Posts by Thomas Overmiller
The Dying Church at Sardis
Revelation 3.1-6 This letter is the fifth in a series of seven letters written to churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. In these letters, John gave a personal message from Christ to each church. Each message expressed Christ’s up-close perspective on the spiritual condition of each one. Just as…
Read MoreThe Corrupt Church at Thyatira
This letter is the fourth in a series of seven letters written to churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. In these letters, John gave a personal message from Christ to each church. Each message expressed Christ’s up-close perspective on the spiritual condition of each one. Just as we benefit…
Read MoreThe Compromising Church at Pergamos
This letter is the third in a series of seven letters written to churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. In these letters, John gave a personal message from Christ to each church. Each message expressed Christ’s up-close perspective on the spiritual condition of each one. Just as we benefit…
Read MoreThe Oppressed Church at Smyrna
This letter is the second in a series of seven letters written to churches in Asia Minor at the end of the first century AD. In these letters, John gave a personal message from Christ to each church. Each message expressed Christ’s up-close perspective on the spiritual condition of each one. Just as we benefit…
Read MoreThe Loveless Church at Ephesus
Ancient Ephesus Have you ever been surprised? Have you ever been rudely awakened or jolted out of sleep? Has anyone ever jumped out of a corner to scare you or has anything ever happened around you as you were driving a car that suddenly arrested your attention? This happened to me when my wife and…
Read MoreSeven Little Letters (Revelation 2-3)
Following John’s introduction and vision of Christ in Rev 1, he records a series of seven small letters, like “mini epistles,” nestled into Rev 2-3. For whatever reason, these messages receive less attention than the major, standalone letters of the New Testament (NT), whether those written by Paul or by others such as Peter, John,…
Read MoreA Prayer for Spiritual Power
Paul wrapped up his instructions to the believers in Ephesus with an emphatic call for persevering prayer (Eph 6:18-21).1 Prayer was necessary for them to stand strong against the stratagems of the devil and his demonic forces (Eph 6:10-13). Without a certain kind of prayer, neither they nor Paul would be able to “walk worthy”2…
Read MoreWalking in Wisdom
Ephesians 5:15-17 Lemmings are small, furry rodents who inhabit cold, snowy regions like Norway and Siberia. Though you may never have seen one before, it’s possible you’ve heard of them thanks to their famous reputation. Many believe that lemmings have the unusual habit of committing mass suicide by mindlessly jumping off cliffs into the sea.…
Read MoreRespect, Conscience, and Culture
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 John and the Tardy Taxi Driver: I once heard the true story of a man from the United States who flew to another country on business. (We’ll call him John.) John was told that when he arrived at the destination airport, the friend of a friend, who was native to that country,…
Read MoreAre You Afraid of Jesus?
In 2010, a man named Barry Glassner published a book entitled The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things. While I cannot endorse all his ideas, I agree with his view that people and organizations (like politicians, advocacy groups, the marketing/advertising industry, and news outlets, including weather reporting) manipulate our perceptions…
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