MISSION PROJECT
Calvary Academy was the Sunday School's Mission Project for the 2008/09 school year. Calvary Academy students come from WELS/ELS homes. These children are struggling with life, wrestling with emotional disturbance, and failing to serve Jesus. The Calvary Academy pastor preached and had a presentation between services on weekend of June 21.  This l coincided with the kickoff of VBS.  The mission for VBS was Calvary Academy also.

REVELATION 2 - AIM: The goal of these next lessons is to analyze Jesus messages to the seven churches and to apply in our lives the comfort and warnings Jesus gives.
The first picture or vision we saw of Jesus in our lessons - he was standing among the seven golden lamp-stands - reminded us that he is always in the midst of his church on earth. The lamp stands were the seven churches that Jesus spoke to. Perhaps the reason the churches are called lamp stands, which were a source of light, is because Christ wants his church to reflect the light of God’s Word to a sin-darkened world. Jesus also wants us to be such lights.
No matter what we go through, Jesus is always with us to protect, comfort, and strengthen us. He also wants us to appreciate the great love he shows to us, the forgiveness he gives, and the eternal life he has promised us. It is also because Jesus loves us that he warns us in his Word about sin and urges us to live as Christians.
Each week we study the words Jesus spoke to seven different congregations. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. In Jesus’ letters to the churches in these cities he warns them and comforts them. A question today is HOW WILL WE RESPOND TO JESUS’ LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES?  

READ REVELATION 2:18-29 (Jesus letter to the church in Thyatira). Thyatira was a center of the wool and dyeing industry. Many trade guilds held banquets in honor of their false gods in Thyatira. Wicked and corrupt orgies occurred during these banquets.
Jesus description of himself, having eyes like blazing fire and feet polished bronze, fits Thyatira’s spiritual needs, for Jesus is omniscient and will tread his enemies under his feet.
For what does Jesus commend the church in Thyatira? Answer: Jesus had seen their works of self-sacrificing love and their perseverance in serving him.
This congregation was somewhat the opposite of the church in Ephesus, which was strong on doctrine but weak in zealous love for the Gospel and Christ. Thyatira’s Christian community was active in deeds of love, but it lacked a firm doctrinal base.

For what does Jesus condemn the Thyatirans in verse 20? Answer: They tolerated a false prophetess who led some of the members into sexual immorality and corrupted the faith and life of the church.
Jesus calls the prophetess Jezebel because the historical Jezebel had corrupted the Kingdom of Israel in a similar way (1 Kings 16:31, 32; 2 Kings 9:22.) The false teaching at Thyatira was causing the Christians there to tolerate sexual immortality in their midst and even to participate in idolatrous practices.
What warning does Jesus give in verse 23? Answer: Those who follow the false prophetess and participate in her immoral practices will perish.
To promote her practices and teachings, the prophetess called them “deep secrets.” The plain, simple Word of God was not good enough for her and others in the congregation.
What does Jesus promise in verse 26? Answer: All who are faithful to Christ will reign with him over his enemies.  
Who is the “morning star” in verse 28? Answer: Jesus himself (Revelation 22:16).
As the astronomical morning star (in most instances, the planet Venus) gives evidence of the hope of a new day, so Jesus is our hope for the dawning of heaven’s new, eternal day.
The following puzzle tells you How we should respond to Jesus’ message in this letter to the church in Thyatira.