Sardis: The Dead Church Series

# Introduction

As we continue through the letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation, we remember that these words were not written simply for seven ancient churches.

They were written for the church in every generation.

And the question we return to each week is the same:

“The question is not, ‘What kind of church are we?’

The question is, ‘Are we listening to what Jesus is saying to His church?’”

We began in Revelation chapter 1, where Jesus revealed Himself to His church.

We saw Him walking among the lampstands and holding the stars in His hand. We were reminded that the church is not the light — the church is the lampstand. Jesus is the light.

And in Revelation 1:3 we were given the pattern for these letters:

Read. Hear. Heed.

These messages were not written only for seven ancient churches, they are written for the church today.

Then we listened to what Jesus said to the church in Ephesus.

Ephesus was hardworking, discerning, and faithful to the truth — but somewhere along the way they had lost their first love. Jesus called them to renewal: remember, repent, and return to the love they once had for Him.

Next we heard Jesus speak to the church in Smyrna.

Smyrna was suffering, yet Jesus encouraged them to remain faithful. Their message was simple: stand firm in suffering — the Victor has already won.

Then we came to Pergamum, a church living where evil surrounded them. They had not denied Christ, but they had begun to tolerate compromise. Pergamum reminds us that faithfulness can slowly erode when the church allows the world to shape its values.

Last week we heard Jesus speak to Thyatira. Thyatira was a loving and growing church, but they were tolerating corruption within their fellowship. Jesus called them back, saying that they needed to refuse compromise, realign their allegiance fully to Him, and remain faithful until He comes.

This morning, we come to the church in Sardis.

Sardis presents us with a different danger. Not persecution. Not compromise. But something that can be even more subtle.

A church that appears alive, but is spiritually dead.

Before we dive into the letter from Jesus to the church, let’s take a look at the historical information and where the prophecy of Sardis fits in the global history of the church.

Video Ill.: Sardis — The Dead Church by Lineage Journey

You have already heard in the video how the city of Sardis had a long history of overconfidence. The city believed it was secure and stopped watching for danger.

That background makes the words of Jesus especially powerful. Let’s read what Jesus said to the church in Sardis:

1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished || in the sight of My God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who || have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with Me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before My Father and His angels. || 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3, NIV)

Let me call out verse 1 again:

1 …I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. (Revelation 3, NIV)

This church looked alive.

It had a name. It had a reputation. It had activity.

But Jesus says something shocking:

“You have the reputation of being alive, … but you are dead.”

A church can appear alive without actually being spiritually alive.

So let’s dive into this letter, it’s call to renewal, and see what Jesus is saying to us today.

# 1. A Church with a Strong Reputation

As we begin this morning, we see a church that had a strong reputation.

Reputation is everything in the world!

Baseball Card Nets $7.2m Due to Name (Condensed)

Jason Gay, “This Baseball Card Could Be Worth $10 Million. Or Much More.” The Wall Street Journal (11-16-23)

https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/baseball-card-nets-72m-due-to-name/

Copied from Preaching Today

A couple of years ago, Sportswriter Jason Gay wrote about a rare baseball card of Babe Ruth that went up for auction.