Faithful Unto Death

On the Other Side of the Door

October 25, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice

The writer C.S. Lewis observed, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” (C.S. Lewis). And yet that is exactly what many people in our culture think about Jesus, that it is somewhat important. As we come to final church in our “Flickering Lamps” series, we read about a church that is perilously described as lukewarm; they are neither hot nor cold. Abut this church Jesus has nothing good to say. The situation is so bleak that Jesus is seen as standing outside the door, as if he is a forgotten guest, or worse someone who has been deliberately cast out. It is a tragic picture, but it is too often a picture of American churches and American Christians.

Big Promises

October 18, 2020 • Dr. Willy Rice

The church in Philadelphia was a small church. They didn’t possess inordinate size or powerful influence in cultural circles. They probably didn’t have a lot of financial resources. Jesus describes them as a church with “little power. This is not a criticism of their lack of spiritual vitality. Quite the opposite, Philadelphia is one of only 2 churches that Jesus does not offer a specific word of correction to. They were of little power in the way we often think of power...influence money, or size. In comparison with the great institutions of their world, the Philadelphia church seemed to have little power. But looks are deceiving. For those who feel small, I have a word of encouragement. We serve a big God who is able to do big things through people who sometimes feel small and overwhelmed.

Wake Up

October 11, 2020 • Sammy Rodriguez

We don’t know much about the Church of Sardis itself. Who led it or who it’s members were. Unlike the church of Ephesus we don’t have a letter written to them, or hear of the church in the book of Acts. One thing we do know is of a man named Melito of Sardis, an elder of the Church but he lived about a century later from when this letter would be given to Sardis. Though we will come back to Melito, so Remember his name. Although we do not know much of Sardis the Church, we do know plenty about Sardis the Ancient City.. Sardis is located to the South and slightly to the East of Thyatira. Sardis was situated at the junction of five roads and was an active commercial city. At one point, Sardis had once been the capital of Lydia, a very wealthy nation, and gold was even found in the river near the city. It was was fortified on a steep cliff with perpendicular rock walls which provided a natural citadel. Thus the city was deemed impervious to attack.