Awakening from Complacency: Embracing Christ's Call

Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the faithfulness of God, the safe arrival of our mission team in South Africa, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our midst. We welcomed Amy McPherson as our new director for kids’ ministry, praying for her as she steps into this vital role. We also commissioned our work team heading to help with hurricane recovery, asking God to use them as His hands and feet. All of this is a reminder that the church is not just a building or a program, but a living, Spirit-filled community called to serve, love, and reach the world.

On this Pentecost Sunday, we remembered the birth of the church, when the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and empowered them to proclaim the gospel to all nations. This same Spirit is available to every believer, not just a select few, and is the source of our strength, mission, and unity. As we concluded our series on the seven letters in Revelation, we focused on Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea—a wealthy, influential community that had become spiritually complacent and lukewarm.

Laodicea’s story is a warning for us. Outwardly, they had everything: wealth, influence, and a thriving church. But Jesus saw beneath the surface and found spiritual poverty, blindness, and self-sufficiency. He offered no praise for their deeds, only a loving rebuke and a call to repentance. Jesus’ love is not passive; it disciplines, corrects, and invites us to a deeper, more authentic relationship with Him. He stands at the door and knocks, not just once, but continually, inviting us to open our hearts fully to Him.

The challenge is clear: we must guard against complacency, remembering our first love and the mission to reach the lost and serve the least. Our wealth and comfort can easily lull us into spiritual apathy, but Jesus calls us to be refined, to pursue holiness, and to live with zeal and purpose. The reward for those who respond is intimate fellowship with Christ and a share in His eternal reign. The door to our hearts can only be opened from the inside; may we open it wide, not just today, but every day, allowing Jesus to transform us and our church for His glory.

Key Takeaways

- Spiritual Complacency Is a Subtle Danger
Laodicea’s wealth and success masked a deep spiritual poverty. It’s easy to mistake material prosperity or outward activity for spiritual health, but Jesus sees the true condition of our hearts. We must regularly examine ourselves, asking whether we have become lukewarm—comfortable, but lacking passion for God’s mission and presence. [36:40]

- Jesus’ Love Includes Discipline and Correction
True love does not ignore or excuse our shortcomings. Jesus rebukes and disciplines those He loves, not to shame us, but to call us back to Himself. Like a gentle but firm friend, He points out where we have strayed, always with the goal of restoration and deeper relationship. [43:51]

- The Call to Repentance Is Ongoing and Earnest
Repentance is not a one-time event, but a continual turning toward God. Jesus stands at the door and knocks—not just once, but persistently—inviting us to open our lives to Him afresh each day. Sincere repentance means allowing the Holy Spirit to refine us, purify our motives, and renew our zeal for God’s purposes. [55:51]

- Holiness Is Both Gift and Pursuit
Jesus calls us to clothe ourselves in white, symbolizing purity and holiness. This is not about outward appearances, but about being transformed by God’s Word and Spirit. Holiness is learned through Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and lived out in practical acts of love, forgiveness, and service to others. [54:17]

- The Promise of Intimate Fellowship and Eternal Reign
For those who respond to Jesus’ invitation, the reward is profound: He promises to come in, commune with us, and share His victory and authority. Our relationship with Christ is not static; it is a lifelong journey of opening the door wider, experiencing deeper fellowship, and anticipating the fullness of life with Him in eternity. [57:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Mission Team Update and Prayer
[03:45] - Announcements and VBS Information
[07:30] - Introduction of Amy McPherson
[08:13] - Prayer for Amy and Children’s Ministry
[10:20] - Commissioning the Work Team
[13:00] - Pentecost: The Birth of the Church
[27:55] - Setting the Context for Revelation
[31:11] - Reading the Letter to Laodicea
[33:10] - The Seven Letters: A Message for All Churches
[34:54] - The Cautionary Tale of Lehman Brothers
[36:40] - Laodicea’s Wealth and Spiritual Bankruptcy
[39:07] - The City’s Background and Reputation
[41:43] - Jesus’ Rebuke: No Praise for Laodicea
[45:17] - The Danger of Lukewarm Faith
[49:27] - The Aqueduct Analogy and Spiritual Consequences
[52:32] - The Call to Holiness and Scriptural Living
[55:03] - Jesus Stands at the Door and Knocks
[57:32] - The Promise of Reigning with Christ
[01:00:47] - The Light of the World Painting and Free Will
[01:02:25] - Invitation to Open the Door
[01:03:59] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Pentecost, Laodicea, and the Call to Authentic Faith

