Scripture: Revelations 1:1-20
Main Themes: Apocalyptic hope, resistance to empire, collective salvation, spiritual vision, metaphor and mystery
Discussion Questions:
- Understanding Revelation:
- Revelation is often misunderstood as a literal prediction of end times. How did Pastor Mark’s framing of Revelation as metaphorical and apocalyptic literature shift your understanding of the book?
- What feelings or memories come up for you when you hear “Revelation”? How has your view of this book changed, if at all?
- Apocalyptic Imagery:
- The book of Revelation “pulls back the curtain” to reveal what is truly real. What might God be revealing in our world today?
- Pastor Mark described Jesus as a “sneaky gorilla” unlocking cages. What does this image say to you about God’s activity in the world?
- Resistance and Empire:
- Revelation was written in resistance to empire. What forms of empire—economic, political, cultural—do we face today?
- How might we live as faithful resisters, like the early Christians John wrote to?
- Salvation and the Collective:
- Pastor Mark asked, “What if salvation is not an individual thing but a collective one?” How does that challenge or affirm your current beliefs?
- In what ways are our fates intertwined? Can you think of examples from your own life where collective well-being impacted you personally?
- Revelation in Everyday Life:
- Have you ever had a moment—big or small—that felt like a glimpse beyond the veil? What was revealed to you?
- What are some ways we might open ourselves to “see” this deeper reality more often?
- Applying the Sermon:
- What is one way you can live out this vision of resistance and revelation this week?
- How can our church together be a community that reveals the Kingdom of God in our neighborhood?
