Jesus’ Word to the Church in NYC: Be Faithful Unto Death
The following is a summary of Rev. Dr. Jay Harvey’s sermon.
A defining struggle for many people today is the search for meaning in an age of digital saturation, existential anxiety, and fragmented identity. This sermon speaks directly into that ache. It challenges the reduction of the self to desire or performance and presents an alternative: a secure, purpose-filled identity found in Jesus Christ. Through the example of Polycarp and the promises of Revelation, Pastor Jay calls listeners to courage, clarity, and a deeper kind of hope—one that can endure even in a culture bent on distraction and self-distortion.
This sermon, delivered by Pastor Jay, rooted in the letter to the church in Smyrna from Revelation 2, offers a powerful call to faithfulness amidst suffering and cultural pressure. Pastor Jay begins with a vivid illustration from a funhouse of mirrors—spaces that distort one’s image—to show how self-perception apart from God can be misleading. People often define themselves by transient desires—whether sexual, financial, relational, or vocational—but such self-understanding is inevitably warped. In contrast, Pastor Jay points to the grounding identity offered in Christ, who knows us, loves us, and gives us a future.
To deepen the point, he references a now-viral interview with Mike Tyson in which the former boxer tells a young girl that there’s no legacy—“we die and go in the ground.” This worldview, rooted in materialism, leaves no room for ultimate meaning, hope, or justice. Pastor Jay identifies this nihilistic undercurrent as pervasive in modern culture and particularly resonant with Gen Z and Gen X, who often struggle with existential meaning and emotional dislocation despite material abundance.
In contrast, the sermon highlights the example of Polycarp, the early Christian bishop of Smyrna martyred for his faith. Drawing from historical accounts, Pastor Jay describes the cultural pride and imperial power of ancient Smyrna, where allegiance to Rome and emperor worship were civic expectations. Polycarp’s refusal to renounce Christ—even under threat of fire and wild beasts—demonstrates a courageous, joyful, and rooted faith that transcends fear and cultural conformity.
Pastor Jay concludes by inviting listeners to examine what is distorting their identity today. While martyrdom may feel distant in a Western context, he warns that spiritual dangers remain. Many live lives of distraction, numbed to deeper meaning and seduced by the lie that fulfillment can be found apart from God.