Sardis: The Dead Church
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro
Intro
Hypersomnia
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Military guy
The message today is about a church that is Sleeping through Life
Recap Series
Background of Sardis
Background of Sardis
Built on a hill and considered to be an impenetrable city
It had twice been conquered because of unvigilant guards
Wool and garment industry
Known as the inventors of dying wool
Worship of Cyble (The mountain mother)
Said to have power to restore life to the dead
The first 4 letters were addressed to the faithful majority
The letter to Sardis is to the faithful minority
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Jesus establishes his authority
He is stating that no congregation should act as if it has no obligation to a higher power
Reputation
In Greek, translates to “name” or “known by”
I know what you are known by
i.e. Being a Fletcher carries a reputation
1) Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.
1) Be more concerned about your character than your reputation.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden
Some people spend a lifetime trying to establish their reputation and completely forget about developing their character
A reputation gained without character is hypocrisy
You can be known as a great family man by others, yet be hated by your wife and kids
You can be known as an honest and hardworking business woman, but be despised by your fellow co-workers
A good reputation can never take the place of good character
Your reputation always precedes you so your reputation should be a by product of your character
What are you known for? What is our church known for?
Is your reputation consistent with your character?
How does Jesus see you?
Jesus had heard their reputation of being alive, but their character showed their true condition
2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Alive means “present and active”
2) Be a present and active force in this world.
2) Be a present and active force in this world.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
One of our jobs is to prepare the way for Jesus
Living in the now, makes us aware of our mission and purpose
3 Stages of Living
1) Living in the past causes us to rest on our past accomplishments and reputation and leads to complacency.
Bitter about the past (I can’t get over it)
Bittersweet about the past (I don’t want to get over it. It doesn’t get any better)
2) Living in the future causes us dwell on the benefits of eternity and leads to apathy.
There’s nothing we can do to fix anything so why try
3) Living in the present forces us to focus on the now and leads to fulfillment.
We become aware of our present reality, purpose, and mission
What are some areas of your life where you are becoming numb?
Injustice, evil
Is there an area of your life where you have become complacent?
In what way can you be fully alive and awake?
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
3) Be sure your name is known where it matters most.
3) Be sure your name is known where it matters most.
Some people want their name to be known in the history books.
Steven Hawking
Graduated Oxford
Gets ALS, not expected to live more than 2 more years
Gets his doctorate degree
Known as the father of research on black holes
Only person on Star Trek to ever play himself
Youngest scientist ever elected to the Royal Society
Becomes a professor
Writes an international best seller book
Awarded presidential medal of freedom
His name is well known and written in many books
It is absent from the Book of Life
Hawking was a professed athiest
You can accomplish great things in this life, but it is all pointless if your name is not in the Book of Life
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Is your name written in the Book of Life?
Is your name known where it matters most?