What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 92 - 19/12/25

Led by Tim Clark

Jesus presents Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, confronting a church governed by human opinion with His absolute authority and final word.

Laodicea was materially rich but spiritually bankrupt, mistaking prosperity and comfort for true blessing while being blind to its real condition before God.

Their lukewarm faith mirrored their water supply, neither healing nor refreshing, revealing indifference rather than open rejection or wholehearted devotion.

Self-sufficiency had pushed Christ to the margins, as they claimed to need nothing, unknowingly repeating the sin of Eden—independence from God.

Jesus’ warning to “vomit” them out is severe, showing that half-hearted religion is not neutral but poisonous to the witness of His church.

Yet Christ offers gracious counsel, not destruction, inviting them to receive from Him true riches: refined gold (tested faith), white garments (righteousness), and eye salve (spiritual sight).

The letter ends with a personal call to repentance and fellowship, as Christ stands at the door and knocks, promising intimate communion to all who open to Him and overcome.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 91 - 05/12/25

Led by Graeme McPherson

Christ reveals Himself to Philadelphia as holy and true, assuring a persecuted church that He is faithful, unlike the earthly authorities who had betrayed them.

Jesus alone holds the key of David, meaning entrance into God’s kingdom is determined by Him, not by synagogue membership, heritage, or religious power.

The “open door” set before the church represents permanent access to God’s household, even though the synagogue had shut its doors against them.

The believers endured exclusion, shame, and danger for confessing Jesus as Messiah, yet they refused to deny His name or abandon His word.

Those who falsely claimed to be God’s people would one day acknowledge that Christ truly loved the faithful church they had rejected.

Jesus promises preservation through coming trials, not escape from faithfulness, calling the church to patient endurance rather than fear.

The reward for perseverance is eternal security—to be made a pillar in God’s temple, bearing His name, and belonging forever to the New Jerusalem.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 21/11/25

Led by Graeme McPherson

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Sardis.

In this study, we explore Jesus’ message to the church in Sardis, a fellowship that carried the reputation of being alive yet was declared spiritually dead, revealing the danger of outward success without inward faithfulness.

We look at the historical and cultural setting of Sardis—a wealthy, influential, pluralistic city—where both Jews and Christians were tempted to compromise the distinctiveness of God’s truth to “get along” with the world around them.

Jesus exposes a church that had blended into its environment, losing the sharp edge of the gospel, softening its message, and allowing comfort, peace and reputation to replace wholehearted loyalty to Him.

Through Scripture, we examine how a church—or a believer—can appear vibrant externally while spiritually empty, exploring themes such as compromise, friendship with the world, incomplete works, and the loss of Jesus’ pre-eminence.

Jesus calls Sardis to wake up, strengthen what little remains, remember what they first received, hold fast to the truth, and repent before everything spiritually alive within them dies out completely.

We see how this warning speaks directly to our own “get-along culture,” where the exclusive claims of Christ are often diluted, avoided, or re-packaged to avoid rejection, conflict, or cultural disapproval.

Yet the study ends with hope—Christ promises white garments, secure names in the Book of Life, and the joy of walking with Him in victory for those who refuse compromise, hold to His Word, and keep Him above all else.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 07/11/25

Led by Martin Rogers

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Thyatira.

1️⃣ The Church at Thyatira – a small town with a big message.

Though it was the smallest and most obscure of the seven churches, Thyatira received the longest letter from Christ—showing that even the least significant church in worldly eyes can carry deep spiritual lessons.

2️⃣ Christ reveals Himself as the Son of God with eyes like fire.

This unique title—used nowhere else in Revelation—shows His penetrating vision and refining judgment. Nothing escapes His sight; He sees every heart and motive within His church.

3️⃣ Faith, love, and service that outgrew their beginnings.

Thyatira was commended for its love, faith, service, and patient endurance. Their later works were greater than their first, reminding us that true discipleship is a life of continual growth and increasing fruitfulness.

4️⃣ The danger of tolerance and compromise.

Despite their strengths, the church was rebuked for allowing “Jezebel” to teach immorality and idolatry. Her influence symbolised false teaching and moral compromise—showing how spiritual corruption can arise within the church itself.

5️⃣ A call to daily, reasonable service and sacrificial living.

Romans 12:1–2 was central to the discussion: offering ourselves as living sacrifices, not conformed to the world but transformed by renewing our minds. True worship is seen in humble, everyday obedience.

6️⃣ Christ’s mercy and His warning of judgment.

Even Jezebel was given time to repent, yet she refused. The Lord’s patience reveals His mercy—but His discipline shows that He will not tolerate sin in His people. Judgment begins with the house of God.

7️⃣ Hold fast until He comes.

