青少年教程 (启示录教导什么*第1课) | 给众教会的话

​编者按
这是一套在美国很受欢迎的教材，按年龄共分三部分：0-6岁学龄前儿童教程，6-12岁学龄儿童教程，和12岁以上青少年教程。我们将陆续翻译成中文，分享给大家。
这套教材里的每一篇，无论是教程还是各种活动，都独立成篇，没有先后顺序，大家可以按需要和负担选择使用。
*更多内容：thedoorofsheep.com/青少年 

课程目的

• 帮助学生对启示录有整体的认识

• 向学生介绍启示录最初的读者：七个教会

• 激励学生即使面对试炼，仍然全心全意跟随耶稣

主题

行为、教会、永生、信心、聆听、名声、坚定站立

背诵经文

启示录 2:10

开始祷告(5-10分钟)

团队建立(10分钟)

给每位学生一个没有吹气的气球，让他们把气球放在房间的一边。然后，请学生在房间另一边排成一列。

当你说“开始”时，每位学生跑到房间另一边，把自己的气球吹起来并打结，然后用头把气球顶回房间另一边。

如果游戏进行得很快，可以尝试不同的玩法。例如，只能用膝盖、手肘、脚等部位移动气球。

开始(5分钟)

今天，我们开始接触启示录中一连串与“七”有关的内容。“七”这个数字贯穿整卷启示录。在圣经中，七是一个很重要的数字，代表完全。因此，我们今天所读到的七个教会，可以代表任何教会，也包括今天的教会。

耶稣向每一个教会都发出针对它们具体情况的信息。这些信息带有一个大致相同的结构，我们也会按照这个结构来学习：

耶稣介绍自己

耶稣称赞教会

耶稣警告教会

耶稣敦促教会留心听

一般讨论:

• 如果耶稣写一封短信给我们的教会，祂会说些什么？祂会怎样介绍自己？

• 你认为耶稣会怎样称赞我们的教会？

• 你认为耶稣可能会给我们的教会什么警告或纠正？

现在，让我们看看耶稣怎样向亚细亚的七个教会说话。

深入学习(30分钟)

如果要把七个教会和相关的两章经文全部详细讲完，会很困难，所以今天我们要采用一种不同的方式来学习。

把学生分成七组。给每位学生或每个小组分配一个教会，请他们查考，然后在五至十分钟后回到大组，回答下面的问题。

以下是七个教会，以及各组要查考的经文：

1. 以弗所：启示录 2:1-7

2. 士每拿：启示录 2:8-11

3. 别迦摩：启示录 2:12-17

4. 推雅推喇：启示录 2:18-29

5. 撒狄：启示录 3:1-6

6. 非拉铁非：启示录 3:7-13

7. 老底嘉：启示录 3:14-22

   
   

讨论问题（每组回答）

1. 你所查考的教会叫什么名字？

2. 耶稣向这个教会所说的话，最主要的重点是什么？

3. 耶稣怎样称赞这个教会？

4. 耶稣向这个教会发出了什么警告？

5. 在你所读的经文中，哪一节最令你印象深刻？

（下面列出每个教会针对这些问题的大致答案。学生可能会提出一些不同的观察，这完全可以。这些只是参考。如果没有足够的时间或学生人数来查考所有七个教会，也可以直接使用这些资料。）

以弗所

主要信息：如果他们不悔改，就会失去自己的奖赏

称赞：他们努力作工，并且忍耐，恨恶邪恶

警告：他们已经失去了起初的委身和爱心

关键经文：启示录 2:5

士每拿

主要信息：他们不需要害怕即将来到的试炼

称赞：虽然贫穷，却是富足的

警告：魔鬼将要试炼他们中间的一些人

关键经文：启示录 2:10

别迦摩

主要信息：要悔改，否则耶稣要与他们争战

称赞：他们在过去的患难中仍然忠于耶稣

警告：他们中间有人传讲错误的教训

关键经文：启示录 2:16

推雅推喇

主要信息：不要让假教师破坏他们对基督的委身

称赞：他们后来所做的，比起初更多

警告：他们容忍一位假先知，教导淫乱和拜偶像

关键经文：启示录 2:23

撒狄

主要信息：他们外表看起来是活的，属灵上却是死的

称赞：仍有少数人“未曾污秽自己的衣服”

警告：如果他们不警醒，耶稣就要临到他们

关键经文：启示录 3:2

非拉铁非

主要信息：他们忍耐到底，必得奖赏

称赞：他们遵守主的道，没有弃绝主的名

警告：要持守所有的

关键经文：启示录 3:11

老底嘉

主要信息：他们既不冷也不热，必须作出决定

称赞：耶稣爱他们，所以才管教他们

警告：他们是困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身的

关键经文：启示录 3:16

联系实际（15分钟）

每个教会所领受的信息都不一样。不过，你是否注意到，它们的结尾都很相似？

（向每一组提出下面的问题。）

讨论问题:

