The church at Sardis was dead. Active, but dead.

C. H. Spurgeon once said: “Have you ever read ‘The Ancient Mariner?’ I dare say you thought it one of the strangest imaginations ever put together, especially that part where the old mariner represents the corpses of all the dead men rising up to man the ship — dead men pulling the rope, dead men steering, dead men spreading the sails. I thought what a strange idea that was. But do you know I have lived to see that time. I have gone into churches, and I have seen a dead man in the pulpit, a dead man as a deacon, a dead man handling the plate, and dead men sitting to hear.”

Paul wrote that the last days would be characterized by dead religion instead of living faith: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5).

The Gospel gives life but just going through the motions brings death. Jesus did not come to found social clubs, organizations to fill the time of members to keep them from boredom or religious corporations given to successful money raising. He came to save the lost… to impart spiritual life to those who were dead in sin. And He gives life to those who trust Him: “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10),

If your church is dead, start sharing the Gospel with others. When people are saved through your faithful Gospel witness, the church will come alive!