Seven Churches of Rev. Series. Sermon 7: Laodicea. "The Lukewarm Church"

 

Introduction: 

 

A.   How many of you like lukewarm coffee?

 

B.   It is distasteful & bitter isn't it?  Makes you just

want to spit it out!

 

C.   I believe Jesus had this sensation in regard to the

church in our letter for today!

 

Trans.

Let's look at this last letter in our series this morning to the church at Laodicea and learn its lessons.

 

                            Prayer

                          Rev. 3:14-22

 

I.   Laodicea:  The City and its Background.

 

A.   Thriving, rich city; its main industry was wool cloth.

1.   There were sheep growers.

2.   There were clothing makers.

3.   Laodicea was famous for a black garment made out

of black wool!

 

B.   Politically, they were cool to Rome.

1.   They had turned down Rome's help to rebuild after

the earthquake of A.D. 60.

2.   They had the wealth and ability to rebuild

themselves.

          3.   They didn’t need Rome!

 

C.   Religiously

1.   There were many religions in Laodicea.

2.   But Emperor worship was no great threat to

Christians!

 

II.  Laodicea, The Church.

 

A.   Commendation:  they received none!

 

B.   Reprimand.

1.   Christ reprimands them for their false security

in their wealth.

a.   They say, "I am rich, and increased with

goods, and have need of nothing."

              b.   Not only as a city did they feel they had no

need of Rome, but as a church, they really

didn’t need God too much either.  They were

satisfied they were making it on their own.

c.   But Christ says Spiritually they are really

wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked!

2.   It is all summed up by his charge of

lukewarmness!

a.   They were so falsely secure in their things

that they became indifferent Spiritually!

b.   They were neither for Christ nor against

Christ.  THEY JUST DID NOT CARE!

 

C.   Exhortation: 

1.   They were challenged to buy real riches!

 

a.   "gold tried in the fire" - a faith that had

 been tested and proven would be better than

 their earthly wealth!

 

b.   "White garments." - symbol of those who

 overcome life's temptations.  This would be

 better than a sinful life with all the

 expensive clothing their money could buy!

 

c.   "Eye Salve." - to open up their spiritually

 blinded eyes!  They would understand this

 because "a medical school was located in

 Laodicea at the temple of Asclepius, which

                    offered a special salve to heal common eye

 troubles in the Middle East."  (BKC)

 

2.   To remember he loves them, or he would not try to

correct them.

 

a.   (vs. 20)  Even in their sad condition, he

still stands and knocks ready to come in and

help them.

b.   But like the famous painting of Christ

                   knocking on the door, there is no latch on

the outside!

 

 D.   Promise:

1.   (vs. 20)  To those who open, he will come in and

commune with them.

2.   Those who overcome will sit with him in heaven!

 

III. Laodicea's message to Forsyth UMC.

 

A.   Material possessions can be dangerous.

1.   Not necessarily good or bad.

2.   They often make us feel like we have really

attained something.

3.   They can cause us to treat people poorly who have

less!

4.   We must learn that all we have gained is a

blessing of God.  Like an old song says,

 

"The things that I own and hold dear to my heart

 are just borrowed they're not mine at all."

 

          5.   We must never let our wealth, status, or

possessions make us feel that we do not need God!

Instead, we should be grateful to God for God’s

blessings on us!

 

B.   Christ cannot use lukewarm Christians or Churches.

1.   Lukewarm individuals must get hot! 

a.   If we are indifferent, we are not far from

giving up Christ completely!

b.   We must realize the danger and come back to

God!

              c.   We do not want God to spew us out!

              d.   We need a realization that we are nothing

without God! 

1)   When we start feeling self-sufficient

because of our goods, we are becoming

like this church!

                   2)   There is a strong pull to feel this way

in our society!  We must constantly

remind ourselves of our need of God! 

 

2.   Lukewarm Churches must get hot!

a.   Churches get unconcerned about communities and die!

b.   Churches get satisfied with past

accomplishments!

c.   We must get enthused and reach out!

d.   We must not forget who we are and whose we

are!

              e.   We must never forget our mission “to make

disciples of Jesus Christ for the

transformation of our community and the

world.”

              f.   We must never forget that we can best do

that by allowing Christ to Love through us!

We can’t do it without Christ, but we need

to be fired up about what Christ can do

through us and the difference Christ can

make through us!

              g.   Then we will continue to see Christ work

miracles in people’s lives and among us as a

Church!

