dear church: letters from jesus to his people

There’s a lot that we could say about the Christian church, but what would Jesus say about it? South Bay Bible Church, 578 Montauk Highway, East Moriches, is pleased to announce the start of Dear Church: Letters from Jesus to His People on Sunday, October 8, at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Join us in person or online at southbaychurchli.org/livestream, Facebook Live, or YouTube. 

“Some have their eyes on the White House, the stock market, or the media tabloids. Jesus has his eyes on His church.” said Matt Horne, pastor. “The question is, what does He see?”

Whether you consider yourself a church person or not, you’re invited to join us for this seven-part series, Dear Church, as Pastor Matt explains what a healthy church looks like according to Jesus.

1. First Love (Revelation 2:1-7) – October 8: It is possible that a church might be busy in various activities, stand firm on doctrine, and speak out against those who cause evil, and simultaneously lose their devotion to the One for whom they do it. This was the case for the church at Ephesus, a church who lost their First Love. As far as Jesus is concerned, anything not done in devotion is actually distraction.

2. Keeping Faith Under Pressure (Revelation 2:8-11) – October 15: A Scottish preacher once quipped, “A church cannot be a true church without causing trouble.” In their faithfulness to Jesus, the church at Smyrna had caused themselves some trouble. Under the pressure of a society warring against them, they have two choices – compromise or commitment. 

3. Battle for the Mind (Revelation 2:12-17) – October 22: The most dangerous weapons against the church aren’t swords or opposing accusers, but secular creeds and pseudo-spiritual ideologies. For the church at Pergamum, Jesus urges them to return to the truth of His Word. When it comes to the thoughts of the mind, tolerance brings bondage, but truth sets us free.

4. Jealous Lover (Revelation 2:18-29) – November 5: When Jesus looks at his church, He not only looks at their teaching, but their life and practices. It can be easy to compartmentalize your “spiritual life” as separate from your “real life,” but you may find yourself in the same trap as the church at Thyatira where your two lives contradict one another. The Christian life is about more than theology…it’s about whole-life allegiance. 

5. Always on the Brink (Revelation 3:1-6) – November 12: Jesus never judges the overall health of a church by its busyness, and neither should we. From a ground-level perspective, the church at Sardis looked very alive, but the truth is, they were very much dead. Jesus takes no delight in a church that has many interests but little impact. 

6. An Open Door (Revelation 3:7-13) – November 19: The church that remains humble and obedient to Jesus will be honored and used greatly by God in a way that extends beyond the lifespan of the congregation. For the church at Philadelphia, Jesus promises an open door of both salvation and opportunity. A church doesn’t need to be large or loud to be valuable to God, only loyal. 

7. Let Me In! (Revelation 3:14-22) – November 26: The church at Laodicea knew just enough of Jesus to be dangerous, not to others, but to themselves. Jesus compares their faith to lukewarm water; It isn’t satisfying in passion or service. Robust discipleship begins with letting Jesus fully enter in.

As a non-denominational Christian church, South Bay Bible Church was started in 2006 with the mission to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The church is dedicated to creating environments where people are encouraged to pursue intimacy with God, community with insiders, and influence with outsiders. To find out more about South Bay Bible Church and their upcoming events, please visit southbaychurchli.org.

About South Bay Bible Church: South Bay Bible Church is a non-denominational Christian church known for Biblical messages applicable to everyday life. The church meets at 578 Montauk Highway in East Moriches, NY. The church’s mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Our service schedule includes three convenient times: Saturday night at 5:00, Sunday morning at 9:00 and 11:00, and online anytime. A nursery and children’s church are available. For more information, go to southbaychurchli.org, call (631) 909-8241, Facebook, or Twitter @sbbcli.