If Jesus were to evaluate your church, what do you think He would say? What might He say to other churches in your area? We actually have a pretty good idea. In Revelation, Jesus wrote seven evaluation letters to seven first-century congregations in Asia Minor, beginning with the church in Ephesus and concluding with the church in Laodicea. Jesus reviewed each local assembly of believers’ faith and works, including points of commendation, concern, and correction. Though these letters were addressed to specific congregations in the first century, there are some remarkably relevant applications for us because we still face some of the same issues today.

The seventh and final church Jesus addressed was the church in Laodicea. The letter contains some of the sharpest words of all the letters written to the churches in Asia Minor in terms of its piercing quality and penetrating intent to awaken a prideful, indifferent, and lethargic church who had grown lukewarm. It’s the only letter than contains no praise or commendation, whatsoever.