The Apocalypse of St. John
Want to dig a little deeper? Here are all the sermons and resources for our series on the Book of Revelation!

Revelation Part One
Due to the nature of the book and the sheer amount of content related to it, we devided to cut the book up into several preaching “blocks” so that we will have time to study and also touch on some other topics. Block one goes from Revelation 1:1-2:29.
Week One | Revelation 1:1-3 | Rev. Ryan Genereaux
Pastor Ryan kicked off the series on the Book of Revelation, explaining its focus, historical context, genre, and common misconceptions. He clarified the book’s title, emphasizing it as “Revelation” (singular) and not “Revelations.” This text is identified as a single “apocalypse” or unveiling from Jesus to John, intended for seven specific churches struggling under the oppressive Roman Empire. The early Christians resisted Roman demands to worship the emperor, leading to persecution, which intensified during Emperor Domitian’s rule. John’s Revelation offered a vision of God’s justice, encouraging believers to maintain their faith despite Rome’s demands for allegiance.
Ryan established guidelines for the study, encouraging careful interpretation without speculation, urging attendees to read, understand, and engage with the text responsibly. He emphasize that Revelation was not written as a modern predictive prophecy but as guidance to address first-century issues that still hold relevance today. John uses the apocalypse genre to expose the truth behind current events through symbols, metaphors, and dramatic imagery.
The book combines elements of a letter, prophecy, and apocalyptic vision. It’s written as a letter addressing the challenges and spiritual conditions of specific churches, calling for faithfulness amid persecution. As a prophecy, it reveals God’s guidance and requires a response to injustice and empire. Finally, as an apocalyptic text, it unveils both present and future spiritual truths that challenge believers to align with Jesus over worldly powers.
Pastor Ryan went on to critique speculative readings that treat Revelation as a literal prediction of future events, warning that such views promote fear and a misinterpretation of the books’s message. He argued that Revelation should inspire Christians to resist contemporary “empires” of materialism and injustice, staying faithful to the teachings of Jesus, the Lamb of God. In the end, the series seeks to guide attendees in living as “radical disciples” dedicated to resisting evil and embodying the values of God’s kingdom.
Week Two | Revelation 1:4-8 | Rev. Dale MacDonald
Dale shared a deeply personal story about a letter he received from his father in 1979, written while his father was away in Quebec for a job. This letter, handwritten and imperfectly punctuated, conveyed his father’s love, encouragement, and loneliness. This serves as a preface to a discussion on the Book of Revelation, which is a letter written by the Apostle John to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Addressing contemporary issues of Roman influence and Christian faith, Revelation provides guidance to these churches while symbolizing completeness and offering timeless lessons for all Christians.
John’s message to the seven churches encourages them to stay devoted to Christ amidst worldly temptations. Despite being believers, they face the same struggles seen throughout the church’s history, continually drawn by worldly temptations. John reminds them that true peace comes from God, not from the empire’s authority. His greeting, “Grace and peace,” emphasizes God’s enduring sovereignty and love. John presents Jesus as the faithful witness, first to resurrect, and ruler over all kings, affirming Christ’s ultimate authority over earthly rulers. Through praise and worship, he celebrates Jesus’ sacrificial love, reinforcing that God remains in control, even amid uncertainty.
Dale highlighted a D.L. Moody’s quote: “Don’t ever think God don’t love you, for he do.” He explained Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as an act of deep love, offering freedom from sin through his blood. Believers are called to act as “a kingdom of priests,” bridging others to God with compassion. Jesus’ imminent return was also proclaimed, urging the faithful to live as witnesses of His love. Embracing God’s sovereignty and sharing His message of salvation was the call, inviting everyone to reflect, praise, and engage deeply with God’s word.
Week Three | Revelation 1:9-20 | Rev. Dale MacDonald
In the first chapter of Revelation, John describes how he received a prophetic vision from God while exiled on Patmos, a small, barren island where he had been sent for his faith. This book of Revelation is a piece of apocalyptic literature that uses vivid imagery to reveal spiritual truths. Through these images, Revelation sets present realities in the context of both the future and unseen spiritual truths, challenging readers to perceive the world as God sees it. John received his vision on “the Lord’s Day” while in worship, and he was commanded by a powerful, trumpet-like voice to record his vision for seven churches in Asia.
John’s vision of Jesus is awe-inspiring and symbolic. Jesus appears among seven lampstands, representing the churches, indicating his presence and care for them. He is described with features like white hair, eyes of fire, feet of bronze, and a voice like rushing waters, each symbolizing aspects of his divine authority, purity, and strength. Holding seven stars, Jesus demonstrates control over the universe, and his words, like a sharp sword, pierce through deception and reveal truth. His face shines like the sun, radiating divine glory.
