Church Wake Up Sardis Title: Church, Wake Up! Text: Rev. 3:1-6 Tracing: Preached 6/17/90 at SDCC. Topic: Theme: The Danger of Routine
Nutshell:
Objectives:
Prim Goal :
Intnd Aud.:
Intro.: Once ÿupon a time, ÿin a place not so very different from here, there was a church which met regularly, had pretty good attendance, held occasional social events, and, overall, functioned in much the same ÿway that it always had. ÿNo one seemed to notice that ÿthere were ÿfew new people or that very little ever happened that ÿhadn’t been ÿdone ÿbefore. ÿÿThis ÿchurch was not ÿgoing ÿdownhill, ÿÿnor advancing — just standing still. This ÿdescription ÿcould ÿfit ÿany ÿof ÿthousands ÿor ÿtens ÿof thousands of modern churches, ÿand, ÿin some respects, ÿit probably describes ÿus! ÿBut one day, ÿknowing that many churches ÿthoughout history would fit this description, ÿJesus sent them a letter which was ÿalso ÿintended ÿfor ÿall ÿthe other ÿchurches ÿwith ÿthe ÿsame characteristics. ÿÿPlease ÿturn to Rev. ÿ3:1-6, ÿwhere we find ÿthe letter to the church at Sardis. THE TOWN: Sardis was not a shocking city (like Ephesus with its temple to Artemis, ÿÿSmyrna ÿwith the “Synagogue of Satan”, ÿPergamum ÿ”where Satan has his throne”, ÿor Thyatira with its trade-guild idolatry), but quite ordinary. ÿIts only really notable characteristics ÿeven in its glory daysÿwere its arts and crafts, its wealth, its gold and silver mint. By the time of the writing of this letter, ÿeven that was ÿmostly ÿgone. ÿÿSeveral decades earlier, ÿthe city ÿhad ÿbeen ravaged ÿby ÿa severe earthquake. ÿEven ÿthough Rome ÿsent ÿmassive amounts ÿof ÿassistance and helped ÿto rebuild the city, ÿÿso ÿmuch damage had been done that the city would never really recover. THE CHURCH: Read v. ÿ1 – Like the city itself, the church was in decline. It ÿhad ÿseen ÿbetter ÿdays ÿ- ÿat least ÿenough ÿto ÿgive ÿthem ÿa reputation. ÿÿBut now the church was very close to death – not ÿin appearance, ÿbut in reality. ÿLike the church at Ephesus, ÿit ÿhad fallen — only farther. Read ÿv. ÿ2 ÿ- ÿThey had to act immediately to revive or ÿthey would ÿdie altogether. ÿThe tragedy of that was that they had ÿnot completed ÿany of the things which Jesus had for them to do. ÿÿThis slumber preceding death is one into which individuals, nations, and churches ÿcan fall. ÿSocrates diagnosed it in ancient ÿGreece ÿand said ÿhis ÿrole ÿin society was to be ÿa ÿ”gadfly”, ÿÿannoying ÿthe slumbering ÿbeast of his society until it woke up again. ÿÿInstead the ÿslumbering beast swatted that gadfly and slept on ÿuntil ÿRome conquered ÿit. ÿÿToday ÿI ÿbelieve that America ÿis ÿin ÿthe ÿsame predicament ÿ– ÿÿwe ÿwant ÿto sleep ÿand ÿignore ÿthe ÿthreatening 2 developments around us. When forced to face the facts we are often more ÿangry ÿat ÿthose ÿwho ÿwoke us ÿup ÿthan ÿat ÿthose ÿwho ÿare manipulating our demise. Similarly, ÿthis church slept while Satan played ÿand began shoveling dirt on the coffin into which they ÿhad crawled. Read v. 3 – Like Ephesus, they had fallen (only farther). Like Ephesus, they were told to Remember, Repent, and Obey (Ephesus told to Repeat since they had once been obedient). If they did not, Jesus would come unexpectedly as they slept to judge them. Read v. 4,5 – Not everyone in a dead church is dead! Those who have not slept and those who rouse from their sleep will be rewarded and dressed in white and honored before God by Jesus. Body: If the cure is Remembrance, Repentance, Obedience: What are we to remember and do? I. God’s Power – More than we imagine! Eph. 3:20 – Gates of Hell (defensive) Mt. 16:18 – We WILL bear fruit. Jn 15:5 Thus, – Go on the attack – Ask God for needs 1Jn.5:14-15, Js. 4:2b II. Remember Jesus’ Uniqueness – The Gate Jn 10:9 – Way, Truth, Light, No One comes… Jn 14:6 Thus, – Emphasize Jesus not “ought-tos” III. Our Responsibility – Love Jn 13:35, 1Jn 3:14, 4:7-8,20-21. Thus, – Witness! Don’t sidestep the issue. Conc.: People act according to what they really believe, rather than what they profess. Illus. – High wire over Niagara. What do you really believe? Can He Save you?
Comments: Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church 1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343 Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!