Letters to the Seven Churches in Asia REVELATION

Letters to the Seven Churches in Asia REVELATION 2 – 3

Review - different aspects than we have been including in the review Foundation – The Biblical Church ◦ Keep the unity of the Faith Ephesus ◦ Diligently working church ◦ Are you participating (read the Bible in a year program, emailed study topics, preparing for Bible classes, prayer meetings, etc. ) Smyrna ◦ Be faithful until death ◦ Consider our example and influence the world sees and therefore associates with Christianity Pergamos ◦ We can deny God by our actions and associations, and our lack of love for others Thyatira ◦ Can you tell describe the main points or theme of the New Testament epistles?

The Letter to Sardis REVELATION 3: 1 – 6 3

Consider the description of Jesus in Rev 3: 1. Do you see any connection with this description and the church at Sardis? He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars Seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches ◦ Verse 3: Remember how you received and heard ◦ Now, heed what you are going to hear from this messenger 4

Jesus says he knows the works of Sardis. What did He say about their works? Verse 1: You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead Verse 2: I have not found your works perfect before God Similar to what Jesus tells the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23: 27 -28 ◦ Like whitewashed tombs appear beautiful outward, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness ◦ (their works were not perfect before God) Looking from the outside, the church at Sardis appeared to be serving God ◦ However, Jesus tells them that they are not pleasing to God 5

What do you think it means for a church to be dead? The book of James may be thought of as containing “practical” Christianity ◦ Contains not just the ideals, but also shows actions to live by the ideals James 2: 14 -26 discusses faith and works ◦ ◦ Conclusion is that “faith without works is dead” – James 2: 26 Someone may profess and look to be religious, but without works that faith is dead A church is made up of dead faith if the members do not do works such as the examples in James (1: 22 – be doers of the word; 1: 26 – bridle the tongue; 1: 27 – visit orphans and widows; 2: 9 – do not show partiality; 4: 3 – don’t ask for things for your own pleasure; 5: 13 – pray, sing; etc. ) Consider the example in James 2: 15 -16 to describe faith without works ◦ The appearance is that the person cares, but nothing is accomplished The church is the members, so if they aren’t showing faith through their works, they are dead 6

What do you think it means for a church to be dead? II Timothy 3: 1 -5 talks about what type of men will come in the last days Verse 5 concludes with having a form of godliness, but denying its power ◦ ◦ Looks to be Godly, but inwardly they are not Verses 2 -4 describe what they really are Similar to what we saw in Matthew 23: 27 -28 with the scribes and Pharisee ◦ ◦ Looked religious on the outside, but inside were full of death Matthew 23: 13 -30 discusses the evil actions they take Titus 1: 16 says they profess to know god, but in works they deny Him ◦ Abominable, disobedient, disqualified for every good work 7

What do you think it means for a church to be dead? As a group, the church could be lacking ◦ ◦ I Cor 11: 20 – say they are coming together for the Lord’s Supper, but they were actually coming together for selfishness I Cor 12 – Not using spiritual gifts correctly not for the benefit of the church Other examples in Corinth looked like they were doing things from the outside, but inside they were filled divisions and selfishness Sardis seems to be different than the church at Laodocea where they seem to be doing nothing because of their comfort 8

What do you think it means for a church to be dead? Summary of some ideas ◦ A church whose members do not have an alive faith as seen by their works (or lack of works) works are a reflection of their faith ◦ A church who looks religious from the outside, but whose members are caught up in sinful living ◦ A church who is not doing things as a group to edify each other and also to spread the word 9

What does Jesus tell the church at Sardis they must do? What does this mean? Verse 2: Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain ◦ Be watchful – similar to Paul telling the Ephesian elders to be on guard in Acts 20: 28 -30 ◦ ◦ Seems to indicate that sinful living, activities, etc. are working their way into the church Strengthen the things that remain ◦ ◦ There are some areas that aren’t dead yet ◦ Although not perfect (vs. 2) some works appear to have a little life Focus on these areas to prevent them from dying 10

What does Jesus tell the church at Sardis they must do? What does this mean? Verse 3: Remember how you received and heard; hold fast and repent ◦ ◦ ◦ Go back to the beginning and remember the gospel that converted you Remember why you believed and obeyed Hold fast to the reason you believed and obeyed (It is still valid) ◦ ◦ ◦ It sounds like they didn’t not have the patience or perseverance Jesus says some other churches had Must have the perseverance to continue serving and not letting worldliness into the church We don’t know when Jesus will return, but we must have patience 11

What will happen if they do not do as Jesus says? Does this sound familiar? Verse 3: I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you ◦ They would not be prepared for His return Matthew 24: 36 -51 Vs. 36 – no one knows the day and hour ◦ Vs. 43 – if the master had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched ◦ Vs. 50 -51 – the master will come when he is not looking and cut him in two ◦ 12

What will happen if they do not do as Jesus says? Does this sound familiar? Luke 12: 35 -40 ◦ ◦ Vs. 36 – Be like men who wait for their master Vs. 39 – if the master of the house had known when the thief would come, he would have been prepared I Thessalonians 5: 1 -8 ◦ ◦ Vs. 2 – the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night Vs. 6 – watch and be sober 13

What will happen if they do not do as Jesus says? Does this sound familiar? Unlike in Thyatira where Jesus said He was going to cast Jezebel into a sickbed, and all the churches would know that Jesus is He who searches the minds and hearts, ◦ Jesus taking special actions before His return The warning to Sardis appears to be a warning that they will find themselves unprepared when Jesus returns 14

What do we learn in verse 4? What can we take away from this? You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. ◦ They shall walk with Jesus in white, for they are worthy Even with nothing good to say to the church as a whole, there are those of the church who are still pleasing to God ◦ ◦ Romans 2: 6 – who will render to each one according to his deeds Matthew 16: 27 – He will reward each according to his works II Corinthians 5: 10 - …according to what he has done, whether good or bad I Peter 1: 17 – judges according to each one’s work 15

What do we learn in verse 4? What can we take away from this? What is the responsibility of those who have not defiled their garments? How can someone who is living pleasingly to God be part of a dead church and remain pleasing? ◦ ◦ First, remain pure (see previous verses) Be an example by your works – Matthew 5: 13 -16 ◦ ◦ Continue to teach – James 5: 19 -20 ◦ ◦ Let your light shine before men He who turns a sinner from error will save a soul Continue to love – I Corinthians 13 ◦ Have care for the soul of those who are not walking right 16

How do we practically apply the Sardis letter to make sure the church at Northside is pleasing to God? Consider how to make a church alive again as one of your applications. We must be alive ◦ We must show our faith by our works – James 2 ◦ We must be active ◦ We must not be hypocrites like the scribes and Pharisees who look good from the outside, but are full dead men’s bones ◦ We must keep ourselves pure ◦ Read the book of James and see how your life compares with the practical examples ◦ Helping the helpless, bridling the tongue, not showing partiality, praying to your own pleasures, not speaking evil of one another, etc. ◦ How does your involvement in Christianity compare your involvement in your hobbies