L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n
Title: L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n
Category: Sermon Starter
Subject: Lukewarm; Indifference; Revival, Need of
L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n
Winning the National Spelling Bee is a dream of many young people. Kavya Shivashankar of Olathe, Kansas, realized that dream by thoughtfully spelling out the letters L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n. As a result, she received an impressive trophy and over $40,000 in cash and prizes. The winning word “Laodicean” (pronounced 'La*od`i*ce"an'), according to the Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) means “Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion.”
Several years ago someone drew a humorous picture of a disheveled looking young man wearing a suit with a diploma tucked under his arm with the following caption, “SIX MUNCE UGO I CUTNT EVN SPEL PREETCHER AN NOW I ARE ONE.” Please do not hold me to the exact spelling of the caption.
Let me assure you the Laodicean condition is no laughing matter. We find it described in Revelation 3:14-22, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Under the heading “Calvary: User-Unfriendly”, Dr. Calvin Miller perceptively explains in his book titled Once Upon a Tree, “In a sense, the church-growth movement has contributed to this loss of transcendence. It has majored on the gospel that twenty-first-century people want to hear rather than on the one they need to hear. Many of the megachurch pastors speak with pride of building multi-thousand-member churches with a gospel that is 'user-friendly.' To start these churches, they often, of their own admission, asked their community constituency what kind of church and sermons it would take to get them to attend church. Once the community had dictated what the church must be to get their support, the church determined to become all its constituents demanded."
Dr. Miller also tells that some evangelicals once rebuked him for mentioning hell in a sermon. This account paints the picture of the situation faced by today’s sound biblical preacher.
These are indicators that we need a revival. Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me!
By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor, First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527 Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice http://www.webspawner.com/users/franklinlkirksey Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com fkirksey@bellsouth.net (251) 626-6210 /
© May 29, 2009 All Rights Reserved
Winning the National Spelling Bee is a dream of many young people. Kavya Shivashankar of Olathe, Kansas, realized that dream by thoughtfully spelling out the letters L-a-o-d-i-c-e-a-n. As a result, she received an impressive trophy and over $40,000 in cash and prizes. The winning word “Laodicean” (pronounced 'La*od`i*ce"an'), according to the Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) means “Of or pertaining to Laodicea, a city in Phrygia Major; like the Christians of Laodicea; lukewarm in religion.”
Several years ago someone drew a humorous picture of a disheveled looking young man wearing a suit with a diploma tucked under his arm with the following caption, “SIX MUNCE UGO I CUTNT EVN SPEL PREETCHER AN NOW I ARE ONE.” Please do not hold me to the exact spelling of the caption.
Let me assure you the Laodicean condition is no laughing matter. We find it described in Revelation 3:14-22, “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
Under the heading “Calvary: User-Unfriendly”, Dr. Calvin Miller perceptively explains in his book titled Once Upon a Tree, “In a sense, the church-growth movement has contributed to this loss of transcendence. It has majored on the gospel that twenty-first-century people want to hear rather than on the one they need to hear. Many of the megachurch pastors speak with pride of building multi-thousand-member churches with a gospel that is 'user-friendly.' To start these churches, they often, of their own admission, asked their community constituency what kind of church and sermons it would take to get them to attend church. Once the community had dictated what the church must be to get their support, the church determined to become all its constituents demanded."
Dr. Miller also tells that some evangelicals once rebuked him for mentioning hell in a sermon. This account paints the picture of the situation faced by today’s sound biblical preacher.
These are indicators that we need a revival. Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me!
By Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor, First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527 Author of Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice http://www.webspawner.com/users/franklinlkirksey Available on Amazon.com and WORDsearchbible.com fkirksey@bellsouth.net (251) 626-6210 /
© May 29, 2009 All Rights Reserved
