Introduction

Welcome, beloved congregation, to this sanctuary where our hearts find solace, our spirits find nourishment, and our faith finds reinforcement. We are gathered here, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the divine discourse that God has graciously invited us into. We are here, not by coincidence, but by divine appointment. So let us attune our hearts to the rhythm of God's word and open our minds to the wisdom He has in store for us today.

Prideful Posture of the Church

The church, in its essence, is a body of believers, united in faith and purpose, called to reflect the character of Christ in the world. Yet, there are times when this divine purpose is obscured by human tendencies, and one such tendency is pride. Pride, in its many forms, can subtly infiltrate the church, distorting its mission and undermining its effectiveness.

Pride can manifest itself in the church in a variety of ways:

An inflated sense of self-importance: When the church begins to see itself as the center of God's plan, rather than a part of it, it risks losing sight of its true purpose. The church exists to serve God and to serve others, not to be served. When it becomes more about the institution and less about the people, more about the building and less about the body, more about the program and less about the mission, then pride has taken root.

A dismissive attitude towards others: This can take the form of an exclusive mentality, where certain people are seen as more valuable or more worthy than others. It can also take the form of a judgmental spirit, where those who do not conform to certain standards or expectations are looked down upon or excluded. This is not the heart of God. The church should be a place of acceptance and love, where all are welcomed and valued, regardless of their background, their past, or their present circumstances.

Self-reliance: When the church begins to rely on its own strength, its own wisdom, its own resources, it is stepping into dangerous territory. The church is not called to be self-sufficient, but God-dependent. It is not called to operate in its own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. When the church begins to think it can do it all on its own, it is forgetting the One who called it into existence, the One who sustains it, and the One who empowers it to fulfill its mission.

It becomes complacent: Complacency is a subtle form of pride, because it assumes that there is no need for growth, no need for change, no need for improvement. It is content with the status quo, and resistant to anything that might disrupt it. But the church is called to be a dynamic, growing, evolving body of believers, always seeking to know God more, to love others better, and to make a greater impact in the world.

The passage we read from Revelation: The church in Sardis was rebuked for its prideful posture. It had a reputation for being alive, but in reality, it was dead. It had become complacent, self-reliant, and dismissive of others. It had lost sight of its true purpose, and had allowed pride to take root. This is a sobering reminder for us today. We must guard against pride in our own lives and in our own churches. We must strive to maintain a posture of humility, recognizing our dependence on God, our need for others, and our responsibility to serve and love as Christ did.

Perilous Penetration of the World

As we continue to reflect on the message to the church in Sardis, we are confronted with the reality that worldly influences can subtly and dangerously infiltrate the church ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO