CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUA SUNDAY, 2nd JUNE 2024 | TOPIC: CHRIST’S LETTER TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: THE CHURCH IN SARDIS 

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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL

CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Take heed, watch and pray

SUNDAY, 2nd JUNE 2024.

HYMN: S.S & S 642 “When We Walk With The Lord… “

TOPIC: CHRIST’S LETTER TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES: THE CHURCH IN SARDIS

TEXT: Rev 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION:
Revelational letters were written to the seven churches in Asia, of which the church in Sardis was one. The message was from Christ and was directed to the angel of the church. Apostle John was the channel of communication for the message which centred around bearing true allegiance to God.
The city of Sardis at that time was a famous one. It was well secured and was a great centre of commerce. The church there was well known and had a great reputation for being very lively. This human opinion about the church became the focus of Christ’s message. Though well known and popularly acclaimed as a vibrant church before God it was rated as dead because of complacency and compromised spiritual testimony.
This study will examine the state of this church as revealed by the letter with a view to drawing valuable lessons.

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson shall be to:

1. Explain the significance of Christ’s introduction
2. Identify the points of commendation for this church
3. State the complaints against this church
4. Discuss the instructions and promises to this church
5. Relate the state of this church to present day Christian

BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1. HOW DID CHRIST INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO THIS CHURCH, AND OF WHAT SIGNIFICANCE IS IT ? (Rev 3:1)
To the church in Sardis, the Lord Jesus Christ introduced Himself as “He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars”. By this introduction we see that the Lord is all knowing with power and Authority

QUESTION 2. WHAT WERE THE KEY REMARKS ON THE CHURCH IN SARDIS ? (Rev 3:1,4)
Two key remarks were made about the church. The first is that they have a name listed among the living but they were dead. The implication of this is that distant past was glorious and commendable but not the present. The second remark is that there were a few names in Sardis who had not defiled their garments and they will walk with the Lord in white, for they were worthy.

QUESTION 3.
WHAT WERE THE POINTS OF COMPLAINT AGAINST THE CHURCH AT SARDIS ? (Rev 3:2-3)
The complaints against the church in Sardis were direct. The first was that they were living in the past glory, having long abandoned true fellowship with God, infact, before God it was a dead church. The second is that the Lord did not find the works of this church perfect. Their commitment could not stand any test from God. They lost focus and we’re no longer watching to the extent that the little remnants were ready to die. They became complacent towards the faith. For all these, the church in Sardis was sharply rebuked and told to repent before it is too late.

QUESTION 4. HOW DID CHRIST COUNSEL THIS CHURCH AND WHAT WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTING THE COUNSEL ? (Rev 3:2-4)
The counsel of Christ to this church was direct and straight forward. First, they were commanded to return to godly watchfulness by being sensitive and alive in the Spirit and steadfast in their service to God. This may be in terms of persons or in terms of godly practices. They were also admonished to recollect themselves in terms of what they had received and heard, and to welcome back the gospel of grace they received at first. Christ stressed His counsel with a dreadful threat of sudden judgement, if they did not repent. Christ makes mention of the faithful remnants in Sardis and gives a gracious promise that they will walk with Him in white because they are worthy.

QUESTION 5. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE DRAW FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE CHURCH IN SARDIS ?
There are many valuable lessons to draw from the state of this church. We must be careful of past exploit so that it’s memory does not rob us of present commitments. We must continue to match our form of godliness with the scriptural power of God. We must be sensitive and watchful enough in spirit so as to hear God’s assessment as to the quality of our works. God is concerned and responsive to any little sign of life in our faith. He takes due diligence to acknowledge those who remain steadfast and faithful, even when they constitute a negligible minority.

DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Christ does not leave a sinful congregation without a word of grace and warning. The church in Sardis rated themselves as very ideal, perhaps this was also the rating of others. However before God, the church was not really what it was reputed to be. We should be careful of humanly ascribed reputations. God knows when our works are hollow and empty and our inward diligence is lacking. Let us heed the counsel of Christ to always remember what we have received so as to hold it fast in faith to the end.

MEMORY VERSE:
Revelation 3:6 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches”

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