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Home Group Notes - Revelation, Letters to the Churches

How would you describe the church at Laodicea? Would you like to have been a member?

What is Jesus’ view of the church at Laodicea?

How does the Laodicean church view itself? Why is there a contrast?

How can we guard against the danger of self-deception?

How does Jesus demonstrate his love for this church?

Do wealthier churches have a responsibility to support churches which are poorer because of where they are placed or the problems they face?

What kind of church do we hope to be in five or ten years’ time?

How important is it for a church to have a united vision?

To think about:

If Jesus took your spiritual temperature today, what would he find?

This is the last of the letters to seven churches in Asia, present day Turkey, in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, which are the subject of the 10.15 a.m. sermons at the moment.

Laodicea was a prosperous city, about 250 miles from Ephesus, situated at the junction of major trade routes. It dominated the other cities in the Lycus Valley, Colossae and Hierapolis and churches in all three cities are mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:13.

v15-16 Laodicea’s increasing prosperity had created an awkward problem. It had an inadequate water supply. Remains of an aqueduct have been found, suggesting that water was brought from some distance, possible hot mineral springs about five miles away. The aqueduct is made of hollowed stone blocks and water carried along it would have remained warm. Deposits of calcium carbonate on the stones show that the water cannot have been pleasant to drink. Laodicea’s neighbour, Hierapolis, had hot springs, whose medicinal powers were the basis of the city’s reputation. Colossae had a supply of cold, pure spring water, delicious to drink. Both Laodicea’s neighbours had water which was good for specific purposes, while Laodicea’s water, thought fit to drink, probably tasted disgusting. This is the point that Jesus is making. By calling them lukewarm he is not complaining about their lack of enthusiasm, or suggesting that hot enthusiasm or cold resistance are both preferable to half-heartedness. He is condemning their deeds. Just as the city has no water which can serve a useful purpose, so the church is behaving in a way which serves no useful purpose.

v17-18 The church in Laodicea had taken on the character of the city in which it was placed.

First, Laodicea was a wealthy banking centre. Rich citizens endowed fine building programmes. When the city was devastated by an earthquake in AD 60, its inhabitants rebuilt it themselves, declining financial help from Rome. They were self-sufficient and proud of it. The church considers themselves rich, but Jesus thinks they are poor.

Secondly, the city was a centre of medical excellence, especially of ophthalmology. While claiming to cure the blindness of others, the church is blind to its own spiritual condition.

Thirdly, the city was well known for its woollen products, especially made from the wool of the local black sheep. Apparently the Laodiceans dispensed with the costs of dyeing by promoting a fashion in black fabric made from the natural fleece of the animals. But in this city of fine clothes the church is as self-satisfied as its pagan neighbours. Notice that Jesus offers them white clothes to wear.

v19 Despite the smugness of this church Jesus still loves them. The harshness of his criticism is the mark of his love, which wants the best for them and is satisfied with nothing less.

v20 The gates of Laodicea were particular impressive and one, the Syrian gate had been rebuilt shortly before the probable date of Revelation. These gates were another sign of the city’s self sufficiency. Now they could decide who could come in and out. Jesus stands at the door (same word as ‘gate’ in Greek). He does not force entry, but waits to be asked inside.

(Notes and some questions from You’ve Got Mail, Stephen Travis and Serendipity NIV Bible)

How would you describe the church at Sardis? Would you like to have been a member?

What is Jesus’ view of the church at Sardis?

What is the contrast between reputation and reality in Sardis?

How can we be genuine in our Christian lives, not just project the right image?

What is the only hope for the survival of the church in Sardis?

Thinking about the letters to all 7 churches (from the morning sermons), has one in particular spoken particularly to you personally or to our situation at St Barnabas?

To think about:

If Jesus addressed this ‘wake up call’ to you, what would he want you to strengthen?

As a lead in to worship, the group might like to read Revelation 1:9-18 and reflect on it together.

There are some similarities between the church at Laodicea, which we looked at in the last study and the church at Sardis. Both churches seem to have allowed themselves to become like the cities in which they lived, to be proud of themselves and their own self-sufficiency and to forget their reliance on Jesus.

Sardis was a city with an illustrious past, but the present was less than glorious. The city was rebuilt after its destruction by an earthquake using Roman money, but it never quite recovered its former glory. It greatness lived on in folklore. It had been the capital city of the region, where King Croesus, reputedly the richest man in the world, had reigned. It had been a gold rush city and had developed into a major fashion and textile centre, like Laodicea. Even though it had considered itself invincible, it had been captured twice in its history by great generals. The city was so convinced of its own safety that it did not properly keep watch in time of war. The army of Cyrus the Mede scaled the cliff face in the dark and took the city in 546 BC. Ancient writers often used Sardis as a byword for arrogance and over-confidence and the pride that comes before a fall. Like Laodicea the church seems to have a tendency towards spiritual sleep. It was living off its past reputation, people thought it was a ‘lively’ church, but Jesus’ view is uncompromising: ‘you are dead’.

Death was a preoccupation of the people of Sardis. About 7 miles from the city there is a necropolis, with hundreds of burial mounds.

(Notes and some questions from You’ve Got Mail, Stephen Travis and Serendipity NIV Bible)