Laodicea

Communion Meditation

Communion Meditation: The Price of Redemption

• Scripture: 1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV) – “…you were ransomed… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

• Redemption’s Cost: Our salvation wasn’t purchased with earthly riches but with the perfect, sinless blood of Jesus.

• The Bread & Cup:

• The bread reminds us of His body, broken for us.

• The cup symbolizes His blood, shed for our forgiveness.

• A Moment of Reflection:

• Are we living in the freedom Christ purchased for us?

• Are we honoring His sacrifice with faith and obedience?

• Response: Take this time to pray, confess, and give thanks as we partake in remembrance of Him.

Bible Passage: Revelation 3:14-22

Big Idea: A genuine relationship with Christ compels us to confront our complacency and embrace the call for revival, resulting in passionate living that reflects His glory and love.

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

14 “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. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Context

Laodicea

Important city

It was an intersection city tons of people traveled through it going NSEW.

Thousands of people in this city.

What’s crucial about this city was its water supply.

As the population grew the local streams were no longer able to supply the necessary water.

They built an underground aqueduct

Due to the purity of the water near them they had to pipe in water from a distant spring

The water carried by these stone pipes were so full of impurities that calcium build up would gradually clog the pipes

So they collected water in central water towers

The water would then be distributed through the streets.

TEXT

Revelation 3:14–17 ESV

14 “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.

Jesus is referencing himself in a specific way that applies to the church that he is addressing.

Jesus references himself as

The word of the Amen

Faithful and true witness

The beginning of God’s Creation

MEANING

Jesus instantly reminds them that

He is God’s truth, He is a faithful and true witness, and has the highest authority over all creation.

Referencing himself in this way is significant because it points to the issue that Laodicea had.

Like Colosse that is only 10 Miles Away

The heresy concerning the nature of Jesus found its way into the church

TEXT

Revelation 3:15–17 ESV

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

When we read this most interpret hot and cold as the temparment of our faithfulness to Christ.

The issue with this is that both hot and cold are good

Hot is related to the healing properties of hot springs

Cold is in relation to cool water that quenches thirst.

As A Church

they don’t bring peace & relaxation like hot spring

they don’t bring relief like cool water that quenches a thirst

Like the nasty (dirty, foul, tepid) water that flows through their aqueducts

As a church they make Jesus sick

So sick that he wants to vomit/spew.

POINT ONE

Refocus: If we don’t get Jesus right, nothing else matters.

When we have a warped understanding of the gospel it’s difficult to comprehend our own spiritual deficit

We are stuck thinking that what we are producing is good but in reality we make Christ sick.

THEO

He’s my little chef.

There have been multiple times he’s brought something to me that he has baked very proud.

I taste it and he has way to much salt

The minute it hits my tongue I’ve got to spit it out.

Same is true for the actions of the church. If they are not rooted in an accurate view of the gospel it doesn’t matter how proud we are of our actions they still make Jesus want to vomit.

The church today can become tepid (lukewarm) in several ways, much like the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22. Here are some key areas where spiritual complacency has crept in:

1. Prioritizing Comfort Over Commitment

• Many churches focus on keeping people comfortable rather than calling them to deeper discipleship.

• Signs of this:

• Avoiding hard biblical truths to prevent offense.

• Lack of urgency in evangelism.

• Preference for entertainment-driven worship over heartfelt devotion.

• Solution: A return to bold preaching, authentic worship, and a call to self-sacrificial discipleship (Luke 9:23).

2. Consumer Mentality in Worship

• People often treat church as a product to consume rather than a community to commit to.

• Signs of this:

• Attending only when convenient.

• Evaluating church based on personal preferences rather than biblical faithfulness.

• Expecting to be served rather than serving.

• Solution: Cultivating a servant-hearted culture (Mark 10:45) where church is about participation, not just attendance.

3. Lack of Dependence on the Holy Spirit

• Many churches operate more like businesses or social clubs than the body of Christ.

• Signs of this:

• Over-reliance on programs, strategies, and leadership techniques rather than prayer and the Spirit’s power.

• Measuring success by numbers and finances rather than transformed lives.

• Little room for spontaneous movement of the Spirit.

• Solution: A renewed emphasis on prayer, seeking God’s direction, and trusting Him for spiritual growth (Acts 2:42-47).

4. Worldliness and Moral Compromise

• Some churches have diluted biblical truth to fit culture’s shifting values.

