Study

JESUS
Encouragement

EPHESUS
God holds us in the palm of His hand. Jesus walks amongst the churches and knows what is happening.

LAODICEA

1. How do Christs three titles span His entire career (3:14)? What is signicant about these titles? How do you interpret the phrase, the beginning of the creation of God 2. Is there any commendation in this letter? Why or why not? Is there any mention of persecution or trial? What does this suggest? 3. Why does God prefer that we are either cold or hot (3:15)? Why would God want us cold? How can this term be understood? 4. How distasteful is lukewarmness to God (3:16)? Why is lukewarmness so distasteful to God? Could you describe a time in your life when you were lukewarm toward God? What is the appeal of being lukewarm? Why do people sometimes live lukewarm lives? How can you avoid lukewarmness? 5. In 3:17 John says that the Laodiceans think they are rich when they are, in fact, poor. What dangerous mindset develops as a result of wealth? What does this have to do with being lukewarm? 6. How can the church battle against becoming lukewarm? What are some warning signs of becoming a lukewarm church?

Indictment

Lost connection to Gods heart.

Condemnation Encouragement

They work hard, persevere, have no tolerance for wickedness and false teaching.

Rebuke

Loss of first love. The people of Ephesus had become such theological watchmen that they had lost the love for their brothers.

Admonition

Remember where you have fallen, repent, and do the things you did first.

Ultimatum

Removal of the lamp stand; the church from its place.

The Gift

Eat from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God.

1. How do Christs three titles span His entire career (3:14)? What is signicant about these titles? Refer to Isaiah 43:10-12, 65:15-16; John 1:2-4; Col 1:15-18; Heb 1:2 and discuss. 2. Is there any commendation in this letter? Why or why not? Is there any mention of persecution or trial? What does this suggest? No. This suggests the comfort that the church was living in connected to the world rather than truly living by being connected to Christ through the Spirit. There was no recorded persecution due to the churches connection to the culture. Interestingly, we see that there was a large Jewish contingent there (7,500 by the count of the taxes recovered Flaccus in 62 AD) which should have created tension as it did in the other cities. 3. Why does God prefer that we are either cold or hot (3:15)? Why would God want us cold? Hot is lled with the Spirit. Cold is dead but can be resurrected by Him who is willing and able (Jesus). 4. How distasteful is lukewarmness to God (3:16)? Why is lukewarmness so distasteful to God? Could you describe a time in your life when you were lukewarm toward God? What is the appeal of being lukewarm? Why do people sometimes live lukewarm lives? How can you avoid lukewarmness? We see that Jesus threatens to spit them out of His mouth, just we might spit out the tepid mineral laden water of Laodicea. Jesus says in the gospels to let our yes be yes, and our no be no (Matthew 5:37) Jesus would rather we be invested or at the very least have the character and integrity to claim that we arent invested. Wafing in lukewarm water does our testimony no good. The appeal is lack of commitment and in that access to your life in Christ. If I am lukewarm I never have to take a stand or step out. 5. In 3:17 Jesus says that the Laodiceans think they are rich when they are, in fact, poor. What dangerous mindset develops as a result of wealth? What does this have to do with being lukewarm? With their wealth the Laodiceans developed a dangerous mindset that is warned against in Deuteronomy 8:10-18 (Look at and discuss this passage, particularly verse 17-18). Jesus also warned in Matthew 6:24 that we cannot serve two master; both God and money lest we love one more and forget the other. As it happened in Laodicea the church forgot that it was by divine wealth (1 Peter 1:18-19) and work (Acts 16:6, 19:10, Col 1:6-7) of God that the church even existed in the rst place. 6. How can the church battle against becoming lukewarm? What are some warning signs of becoming a lukewarm church? 7. Think of the metaphoric vehicle here in Laodicea: water and thirst. The Bible takes seriously our need; our thirst for the truth of Jesus. (Deuteronomy 8:15; John 4:8-13 Women at the well; Revelation 22:17; Psalm 34:8; Proverbs 25:21)