Your Church WILL Die… Unless It Awakens

Today, we hear a sobering message from the Book of Revelation, chapter 3, verses 1 to 6, where Christ speaks to the church in Sardis: “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 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.” These words cut deep, don’t they? They’re not just for Sardis long ago—they’re for us, here, now. The warning is stark: “Your church WILL die…” unless it awakens to the life God calls it to live.

Imagine a church bustling with activity—services packed, programs running, a name known in the community. Sardis had that reputation. They looked alive. But Christ saw the truth: their faith was a hollow shell. They were going through the motions, but their hearts were far from God. Their works were incomplete, lacking the fire of true devotion. Does that sound familiar? How often do we, as a church, settle for looking alive while neglecting the deeper call to live for Christ

The warning is clear: a church that coasts on its reputation, that prioritizes comfort over commitment, that forgets its first love, will die. Not because God abandons it, but because it abandons God. A church without prayer, without repentance, without the courage to follow Christ fully, is already fading. Like a body without a pulse, it may look whole for a time, but the life is gone.

Yet, there’s hope in these verses. Christ doesn’t give up on Sardis, and He doesn’t give up on us. He says, “Wake up!” It’s a call to action. Strengthen what remains—those flickers of faith, those small acts of love, those moments of genuine worship. Repent of complacency. Return to the basics: love God with all your heart, love your neighbor as yourself. Christ promises that those who overcome will be clothed in white, their names secure in the book of life, acknowledged before the Father. That’s not just a future hope—it’s a present invitation to live fully alive in Him.

So, what does this mean for us? First, we must examine ourselves. Are we a church that’s truly alive, or are we just keeping up appearances? Are our prayers fervent, our service selfless, our witness bold? Second, we must act. Wake up! Rekindle your prayer life. Reach out to the hurting. Share the gospel with courage. Strengthen what remains by investing in what matters to God—justice, mercy, and humility. And third, we must trust. Christ walks among us, knowing our works, calling us to life. He holds the keys to eternal life, and He offers them to us if we’ll only turn back to Him.

“Your church WILL die…” unless it awakens. But hear this: our God is a God of resurrection. He can breathe life into dry bones. He can revive a church that’s faltering. He can make us a beacon of His love and truth. Let’s answer His call today—wake up, repent, and live for Him. Amen.

DMMc 6-12-25