1. 你所读的那个教会的信息最后怎样结束？（每一段都有“圣灵向众教会所说的话，凡有耳的，就应当听”，以及“得胜的……”之类的话。）

2. 如果这个教会得胜，会得到什么应许？

   以弗所：可以吃生命树的果子

   士每拿：绝不会受第二次死的害

   别迦摩：隐藏的吗哪、一块白石

   推雅推喇：制伏列国的权柄、晨星

   撒狄：穿白衣、名字记在生命册上

   非拉铁非：在神殿中作柱子，并有神的名和神城的名写在他们上面

   老底嘉：与耶稣一同坐在祂的宝座上

3. 你认为耶稣为什么每一段都以得胜者的奖赏结束？（祂要激励这些教会。）

4. 为什么每一段都说：“凡有耳的，就应当听圣灵向众教会所说的话”？（耶稣要他们认真留心祂所说的话。）

5. 你有耳朵吗？（有。）

耶稣正在说一些非常重要的话。虽然每一个教会因着自己的具体处境，所领受的信息略有不同，但他们都收到同样的提醒：认真听！有耳可听的，就应当听！得胜的人必有奖赏。

讨论问题:（续）

6. 既然你有耳朵，这些话是否也是对你说的？（是。）

7. 这些教会被激励要胜过什么？（逼迫、试炼、罪、拜偶像、异教社会，归根结底，是邪恶和撒但。）

8. 如果他们得胜，会得到什么？（安息、赦免、冠冕、吃生命树的果子、不受地狱伤害等。）

9. 我们今生面对哪些事情？（拜偶像、淫乱、试炼、异教社会，以及最终的邪恶和撒但。）

保罗也曾写信给以弗所教会，其中有一段我们很熟悉的经文。

读 以弗所书 6:10-13

讨论问题:

1. 保罗吩咐以弗所教会做什么？（靠着主刚强，坚定站立。）

2. 为什么？他们正在与谁争战？（这黑暗世界的掌权者、邪恶势力等。）

3. 根据第13节，目标是什么？（穿戴神所赐的全副军装，好叫无论发生什么，我们都能站立得住。）

二十一世纪与第一世纪并没有那么不同。时代艰难，生活不容易，而为耶稣而活会使生命更加艰难。启示录给最初读者的信息，与今天给我们的信息并没有不同：要坚定站立。

从许多方面来说，我们今天所读的启示录 2:10，可以看作整卷启示录的主题宣言，不只是对最初的读者，也是对我们说的。

读 启示录 2:10

保持忠心，也就是最终成为得胜者，意味着与耶稣一同在天国得着永生。不再有第二次的死，不再有地狱，也不再有审判。

这就是给亚细亚七个教会的话，也是给我们的话。凡有耳的，就应当听。

结束祷告(2分钟)

祷告并鼓励学生坚定站立、忍耐到底、保持纯洁，并信靠耶稣，就像第一世纪的教会一样。

****** 英文版 *******

Revelation: What Revelation Teaches

Lesson 1: Words for the Churches

LESSON OBJECTIVES

Goals

1. To inform students of the overview of the book of Revelation

2. To introduce students to the original audience of Revelation: the seven churches

3. To inspire students to live as whole-hearted followers of Jesus despitetheir trials

Topics

Behavior, Church, Eternal Life, Faith, Listening, Reputation, Stand Firm

Scripture Memorization

Revelation 2:10

OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)

GROUP BUILDING (10 minutes)

Give each student a deflated balloon and have him or her place it on one side of the room. Next, have students line up on the other side of the room. When you say “Go,” have each student run across the room, inflate and tie his or her balloon, and then head-butt it back across to the room.

If it goes fast, try different variations. For example, have them move the balloon with only their knees, elbows, feet, etc.

GETTING STARTED (5 minutes)

Today we start a long stretch of sevens in Revelation. The number seven is found throughout the book of Revelation. Seven is a very biblical number, signifying completion. Therefore, the seven churches we read about today can stand for any church, even the Church today. Jesus comes to all the churches with a personalized message. It includes a bit of a formula, which we will use in our study:

Jesus introduces Himself

Jesus pays the church a compliment

Jesus warns the church

Jesus urges the church to pay attention

General Discussion:

• If Jesus wrote a note to this church, what would He say? How would He introduce Himself?

• What compliment do you think Jesus would pay our church?

• What warning or correction do you think Jesus might issue?Let’s see how Jesus communicates with the seven churches of Asia.

DIGGING IN (30 minutes)

It would be difficult for us to cover all seven churches and the two chapters that address them thoroughly, so we’re going to go through this a little differently today.

Divide students into 7 groups. Give each student or group the assignment to study one church and come back to the group in 5-10 minutes with answers to the four questions that follow below. The questions are located in the student workbook as well.

