SARDIS: “DYING TO GET OUT”

TEXT: Revelation 3:1-6 

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (V. 1b)

Sardis was a church with a reputation and a reality.  The reputation was good, but the reality was that they were dead. The overall theme for this series is “What Christ Thinks of the Church.”What He’s interested in is the burning question, “Are you alive, or are you dead?” What did Christ think of the church at Sardis.

How do we measure up? 

I. WHAT’S THEIR REPUTATION

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive... (v. 1)

They had a reputation of being a going and growing church.

From outward appearance, there was nothing that seemed to be lacking.

Here’s the bottom line - THEY WERE CHRISTIAN IN NAME ONLY

_ You can fool others.

The Sardian Church had the reputation for being alive.

_ You can even fool yourself.

_ You can’t fool God.  - He says “I know your deeds”

II. WHAT’S THEIR REALITY (v. 1).

“...but you are dead.”

What are the signs of life in a church?_There Is growth. (Not just numerical growth.)

_There is compassion and love for each other

_There is a passion for the lost._There is unity._There is emotion. 

What are the signs of a dead church?

FEverything goes back to the past.

FWhen a church refuses to move forward because it’s members are more afraid of success more than failure.

FWhen a church is more concerned about activities than that God be glorified through those activities

FWhen a church loves the system more than it loves people.

FWhen it is more material than spiritual.