Thousands of church buildings may have a historical record of the church’s name on the cornerstone. It’s a church building, but it is a nominal church building - a church in name only. In the same way, a person or a congregation can be a nominal Christian or a nominal Christian congregation. They bear the name, but that’s it. When asked, they may check the box that they are a Christian or that they are enrolled as a member somewhere.
Jesus warns in Matthew 7, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23)
These are sobering, heavy, painful words. Words that we should heed and take into consideration this morning. How can a nominal, lifeless church or a nominal Christian be turned into a vibrant living church or a vibrant living Christian?.
Sermon Outline
1. Be honest about the problem. Vs. 1
2. Rely on Christ. Vs. 2-3
3. Exchange the counterfeit for the truth. Vs. 4-6
