The Church in Laodicea
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Rather than reading this whole passage, let’s read it in small pieces and discuss them individually.
The Address
The Address
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
who is the intended audience?
How does the writer/Jesus describe himself?
What do those titles convey about who He is or what he might be conveying?
Amen - Henry: one who is steady and unchangeable
Faithful and True Witness - Henry: “whose testimony of God to men ought to be received and fully believed, and whose testimony of men to God will be fully believed and regarded, and will be a swift but true witness against all indifferent lukewarm professors.”
beginning of God’s creation - Henry: “either of the first creation, and so he is the beginning, that is, the first cause, the Creator, and the Governor of it; or of the second creation, the church; and so he is the head of that body, the first-born from the dead, as it is in ch. 1:5, whence these titles are taken.”
The Accusation
The Accusation
“ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
what is the rebuke or accusation?
What are some examples of what might be seen as “lukewarm” works?
How could this church be so confused over their actual state - “rich/prospered” vs. “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked?”
Walvoord: Their being lukewarm spiritually was evidenced by their being content with their material wealth and their being unaware of their spiritual poverty. Christ used strong words to describe them: wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.
How might this accusation or rebuke apply to us? (individually and corporately)
The Admonition
The Admonition
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
refined gold would have truly had value - pure, undiluted
white garments represent purity - unstained
salve - there was a medical school/clinic there -
Hacksaw Ridge - soldier temporarily blinded until someone came with water
How might our work for Christ need to be adjusted, refined?
While this rebuke is difficult and challenging - Jesus says that he reproves those he loves.
The Promise
The Promise
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
how have you heard the knocking door referenced used before? In it’s context, what does it truly mean?
what does the dining metaphor imply? How would we experience that?
Looking ahead:
would you all like to continue working through Revelation (I was only planning on going through these 7 churches)?
I was initially planning on going to the “I am” statements in John then the blessings of Jacob on his sons.
are there other things that would be interesting to study?
Sources:
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994.
Walvoord, John F. “Revelation.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
