November 19, 2023, Pentecost 25: ”Party’s Over?”

For the first-century church, there were pressures on every side. There was opposition from local authorities and other religious groups. There was internal turmoil. And there was the constant temptation to forsake the values of God's kingdom for the more tangible, immediate rewards of the Roman Empire. So how does John, the author, encourage these churches to remain faithful? How can the 21st century church remain faithful to Christ, even though all of us are enmeshed with the ways of domination and injustice? What is God's invitation to us, and how does it differ from that of "empire"? Pastor David preaches "Party's Over?" based on Revelation 18:1-5, 9-13; 19:6-10.