Going from Good to Great
Revelation 3:1-6 (NIV)
1 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Let me give a little background on this church
1. They were a big church
Had a lot of ministries
2. They were doing a lot of things
a. That’s why that had a reputation of being alive
b. The problem was that although they had things going on they were dead
c. Because they were happy and content with how things were
d. They weren’t going to do anything to change how things were.
e. They looked alive but because of lack of desire to be better they were dead.
The Message
3. To the angel of the church.
a. Means messenger
b. Pastor
c. To tell the whole church
Question: How many people believe that God speaks thru the pastor of the church?
4. You appear alive but you are dead
a. I know your hearts
b. Your happy and content with things
c. You put on a good show
d. But I am not buying it.
God is never happy with mediocrity
5. God is a God of greatness
Question: How many believe that God is a God of greatness
Question: How many people believe God expects His church to be great also?
6. God expects His churches and children to be great.
7. Its called the “Great Commission”
8. He is “Great and Mighty”
9. Sure things can be good.
10. But God wants things great
We have a wonderful church here.
11. I am so excited to be a part of this family of believers
a. You must understand that. Its my heart
b. We all have a wonderful heart for God.
c. I couldn’t have picked a better church myself
But God has given me a message.
And that is that we need to go from good to great!
12. He wants us to get together and make sure that when we go into this New Year we go do it with the intent to be a great church for God in ever area of ministry.
Not just in this church but in our own personal lives
13. He tells the church in Sardis
2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God
14. He was telling the church
a. You have deeds but they are not complete.
i. Wake up and strengthen what you have….Or it’s going to die.
ii. No more mediocrity.
iii. Get better.
Many churches dieing
15. There are so many churches that are dying right now across America right now. And one of the reasons is because of a lack hearted attitude to ministry.
The statistic is often quoted:
85 % of churches in the United States have plateaued or are declining in attendance. That’s approximately 340,000 churches. In other words 340,000 churches need a turnaround.
a. They don’t follow what God says.
b. They don’t strive to go from good to great in all they do.
c. They are comfortable.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
16. We are supposed to be giving ourselves fully to his work.
17. We aren’t suppose to be lax
Jeremiah 48:10 (NIV)
10 "A curse on him who is lax in doing the LORD’s work!
The warning
3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Remember what I told you.
a. Don’t forget why you were a church in the first place
b. Obey it
c. And repent
i. We all know what this means
18. If they don’t
a. Without even realizing it he will come and basically close the church down
b. It also holds a hint of judgment to it doesn’t it.
c. Thief in the night?
The promise
19. He gives a promise
“4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
20. If they do what is supposed to be done with excellence and go from good to great they will be blessed.
a. Their names won’t be blotted out of the book of life.
b. They will be acknowledged
21. He is saying this to us today.
a. Summertown
b. Go from good to great
c. Get better and better
d. Don’t be satisfied with the status quo
e. Don’t get comfortable
f. There are people dieing.
g. Lives are at stake
h. There is evil everywhere
i. Wake up
j. Wake up
Romans 13:11 (NIV)
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)
14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
That’s why I am never satisfied with just O.K.
22. I am never satisfied is good.
a. The moment its just good God… wants it better
23. Some people have a hard time with that I know.
a. But I can’t ignore my calling.
b. God has called me to help lead His children from good to great….to wonderful to magnificent. From O.K. to outstanding.
c. Not just in church….no no.
d. In all that we do…from our homes, family life, work, personal relationships. Strive for greatness
And I am wondering if there is any one with me? Is there anyone who wants to rise from dead to living?
Is there anyone who wants to go from ok to greatness?
Please don’t say I am alone…Please don’t say you are all comfortable with the way things are.
Come forward and we are going to pray
I believe God has something special for us in 2006