Overwhelmed, John falls at Jesus’s feet, but Jesus reassures him with a comforting touch, declaring his eternal life and authority over death. Jesus tells John to write what he has seen, emphasizing that he holds the keys to life and death, overcoming fear. This chapter centers on Jesus as the foundation of faith, encouraging believers to focus on him amidst tribulation. Jesus, the central figure of history, reassures his followers with his sovereignty and presence, empowering them to face challenges with courage and hope.
Week Four | Revelation 2:1-7 | Rev. Neil Horner
Sunday’s Message explores the first of the seven letters to churches in the Book of Revelation, the letter to Ephesus. Ephesus was a prominent city known for its worship of the fertility goddess Artemis. Despite its strong Christian beginnings, including enduring hardships and rejecting sinful practices like those of the Nicolaitans, the church was criticized by Jesus for leaving its “first love.” This critique emphasizes the importance of prioritizing a loving relationship with God and others above all else, while holding to doctrinal purity, hard work, and perseverance.
Jesus’ message is likened to a family meeting where one issue is addressed to guide everyone. The text highlights how the Ephesians gradually replaced their initial passion and devotion with routine and obligation, creating a transactional relationship with God. This loss is not irreversible. Jesus offers a path back through three steps: remembering their initial joy and devotion, repenting by making deliberate changes, and redoing the simple acts of faith they once practiced.
Practical illustrations are used throughout, such as a couple whose functional but loveless marriage mirrors the Ephesians’ relationship with God. Without love, even the best actions are hollow, as seen in Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 13. Jesus warns that without love, their influence (lampstand) would be removed, emphasizing that love is the light of the church. He promises a reward for those who overcome—access to the “Tree of Life” in paradise, symbolizing eternal life and closeness to God. The text concludes with a call to self-reflection, prayer, and renewed intimacy with Jesus.
Week Five | Revelation 2:8-11 | Rev. Ryan Genereaux
Smyrna, located in modern-day Turkey, was a city known for its beauty, wealth, and history of resilience. It was also a center of Christian suffering. The church in Smyrna faced persecution from the Roman authorities, who demanded loyalty to Rome and its emperor, and from certain segments of the Jewish community. Christians were marginalized economically, socially, and politically, experiencing imprisonment and even martyrdom for their faith.
The letter from Jesus encourages the believers in Smyrna, reminding them that their lives are under his authority, not Caesar’s. Jesus acknowledges their suffering but urges them not to fear and to remain faithful, even unto death. The promise of the “crown of life” and protection from the “second death” offers hope and reassurance to the persecuted church.
The sermon emphasizes that the real enemy is not human opposition but the spiritual forces behind persecution. Pastor Ryan draws parallels to modern challenges, urging Christians to recognize that suffering often accompanies faithfulness to Jesus. He argues that pressure refines the church, stripping away superficiality and drawing believers closer to Christ.
The historical example of Polycarp, a disciple of John and a martyr from Smyrna, illustrates the enduring faith of the church. His unwavering declaration—”How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?”—serves as a powerful testimony of loyalty to Jesus amidst persecution. The message concludes with a challenge to modern Christians to embrace faithful endurance, trusting Jesus’ sovereignty and the promise of ultimate victory. Pastor Ryan warns against compromising faith for comfort, urging believers to remain steadfast like the Smyrnæans, who continue to be a beacon of faith through centuries of trials.
Week Six | Revelation 1:4-8 | Rev. Dale MacDonald
This week, we talked about thechurch at Pergamum from Revelation, emphasizing the theme of compromise. Pergamum had right beliefs but flawed behavior, reflecting a struggle between faithfulness and cultural pressures. The city, a center of Roman religion and emperor worship, tested Christians through external persecution and internal doctrinal corruption. Jesus addresses Pergamum as one wielding a sharp, two-edged sword, symbolizing truth and judgment. The message underscores the importance of aligning belief and behavior while resisting both external intimidation and internal enticement.
Pastor Dale discussed the challenges Christians face in identifying false teachings, particularly those cloaked in religious language. It examines Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamum, a city described as “where Satan has his throne,” due to its emperor worship and temples. Despite external pressures, the church stood firm in faith but tolerated internal false teachings promoting idolatry and sexual immorality. The message warns against spiritual compromises, emphasizing the need for repentance and truth. It highlights the profound connection between body and spirit, rejecting the view that physical actions, including sexual behavior, are separate from one’s spiritual identity.
He emphasizes that the human body is sacred and that engaging in actions contrary to God’s will violates not just the body but also the soul. They critique ideologies that misinterpret grace as a license for sin, warning against worldly philosophies that fail to satisfy. Jesus calls believers to repentance, offering promises of spiritual sustenance (“hidden manna”) and a new identity symbolized by a white stone. The stone represents forgiveness, restoration, and intimate friendship with Christ. The message challenges believers to pursue holiness, resist false ideologies, and align with God’s truth for a life of unity, purpose, and abundant joy.