Embracing True Faith: The Call to Be All In

Each of us longs to be clean, to be made whole, to find meaning and hope in the midst of our struggles and doubts. There is a common thread running through every human story: distress, uncertainty, and the deep need for pardon and cleansing. Yet, woven even more powerfully through our lives is God’s unwavering promise never to leave us spiritually homeless or isolated, no matter what storms may come. In a world that often encourages self-sufficiency and “spirituality” without substance, it’s easy to settle for being “Christian-ish”—to want just a little bit of Jesus when we’re in trouble, but not to let Him transform our whole lives.

The challenge is not simply to add Jesus to our list of resources, but to be “all in”—to trust Him with every part of our lives, in good times and bad. Jesus is not a spiritual emergency button to be pushed only when we’re desperate. He is the source of life, the one who says, “Without me, you can do nothing.” This is a hard truth for those of us who have been raised to value independence and achievement. Like the church in Laodicea, we can become lukewarm—neither hot with healing nor cold with refreshing, but indifferent, self-reliant, and spiritually complacent.

Laodicea was a wealthy, self-sufficient city, proud of its resources and accomplishments. Yet, Jesus’ words to them were a wake-up call: “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.” The real poverty is not material, but spiritual—a blindness to our need for God’s mercy and grace. Discipline, in this context, is not punishment but loving correction, an invitation to return to the only source of true healing and wholeness.

The call is to look to Jesus—not just as a supplement to our lives, but as the one who has done everything for us, who covers our shame, forgives our sins, and invites us to live in the fullness of His love. In every circumstance—when we are tempted to rely on ourselves, when we struggle to forgive, when we worry about the future—He is present, offering mercy, grace, and peace. May we seek Him not just in moments of crisis, but in every moment, trusting that He is all we need.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Temptation of “Christian-ish” Living It is easy to settle for a version of faith that is comfortable and non-committal, where Jesus is only called upon in emergencies. This “Christian-ish” approach leaves us spiritually dry, missing the depth of relationship and transformation that comes from being fully surrendered. True faith is not about being “good enough” or spiritual by cultural standards, but about letting Christ shape every part of our lives. [03:32]
• 2. The Danger of Self-Sufficiency Like the Laodiceans, we can become blinded by our own resources, achievements, and comforts, believing we have little need for God. This self-reliance is a subtle form of spiritual poverty, leaving us vulnerable to complacency and indifference. Recognizing our daily dependence on God’s mercy and grace is the first step toward genuine spiritual vitality. [17:45]
• 3. The Call to Be “All In” with Jesus Jesus invites us to trust Him with every aspect of our lives, not just when we are in trouble. Being “all in” means acknowledging our need for Him in both success and failure, and allowing His love to define our identity and purpose. This wholehearted commitment is the antidote to lukewarm faith and the path to true transformation. [06:22]
• 4. The Loving Discipline of God God’s discipline is not punitive, but a sign of His deep love and desire for our growth. Like a wise parent or a skilled coach, He corrects and trains us so that we might experience the fullness of life He intends. Embracing His discipline leads us away from harm and toward the freedom and peace found in Christ. [23:11]
• 5. The Sufficiency of Christ’s Grace No amount of good deeds, moral living, or spiritual practices can substitute for the grace offered in Jesus. He alone covers our shame, forgives our sins, and provides the mercy we desperately need. Trusting in His sufficiency frees us from striving and allows us to rest in the assurance of His love and provision. [24:56]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - The Human Condition and Our Need for Cleansing
• [02:30] - The Thread of God’s Promise
• [03:32] - “Christian-ish”: A Comfortable Faith
• [06:22] - Are You All In?
• [07:30] - Wrestling with Dependence on Jesus
• [11:12] - The Depth of Our Need for Rescue
• [12:28] - John’s Exile and the Message to Laodicea
• [15:56] - Laodicea’s Wealth and Self-Sufficiency
• [17:06] - The Culture of Independence
• [17:45] - The Temptation to Need “Just a Little” Jesus
• [19:14] - Hot, Cold, and Lukewarm: The Spiritual Analogy
• [20:27] - The Wake-Up Call to Laodicea
• [23:11] - The Loving Discipline of God
• [24:56] - The Sufficiency of Christ’s Grace
• [25:45] - Trusting Jesus in Every Circumstance
• [26:30] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Reading

Revelation 3:14-22 (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. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
> 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. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

John 15:5 (ESV) — > “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Observation Questions

1. In Revelation 3, what does Jesus say is the spiritual condition of the church in Laodicea, and how do they see themselves?
2. According to John 15:5, what does Jesus say about our ability to do anything apart from Him?
3. What are some of the specific resources and accomplishments that made Laodicea feel self-sufficient?
4. How does Jesus describe His discipline in Revelation 3, and what is the purpose behind it?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the imagery of “lukewarm” to describe the Laodicean church? What does it mean to be neither hot nor cold in our faith?
2. How does self-sufficiency become a spiritual danger, according to both the passage and the sermon?
3. What does it look like to be “all in” with Jesus, rather than just calling on Him in emergencies?
4. How is God’s discipline different from punishment, and why is it described as an act of love?

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about the temptation to live “Christian-ish”—to settle for a comfortable, non-committal faith. In what areas of your life do you find yourself just wanting “a little bit of Jesus” instead of letting Him transform everything?
2. The Laodiceans were proud of their wealth and resources. Are there things in your life (like achievements, money, or abilities) that make you feel like you don’t really need God? How can you recognize and address this self-reliance?
3. Jesus says, “Without me, you can do nothing.” Is there a part of your life where you are trying to go it alone, without depending on Jesus? What would it look like to invite Him into that area this week?
4. The sermon described God’s discipline as loving correction, not punishment. Can you think of a time when God used a hard situation to draw you closer to Him? How did that experience shape your faith?
5. The call is to be “all in” with Jesus, not just in crisis but in every moment. What is one practical step you can take this week to trust Jesus more fully in your daily routines, relationships, or decisions?
6. When you struggle to forgive, worry about the future, or feel tempted to rely on yourself, how can you remind yourself of the sufficiency of Christ’s grace? Is there a specific verse, prayer, or practice that helps you?
7. The sermon mentioned that Jesus covers our shame and forgives our sins. Is there an area of shame or regret in your life where you need to receive His grace more deeply? What would it look like to let go of striving and rest in His love?