 

C.   We need to be investing in "heavenly riches."

1.   People in general:

a.   teaching,

b.   helping,

c.   ministering to,

d.   Caring and loving.

2.   These are the things which make for a full life

here and hereafter!

 

Conclusion.

A.   Are we lukewarm?

 

B.   If we are lukewarm and fear we are growing farther and

farther from God, we need to come to Christ and let

Christ rekindle the enthusiasm we once had.

 

C.   We can do that today as we encounter Christ at the

table!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Seven Churches of Revelation Series. Sermon Six: Philadelphia. "The Church with an Open Door!"

        

Intro.   

     A.   How many of you have locks on your doors or security

systems?  Not a bad idea for locks on our homes.

 

B.   But, is it possible for churches and individuals to

Put locks on their lives, keeping people out?

 

C.   We, as The United Methodist, advertise that we are a   church with Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors.

 

D.   This morning, we learn of a church that Christ loved

because it was an "open door" church. Let=s look at

what Christ meant by that.

 

                            Prayer

                          Rev. 3:7-13

 

I.   Again, a few comments about the interpretation of

Revelation in case you were not here when I have covered

it.

A.   There are three methods of interpreting Revelation.   They are:

1.   Post millennial - it's all historical. (Barr)

2.   Pre millennial  - it's all prophetical. (Barr)

     This method only became popular during the mid

1900s, but it is very popular today with some

traditions.

3.   Al-millennial view - Symbolical.  The seven

     churches represent seven kinds of churches that

exist in any age and any time. 

(Barr - "New Testament Story" pg. 269)

 

              Another name for this type of interpretation is

Metaphoric because it uses metaphors to reveal

Truths that are applicable to any age.  I think

this is the most accurate way to interpret

Revelation.

 

B.   If we view it as either Historic or Symbolic, we can

take what Jesus says to these churches and apply it to today.

 

C.   That is what we are doing as we examine these letters

To the churches of Revelation.

 

 

II.  Philadelphia:  The City and it's Background.

A.   It was a small city.

1.   It had been destroyed by Earthquakes several

times.    (BKC)

2.   More of an agricultural town than industrial;

grapes and wine were their main businesses.

 

B.   Politically, it was pro-Rome, but there was no emperor

worship present.

 

C.   Religiously, Dionysius was the main god of the town.

 

III. Philadelphia:  The Church.

A.   Commendation.

1.   Open Door.

a.   Christ seems to be commending them because

they have an open door to the world.

 

b.   They knew how to reach out to those who were

around them, in Love by meeting needs.

c.   Their doors were open to the outsiders!

2.   Christ also commends them for their strength in

spite of weakness.      

3.   Lastly, they have not denied Christ.  They would

not compromise their beliefs in Christ. Again, a

reference to the Synagogue of Satan!

 

B.   Reprimand.  Philadelphia received no reprimand.

 Philadelphia is a model church, one to model after!

 

C.   Exhortation.  To hold fast to what they have.

 

D.   Promise.

1.   four things.

a.   Make them a pillar in the temple of God.

b.   Write upon them the name of God.

c.   Write upon them the name of the city of God.

d.   Write upon them Christ's name.

2.   All point to their security in heaven.

3.   All was write between them and God!

 

III. Philadelphia's message to Forsyth UMC.

A.   Realize that our strength is in Christ, not in the

Size of the church.

1.   This was a small church in a small town; yet,

Christ had no reprimand for them!

2.   We tend to gauge a church by its size!

a.   This is evident in that we are discouraged

if our number is down on a particular

Sunday!

b.   This is also evident in that if someone asks us how our church is doing they are usually asking about the numbers!

3.   A small church is too often plagued by the old

excuse, "We are just too small."

4.   Regardless of our size, we can do what God has

For us to do; there are people that we can

Touch with the love of God!"

 

B.   We must be an open door church to please God!

1.   Our doors must be open to all people; none

     excluded!

2.   The second we exclude anyone who is searching for

help or for a church, we are excluding Christ!

3.   We are "open door" by reaching out  "in love" to

those around us!

a.   the rich and poor.

b.  the blacks, Hispanics, Asian, and whites.

c.   the old and young.

d.   the conservative or the liberal.

4.   Our world is too much into judging and excluding.  We need to be an Open door church, one that Jesus would have no reprimand for!

C.   We can know that, if we endure to the end, some day

God will take away all the uncertainty of this life

and keep us secure in heaven!

 

Conclusion:

A.   Are we hung up on the size of our church?  Are we

convinced that a small church can't make a difference?

