“I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1-6, NASB)

Not every church that appears to be alive is alive. Here is a lesson that we can learn from reading today’s passage. The Lord spoke about the church in Sardis,

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The fifth church of the seven churches of Revelation represents a church that appears to be alive but is not. It is, in fact, a dying church! How does a church appear to be alive, but is a dying church? Many things give the appearance of a growing church. The church may attract large crowds of people every Sunday. They may have big and beautiful church buildings. They may have many fun and heartfelt church activities throughout the week. They may have charismatic preachers who preach how you can be healthy, wealthy, and have a great relationship with God. They have a celebrity-status name and a reputation for being active and effective. They may be recognized and praised by the world as progressive, culturally relevant, and not narrow-minded churches. They may even have “few people” in their midst who are genuine Christians who “have not soiled their garments.” Were there churches like this in the past? Yes. Are there churches like this today? Yes.

According to the Lord, they have a name that they are alive, but they are dead. They are dead or dying churches because they do not have a relationship with Christ, who is the head of the church. Not every church is a church. Not every Christian is a Christian. Not every Bible teaching is Bible teaching. Watch them and listen to them carefully, and you will know that they have nothing to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. They may use words like “Lord,” “your name,” “prophesy,” “cast out demons,” and “perform miracles,” but they are not of God. Jesus spoke about them in the Bible, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name cast out demons, and in your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Mt.7:22-23). Not every church that appears to be alive is alive. Not every ministry done in Jesus’ name is of Jesus. Not every gospel of Jesus Christ preached is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s warning is stern. If they are not entirely dead, he calls on them to “wake up, and strengthen the things that remain.”

• Why did people think that the church in Sardis was alive, but the Lord considered them dead?
• What are some reasons why people believe that a church is alive?
• What are the reasons why the Lord would consider a church dead?