• Signs of this:

• Downplaying sin and repentance.

• Accepting secular ideologies that contradict Scripture.

• Prioritizing cultural relevance over gospel faithfulness.

• Solution: Holding firm to God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), teaching truth with grace and love (Ephesians 4:15).

5. Losing Passion for the Gospel

• Evangelism often takes a backseat to church growth strategies or social programs.

• Signs of this:

• More focus on keeping members happy than reaching the lost.

• Little emphasis on personal evangelism.

• Missions and outreach treated as optional rather than essential.

• Solution: Reigniting a passion for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) by making disciple-making a church-wide priority.

TEXT

Revelation 3:18–19 ESV

18 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. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Jesus’s advice is…Turn back to me.

Jesus disciplines the ones he loves.

POINT TWO

Refocus: Jesus’s discipline is evidence of his grace in our lives

To the Christian Jesus’s discipline is not evidence of his wrath but evidence of his grace.

Jesus disciplines those He loves in several ways, always with the goal of correction, growth, and restoration. His discipline is never punitive in a destructive sense but rather serves to draw His people closer to Himself and shape them into His image. Here are a few ways He does this:

Parents who love their children they discipline them:

Many ways that Jesus shows us he love us through disciplining

1. Through His Word (John 15:3)

• Jesus corrects, convicts, and guides through Scripture. He told His disciples, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.” His teaching purifies hearts and renews minds.

2. Through Trials and Suffering (Hebrews 12:6-7)

• “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Suffering can serve as discipline that refines character, deepens faith, and redirects misplaced priorities.

3. Through the Conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8)

• The Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin, righteousness, and judgment, leading them to repentance and obedience.

4. Through the Consequences of Sin (Galatians 6:7-8)

• God allows people to experience the natural consequences of their actions as a means of discipline, teaching them to walk in righteousness.

5. Through the Church Community (Matthew 18:15-17)

• Jesus established the church as a place for accountability, where fellow believers help correct and restore those who are in sin.

6. Through Testing and Refinement (James 1:2-4)

• Difficulties serve to develop perseverance, maturity, and reliance on Christ rather than self.

Jesus’ discipline is an act of love, meant to shape us into His likeness and draw us into deeper fellowship with Him.

TEXT

Revelation 3:20–22 ESV

20 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. 21 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. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

Jesus is no knocking on the door of our hearts

He is addressing people who are saved

He is making the statement that he is available to fellowship with them.

The letters have nothing to do with salvation, they have everything to do with God removing them as an representative of him within their community. (Remove their lampstand.)

If you are a believer you will hear this rebuke from from Christ.

POINT THREE

Refocus: Jesus wants us to desire fellowship with him.

To ensure that we as a church are truly inviting Jesus in for fellowship, we must be intentional about cultivating intimacy with Christ,

We want to avoid complacency, and aligning our worship, mission, and daily practices with His will.

Here are several key ways to do that:

1 Return to Prayer and Dependence on the Holy Spirit

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Mark 11:17)

• Many churches rely on programs, strategies, and talent but neglect fervent prayer. Jesus desires a church that seeks Him first.

We want to establish regular times of corporate prayer and fasting, encouraging the church to depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and power.

2. Prioritize the Preaching of God’s Word

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)

• Christ is present where His Word is faithfully preached. A church that waters down Scripture or avoids difficult truths closes the door to Him.

Every sermon, Bible study, and teaching moment is deeply rooted in Scripture, pointing people to Christ.

3. Foster Genuine Fellowship Among Believers

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42)

• Jesus desires not just individual relationships, but a unified body devoted to loving, encouraging, and bearing each other’s burdens.

Create space for authentic relationships through small groups, discipleship, and sharing life beyond Sunday services.

4. Engage in Mission and Evangelism

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

• Jesus is not just knocking for our personal benefit—He calls us to invite others to know Him.

• A church focused only on itself can become stagnant; a church committed to the Great Commission is alive in Christ.

Regularly engage in outreach, missions, and local evangelism, reminding the church that Jesus is always seeking the lost.

When Jesus knocked at the Laodicean church’s door (Revelation 3:20), He wasn’t calling them to busier religious activity—He was calling them to renewed intimacy with Him.

Inviting Jesus in means centering everything around Him: our worship, preaching, prayer, fellowship, service, and mission. The question is: Are we making room for Him, or are we just assuming He is already inside?

Membership

Forest Jones

Anna RonQuillo

Emily O’Neal