Message of the Week
The Little White Community Church
Scripture: Col. 4: 13-17 July 5, 2026
Message: “The Church in Laodicea!”
by Pastor George Gnade
Introduction:
1. Presently, we are doing a series on the life of Joseph. In honor of the 250th anniversary of our country, I would like us to consider the passage we just read in which Paul sends greetings to the brethren at Laodicea.
2. In this letter to the Colossians that was written around 65 A.D., Paul makes some positive comments about the church in Laodicea. Since it was located quite close to Colosse, when Paul sent his greetings to the one church, it would seem quite natural to also send his greetings to the other.
3. That is what it says in Col. 4: 16. “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of Laodicea, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” Here is the problem.
4. This passage tells us about a letter sent by Paul to the church at Laodicea just as he was sending this letter to the Colossians. Then he wanted the two churches to swap letters. But there is no record of a letter written by Paul to the church in Laodicea. Where did it go?
A. Let us consider two possibilities.
1. Possibly this letter has simply been lost. But why would God allow it to get lost? That is why others suggest that Paul’s letter to Philemon may actually be this letter that was sent to the church in Laodicea.
2. In his letter to Philemon, in vs. 1, Paul not only sends his letter to Philemon but also “to Archippus our fellow soldier and the church that meets in your home.”
a. Many believe Archippus was Philemon’s son. Since he is called a “fellow soldier,” he may have been the pastor of Philemon’s church held in his home.
b. Assuming this is possible, please notice that in Col. 4: 16- 17, Paul not only sent greetings to the church in Laodicea, but also to Archippus and encourages him “to complete the work you have received in the Lord.” Are they connected? It sure seems like they are.
c. If so, it is possible that the church of Laodicea may actually be the church that was meeting in Philemon’s home under the leadership of his son Archippus.
3. In Col. 4:7, we learn that Tychicus and Onesimus traveled together so the one could deliver Paul’s letter to Colosse while the other could delivered Paul’s letter to Philemon. If that is the same as the church in Laodicea, the most natural thing would be for them to swap letters after delivering them.
4. Isn’t that exactly what the early church did with all of Paul’s letters? They collected all of them. Because he was an apostle, all of his letters sent to the different churches were collected and are now part of our New Testament.
B. But Col. 4:16-17 is not the only reference we have to the church in Laodicea. This church is also mentioned in Rev. 3:14-20. This reference to this church is far from positive!
1. The Book of Revelation was written around 100 A. D., about 35 years later. In Paul’s day, Laodicea was already a rich church. By the time John the apostle wrote the Book of Revelation under the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ, the church was even richer.
a. As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our country, the church in Laodicea had a lot in common with the church in America.
b. In Rev. 3:15, Jesus addresses this wealthy church and says: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spew you out of my mouth.”
2. In vs. 17, He says: “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” That is very strong language. So the Lord explains Himself.
a. In vs. 18, it says: “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.”
b. Christians who endured suffering and continued in the faith are compared to gold tried by fire (Peter 1:3-7). In Rev. 19:8, white clothes are compared to “the righteous acts of the saints.” Putting salve in your eyes may imply asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes so you may see and understand the Bible better (Eph. 1:17-18). These are the things they lacked!
3. I believe Jesus was saying to them that nothing in their lives showed any deep commitment to Christ and His Word. Sadly many in our country are also just like that.
a. Thirty five years ago I had far more confidence in the desire of many Americans to please the Lord than I have in the majority of Americans today. If you go back to the days of my childhood, the contrast is even more obvious. Back then, the church was the center of the community. Now sports and pleasure are treated as if they are more important than God and His Word.
b. In our day, the faith of many is not reflected in their daily walk. So it was in Laodicea when you compare the love and zeal of people like Philemon and Onesimus in Paul’s day to the sad state of affairs about 35 years later by the time the Book of Revelation was written.
4. Praise God, in 1776, this country was founded and built on a strong foundation that honored God. Back then, we wanted the “ten commandments” to be displayed in our schools. We wanted prayer and believed in its power.
a. In times of war, we prayed for God to help us and protect us. Over and over again, miraculously we overcame barriers and won with the help of the Lord.
b. Presently, our nation is deeply divided. In fact, so is the world we live in. All over the world people are turning away from the God of the Bible and the teachings of God’s Word and a deep love for Christ and are persecuting Christians instead of wanting Christians.
In conclusion:
1. That is why in Rev. 3: 19, Jesus said to the church in Laodicea: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
a. Doesn’t that sound a lot like II Chronicles 7: 14?
In the days of Solomon, God said: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”
b. It is interesting to note that Solomon began his reign deeply committed to the Lord. But the richer he became and the more power he gained the farther he moved away from the Lord.
c. Because of his sins, the nation of Israel was divided into the nations of Israel and Judah and would never be the same again. I pray that will not happen to us.
2. Many of you are familiar with Rev. 3:20. Jesus says: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him and he with me.” This verse is often used to encourage some-one to pray and to repent and to accept Christ.
a. But in Rev. 3:20, Jesus actually said this to people who were lukewarm and not close to Him at all. They said they believed, but were not living like they believed. They needed to repent and get closer to the Lord.
b. In a few moments, we will partake of The Lord’s supper, a symbolic way of eating and partaking of Christ and having fellowship with Him. Except, the bread and the cup are symbols of His death for us and we are being called to feed on His Words, not on ordinary food.
3. When tempted by Satan, in Matt. 4:4, Jesus said: “Man shall no live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
4. I hope and pray that all of us desire to be fed by God’s Word and to live our lives to please Jesus. I pray God will continue to have mercy on us and on our nation as we pray and seek Him.
5. The Book of Revelation never tells us if the church in Laodicea repented and got closer to the Lord. But as we have already said, many scholars believe Laodicea is a picture of America today.
a. Is our country willing and ready to repent? Praise the Lord we still see signs of revival among many of our youth.
b. Praise God, He is not done with us yet.
6. But most Christians believe we are living in the last days. As our country celebrates our 250th birthday, I hope and pray we all realize the need to take a closer look at
ourselves and to ask Jesus to help us live more fully for Him. Amen!
Thank you so much pastor ✝️❤️