Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-22

When Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea, His words are strong and startling. He describes their faith as lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—and says He is about to spit them out of His mouth. But what does it mean to have lukewarm faith? Lukewarm faith isn’t just a lack of passion or spiritual immaturity. It’s spiritual indifference. And the danger of spiritual indifference is that we miss out on intimacy with Jesus. Unbelief or resistance toward God can be transformed, but indifference keeps the door shut. The tragedy of ignoring Jesus is not what you keep—it’s what you lose.

1. Do you often find yourself living without thought of God, going about your day without considering His ways or spending time with him?

       a. What do you do to realign your mindset?

2. Pastor Ryan said that indifferent Christianity was worse than atheism. What are some reasons that is true?

3. Read Mark 10:17-25 & 1 Timothy 6:6-10—The riches of Laodicea had made them complacent. What other warnings does the Bible give about riches?

4. Read Proverbs 8:17-21—What makes riches a blessing in this Bible passage?

5. What things in your life have made you feel self-sufficient, as if you don’t need God to accomplish such and such task?

6. In this sermon series, for each church Jesus revealed that they were not seeing themselves as Jesus did. For Laodicea, they thought they were healthy, wealthy, and wise, but Jesus revealed that they were blind, poor, and naked. What in your life has he revealed to you that you have not been seeing as he sees it?

       a. What will you do with that spiritual knowledge?

7. Read Revelation 3:20— It is addressed to the Church, not to unbelievers. Before Sunday’s message, were you aware of the context of that verse?

       a. How does that verse hit home with you?

       b. Is there an area of your life that you have locked Jesus out of?

8. For those who have indifferent Christians, even prodigals, in their lives, what does this passage in Revelation tell you about the love and grace of God?

       a. How does this give you hope?

9. Read Psalm 81:9-10 & Matthew 11:28-29—Pastor Ryan used the illustration that constant busyness to fill a leaky bucket is exhausting and impossible to do for forever. Pastor Hinz has often said that “busy” is an acronym for “being under Satan’s yoke.”

       a. How may Satan be using your own “fixes” to distract you from what God really wants for you?

              i. What have you been missing out on in your relationship with Jesus?

       b. What is the true patch for that “leaky bucket” in your life?