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### Bible Reading

Revelation 3:14-22
> To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
> These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

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### Observation Questions

1. What are the main problems Jesus points out in the church at Laodicea? (see especially verses 15-17)
2. According to the passage, what does Jesus offer to those who recognize their need and respond to Him?
3. How does Jesus describe His relationship to the church in Laodicea—what is His posture toward them? (see verse 20)
4. In the sermon, what modern example was used to illustrate the danger of looking successful on the outside but being bankrupt on the inside? [[34:54]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus say He would rather the church be “hot or cold” instead of “lukewarm”? What does this mean for believers today? [[45:17]]
2. The sermon says Jesus’ love includes discipline and correction. How is this different from how we often think about love? [[43:51]]
3. What does it look like for a church or a Christian to become spiritually complacent? How might wealth or comfort contribute to this? [[36:40]]
4. Jesus says He stands at the door and knocks, and that the door can only be opened from the inside. What does this teach us about our role in our relationship with Him? [[55:03]]

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### Application Questions

1. The church in Laodicea was materially wealthy but spiritually poor. Are there areas in your life where you feel “rich” or self-sufficient, but may actually be lacking spiritually? How can you honestly assess your spiritual health this week? [[36:40]]
2. Jesus’ love includes rebuke and discipline. Can you recall a time when God corrected you or used someone to lovingly point out an area you needed to change? How did you respond? [[43:51]]
3. The sermon described spiritual complacency as being “comfortable, but lacking passion for God’s mission and presence.” What are some warning signs of complacency in your own walk with God? What practical steps can you take to rekindle your zeal? [[45:17]]
4. Jesus calls us to “buy gold refined in the fire” and to “clothe ourselves in white.” What does pursuing holiness look like in your daily life? Is there a specific habit or practice you want to start or renew? [[54:17]]
5. Jesus stands at the door and knocks—not just once, but continually. What would it look like for you to “open the door” wider to Jesus this week? Is there a part of your life you’ve kept closed off from Him? [[55:03]]
6. The sermon challenged us to remember our first love and the mission to reach the lost and serve the least. Who is someone in your life you can reach out to or serve in a tangible way this week? [[47:30]]
7. The reward for those who respond to Jesus is intimate fellowship and a share in His eternal reign. How does this promise encourage you in your faith journey right now? [[57:32]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for open hearts, renewed passion, and the courage to respond to Jesus’ invitation each day. Ask God to help you as a group and as individuals to avoid complacency and to live out your faith with zeal and purpose.

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Spiritual Complacency

The church in Laodicea was materially wealthy and outwardly successful, yet Jesus saw through their prosperity to a deeper problem: they had become spiritually lukewarm, complacent, and self-satisfied. Their comfort and affluence dulled their passion for God and their mission to reach the lost and care for the least. Jesus’ words are a sobering reminder that it is possible to look good on the outside while being spiritually bankrupt within. He calls us to examine our own hearts and lives, to see if we have settled into a comfortable faith that lacks zeal, urgency, and dependence on Him. [36:40]

Revelation 3:14-17 (ESV)
“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. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Reflection: In what area of your life have you grown spiritually comfortable or complacent, and what is one step you can take today to rekindle your passion for Christ and His mission?


Day 2: The Loving Discipline of Christ

Jesus’ rebuke of the Laodicean church is not a sign of rejection, but of deep love. He disciplines those He loves, calling them to repentance and transformation. Just as He corrected Peter and as Paul instructed the Galatians to gently restore those caught in sin, Christ’s correction is always aimed at our restoration and growth. When we experience conviction or correction, it is an invitation to return to Him, to be refined, and to become more like Him. [43:51]

Revelation 3:19 (ESV)
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”

Reflection: When was the last time you sensed God’s loving correction in your life, and how can you respond with humility and gratitude rather than resistance?


Day 3: The Call to Holiness and Mission

Jesus urges the church to be earnest, to repent, and to clothe themselves in purity and holiness. He calls His people to remember their first love, to be refined like gold, and to live out their mission by reaching the lost and serving the least. True discipleship is marked by a pursuit of scriptural holiness and a life that reflects Christ’s love, compassion, and truth in action. We are invited to let the Holy Spirit fill us, guide us, and empower us to live out our calling with sincerity and conviction. [54:17]

Romans 12:11 (ESV)
“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can pursue holiness and serve others in Christ’s name this week, especially those who are overlooked or in need?


