“It’s like what happened after we dropped the [atom] bomb in World War II. The results were so catastrophic that we’ll do anything to avoid dropping another one.”

That’s how John Lombardi, former president of the University of Florida, described the “death penalty” imposed on Southern Methodist University in 1987 after the NCAA determined that the school had been paying several football players. The initial reaction to the penalty was one of shock. The Mustangs had gone from undefeated to non-existent in just five years. The fallout from the punishment was so severe that it hasn’t been used against another Division I school.

Revelation 3 – Spiritual Autopsy

Revelation 3 contains the final three letters from Jesus to the churches. The church in Sardis didn’t receive a “death penalty,” but it was already considered dead inside because of its lifelessness. Many churches today are morgues with a steeple, though that may not be evident from the outside. What appears alive from our perspective may be “dead” in God’s eyes. These deceptively dead churches preach TED Talks rather than the Word of God. To reach out to the “unchurched,” many churches have embraced a market-driven philosophy of “doing” church.

Gary Gilley sums up the problem with “doing” church with a lifeless gospel in This Little Church Went to Market: “The new gospel is a liberation from low self-esteem, a freedom from emptiness and loneliness, a means of fulfillment and excitement, a way to receive our heart’s desires, a means of meeting our needs. The old gospel is about God; the new gospel is about us. The old gospel is about sin; the new gospel is about our needs. The old gospel is about our need for righteousness; the new gospel is about our need for fulfillment. The old gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing; the new gospel is attractive. Many are flocking to the new gospel, but it is altogether questionable how many are actually being saved.”

The Great Physician conducted an autopsy on the church in Sardis and offered life that is still available today. He told them to repent (3:3). They needed a change of mind and attitude to put them on the right track.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete remain loyal to the true gospel of Jesus Christ and refuse to be swayed by unfaithful, dead churches.

Bible Memory Verse – “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19 (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute: Death Penalty

Our featured book this week is God Speed (Steering Through Triumph and Tragedy) by Chad Bonham. God Speed is the remarkable true story of how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for His Kingdom. But most importantly, it will inspire you to dream and to achieve God’s dream for your life!

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