SERMON STUDY GUIDE Sunday February 8th, 2015
SERIES: LIVE LIKE NOBODY ELSE
“How To Be Wise With Money”
Guest: David Bennett
Can I have Ice Please?
Revelation 2:14-22
Unwavering Conformity Reading Plan: Day 21
Icebreaker: Which do you prefer and why (if the weather might call for either):
Cold Drink or Hot Drink?
Setting It Up:
Laodicea was a town in modern day southwestern Turkey. At the time John
wrote Revelation, it was a very prosperous town, including the church that was
located there. There were also two major water sources for the city, Cold
water from Hieropolis in the North, and hot water from hot springs in Denizli in
the South. These may or may not have played a part in the ‘lukewarm’ water
metaphor John uses here.
Read Revelation 3:14-22 and consider the following questions…
In verses 15-16 Jesus calls the church in Laodicea lukewarm and so He will
spit them out of His mouth.
1. In this context, what makes lukewarmness so repulsive to Jesus and such
a negative thing?
2. How can being lukewarm in our faith neutralize our effectiveness as
believers?
3. What are some of the things in your life that threaten to turn you lukewarm?
What are some things that can turn the church as a whole lukewarm (Think
about El Dorado County specifically)?
COLDSPRINGSCHURCH
restoring & strengthening
SERMON STUDY GUIDE Sunday February 8th, 2015
Read verses 17-18 again…
4. In verse 18, Jesus challenged them to ‘buy gold refined in the fire’, which
suggests the idea of something tested by fire, i.e. their faith. What is the value
in seeking opportunity to have our faith refined through testing? Share an
experience where your faith was strengthened in that way.
5. In verse 18, it also says to clothe ourselves in ‘white garments’, which
suggests purity. How does striving for purity act as a deterrent to
lukewarmness?
6. Finally, in verse 18, it tells us to get ‘salve to anoint the eyes”, which
suggest our need to see clearly. What is the value in seeing ourselves, and
others, with God’s eyes? How can this help to revitalize our spiritual lives and
also share the love of God in a more effective manner?
7. In verse 19 it says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be
zealous and repent.” How is this statement/command central to the whole
message that Jesus is giving to the church in Laodicea to not be lukewarm?
Putting it into Action
In verse 20, Jesus tells us that he is standing at the door and knocking, both
on our hearts as individuals, but also as a community of believers.
8. What are some doors that Jesus is knocking on that we need to open for
Him to come in? As individuals? As a community of believers? As the church
in America as a whole?
COLDSPRINGSCHURCH
restoring & strengthening