Day 4: Christ’s Persistent Invitation

Jesus stands at the door and knocks, offering ongoing fellowship and communion to all who will open their hearts to Him. This is not a one-time invitation, but a continual call to deeper relationship and surrender. He does not force His way in; instead, He patiently waits for us to respond, promising to come in and share life with us. The handle is on our side of the door—each day, we are invited to open wide and welcome Him fully into every part of our lives. [55:03]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
“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.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your heart or life where you have kept Jesus at a distance? What would it look like to open the door fully to Him today?


Day 5: The Promise of Eternal Fellowship and Reign

To those who overcome, Jesus promises the ultimate reward: to share in His victory, His authority, and His eternal kingdom. This hope is not just for the future, but shapes how we live now—with perseverance, faithfulness, and the assurance that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We are heirs with Christ, invited to participate in His reign and to experience the fullness of life with Him forever. Let this promise inspire you to remain faithful, to endure, and to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. [57:32]

Romans 8:17 (ESV)
“And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Reflection: How does the promise of sharing in Christ’s victory and kingdom encourage you to persevere in faith and obedience, even when the journey is difficult?

Quotes

The power of the Holy Spirit gives us strength to go and proclaim the good news. They had forgot that they were called to take care of the least of these. To proclaim Jesus to those who are poor and downtrodden as we help them and come alongside them in this journey of life and faith. [00:41:22] (21 seconds) Edit Clip

Friends, that's good news for us because as we strive to live this journey of life in faith, we are not going to live perfection. We are going to falter time and time again and fall short of God's glory. And the good news for us is God loves us. Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life for us. And He's always standing there, knocking at the door as we'll read in a moment. [00:44:58] (31 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus knows you and me. He knows Asbury Church. And He knew the deeds of Laodicea. He says, you are neither hot nor cold. He said, you are worse. He said, I wish you were one or the other. Hot being on fire for the kingdom, cold being far from it. He wishes they would be cold and not lukewarm. Lukewarm's kind of chickening out in the faith, right? You've got the good news. You've received the good news. And yet you're complacent. [00:45:42] (33 seconds) Edit Clip

What Jesus is saying to the church in Laodicea, what He's saying to us today is, hey, don't be lukewarm. Be hot. Have the spiritual fervor. Remember your first love. Remember the mission that I've called you to. So important in our journey of life and faith. [00:48:34] (22 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus said, be earnest and repent. Be sincere in your faith, is what he's saying. He's saying, be convicted by my word. Be convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit that we celebrate at Pentecost. He said, be convicted and be sincere. Come to me with your faults. Turn them over to me. Read the word. Ask me to fill you full and overflowing. Ask me to give you strength to conquer your sin. Strength to help save the lost. Strength to go out and do unto the least of these in my name. [00:51:52] (38 seconds) Edit Clip

``Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with that person and they with me. If anyone opens the door, I'll commune with them. Right? And so Jesus has given an invitation to Laodicea. He's given an invitation for you and me. That he stands at the door knocking. [00:55:07] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. I stand at the door knocking. Anyone who opens the door hears my voice. I'll come in and be with them. So that's the action. What's the reward? The reward is, you will sit on my throne. And what he's doing, he's done this in every single letter. He's wrapping it up by saying, eternal life with me, in my kingdom, in which you'll share, shared authority, victory with Christ, victory from the grave, from sin and death, honors the faithful with participation in his reign. [00:57:22] (43 seconds) Edit Clip

God gives us free will. He has given us the good news of the kingdom. Shared through the prophets, shared through the apostles, shared from preacher, from apostolic succession, passed down. He has given us the good news of his kingdom. And he stands every day at the door of our heart. And it's not a door he can open. It's a door that only we can open. [01:01:27] (31 seconds) Edit Clip

But today's invitation, just like tomorrow will be, for us to open the door. To let Jesus in so that we can be with him in fullness today and tomorrow and for all eternity. May we take the leap of faith. May we open the door. And for those of us who have done that in the past, may we make sure the door is wide open today. [01:03:07] (30 seconds) Edit Clip