After the Smiths finished their series on the church in Sardis, they break from their study in Revelation on Christ's words to the seven churches in Asia Minor to present a message Craig preached in late May, 2026 at their home church on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. This message, Christ our Coming King is in two parts and continues their teaching on end time prophecy. Drawing from Daniel and other Old Testament prophetic passages, Craig reminds his church family that we can believe the prophetic Scriptures, even if it comes out of the Old Testament because all it foretold of Christ's first coming has been verified and confirmed by history. And if it's confirmed truth for the first coming, we can be assured that it's confirmed truth for the second coming! The message also speaks about one of the many prophecies pieces of the end times, which is often misunderstood or not understood by many of God's people today. And that has to do with the Antichrist and issue of the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel in the Old Testament and Matthew in the New Testament. Clarifying truth is what Craig and LaDonna seek to provide you, as faithful listeners to the Indigenous Faith broadcast. With that in mind, they trust today and next week's preaching message will be a blessing, encouragement, and an enlightening event!

In today's third and final session on the church in Sardis, Craig and LaDonna complete their illustrations of Christ's words in Revelation as being for all time and for all churches around the world. Those illustrations had to do with Pastor Tony Evans and the Christianity Today magazine, and Christ's words about Sardis portraying itself as being alive by yet in the eyes of Christ, they were dead. In order to understand how Pastor Evans and the magazine relate to that, you have to go to last week's installment of Indigenous Faith to get the whole story. From there, the Smiths review all the remaining verses containing Christ's words to Sardis, including Revelation 3:2-6. With the help of Dr. J Vernon McGee's commentary, he not only clarifies how churches that are alive (at least in their minds), can actually be dead. He does a great service to us all by clarifying why Christ's words about blotting names out of the Book of Life does not mean true believers can lose their salvation. Craig reminds us about the Indigenous Faith video series that is another tool to help listeners go deeper into the truths presented by Craig and his close friend and fellow Ojibwe ministry colleague, Dr. Vern Charette. This series is available on the tribalrescue.com website as well. And this series on Sardis ends with an accapella song by the Smiths appropriately titled, Beautiful Land. A great reminder of what this whole series on The King is Coming is all about! Thanks for joining the Smiths today as they celebrate the soon return of Jesus Christ to earth! Right here on Indigenous Faith!

In this, our second episode on Christ's words to the church in Sardis, Craig and LaDonna finish up their review of the thirty-three things the Holy Spirit does according to Scripture. It's quite a comprehensive review, isn't it! From there, the Smith's finish their comments on the Holy Spirit as He lives within the believer. They then turn their attention to the indicting words of Christ to Sardis, where He says that though they have a reputation for being alive, in reality, they are a dead church. With the help of well known radio preacher of a generation ago, Dr. J. Vernon McGee's strong commentary on this passage, the veil is lifted off of Sardis and the reason they were considered dead by Christ becomes obvious. And today's episode finishes off with a more contemporary review of how presenting one's self, or one's church, or one's organization may make it look alive, Christ's words to Sardis become much more relevant to our modern times. How does a quote from Dr. Tony Evans Bible Commentary and a subsequent article on him in Christianity Today magazine bring to life these sad realities? Well, you'll just have to listen to today's installment of Indigenous Faith to find out. As always, Craig and LaDonna welcome you to today's study on Christ's words to the church in Sardis.

In today's broadcast, Craig and LaDonna Smith pay a visit to the fifth church in the center of Christ's gaze, and to whom He wanted to communicate with, when He chose the Apostle John to write His chosen words on His behalf. Like the other churches the Smiths have already taught on, the church in Sardis was on the route the Apostle Paul, John, and other leaders traveled to plant and oversee these local congregations. Sardis was given the scathing indictment from Christ of being dead when all along they thought they were a living, doing well kind of church. But it's not what's on the surface that counts. It's what is hidden deep down in the heart and soul that really matters, and the Lord made sure they knew that. So, why does He say they are dead? Because they didn't recognize the absence of the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, as they relied on their own wisdom, plans, and leading. Jesus, Himself, in His earthly life, subjected Himself to the work of the Holy Spirit as we see that Spirit descending on Him as He came out of the waters of baptism. And in. John 17, in His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed that as He was sanctified, we too would be sanctified as well. He did it for us, leaving us an example of what the Spirit-filled life looks and acts like. Like all of us, Sardis would do well to learn from the life of Christ and how the Holy Spirit can do amazing things in all our lives and churches. To make sure we understand it right, the Smiths present a comprehensive review, thirty-three things in all, of all that the Holy Spirit does for us, in us, and through us, as outlined in Scriptures. All we have to do is let Him do His work in us! Not a bad way to start a journey into the church at Sardis, right here on Indigenous Faith!

