Sardis: Hypocrisy
The Seven Churches • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Why Do the Churches Matter to Us
Why Do the Churches Matter to Us
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
This is from Jesus
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
These letters are not just for the 7 churches
Background of Sardis
Background of Sardis
Wealthy and Secluded
Built on a steep hill (clifflike)
Captured twice, once in 549 BC by the Persians and once in 218 BC and once by the Seleucid (suh-loo-sid) Empire (One of the Greek empires that broke off after the death of Alexander the Great) They both times scaled the steep hill and walls by night and found no guards.
No mention of persecution here
Observations
Observations
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
What have been some key notes/overarching themes of each of the previous letters?
What have been some key notes/overarching themes of each of the previous letters?
Persecution
From Jesus, good, bad, repent, reward. (Smyrna did not have bad.)
Have someone read the whole text, ask what is different about this section than the other ones?
Have someone read the whole text, ask what is different about this section than the other ones?
No Good
No Persecution
The main issue, Hypocrisy
The main issue, Hypocrisy
They look good on the outside, but are not (Rev. 3:1).
They look good on the outside, but are not (Rev. 3:1).
If the other churches were to come and see how the church was doing they would think they looked good
Ask for a personal definition of hypocrisy
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
The Lord weighs the heart, and while Sardis looks good on the outside, the Lord sees the truth and he calls them dead.
Hypocrisy: Derived from the Greek hypokrisis, meaning "acting" or "stage performance".
Hypocrisy: Derived from the Greek hypokrisis, meaning "acting" or "stage performance".
This is Jesus, the same Jesus who called out the Pharisees
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Hove someone read what Jesus feels about the Pharisees with gusto
Jonah’s Definition: Doing what is right for the wrong reason
Jonah’s Definition: Doing what is right for the wrong reason
Dwarf story
Wake Up! (Rev. 3:2-3)
Wake Up! (Rev. 3:2-3)
Uniquely this city had been taken over twice due to apathy
You are about to die!
1. Remember
1. Remember
What you have recieved and heard… (gospel)
2. Keep It
2. Keep It
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
3. Repent
3. Repent
You would think that repent would come first,
Martin Luther horse
The Remainder (Rev. 2:4-6)
The Remainder (Rev. 2:4-6)
There is a group that IS seeking God first
There is a group that IS seeking God first
If they were thinking of adoration from others or personal gain they would not be
clothes are not soiled (purity)
Pursuit of Heavenly Good
Pursuit of Heavenly Good
We need to keep our eyes on the prize.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Questions
Questions
What are things that people tend to put value over following God? What are ways that you personally struggle to do?
What are things that people tend to put value over following God? What are ways that you personally struggle to do?
What are ways that you need to become more kingdom minded?
What are ways that you need to become more kingdom minded?
When we feel alone in our pursuit of the kingdom, how can we be encouraged?
When we feel alone in our pursuit of the kingdom, how can we be encouraged?
