Sardis: The church that was dead

Sermon Podcast for Cornerstone Community Church in Galax, Virginia

Today, we continue our new sermon series on the first three chapters of the mysterious book of the Bible, Revelation. Revelation is a letter addressed not to an individual but to seven church communities. Each letter first tells the church who Jesus is and how the hearers should live in light of that identity. The messages to the seven churches remain crucial and relevant for us today, and there is something we can learn from each church.

Today, as we continue our journey through the Book of Revelation, we arrive at the letter addressed to the church in Sardis. This is the fifth of the seven letters Christ instructs John to write to the churches. Sardis was a church living on the success of its past. They thought they were alive and well, but they were dead. Every church must continue being led by the Holy Spirit to stay alive and fulfill its mission.

Sermon Notes:

A church’s reputation is not always based on reality

• Revelation 3:1a NLT

A church can’t live on its past success

• Revelation 3:1b-2 NLT
• Judges 16:20 NLT

The prescription for a dying church is simple, but hard

• Revelation 3:3 NLT

You can know your name is in the Book of Life

• Revelation 3:4-6 NLT
• Exodus 32:32-33 CSB
• Psalm 69:26-28 NLT
• Daniel 12:1 NLT
• Luke 10:20 CSB
• Revelation 13:8 NLT
• 1 John 5:13 NLT

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