What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 88 - 21/11/25

Led by Graeme McPherson

Tonight, we continue with our study of the seven churches of Revelation - The church of Sardis.

In this study, we explore Jesus’ message to the church in Sardis, a fellowship that carried the reputation of being alive yet was declared spiritually dead, revealing the danger of outward success without inward faithfulness.

We look at the historical and cultural setting of Sardis—a wealthy, influential, pluralistic city—where both Jews and Christians were tempted to compromise the distinctiveness of God’s truth to “get along” with the world around them.

Jesus exposes a church that had blended into its environment, losing the sharp edge of the gospel, softening its message, and allowing comfort, peace and reputation to replace wholehearted loyalty to Him.

Through Scripture, we examine how a church—or a believer—can appear vibrant externally while spiritually empty, exploring themes such as compromise, friendship with the world, incomplete works, and the loss of Jesus’ pre-eminence.

Jesus calls Sardis to wake up, strengthen what little remains, remember what they first received, hold fast to the truth, and repent before everything spiritually alive within them dies out completely.

We see how this warning speaks directly to our own “get-along culture,” where the exclusive claims of Christ are often diluted, avoided, or re-packaged to avoid rejection, conflict, or cultural disapproval.

Yet the study ends with hope—Christ promises white garments, secure names in the Book of Life, and the joy of walking with Him in victory for those who refuse compromise, hold to His Word, and keep Him above all else.