Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 3:7-13), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [7] Jesus has “the Key of David”—he is the one who decisively shuts or opens doors, who controls the flow of traffic in and out of the New Jerusalem, who has the power to include people in the Kingdom of God. He exercises this power as the “the holy one, the true one,” who was cut off from the people at the cross in order to set apart his people for God. Think for a while about what it means that he allowed himself to be excluded so that you would be included. From what was he excluded? Into what are you included? Once Jesus says you’re included, can anyone or anything else say otherwise? What sort of response(s) do you have to this Gospel?

• [8-9] It sounds like the pastor (and perhaps other Christians) in Philadelphia had experienced exclusion by the Jews at the local synagogue for their confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Christians want to belong in community, so this kind of rejection can be painful. But Jesus’ reception of us is more definitive than others’ rejection. Have you experienced exclusion from a community that is important to you? Have you found a reception among God’s people, extending Christ’s own welcome to you? Does Christ’s reception help you in any way when others have rejected you?

• Jesus tells the Philadelphian pastor that he (Jesus) will make even the Jewish “excluders” to be included, that he will bring them to bow down in worship in the Philadelphian church and come to know Christ’s love. Do you personally know any “excluders” (especially those who have willfully rejected God and his people in any way) who have been brought to repentance and worship? Do you know any “excluders” who still need to be brought to repentance and worship? Do you have any hope that the one who holds the Key of David can bring “excluders” into his Kingdom? What part, if any, do you think you might play in that process?

• [10-11] Each of these mini-letters in Revelation 2-3 is written in light of the “coming” of Jesus in an “hour of trial,” particularly in events associated with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. When he comes in judgment, it is to sift the peoples and to make things right and new. He comes in judgment, spiritually speaking, many times in history. (And he shall come physically, once and for all, at the Resurrection.) As we see in these chapters, particular congregations can experience his coming differently, even as they are all relating to the same events taking place in the world. (For example, the Philadelphian church will somehow be “kept” from the trial.) Some say that the global pandemic of Covid-19 is God’s judgment on the nations or on the church. How could we know if that were true? If it is true, must all peoples or churches be “learning” the same “lesson,” or otherwise be universally experiencing the judgment in identical ways? What might it mean for you? Can you comment on what it might mean for others? What reasons could there be for worrying about God’s judgment? Are there other responses we can have to his coming in judgment?

• [12] “Conquering” means holding fast to Christ and to the faithful confession, even when there are strong temptations and pressures to abandon him. The one who conquers is promised a permanent, significant place in the temple (church). Jesus “will make him a pillar.” Pillars are permanent, immovable. And they are structural, they bear the weight of other stones in the temple—that is, Jesus will unstoppably build and expand his church upon those who confess him as Christ (Matthew 16:16-18). We have good news to proclaim: the eternal reception of God of believers into his new and everlasting community. Is this enough to motivate you to conquer, to interest you in holding fast to Christ and to the faithful confession? If not, what do you think it would take to inspire you to faith and gospel proclamation?