Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:1a- Address

Revelation 3:1b-5 - Message to the Church

Revelation 3:6 - Command to Hear

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

Jesus rebukes the church in Sardis for their lack of faithfulness to Him.

He commands them to wake up, repent, and become obedient to God.

Revelation 3:1a - Address

Revelation 3:1 (ESV)

1 “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.

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:

To the angel of the church

Celestial being responsible for oversight

There is help for them in the heavenly realm

Sardis

Key Points

• Sardis was a flourishing city located on a major east-west highway during the Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman periods.

• Like many of its sister cities, Sardis exhibited strong pro-Roman sentiments, seen in its bid to house provincial imperial cults and in the prominence of the imperial cult in its second- and third-century architecture.

• The Jewish community in Sardis had ancient and strong roots and was likely well-established from the Hellenistic period.

If one can extrapolate from its fourth-century synagogue, it had been better integrated into the life of its city than was true for many Jewish diaspora communities.

• Very little has been discovered in Sardis to shed light on the origins of, or challenges to, the Christian community there in the late first century beyond these generalities.

Fortress city on cliffs and the citizens thought they were invincible, but they had been defeated twice

Write

Command given to John

The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

The words of him who has

The seven spirits of God

Seven symbolically represents the perfection/fullness of the Holy Spirit

Revealing God’s spirit at work in the world - GRACE

The Holy Spirit empowers the Messiah to rule over all in the end-time

Why mention the Holy Spirit?

Sardis is a dead church and only the Spirit can bring them back to revival

And the seven stars.

Celestial/spiritual beings

Revelation 3:1b-5 - Message to the Church

Revelation 3:1–5 (ESV)

1“ ‘I know your works.

You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

2 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. 3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

***No Commendation to Sardis***

I know your works.

Jesus details how inadequate their works are - the works do not live up to Jesus’ standards

You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Reputation

Also translated as “name”

“Name” is important in this passage - 4x

Being alive

Others perceived this church as being vibrant and full of life

You are dead

The reality was they were spiritually dead and needing life only the Spirit could bring

They were Christians in name only - their works did not reveal life in God

Notice the contrast to Christ

Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die,

Wake up

Command

Be constantly alert - NASB 2020

Commonly used to call Christians to alertness to resist evil and remain faithful

Strengthen what remains and is about to die

Strengthen - Command

The church is on the path towards death

Instead of continuing towards death, Christ commands them to turn towards health

For I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

I have not found your works complete

Their works fail to meet the standard of a true walk with Christ - total obedience/allegiance to God

At one point their works, service to God, was complete in His sight

In the sight of my God

In their eyes, their works were sufficient, but not in God’s

Remember, then, what you received and heard.

Remember

Command

Bear in mind

Received and heard

The gospel!

Keep it, and repent.

Keep it

Command

Also can mean obey

The gospel

Repent

Command

Repent of their works being incomplete before the Father