Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
Recap Series
Church of Ephesus
sound doctrine, but left their first love
Church of Smyrna
difficulties because of their faith, told to hold on in persecution that was coming, even into death
Church of Pergamum
people in the church are still believing and worshipping idols
Church of Thyatira
not just that people are believing false doctrine, but the church is allowing it to be taught, bringing judgment on the church
Today - The Church of Sardis
Sardis is the church that I have always been afraid of becoming.
Pretending to do a lot, thinking that we are alive and thriving church, but really we are dead.
the one who has the spirits and stars
seven is often used in terms of completion,
has the complete spirit, showing his deity, the fullness of God
has the complete stars, we know from chapter one that he holds the seven stars
the stars are the angels of the churches
word angelos - most often translated angel, also means messenger
most likely speaking of the pastors of the churches
This might give us confidence in listening to the one described
based on the message, it should give the reader concern as it is not a letter that comes with any commendation but only judgment
Any influence we want to have on the world must start with a revival of the church
A Not so New Problem (v.
1; 2b; 3b)
It is frustrating to people when problems are identified and nothing is ever done with them
we can often feel like we have accomplished something just by identifying a problem
the first step is admitting you have a problem
“but I do think he was correct when he declared that the church in Sardis was a most fitting emblem of the church in his days, as also in these.
The good old doctor says, “When shall we find any period in which the church was more like the state of Sardis as described here, than it is now?” Charles Spurgeon
this letter was written in the first century AD, Spurgeon spoke those words in February of 1856, and we still see this same problem today
Human desire has always been the problem
Adam and Eve desired to be like God, knowing good and evil
Israel consistently walked away from God desiring to their own desires over the desires of God
The Pharisees where famous for desiring to elevate themselves, but not really interested in submitting to God
Even in the Apostles, James and John wanted to sit on the right and left of Jesus, wanting to elevate themselves above that of what God wanted them to do
You could argue that the first two wanted to be out from under God
the last two pretended that this self serving way, was somehow serving God
This is the church today…
we come, we give, we do… as if it is a favor to God, but it gives us the illusion of being alive when we are dead
this is the same charge that Jesus gave the pharisees Matthew 23:27-28
Our works reveal this about us
when speaking to the Pharisees, John the Baptist said that we must have good fruit
what is good fruit
fruit that is not just the right thing, but for the right reason
doing the things of God to serve God, but ourselves
Failure to obey this warning will bring judgment at the time when you least suspect it
you seem like you are alive, a thriving church and suddenly it is over, the church is gone and it happens so quickly, you do not know what happened
A Not so New Solution (v.
2a; 3)
This letter was sent by Christ as an urgent wake up call to the reader
The old joke about if you don’t know who that crazy family member is… it is probably you
same here… if you do not have a sense of urgency after hearing Jesus send this condemnation, then he is probably talking to you
Over the years there have been a lot of different events called revivals
I used to be confused by them, we bring in an evangelist, preach a gospel filled message and invite the community to come
we pray that they will pray a certain prayer
then at the end, we count how many prayers have been prayed, and rejoice over every soul that accepted Christ
I am not saying these events are bad, but really they are not a revival as much as a community outreach
these events are great to reach the lost, the dead in Christ so that they may come to life
when I think revival, I think reviving the heart that was alive, but doesn’t appear to be anymore
We need new solutions to this problem that has existed for so long
Be = literally become what you’re not
awake, alert, watchful
the picture is that we are sleepwalking, just going through the motions
there is nothing that says I love you like simply going through the motions when you are doing something for the one you love
you sleep in your faith when we really do not believe what the bible says
we do not believe that Hell is real, that so many people are going to spend eternity there or we would proclaim the truth to people
Our idea of sharing the truth has been reduced to sayings on bumper sticker, t-shirts or social media memes that do nothing but get a “that a boy” from fellow believers.
we do not believe Christ could return at anytime… or we would be ready
Strengthen what remains
how, what does that look like
v3 - remember what you have heard and received
but we are to keep it, does that mean that we can lose it
no, keep = watch over, guard
why do we need to guard it, keep it?
this world is constantly telling us that it is unneeded, that we are good enough, that scripture is outdated
I love how Paul tells Timothy to remember those who taught him
Lillie and I missing Karen Salmans at TeamKid on Wednesday
Repent
repent?
yes, the unbelief and selfish way that we serve christ is sinful
we must repent of doing religion the way that the world does it, which is all about satisfying us
twisting scripture to fit our beliefs
none of this is obeying the word of God
it will bring judgment and quickly
Unwillingness to revive, to remember, to repent will bring judgment on the church quickly.
But for those who do, the promise of old will be theirs.
A Not so New Promise (v.
4-5)
We have seen the pattern in these letters
for those who conquer, there is eternity spent with Christ
they may be spelled out a little differently for each letter, each church bit that is the promise that we have seen each time.
this time is not any different
those who are unstained, undefiled will walk with the Lord
why? they are worthy!
isn’t that what we all want to be, is worthy to be with the Lord
the problem is we think that the things that we do will be what makes us worthy
when they are what disqualify us
Jesus tells this church that he has seen their works, and found them lacking
God who knows the hearts of man says that our good works are like filthy rags before him
Jesus tells this church that they will be dressed in white
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