THE VICTORIOUS KING THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

THE VICTORIOUS KING THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES: SARDIS, A LOVELY MASOLEAM

BIG IDEA What is a “living church? ” What is a “dead church? ” It is possible to look like one and be the other.

WALKING DEAD or WAKING UP

SCRIPTURES Revelation 3: 1 -6; 4: 5; 5: 6 Ephesians 4: 4 I Corinthians 16: 13 I Peter 5: 8 Matthew 26: 41 II Timothy 3: 5

“The Church, and every congregation within it, belongs to Jesus…in any decision regarding the Church …the decisive factor must be, not what any man wishes. . . but what Jesus Christ…the Lord of the Church wishes to be done. ” William Barclay The thing that separates the Church and the congregations of Christ from any and all other groups and organizations on earth if the power of the Holy Spirit. Without that the church is without life.

“The truth was that the church in Sardis had ceased to matter. ” William Barclay

I. REMEBER

II. REPENT

III. RETAIN

IV. REMAIN ALERT

NURTURE THE LIFE When the Spirit is grieved, the church begins to lose life and power. When sin is confessed and church members get right with God and with each other, then the Spirit infuses new life—revival!

As a church we constantly confront the pressure to embrace the world to reach more people, be more attractive to the flesh. As individuals we must ask ourselves, is the decision driven by the Spirit or by my Flesh?