Today, we can come to Christ for the encouragement

That we need to make a difference!

 

     B.   This letter is for us!  We are a small church in a

small town.  We are a church that has pretty much had

an open door!  This is encouragement for us that we

are on the right track, to keep on keeping on!

 

C.   As we encounter Christ at the table,  have you been

     apprehensive about the open door policy of our church.

Here it is.  Christ is commending us for that.  You

can let Christ fill you with love to reach out with an

open door! We can always reflect and do better!

 

     D.   Have you been discouraged because of our size?  This

letter encourages us that if we are reaching out to

all people, Christ is pleased and we can look forward

to rewards in heaven and acceptance by God!

 

     E.   This doesn’t mean be satisfied with our size though;

it means keep on doing what we are doing and we will

make a difference!  Keep reaching out!  Keep

welcoming! Keep inviting!

 

     F.   Do you need fired up and fueled up this morning?  We

          can be as we encounter Christ at the table!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Seven Churches of Revelation Series. Sermon 5: Sardis. "The Church of The Living Dead."

 

     

Introduction:  

A.   The old Western movies showed wanted posters which

often read, "Wanted - Dead or Alive!" There is even a

moving staring Steve McQueen entitled “Wanted – Dead

or Alive!”

 

A.      Sometimes, we live like we think God doesn't care if

we are dead or alive.

 

C.   Christ demands for His churches and His people to be

alive!  Our question for today is, "Are we Dead or

Alive?"

                            Prayer

                          Rev. 3:1-6

I.   Again, we are interpreting Revelation as either Historical

or Metaphorically!  Therefore, the messages to these

churches can be interpreted and are relevant to churches for today or any age!

 

II.  Sardis:  The City and Its Background.

A.   It was a growing trade city.  Five major Roman roads

          came into and left Sardis.

 

B.   Politically, it was allied to Rome.

1.   Even tried to get the right to build the temple

to the emperor which Smyrna finally got.

 

1.      Emperor worship never became a do or die

situation for these Christians.

 

C.   There were many religious and cultic groups in Sardis.

 

II.  Sardis:  The Church.

A.   Commendation.

1.   Sardis receives "no" commendation.

2.   The closest to it is the mention in verse 4 of

"those" who have not soiled their garments.

3.   I do think it is important to mention again that

All in these churches were judged individually. 

There is no need to finger point.  The question   becomes which are we individually: the ones being

reprimanded or those who were not.  The weeds and

the tares grow together in the kingdom of God!

 

B.   Reprimand.

1.   They claimed to be alive, but were Dead!

2.   No specific sins are mentioned; they must have

just slipped into indifference.

          3.   Indifference is a biggie!  We can’t make much

              difference for God with indifference!

Indifference is much akin to lack of vision and

unbelief in the power of God!

          4.   Indifference will slip up on us!

 

C.   Exhortation.

1.   Vs. 2     Wake Up! (NIV) and save what little

still was alive!

 

Like drawing the last coals of a fire                           together to rekindle it!

 

2.   Remember: what you did have. 

 

They had to do this to see how far they had

fallen. 

 

We start out with high hopes, but the world can

sap it out of us!

 

3.   Repent:  When they remembered what they had been,                they should see the need to repent.

 

D.   Promise: for those who repented and those who had not

soiled their garments or died spiritually!

1.   White garments:     seal of victory and eternal

life.

2.   Name will not be blotted out of the book of life.

3.   Christ will stand up for you at the judgement.

 

III. Sardis' message to Forsyth.

A.   Realize that we can die as a church. 

1.   Indifference creeps up on us; it doesn't hit us

all at once!

2.   Churches do have a natural life span just like

people: they are born, they have productive years

when they thrive on vision, they become

indifferent and slack off and kick into

maintenance mode, and they die.

2.      The only difference is that churches can be

reborn and start the cycle over again! They can

keep spiraling off of the curve with renewed

vision!

          4.   Are we spiraling off of the curve with renewed

vision?

 

B.   Be awake to the leadership of Christ.

1.      Let Christ restore the vision!

2.   Be ready to try new things with a belief that it

might work this time!

3.   Ready to go the second mile to serve Christ!

5.      Believing that with Christ we can make a

difference!

 

C.   Realize that we must confess Christ to the world if we

expect Christ to confess us.

1.   We need to daily live for Christ NOW!

2.   We will want Christ's approval when this life is

over!

Conclusion:

B.      Are we alive and growing, or are we dying spiritually?

 

B.   We need to heed the warning of Christ about our names

being removed from the book of life!

