\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: Revelation 3:1-6<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. The certainty of life is that it will eventually be followed by death – Ecclesiastes 9:5<\/p>\n
A. And it is not just people who die, churches die as well.<\/p>\n
1. Unlike people, churches don’t have to die, but they do.<\/p>\n B. The church at Sardis appeared to be alive, but the Lord declared that it was dead.\nNot completely dead, but it was close enough that it might as well be dead –\nRevelation 3:1-2\n C. If you consider the history of the congregations around the country, you realize\nthat there are not that many “old” churches, even though the church has been in\nthis country for several hundred years.\n D. The letters to the churches in Asia serve as warnings as to what can cause\nchurches to fall away.\n
II. A Lack of Love – Revelation 2:1-7<\/p>\n
A. Ephesus was a faithful church. <\/p>\n
1. It took strong stands against false teachers<\/p>\n
2. It had weathered difficult times and showed the ability to persevere <\/p>\n
3. It was doing all the right things, but it lacked the proper motive<\/p>\n
B. Love is key to the commandments – Matthew 22:36-40<\/p>\n
1. Love is the defining element of being a Christian – John 13:34-35<\/p>\n 2. Without love for God there is no motivation to remain obedient – John\n14:15\n
3. Without love for our brethren we die – I John 3:14-18<\/p>\n
C. The problem in Ephesus is much the same problem addressed in II John 4-8<\/p>\n 1. John commends their faithfulness, but reminds the chosen lady that a part\nof faithfulness is love for the brethren\n
2. It is a command just like any other<\/p>\n 3. Without it, she would fall prey to the very deceivers she was standing\nagainst\n
D. Love is not an option<\/p>\n
1. Only by love of each other can we know God – I John 4:7-12, 20-21<\/p>\n
2. Only through love can we remain faithful – I John 5:1-3<\/p>\n
III. Pursuing Sensuality – Revelation 2:12-29<\/p>\n
A. Both Pergamum and Thyatira had members following the course of this world<\/p>\n 1. Teachers had arose encouraging the acceptance of idols and sexual\nimmorality\n B. Becoming soft on sin, accepting things that make you feel good, is a common way\nfor false teachers to peddle their doctrine – II Peter 2:1-3, 12-19\n
C. Desire for the world is key to the entrance of sin – I John 2:15-17<\/p>\n
D. But being a Christian is marked by holiness – I Peter 1:13-16<\/p>\n
1. We are to be set apart – I Thessalonians 4:1-8<\/p>\n
2. We are to be separate – II Corinthians 6:17-7:1<\/p>\n
IV. Avoiding Making Waves – Revelation 3:14-22<\/p>\n
A. Laodicea strove for the middle ground.<\/p>\n
1. She was neither hot nor cold in what she did<\/p>\n
2. She saw no need for improvement <\/p>\n
3. Such contributed to the death of Israel – I Kings 18:21<\/p>\n
4. Christianity is not about having it both ways – Matthew 6:24<\/p>\n
B. There is an appeal to avoiding problems<\/p>\n
1. It makes it look like something good is being done<\/p>\n
2. But the truth is that nothing is being done – Psalms 123:4<\/p>\n 3. They become prideful, and cannot see destruction on the door step – Isaiah\n47:8-9\n a. A church that avoids problems means they are inexperienced in\nhandling problems\n b. When those problems arise, as they surely must, they are\noverwhelmed \n
C. The lack of zeal means there will be no true growth<\/p>\n
1. We are to be fervent in spirit – Romans 12:11 <\/p>\n
2. Some groups strive for a more neutral ground<\/p>\n
a. If we don’t make waves, more people will stay<\/p>\n b. If we don’t take a strong stand, people won’t become offended and\nleave\n
3. But then we are not fully with Christ – Matthew 12:30<\/p>\n
D. Christ found the middle ground disgusting<\/p>\n
1. On fire is what he wants<\/p>\n 2. But even cold is preferable – at least it is a more honest assessment of their\ntrue status – II Peter 2:21\n
3. The middle ground is a lie<\/p>\n
V. Will this church survive?<\/p>\n
A. It has been in existence since 1972, but that doesn’t mean it will continue<\/p>\n
B. Without love, purity, and zeal it will die like others before it<\/p>\n
C. And a few can’t prop up a dying church<\/p>\n
1. Sardis had some who were faithful – Revelation 3:4<\/p>\n
2. But they would could not stem the tide<\/p>\n 3. A preacher, elders, or a few faithful members can’t keep a church alive –\nnot on their own.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Revelation 3:1-6 I. The certainty of life is that it will eventually be followed by death – Ecclesiastes 9:5 A. And it is not just people who die, churches die as well. 1. Unlike people, churches don’t have to die, but they do. B. The church at Sardis appeared to be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[448,65,609,635],"class_list":["post-63658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-church","tag-love","tag-worldliness","tag-zeal"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":69101,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-churches-die\/","url_meta":{"origin":63658,"position":0},"title":"Why Churches Die","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Riley The following are this writer's observations over forty years as to why churches die. I'm certain that we can all relate to at least one of the categories listed below: Churches Die at the Tables of Compromise When the church fights worldly influences such as sin and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18923,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/christians-without-churches\/","url_meta":{"origin":63658,"position":1},"title":"Christians Without Churches?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 23, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ethan R. Longhenry Over the past few years, a trend has increased among people, especially Americans: the idea that people can be good Christians without being part of a church. 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Where Did\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28730,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-do-churches-seem-to-pick-and-choose-what-they-practice\/","url_meta":{"origin":63658,"position":3},"title":"Why do churches seem to pick and choose what they practice?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 3, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a married woman who has a general question regarding the Stone-Campbell Movement churches, of which I have been a part of (the 'fiddling' branch) since the day I was born.\u00a0I understand that \"where the Bible speaks, we speak,\" and that is the reason why we celebrate the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":33097,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-cant-all-the-elders-in-a-city-get-together-to-direct-all-the-churches-in-the-city\/","url_meta":{"origin":63658,"position":4},"title":"Why can’t all the elders in a city get together to direct all the churches in the city?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 4, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: First, I would like to say thank you for posting your informative studies. I currently attend a church that has dissolved the eldership and has been operating without elders. After reading Keith Sharp's article on Autonomy I still have a question about elders. Our biblical example is one church\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":67110,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-the-churches-of-christ-the-only-correct-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":63658,"position":5},"title":"Are the churches of Christ the only correct church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Jeffery, In the article \"Wasn't Babel the city of Eridu?\" you mentioned, \"You will not find any claim that the churches of Christ are the only correct church on this site.\" Do you no longer believe in the one true church? 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