When you picture the devil, what comes to mind? Growing up, my high school alma mater, the Elbert County Blue Devils, had a giant lighted Blue Devil on their football scoreboard. Apparently, it created quite a stir. People wrote letters to the editor concerned about devil worship and the imagery being displayed in the community. … Continue reading Confidence in the Chaos (Revelation 13:1-18)
Have you ever wondered why faithfulness and obedience in the Christian life can be so difficult? Why does prayer sometimes feel like a struggle? Why is temptation so persistent? Why can you know what is right and still find yourself fighting to obey? The Bible gives us a sobering answer: we live in a broken world, … Continue reading This Is War (Revelation 12:1-18)
Imagine a sailor lost at sea in the middle of a raging storm. Waves crash against the boat. Winds howl. The sky is pitch black. Then, far in the distance, he sees a lighthouse. The storm continues to rage, but the lighthouse stands firm. Its beam cuts through the darkness, unwavering and constant. No matter how … Continue reading Kingdom Come (Revelation 10-11)
Smoke detectors have a funny way of getting your attention. They seem to go off in the middle of the night, waking you while everyone else sleeps. You can’t just ignore it and go back to sleep. It’s meant to rouse you, warn you, and rescue you. The seven trumpets in Revelation 8–11 function in … Continue reading When the Trumpet Sounds – Revelation 8-9
Humans are curious creatures. We want to know. It’s why children ask, “Are we there yet?” a hundred times on a road trip.It’s why we scroll endlessly through social media.It’s why we made Google a verb. And when it comes to the end times — the last days — our curiosity reaches a whole new level. We’re … Continue reading When Curiosity Meets Revelation – Revelation 6-7
In the spring of 2000, James Montgomery Boice, beloved pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, was diagnosed with cancer. Just eight weeks later, he was gone. On May 7, 2000, he stood before his congregation for the last time and said something remarkable: “If God does something in your life, would you change it? … Continue reading The Lion-Lamb – Revelation 5:1-14
There are moments in life that never get old … Driving over the bridge to the beachside and seeing the ocean stretched out before me. Cruising down a country road lined with cotton, corn, and pastures, soaking in the beauty of creation. Catching a first glimpse of Augusta National in the spring – golf heaven … Continue reading Game of Thrones – Revelation 4:1-11
A church doesn’t die overnight. It happens slowly, quietly, almost imperceptibly. And often, the church doesn’t even realize it is happening. Proverbs 29:18 warns us: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This is not a slick slogan for a capital campaign—it’s a spiritual indictment. It’s what happens when God’s people lose sight of Him, lose … Continue reading The Dead Church – Revelation 3:14-22
Do you remember the nervous feeling of getting your report card in school? That envelope was more than a piece of paper — it measured progress and pointed out where we needed to grow. In many ways, the letters to the seven churches in Revelation are like spiritual report cards — but these come from … Continue reading Report Cards from Jesus – Revelation 3:7-13
I was recently asked a question I hadn’t considered before: “What’s one thing you would like to see change at your church?”My answer was simple but weighty — I want to see the worship of our church become more consistently passionate. I want to hear the congregation sing. That might seem like a small thing, but … Continue reading The Revived Church – Revelation 3:1-6
MichaelStovall 