X Close Menu

HOPE Covenant Sermons

The Church at Sardis

July 27, 2014 Speaker: Series: What Would Jesus Say to the Church?

Topic: General Verse: Revelation 3:1–3:6

What Would Jesus Say To The Church?

“The Church at Sardis”

Pastor Duane Cross | 07.27.14

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Rev. 3:1-6 (NLT)

COMPLAINT: YOU’RE DEAD!

I. Religion without relationship.

II. The Absence of struggles.

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you...for that is how the fathers treated the false prophets.” Luke 6: 26

III. A Complete focus on the past.

CORRECTION: WAKEUP!

- Strengthen what remains

- Go back to what you heard at first

- Hold firmly

- Repent and turn again

COMMENDATION: YOU HAVE NOT SOILED YOUR CLOTHES

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Rev. 21:3-7 (NLT)

More in What Would Jesus Say to the Church?

August 10, 2014

The Church at Laodicea

August 3, 2014

The Church at Philadelphia

July 20, 2014

The Church at Thyatira