Last Things First | Real When You've Been Pretending

Teaching from Ashley Weece | March 30th, 2025 

Revelation 3:1-6 (Sardis) 

We all know what it's like to wear masks. The "I'm fine" that covers our pain. The carefully curated image that keeps people from seeing who we really are. The Instagram filter that hides our struggles. Whether you're new to faith or have been in church your whole life, it's exhausting trying to be someone you're not. The church in Sardis had mastered the art of looking good. They had a reputation for being alive, vibrant, put-together. But Jesus saw past their carefully constructed image to a devastating reality: they were going through the motions, but inside, they were dying. Their reputation said one thing; their reality said another. Sound familiar? Maybe you're tired of pretending. Tired of feeling like you can't be honest about your doubts, your struggles, your questions. Tired of wondering if anyone else feels the same way. The good news? Jesus isn't interested in your perfect performance. He's after something deeper - something real. This week, we're talking about what happens when we drop the masks and get honest - with ourselves, with each other, and with God. Because here's the truth: real transformation doesn't start with having it all together. It starts with being real about where we actually are. Whether you're exploring faith or trying to live it out, there's freedom in finally being honest about who you really are. Join us as we discover what it looks like to move beyond reputation to reality - and find a community where you don't have to pretend anymore. 

You are listening to the Iron Coast Church Podcast. Our mission is to guide explorers to extraordinary lives through Jesus!

To learn more and to get connected, visit us online at ironcoast.church. This teaching was recorded live during our in-person gathering which happens every Sunday at 10am in Crooker Theater located in Brunswick, Maine. 

ironcoast.church