Here are the churches addressed and the questions each group can use to guide their study.1. Ephesus: Revelation 2:1-72. Smyrna: Revelation 2:8-113. Pergamum: Revelation 2:12-174. Thyatira: Revelation 2:18-295. Sardis: Revelation 3:1-66. Philadelphia: Revelation 3:7-137. Laodicea: Revelation 3:14-22

Discussion Questions (To be answered by each group):

1. What is the name of the church you studied?

2. What is the main point of what Jesus is saying to the church you studied?

3. What are the compliments Jesus paid to your church?

4. What is a warning that Jesus issues the church you read about?

5. What is a verse that sticks out to you from what you read?(Below is a summary of answers of each of those questions for each church. Your students may come up with some different feedback, and that’s great! These are just reference points, or you can use them if you do not have enough time/students to study all seven churches.)

Ephesus

Main Point: If they do not repent, they will lose their reward

Compliment: They work hard and persevere, hating evil

Warning: They’ve fallen from their initial commitment and passion

Key Verse: Revelation 2:5

Smyrna

Main Point: They do not need to fear the coming tests

Compliment: Though poor, they are rich

Warning: The devil is about to test some of them

Key Verse: Revelation 2:10

Pergamum

Main Point: Repent or Jesus will begin to fight against them

Compliment: They remained true in past trouble

Warning: Some are teaching false teaching

Key Verse: Revelation 2:16

Thyatira

Main Point: Don’t let false teachers trip up their commitment to Christ

Compliment: They are doing more than they did at first

Warning: They tolerate a false prophet who promotes sexual immorality & idolatry

Key Verse: Revelation 2:23

Sardis

Main Point: Though they appear alive, they are spiritually dead

Compliment: There are a few who have not “soiled their clothes.”

Warning: If they do not wake up, Jesus is going to come after them

Key Verse: Revelation 3:2

Philadelphia

Main Point: Their patient endurance will be rewarded

Compliment: They have kept His Word and not denied His Name

Warning: Hold on!

Key Verse: Revelation 3:11

Laodicea

Main Point: They’re not hot or cold and need to decide

Compliment: He loves them, that’s why He disciplines them

Warning: They are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked

Key Verse: Revelation 3:16

 

MAKING IT REAL (15 minutes)

Each church receives a different message. However, did you notice that they all conclude the same way?

(Ask each group these questions:)

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the message to the church you read about end? (“Whoever has ears, let them hear…” and “To the one who is victorious” is included in each section.)

2. What promise comes to your church if they are victorious? (Ephesus: the right to eat from the tree of life, Smyrna: not hurt at all by the second death, Pergamum: hidden manna, a white stone, Thyatira: authority over the nations, the morning star, Sardis: be dressed in white, be in the book of life, Philadelphia: a pillar in the temple of God, write  on them the name of God and the name of the city of God, Laodecia: right to sit with Jesus on His throne.)

3. Why do you think Jesus ends each section with this reminder of a victor’s reward? (He is attempting to motivate the churches.)

4. Why do you think in each section we read, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”? (Jesus wants them to pay attention to what He said.)

5. Do you have ears? (Yes.)

Jesus is saying some really important stuff. Though each church gets a slightly different message based on their circumstances, they all receive this reminder: Listen up! If you have ears, hear this! To the victor comes a reward.

Discussion Questions (Continued):

6. If you have ears, are these words for you, too? (Yes.)

7. What are the churches being motivated to gain victory over? (Persecution, trial, sin, idolatry, pagan society...ultimately, evil...Satan.)

8. If they are victorious, what sorts of things do they receive? (Relief, forgiveness, a crown, eating from the Tree of Life, unharmed by hell, etc.)

9. What kinds of things are we up against in this life? (Idolatry, sexual immorality, trials, pagan society, and ultimately evil and Satan.)

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, too. With a familiar verse:

Read Ephesians 6:10-13

Discussion Questions:

1. What does Paul tell the church at Ephesus to do? (Be strong in the Lord, stand firm.)

2. Why? Whom are they fighting? (The authorities of the dark world, evil, etc.)

3. What is the objective according to verse 13? (To put on God’s armor so that we can stand our ground no matter what.)

The 21st century is no different from the first century. Times are tough. Life is hard and living for Jesus makes it harder. The message of Revelation to the original audience is no different from the message to us—stand firm.

In many ways, Revelation 2:10, which we read today, is the thesis statement for the whole book of Revelation—not just the original audience, but to us, too.

Read Revelation 2:10

Remaining faithful—being the one who is victorious in the end—means eternal life in Heaven with Jesus. No second death. No hell. No judgment.

That is the word to the seven churches in Asia, and it is the word to us, too. Let all who have ears hear.

CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)

Pray and encourage your students to stand firm, persevere, remain pure, and trust Jesus, just as the first-century churches did.