MISSION WOODS CHURCH
Sunday, October 5, 2025
      • Bible Trivia
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  • Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord
  • Near to the Heart of God

      • Revelation 3:1ESV

  • It Is Well With My Soul

      • Matthew 7:22–23ESV

      • Revelation 3:1-2ESV

      • Revelation 3:3-4ESV

      • Revelation 3:5-6ESV

      • Revelation 3:7ESV

      • Revelation 3:8ESV

      • Revelation 3:9ESV

      • Revelation 3:10-11ESV

      • Revelation 3:12-13ESV

  • When I first entered ordained ministry, my first call was to a church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The church building was huge, the Christian Education wing was 3 stories including a huge youth room in the basement, classrooms, nursery, fireside room, kitchens (yes that’s plural), and more. The sanctuary was large with a capacity of 650 seated.
    Soon after arriving members were eager to share with me about the church. I’d hear stories of how they used to have to set up folding chairs down the aisles to accomodate all the people. Yet looking out from the pulpit, our average attendance was around 120. As I moved about the community and introduced myself I’d often hear, “I used to go there.” What happened? I don’t know the whole story. I looked up the address online this week, and it’s now a graduate university. The church closed long ago.

    Sardis is Asleep

    Too often churches, companies, and even people define themselves by who they were in the past. Back in Genesis we read of Lot’s wife looking back and becoming stuck right where she was.
    This seems to be what is going on in the church at Sardis. Rev 3:1
    Revelation 3:1 ESV
    “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
    Ouch!
    In the beginning of the Bible at the creation we see God breathing life into Adam, and he was both physically and spiritually alive. There is a difference though. You can be physically alive and spiritually dead. Our spiritual life is dependent upon our union with God. What happened at the Fall was that when they sinned, their union with God was severed.
    Jesus died for our sins, but He did much more. He came to give us life, and life abundant! he restored our union with God. For you and I being spiritually alive “in Christ” is what defines who we are as children of God.
    If we’re just going through the motions. I’m reminded of Jesus’ admonition in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 7:22-23
    Matthew 7:22–23 ESV
    On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
    Wait, what in there is lawless? They’re all good works, right? One could say they were dead. In the Bible life is connection. When the physical body or bios is connected with with soul or spirit zoe, we are alive.
    We are created to be in relationship with God. John writes, John 15:5
    John 15:5 ESV
    I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
    The purpose of the church, and our purpose as Christians is to bear fruit. If you’re not bearing fruit, you’re dead. Sardis had gone dormant. They were relying upon their reputation.

    Wake Up!

    As we’ve been learning from the seven churches, it becomes clear again and again, and again that these comments are invitations to self-examination. Our God does not leave us in our current state, but invites us out of it. As long as we remain on this earth we are called to keep moving forward. Jesus says to us:
    Revelation 3:2 ESV
    Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
    You’re not done! Jesus says, “I have not found your works complete. I remember one of our saints I look forward to seeing again, Ruth Beach who shared, “Every morning I wake up and say, ‘Well God, I’m still here. What is it you have for me to do today?’”
    We are to continue to move forward. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, Phil 3:12
    Philippians 3:12 ESV
    Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
    Did you catch that? Paul presses on while at the same time recognizing that he already is Christ’s own. He has already been claimed by God, there is nothing he needs to do to make that so because Jesus did it all! Still, he presses on, why? In hiw own words, Phil 3:10-11
    Philippians 3:10–11 ESV
    that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
    That’s a powerful testimony.

    Faithfulness Rewarded

    We read that Sardis was encouraged to wake up, and warned what would happen if they did not. In the letter to Philadelphia we recognize how faithfulness is rewarded.
    Revelation 3:8 ESV
    “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
    If there were a letter among these seven letters that I would hope would be written to “the angel of Mission Woods church” I think it would be this on written to Philadelphia. Too often smaller churches such as Mission Woods consider themselves less than important, less than vital. It’s easy to think of a small church as insignificant. Throughout the Scriptures it is the seemingly weak that God shows strong.
    Moses - not a great speaker
    David - too small to be a great leader, warrior, or king.
    Esther - one of many women in the king xerxes court, becomes queen and saves the Jews from Haman.
    Again from Paul:
    2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV
    For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
    Faithfulness is rewarded, even for those the world may perceive as weak.
    Finally,

    Eternal Identity is Secured

    Jesus has John close the letter to Philadelphia with some really positive thoughts. Things that each of us as Christians need to remember. Rev 3:10
    Revelation 3:10 ESV
    Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
    Again, it comes back to being connected to God, to God’s Word. All these fine things that we are doing, are we just going through the motions OR are we genuinely doing them in service to our Lord?
    Jesus promises us to come soon…
    Rev 3:11-12
    Revelation 3:11–12 ESV
    I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
    What is God’s definition of soon? I honestly don’t know. Yet one thing I do know is that Jesus keeps His promises. This is one place where I can say agree with the saying, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it.” Though it really doesn’t matter if I believe it, Jesus said it - that settles it.

    What’s Your Reputation?

    The opening of our text in the letter to Sardis, said that their reputation was of being alive, but they were dead. What about you? Are you alive in Christ? Are you connected to God, or are you going through the motions.
    Its been exciting for me as your pastor to hear of new ideas people have for serving, but more than that hearing of people’s spiritual growth. As your pastor I get to hear of these things. I’m not going to point people out, but people are reconnecting with God’s word and reading/or listening to God’s Word regularly. People are spending time doing devotions and praying daily. People are reconnecting to Bible studies and gathering around the Word. People are serving in new ways within the church and outside the church! We’re alive, we’re alive! Muhhahahahha.
    In all seriousness, Our faith must be alive and actionable, not just a façade; true discipleship demands vigilance, repentance, and a heartfelt pursuit of Christ's presence in our lives.
    If you’re looking to do some Bible study, devotions, or get involved, please let us know. We’re happy to help you grow!

    Praise and Rebuke (Part 3)

      • John 15:5ESV

      • Revelation 3:2ESV

      • Philippians 3:12ESV

      • Philippians 3:10–11ESV

      • Revelation 3:8ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 12:10ESV

      • Revelation 3:10ESV

      • Revelation 3:11–12ESV

  • In Remembrance
  • O Bless The Gifts
  • I'll Fly Away
      • Bible Trivia
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MISSION WOODS CHURCH
info@missionwoodschurch.org
(253) 922-5555
http://www.missionwoodschurch.org
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