1.      United Methodist are Armenian in theology.  That

means we do believe that we can fall away! This

letter supports that theology!

2.      We don’t have to live in fear that Satan will

     snatch us away; Christ is able to keep us!

3.      But we do need to be serious about our

     Relationship with God.  We need to keep the fires

     kindled!  We need to strive to draw closer!  We

need to strive for renewed vision!  We don’t need

to become indifferent or take Christ for granted! 

We can turn away and our names be blotted out of

the book of life, but the decision is ours!

 

C.      We can be renewed, have our fire and vision rekindled, and we can draw closer today as we encounter Christ at the table in Communion.

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Seven Churches of Revelation Series. Sermon Four: Thyatira. "The Church That Had a Choice To Make!"

 

           Introduction:  watch clip about making choices:

 

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxJxTokJoI

 

A.      How many choices did you make today?  This week?

 

B.   Most choices are common everyday choices.

 

Trans.

Today, we will look at a church who had a very

important choice to make and consider the choices that

we have made and continue to make ourselves.

 

                            Prayer

                          Rev. 2:18-29

 

I.   Thyatira:  The city and its background.

A.   Thyatira is a smaller town than the other six.

1.   Commercially known for its trade guilds.

a.   Similar to our unions of today.

b.   Here are a few: wool-workers, linen-workers, dyers, tanners, bakers, potters, & etc.

2.   Politically, the city was neutral.

3.   Home of Lydia mentioned in Acts 16:14.

(a convert of Paul's ministry)

 

              “A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of

God, was listening to us; she was from the city

of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The

Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what

was said by Paul.”

 

B.   Religiously the city was active.

1.   No temple of emperor worship.

2.   There were many other gods and temples.

 

II.  Thyatira:  The Church.

A.   Commendation:  for five virtues.

1.   Love.

2.   Faith.

3.   Service.

4.   Patient endurance.

5.   Latter works exceed the first; they grew.

 

B.   Reprimand:     Allowed wicked woman (called

Symbolically Jezebel) to convince them that immoral

conduct was alright.

1.   Background is probably tied to the guilds.

a.   To work, you had to belong to a guild.

b.   To belong to a guild, you had to participate

in their social and religious activities.

c.   These events very often ended in immoral and

unGodly acts!

2.   This woman had said it is okay to do this to keep your jobs, just so you do not do it otherwise! (The lesson here: It is not okay to cheat or do anything against your faith because your boss or anyone else tells you to.)

3.   Again, this church is compromising their faith to get ahead financially!

 

C.   Exhortation:

1.   To those who had followed Jezebel, repent of

Their wicked ways and divided loyalties.

2.   To those who had not, hold fast to their    

convictions.

 

D.   Promise:

1.   Power over nations; symbolic of the strength to

stand up at all costs and win out.

2.   Morning Star.

a.   Interpretation is questionable.

b.   Could possibly symbolize the glory to come

to those who stay true to Christ.

 

III. Thyatira's message to Forsyth.

A.      The church and sinful ways of the world must never

mix.

1.   Matt. 6:24     "nobody can serve two masters."

2.   We must never let the sinful practices of the

world rub off on us.

a.   Lying.

b.   Deceitful business.

c.   Prejudice.

d.   exclusiveness.

e.   promiscuity   (to name a few)

          3.   Again, this is about our individual choices to

justify sin in our own lives for self gain!  It

isn’t about trying to make others conform to what

we think! 

 

B.      The Church must preach the gospel of grace, repentance

of sin, and extend God’s love to all people.

1.   The world needs to know that God will forgive

their sin however immoral it is!

2.   This is the message we need to share as seen in

John 3:16.

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave

his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

in him should not perish, but have everlasting

life.”

 

C.   We must realize the power available if we stay true to

Christ.

1.   As an individual Christian.

a.   to grow.

b.   to overcome temptation.

c.   to deal with life's difficulties.

 

2.   As a church.

a.   to teach those who we reach and to keep

them.

b.   to bring those on the outside to Christ!

c.   to share the love of God in a world that

very much needs to experience it.

              d.   We are not alone!

 

Conclusion:

A.   Think about the choices we have made and make each  day.

 

B.      Is there anything that has come between us and God? Do

we choose God in our everyday choices?

 

C.      Do we need to ask God to help us with our choices

today: to help us to choose God above everything else?

 

D.   Let's do that as we encounter Christ at the table this

morning!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

 

                      Service of Communion