Identifies as the “Amen,” Jesus speaks to this church as the indisputable witness of their condition. His glory is not at all reflected in this congregation, and He is disgusted by their pride. Yet, even now, He offers hope.1. Problem: Spiritual Lethargy (vv.14-16) 2. Product: Self-Sufficiency (vv.17, 18) 3. Promise: Divine Discipline (vv.19-22)

With perfect judgment, Jesus evaluates the church in Philadelphia and finds no complaint there. This congregation of saints provides a solid model of a healthy church. Divine praises for the present always come with divine promises for the future.

The downward spiral beginning with the Ephesian church’s loss of its first love for Jesus and continuing with Pergamum’s worldliness and Thyatira’s toleration of sin, reaches a new low at Sardis. Christ here declares the hope and plan for revival to a dying church.

This letter is the longest of the seven, though addressed to the church in the smallest of the seven cities. It has an important message for today: false doctrine and sin are not to be allowed—even under the banner of love, toleration, and unity.

Worldliness is the preoccupation with or interest in things of no eternal value. Cultural compromise is the next downward spiral for a church that loses its first love. Authentic Jesus-followers understand that they do not belong to this world, so they must not act like this world.

Throughout history, a seemingly paradoxical truth is that greater persecution of the church produces greater purity and strength in the church. Smyrna is one example. Such authentic followers receive only good words from the Master.

What are the motives that move Evergreen forward? As we complete the Year of Salt and Light, we must ponder the question: Why do we do what we do? Just as the Sermon on the Mount calls the individual Jesus follower to continually examine personal motives, the Living Lord regularly examines the motives of churches as well.

Studies confirm what we already know—our lives suffer from too much noise. Hundreds of advertisements assault us daily. The stress of activity and the urgencies of distraction frazzle us. As we rush from one task to another, we yearn for five minutes of peace. Why? Because God creates each one of us with a need for the discipline of quiet.