How to Kill A Church

1
How to Kill A Church

• Lesson from Sardis
• the Church of the Living Dead
• Revelation 31-6

2
The Church At SardisRevelation. 31-6

• Sardis was one of the oldest and most important
  cities in Asia Minor until it was destroyed by an
  earthquake in A.D. 17
• Sardis was a third-rate city at the time John
  wrote Revelation
• The history of Sardis matched the history of the
  church once alive, now dead

3
The Church At SardisRevelation. 31-6

• Jesus is in control he that has
• In control to punish (33 1 Thess. 52ff)
• In control to reward (35 Rev. 2015)
• Jesus knows all I know your works
• Sardis had a name (reputation)
• Sardis was living, but dead (1 Tim. 56)
• Reputation vs. actual spiritual condition
• What killed this church ?

4
How to Kill A Church

• Unlived Truth (31-2)
• Their works were started but unfinished
• Faith without works is dead (Jas. 217,26)
• People see unlived truth
• Other brethren (Gal. 214)
• The world (1 Pet. 212)
• The Lord (Rev. 31)
• Unlived truth will kill a church (Lk. 1428 Gal.
  57 2 Tim. 35)

5
How to Kill A Church

• Unconcerned Membership (32-3)
• They were not watching
• They were not holding on to Gods word (2 Tim.
  113)
• Unconcerned members will kill a church (1 Jn.
  314)

6
How to Kill A Church

• Unconfessed Sin (33)
• Sin leads to death (Mt. 822 2327 Rom. 623
  Eph. 21,5 Col. 213)
• There was sin in the church they needed godly
  sorrow leading to repentance (2 Cor.
  710)
• Unconfessed sin will kill a church (1 Cor. 5)

7
How to Kill A Church

• Uncommitted Majority (34)
• There were few undefiled but many defiled
• Many followed the way of defilement (Mt.
  713-14 2214 Lk. 1324 1 Pet. 320)
• Many needed saving from death (Jas. 520)
• Uncommitted majority will kill a church (1
  Cor. 1130)

8
How to Kill A Church

• Unholy Unions (34)
• The few undefiled had allowed the many defiled
  to remain among them
• Unholy unions between
• Members and the world (1 Jn. 215-17)
• Members and other members (1 Cor. 5)
• Spouses (Mt. 199 Rom. 72-3)
• Unholy unions will kill a church from death to
  death (Lk. 1524,32 Jude 12 Rev.
  2014,15 218)

9
A Dead Church Comes Alive

• He That Overcomes
• Unlived Truth (Heb. 512-61 Jas. 125 Tit.
  214 38,14)
• Unconcerned Membership (Rom. 1313 1
  Cor. 1534 1613 Eph. 416 514
  1 Thess. 56-8 1 Pet. 58)
• Unconfessed Sins (Jas. 513 1 Jn. 19)
• Uncommitted Majority (Josh. 2415 Psa.
  269-12 Mic. 38 77 Jude 23)
• Unholy Unions (2 Cor. 614 - 71)

10
How to Kill A Church

• Unlived Truth (31-2)
• Unconcerned Membership (32-3)
• Unconfessed Sins (33)
• Uncommitted Majority (34)
• Unholy Unions (34)