Today Craig and LaDonna Smith complete their study on the church in Thyatira by LaDonna finishing the extensive quote of Professor Pilgrim Benhem. Dr. Benhem brings such depth of insight to what Revelation 2 has to say about this church and left Craig to comment that as he continue to read Pilgrim's article, he just couldn't find a place to hit the stop button. As Dr. Benhem continued on in this powerful article, Craig found that just about all he presented was in perfect alignment with what the Smiths had been teaching all along. For the Craig and LaDonna, it was an affirmation that their convictions, which without hesitation they continue to preach and teach on this podcast platform are shared by other godly leaders, theologians, and spiritual giants of the faith. The key is salvation can be found in no other that Jesus Christ. A visit to Thyatira is a return to the basics of the gospel. Friends, the Smiths hope and pray that their teaching sessions are clear, compelling, and a complete treatment of the biblical passages they present on Indigenous Faith. The goal is, and always has been, to help build biblically healthy Indigenous followers of Christ in the context of their cultures, communities, and traditions. There are three more churches the Smiths will be presenting in upcoming episodes, all of which will help accomplish their stated goals for you. Let's continue to grow together in our Indigenous Faith! We'll see you next week as we look at the next church in the line up of Revelation 2 & 3. Until next time, stay strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!

Today the Smiths continue with their deep dive into the church in Thyatira. Today, they continue unpacking Christ's words to this church, who received both commendation and condemnation for the good and bad practices that were evident in this church. In many ways, it represents many churches around the world today who are doing great works, but yet are not living up to the expectations of the Lord Himself whose eyes, it says, are like blazing fire. Oh, yes, He does see and evaluate not only every church, but every follower of Himself. While some were doing great things for the Lord, others were tolerating that wicked women whom the Lord named after Old Testament Jezebel, who led many in the church into sexual adultery and immorality. LaDonna introduces a very comprehensive and powerful review of this church from theologian Pilgrim Benhem who is with the Calvary Chapel movement and serves as a professor and Dean of Students at their seminary in Bradenton, Florida. His insights, our listeners will find out, mirrors that of Craig and LaDonna, affirming that the Smiths are not somewhere out in the proverbial left field theologically, but actually stand in sync with a great number of fellow evangelical leaders, preachers, teachers, and theologians. As you hear LaDonna reading from Pilgrim's in-depth survey (yes, he is actually named Pilgrim by his momma and daddy), it will be things you've already heard about from the heart and soul of the Smiths. It's truths you can take to the bank, dear friend. Encouraging to know as you seek to honor the Lord in your own life as you live out a biblically healthy Indigenous Faith. There's one more episode to go in this timely series, and we trust you'll come back next week for the Smith's teaching on this important and relevant church in the community of Thyatira. Be blessed, dear friends!

In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna Smith continue their study of the words of Christ to the church at Thyatira. This church was commended by Christ for the fact that their works of today were greater than the works they did when they first started. So there was increasing efforts to serve their community for the sake of Christ that did not miss the gaze of the One whose eyes were like a blazing fire. But along with commendation came condemnation for a level of sin and syncretism that was so bad, it negated all the positive affirmation and blessing of God. Jesus said of them that, they tolerated that woman Zezebel who called herself a prophet. Through their engagement with this pagan woman, sexual immorality filled the church and the Lord did not like it at all. Even with that reality, a deeper dive in to the passage led to the discovery of some very godly men who had historic and expansive impact through the then known world. Men like Bernard of Clarivaux, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Anselm were all men in the Roman church who were the precursors of the Reformation movement Martin Luther brought to the church in the 1500's. These men were all from the church in Thyatira. But going back to Zezebel and her influence in the church, the Smiths remind us all that both the grace and righteous judgement of the Lord were on full display for not just her, but those who fell into her demonic arms. It says that the Lord gave her time to repent, and called those who followed her to repentance as well. It's great to know, the Smiths remind us, that God is patiently awaiting us to return to Him when we seek genuine repentance from our sins. But also, it's important to remember that while His forgiveness of our sins is total, all encompassing, and liberating to the soul, we are not necessarily delivered from the consequences of our sin. We may be plagued by those consequences for a long time after we've experienced the forgiveness of the Lord. What a sobering reminder for us to seek to walk in obedience to both the Word of God and the God who is the author of that Word. Are you catching these realities, dear friend? The Smiths pray we all do as we move forward in our Indigenous Faith!

Today Craig and LaDonna Smith begin their study on the fourth church in the Apostle Paul's church planting work in the region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). It's the church in Thyatira. Similar to Pergamos, Thyatira was a city with workers unions that were tied to pagan religions and practices. In the eyes of those throughout the region surrounding Thyatira, it was deemed to be less significant that Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, but like every community around the world, it was, is, and always will be, of eternal importance to the Lord. So important, that He told John to write that they were accountable to the living Word of God and the living God who was the author of that living Word. The Smiths share that this church received commendation from the Lord because their current works were greater than when they first started. But with that commendation was a challenge to them because they were tolerating demonic activity through a woman who epitomized the characteristics of the Old Testament Jezebel. She was leading the people in the church into sexual immorality as part of pagan worship. This speaks to a duality of alliances that God was not pleased with. Seems like nothing has changed in the life of the church even today as syncretism abounds around the world. Once again the only thing the church could do about this is REPENT! Quite a start to another church listed in Revelation 2&3. May we all learn from these churches is the prayer of Craig and LaDonna and their Indigenous Faith heart!