The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 6

The issue for the church at Sardis was spiritual apathy. They were coasting off their experiences of the past and had settled into a complacent place – not moving or sinking, simply existing. And it was killing them, whether they realized it or not.

Savior of the World
Mack Brock

Resurrecting
Elevation Worship

Mystery
Passion

Remembrance
Hillsong Worship

Apathy Leads to Atrophy

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A.W. Tozer
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

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Revelation 3:1-6
“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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 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. 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. 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. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

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Revelation 3:1
“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead…”

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Revelation 3:1-2
“…you are dead. Wake up!”

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Ephesians 2:1
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins…”

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Ephesians 2:4-5
“…but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

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Ephesians 5:14
This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

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Revelation 3:2
“Wake up, strengthen what remains and is about to die. For I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”

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Revelation 3:3
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.

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To Remember
To Hold Fast
To Repent

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Revelation 3:4-5
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. 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.

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