discipling the next generation. Panelists shared personal journeys, highlighting mentorship, faith in action and the transformative impact of serving. Everyone is called to support and reflect God’s love.

The 13 July 2025 NextGen Service emphasised the church’s role in discipling youth, highlighting availability over ability, authentic storytelling and daily habits. It called for intentional engagement to pass down God’s character, Word and relationship across generations.

Giving is more than a financial matter; it is also a discipleship matter. Our giving to God is an act of obedience.

There are different types of givers and reasons for giving. Some give for investment (to receive financial returns or the prosperity gospel, which we reject), atonement for wrongdoing, to bargain with God (transactional), as an obligation (to meet the 10 percent tithing mandated in the Old Testament), or out of a sense of entitlement that the church will do something for the giver.

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | This Stewardship Sunday, we read David’s prayer after he appealed to Israel to share in the cause of building the First Temple. God refused King David’s offer to build the Temple as he had

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary | Peter’s first letter was written to Gentile Christians in North Central Asia Minor who were facing persecution. In the midst of suffering, Peter called them to live holy, countercultural lives; abandoning self-centeredness, idolatry, drunkenness,

The Latin word ‘benediction’ comprises two parts: ‘bene’, which means good, and ‘diction’, which means to speak. Together, it means to pronounce a blessing. The cultural notion of blessing is often inherently circumstantial and personalised; it is tied to a time, place and individual and is inherently religious.

READ | SERMON NOTES Summary l MERCY at the heart of justice is God’s way. God commends us to endure unjust suffering that brings about good. Christ suffered as our example who “committed no sin” yet died to redeem us