Sermon Tone Analysis

What can kill a church?

NOTE: different that What can kill THE Church

Sardis was described as Dead

[[Re 3:1]]

Churches can die - we’ve all see it.

Die:

no longer exist

no longer alive

Persecution

Used from the beginning

eg. against Smyrna [[Rev 2:9-10]]

As seen in many places in the First Century [[1Pe 5:8-9]]

Responses to Persecution

some are silenced - as many believers were by the Pharisees [[Jn 12:42-43]]

Some rejoice in it, and grow stronger [[Jam 1:2-3; Ac 5:41-42]]

cf.

Ac 5:41 —So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

The Lord takes notice of those who endure persecution

Pergamum [[Re 2:13]]

Philadelphia [[Re 3:8]]

False Teaching

This Tactic was used by Satan in the First Century

Overcome in Ephesus [[Re 2:2,6]]

A challenge to Pergamum - who endured persecution, but struggled with false teachers

As warned against [[2Pe 2:1-2]]

Guarding Against False Teaching

Remain in Sound Doctrine [[2Ti 4:3-4]]

Do not support those who do not abide in His teaching [[2Jn 9-11]]

Worldliness

Immorality, Materialism [[1Jn 2:15-17]]

Destroys Churches

Thyatira - both Worldliness and False Teaching [[Re 2:20-21]]

Immorality has made havoc of many churches today

Materialism has drawn many Christians away from their service to the Lord

Churches are hindered when their members are rendered fruitless by worldliness - cf.

Lk 8:14

To fight Worldliness

Love the Father

c.f. 1 Jn 2:15 —Do not love the world nor the things in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

[[Jm 4:4]]

Renew your mind [[Ro 12:2]]

cf.

Ro 12:2 —And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Indifference

A Very Effective weapon

Ephesus had :left it’s First Love” (Re 2:4)

Laodicea - neither Hot nor cold (Re 3:15-17)

Don’t need to take action against a church to destroy it - just do nothing [[Pr 18:9; Mt 12:30]]

Symptoms

Irregular attendance of services

Lack of participation in the services (worship, Bible classes)

Consistently arriving late to services

Waning efforts to win souls to Christ

No personal and private devotions (Bible study and prayers)

Combat Indifference

Do not grow weary, keep in mind the reward [Ga 6:9]]

Be diligent, not sluggish [[He 6:11-12]]

Give and receive encouragement

cf.

Heb 10:24–25 —and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.