To the faithful who resisted false teaching, Jesus placed no further burden but promised reward: authority with Him and the gift of the Morning Star. The call remains—stand firm, stay pure, and serve faithfully until His return.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 24/10/25

Led by Akin George

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Pergamum.

Pergamum was a stronghold of idolatry and spiritual darkness, with temples to many false gods and pressure to worship Caesar; yet Christ commends believers there for holding fast His name and not denying the faith even under threat of death, as seen in the martyrdom of Antipas.

Jesus reveals Himself to this church as the One who possesses the sharp two-edged sword, underscoring that only the Word of God can discern truth, expose sin, and sustain believers in hostile environments.

Though faithful in persecution, some in Pergamum embraced compromise: tolerating those who taught the doctrine of Balaam, encouraging fellowship with idolatry and participation in sexual immorality as a way to avoid social and political pressure.

The study links Balaam’s strategy in Numbers—tempting Israel to sin through forbidden union and idolatrous feasts—to the subtle infiltration of worldly practices and moral laxity in the church, showing that Satan often attacks from within when he cannot destroy from without.

Scripture highlights that God’s people are called to be separate, a distinct people who dwell apart; therefore compromise with pagan culture, whether ancient or modern, erodes holiness and invites divine discipline.

Christ calls the church to repentance, warning that He will fight against compromise with the sword of His mouth; believers must deal decisively with sin and false teaching in their midst, holding fast to Scripture and refusing to “blend in” with the culture.

To the overcomer, Jesus promises hidden manna—His sustaining presence—and a white stone with a new name known only to the one who receives it, symbolising intimate acceptance and eternal blessing for those who remain faithful in a world hostile to the truth.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 87 - 10/10/25

Led by Akin George

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Smyrna.

1) Christ the First and the Last—Lord of Life and Death

Jesus identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, who was dead and has come to life” (Rev 2:8). He alone is eternal, sovereign over history, and victorious over death (Isa 44:6; Rev 1:17-18). His words remind believers that every beginning and ending—our birth, suffering, and even death—are in His hands. Those who trust the risen Lord have nothing finally to fear (John 11:25-26).

2) Christ Knows Our Tribulation and Poverty

The Lord’s words, “I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)” (Rev 2:9), reveal His intimate awareness of His people’s suffering. Smyrna’s believers were poor because faithfulness to Christ cost them their livelihoods and status. Yet heaven counted them rich, for true wealth is measured in spiritual faithfulness, not possessions (Luke 12:15; James 2:5). God sees every unseen act of endurance and service.

3) Faithfulness in Persecution Is True Riches

Smyrna’s Christians were despised and slandered, yet Christ called them rich. The poor widow who gave her two coins (Mark 12:43-44) and the joyful sufferers in Hebrews 10:34 show that earthly loss often proves spiritual gain. When believers lose comfort, position, or freedom for Christ, they display the surpassing worth of knowing Him (Phil 3:8-10).

4) The Source of Persecution Is Spiritual

Jesus names their persecutors “a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9). Though hostility came through people, its true origin was the devil (Eph 6:12). Christians must discern that opposition to truth is ultimately spiritual, resisting darkness with prayer, love, and the armour of God (Eph 6:13-18). Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of deception that oppose Christ.

5) Do Not Fear: Testing Refines Faith

The Lord forewarns, “The devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested… be faithful unto death” (Rev 2:10). Testing is not to destroy but to purify faith (1 Pet 1:6-7; Jas 1:2-4). Fear is the enemy’s weapon, but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Christ prepares His church beforehand so that when trials come, we may stand firm, knowing our suffering is brief compared to eternal glory (2 Cor 4:17-18).

6) Be Faithful unto Death—Christ Rewards Endurance

Smyrna’s believers were promised “the crown of life.” Crowns in Scripture symbolise victory and eternal reward (2 Tim 4:8; Jas 1:12). Faithfulness is not mere endurance but trustful obedience sustained by the Spirit. Like Polycarp, who said, “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong,” believers are called to steadfast loyalty even when it costs everything.

7) Overcoming Leads to Eternal Life

“He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death” (Rev 2:11). The first death ends earthly life; the second death is eternal separation from God (Rev 20:14-15). Those born again through faith in Christ die only once, but those who reject Him die twice. Overcoming means remaining in Christ to the end, conquering fear, compromise, and self through His strength (Rom 8:37; 1 John 5:4-5). The promise of resurrection life gives courage to persevere.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 85 - 26/09/25

Led by Martin Rogers

This week we start our study on the seven churches in earnest, beginning with the church of Ephesus.

Ephesus Context

Ephesus was a wealthy, pagan and imperial city—temples, emperor worship, sexual immorality, and the incense test at the agora—where a faithful church nevertheless took root under Paul, John and Timothy (Acts 19; Rev 2:1).

