Sardis A Dead Church Revelation 3 1 6

Sardis: A Dead Church Revelation 3: 1 -6

I. Past Glory and Present Decay A. Egypt Today II. The Glory that was Sardis A. 30 Miles SE of Thyatira/ 50 Miles E of Smyrna B. 1200 BC Magnificent Capital of Lydia 1. Situated on High Plateau (1500 ft) spreading to Valley a. Virtually Invincible 2. Conquered Twice a. By Cyrus of Persia in 549 BC b. By Antiochus in 218 BC C. A Glorious King! a. Croesus of Sardis i. “Pride goeth before the fall” b. Cyrus takes an unguarded city D. A. D. 17 City destroyed by Earthquake E. By John’s time – City in Decline (Too Poor to Paint…)

III. Church in Sardis A. Reflected the City 1. Lacking Energy and Concern – Spiritually Dead IV. Jesus’ Charge against the Church in Sardis A. You have a Reputation For Being Alive! 1. No Great Heresy 2. All Apparent Signs of Life B. A Lovely Chapel a. C. T. Studd C. Swamp or Lake?

V. Another Problem in Sardis… A. Some had Soiled their Clothes – V 4 1. Some sort of Moral Defilement B. Not Being Persecuted like Ephesus or Smyrna 1. Largest Synagogue in Ancient World 2. Church at Peace/ Peace of the Cemetery VI. Two Pictures of Sardinian Church in John’s Time A. Jesus’ Picture 1. Matthew 23: 27 -28 B. Paul’s Picture 1. 2 Timothy 3: 1 -5*

VII. What do You Do With a Dead Church? A. A Dead Church is NOT an Apostate Church B. Seek its Resurrection! “Wake UP!” 1. V 2 – a. Addressed to Faithful Remnant i. Move with the Movers… ii. All Renewal Begins with the Faithful Waking * Prayer! “Strengthen What Remains” 2. V 2 – a. Involves Growing the Babes in Christ! i. Ezekiel 37 (Word and Spirit) ii. Teaching – 2 Timothy 3: 14 -16

3. V 3 – “Remember” a. What you’ve Received – Holy Spirit (Giver of Life) 1. I Corinthians 6: 17 -20 b. What you’ve Heard – “The Faith Once Delivered” 1. Jude 1: 3 4. V 3 – “Obey” 1. James 1: 22 -25 5. V 3 – “Repent!”

VIII. What will Happen to Sardis if it fails to Repent? A. V 3 – “I Will Come Like A Thief!” 1. Salt that Loses Its Saltiness gets thrown out! IX. Some Good News… A. Even in Dead Churches – Faithful Remnant! 1. Elijah – I Kings 19: 18 2. The Very Reverend Richard Reid’s Advice! B. If the Sardinian Christians do Repent… 1. V 4 -- They will walk with Christ (Hope of Heaven) 2. V 4 -- He will array them in White! – Rev 7: 9 -17 3. V 5 – Never Blot Their Name out of Book of Life! 4. V 5 – I will Acknowledge them Before My Father a. Matthew 10: 32 -33