Cultural Effects:
Apparently, the church in Sardis had adopted the atmosphere of the city. The church had become a thermometer that registered the temperature of the community instead of a thermostat that changed the temperature of the community.
It is to this church that had become lazy, apathetic and complacent that the Lord Jesus addresses as one of the seven churches of the book of Revelation. Jesus has no words of commendation for the church at Sardis, but He does have some words of counsel. I would like for us to look at our Lord’s words to this dying church. There is a word of warning for us in these verses as well.