-Worldly entertainment in churches attract and produce worldly people.-----This is part two. Part one is at http---www.sermonaudio.com-sermoninfo.asp-SID-49122215352----The Lord said that the church in Sardis was dead, even though its members thought it was a living, even vibrant church.----Sardian churches exist today. Here is how to recognize a modern Sardian church. 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK THE PASTOR OF ANY CHURCH YOU ARE CONSIDERING.----This sermon is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Sardis in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.

"Worldly entertainment in churches attract and produce worldly people."

This is part two. Part one is at http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=49122215352

The Lord said that the church in Sardis was dead, even though its members thought it was a living, even vibrant church.

Sardian churches exist today. Here is how to recognize a modern Sardian church. 8 QUESTIONS TO ASK THE PASTOR OF ANY CHURCH YOU ARE CONSIDERING.

This sermon is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Sardis in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.

-For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain...I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live- yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...-----It is so easy to gloss over these words because advertising constantly uses similar ones -- a product that will -change your life,- -make you a new person,- etc. Unlike the informercials, what Paul says is REAL. He's not saying, -I made a million dollars in one week with the God System-- or -I've now achieved self-esteem,- or even -When I became a Christian I became a better person.-----That is a man-centered gospel, which is no gospel at all. The Gospel is not centered on man, it is centered, it is all-in-all, on Christ.----Christ makes you ANOTHER person.----The genuine Christian life is not so much the believer living for Christ as it is Christ living in the believer.----Christ does not give us the power to imitate Him. He gives us HIMSELF. Our body becomes the dwelling place of His Spirit. -I Cor. 6-19-

Thyatira had no special significance, religious or political. Yet the Lord devotes more words to it in his letter than He does to any of the other seven churches.----Thyatira was a closed shop union town, and one's ability to make a living required union membership. The problem for Christians was that the unions were dedicated to idols and required idol worship, eating meat sacrificed to idols and orgies.---- Jezebel taught Christians that there was a way they could outwardly participate in all that as long as they inwardly stayed faithful to the Lord -- just as some today say you can participate in the idolatrous worship of Roman, Orthodox and many Protestant churches as long as you reject that inwardly.----Hear what the Lord thinks of that teaching.----This is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Thyatira in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.----RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER STUDY on whether you can participate in or even attend unbiblical worship as long as you -inwardly- reject it- -Come Out From Among Them- Anti-Nicodemite Writings of John Calvin- -Protestant Heritage Press, 2001-

PAER III OF III----Pergamos has been called the most idolatrous city in Asia Minor, the one that most persecuted the Christians.----Matthew Henry wrote, -The city reeked with the stench of its heathenism, evil hung in its streets like a clammy fog.-----This 3-part series is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Pergamos in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.----VIDEO- http---www.youtube.com-watch-v-T5b9aUe-uMQ-feature-player-detailpage

PART II OF III----Pergamos has been called the most idolatrous city in Asia Minor, the one that most persecuted the Christians.----Matthew Henry wrote, -The city reeked with the stench of its heathenism, evil hung in its streets like a clammy fog.-----This 3-part series is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Pergamos in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.----VIDEO- http---www.youtube.com-watch-v-T5b9aUe-uMQ-feature-player-detailpage

How wonderful and noble are these words which come from the lips of the dying Savior as he hangs on the cross of Calvary! What comfort and hope this blessed promise of salvation must have been for that miserable wretch, the thief who professes faith in Jesus Christ, as he is also dying, hanging on his own cross next to the King and Lord of glory. As Calvin puts it, this penitent thief comes to adore Jesus as King on the gallows tree.

Listen to how this sweet promise of sure, swift, and satisfying salvation is given by Jesus to this wretched dying thief in the midst of so much wickedness, malice, darkness, mockery, devilishness, and dreadful judgement in the scene of crucifixion which is so vividly expressed to us in the gospel record.

The Lord said that the church in Sardis was dead, even though its members thought it was a living, even vibrant church.----Sardian churches exist today. Here is how to recognize a modern Sardian church.----This is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Sardis in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain...I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..."

It is so easy to gloss over these words because advertising constantly uses similar ones -- a product that will "change your life," "make you a new person," etc. Unlike the informercials, what Paul says is REAL. He's not saying, "I made a million dollars in one week with the God System!" or "I've now achieved self-esteem," or even "When I became a Christian I became a better person."

That is a man-centered gospel, which is no gospel at all. The Gospel is not centered on man, it is centered, it is all-in-all, on Christ.

Christ makes you ANOTHER person.

The genuine Christian life is not so much the believer living for Christ as it is Christ living in the believer.

Christ does not give us the power to imitate Him. He gives us HIMSELF. Our body becomes the dwelling place of His Spirit. (I Cor. 6:19)

The Lord said that the church in Sardis was dead, even though its members thought it was a living, even vibrant church.

Sardian churches exist today. Here is how to recognize a modern Sardian church.

This is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Sardis in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.