Christ’s Commendation

Jesus commends their hard work, endurance, doctrinal vigilance and rejection of false apostles and the Nicolaitans; they had not grown weary in bearing His name (Rev 2:2–3, 6).

Christ’s Rebuke

Yet He indicts them for abandoning their first love—works remained, wonder waned; He commands, “Remember…repent…and do the first works,” warning that otherwise He will remove their lampstand (Rev 2:4–5).

Promise to Overcomers

To those who heed and overcome, Jesus promises access to the tree of life in the paradise of God—a truer life than Artemis ever offered (Rev 2:7; cf. Gen 2:9).

Spiritual Warfare and Witness

Ministry in Ephesus showed power and conflict: daily reasoning in the hall of Tyrannus, costly repentance (magic books burned), demonic showdowns, and city-wide upheaval—so the word prevailed while believers wrestled not against flesh and blood (Acts 19:8–20; Eph 6:12).

Guardrails Against Drift

The cure for loveless duty is relational devotion expressed in obedience: keep Word and Spirit central, practice repentant self-examination, pursue fellowship and mutual correction, and let love (agapē) animate service (Luke 10:27; 1 Cor 13:1–3; Rom 2:29).

Corporate Application

Churches can defend truth yet grow inward and sterile; Christ calls congregations to recover zeal for Him that overflows in mercy, holiness and disciple-making, so their light is not removed but shines before men (Matt 5:14–16; Rev 2:5).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

Episode 85 - 12/09/25

Tonight we begin our new study series looking at the seven churches of revelation.

1) Setting & aim.

This study opens a new series on the seven churches of Revelation by first grounding us in Revelation 1. The aim is to let the introduction frame the whole series: who speaks (the risen Christ), to whom He speaks (His churches), and why He speaks (to reveal and ready His servants).

2) The prologue & context.

Revelation is “the revelation of Jesus Christ…to show His servants what must soon take place” (Rev 1:1). The study highlights the pastoral weight of the titles in 1:4–8—“the Alpha and the Omega,” “who is and who was and who is to come”—spoken to a persecuted church under Rome. John, “your brother and companion in the tribulation,” writes from exile on Patmos “for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 1:9).

3) The vision of the Son of Man.

John beholds the glorified Christ walking “in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” with blazing eyes, a voice like many waters, and a sharp two-edged sword from His mouth (Rev 1:12–16). The lampstands are the churches; the seven stars are “the angels of the seven churches” (Rev 1:20). Some take these as angelic messengers, others as human leaders, but the central comfort stands: Jesus holds His church in His right hand and dwells among her. Against every imperial claim, the confession remains: Jesus triumphs.

4) Idolatry then & now; Christian identity.

Surrounded by altars “to an unknown god,” the first-century world embodies pervasive paganism (Acts 17:22–31). The gospel confronts it, and the church lives as a faithful minority. Believers are not “of the world,” yet are sent into it (John 17:14–18); friendship with the world is enmity with God (cf. 1 John 2:15; James 4:4). Hope fixed on eternity marks Christian identity, while tangible love makes the witness compelling (John 13:34–35).

5) What kind of book is this?

Revelation stands as apocalyptic prophecy—an unveiling—rich with symbols and Old Testament echoes (Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Zechariah). Four lenses help: preterist (past), historicist (across the church age), idealist (timeless spiritual realities), and futurist (yet to be fulfilled). Rather than absolutising one view, the study affirms Scripture’s patterned fulfilment: the seven churches are literal first-century assemblies, perennial church types, plausible epochs in church history, and profiles that appear at the end.

6) Key verses & pastoral applications.

Rev 1:1–3 teaches that God knows and reveals the future (Amos 3:7; Dan 2:28). A distinct blessing rests on those who read, hear, and keep this prophecy. “The time is near” stands true redemptive-historically (the last days begin with Christ’s death and resurrection; Heb 1:1–2) and personally (our own end may be nearer than we think; therefore be ready—Matt 25:1–13). Rev 1:7 anchors hope: He comes with the clouds and every eye sees Him (Dan 7:13; Matt 24:30; Zech 12:10). Rev 1:17–18 anchors courage: “Fear not… I am the first and the last… I am alive forevermore.”

7) Christ among the lampstands.

The risen Lord stands among His churches—even mixed congregations He must both commend and correct (Rev 2–3). This guards us from pride and sectarianism, calls us to discernment and charity, and keeps us centred on the Word that reforms and revives. As we behold His glory, we are changed (2 Cor 3:18); as we suffer, we endure with Him (Rev 1:9). Revelation’s heartbeat remains profoundly pastoral: Jesus reigns, Jesus returns, and therefore the saints read, hear, keep, and “patiently endure” in holiness and hope (Rev 1:3; 13:10; 14:12).