What Would Jesus Say to Our Church? Lessons from the Seven Letters of Revelation

Meta Description: Jesus wrote seven letters to seven real churches—with affirmations, warnings, and promises. What would he say to us today? A look at Revelation 2-3. URL Slug: what-would-jesus-say-to-our-church-revelation-2-3 Featured Image: An open, ancient-looking letter or scroll resting on a wooden table, with soft warm light illuminating the page — evoking the intimacy of a personal letter from Jesus to his church.

What would it look like if Jesus wrote your church a letter? Not a generic, encouraging note — but a real letter, with affirmations, hard warnings, and promises for the future?

That's exactly what we find in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. This past Sunday, we continued our journey through the book of Revelation, and I have to say — these two chapters stopped me in my tracks.

Seven Letters Written to Them, But For Us

Jesus, through John, addresses seven real churches in what is now modern-day Turkey. These weren't hypothetical congregations. They were actual communities of believers — with real struggles, real failures, and real faithfulness.

But here's what's important to understand: these letters were written to them, but they were written for us. Every church in every age needs what these seven churches needed — affirmation for what they're doing right, warning about what they're doing wrong, and motivation rooted in the promises of God.

As Jesus himself said in Matthew 5:14-16:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

We are lampstands. That's the language of Revelation 2-3. And a lampstand has a purpose — to give light. That's the calling of the church.

What the Holy Spirit Said to Those Seven Churches

Each letter follows a similar pattern: Jesus sees these churches with x-ray clarity, and he speaks honestly about what he finds.

The church in Ephesus had strong doctrine and patient endurance, but Jesus said, "You have abandoned the love you had at first." They lost their gospel zeal. They became so focused inward that they forgot the world they were meant to shine their light into.

The church in Smyrna was suffering deeply — in poverty and persecution — and Jesus simply said, "I know your tribulation." To a church in pain, sometimes the most powerful words are: I see you. I know.

The church in Pergamum and Thyatira were compromising with idolatry and immorality — tolerating what God called sin. Jesus called them to repent.

The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive — but Jesus said they were spiritually dead. That's a sobering diagnosis.

The church in Philadelphia had little power, but they kept Jesus's word and didn't deny his name. Jesus had nothing but encouragement for them.

And then there's Laodicea — perhaps the most well-known of the seven. Jesus said: "Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." They were materially wealthy and felt like they needed nothing. But Jesus saw something different — they were, in his words, "wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked."

Their discipleship had become unremarkable. And that made God nauseous.

The Most Surprising Words in the Passage

Here's what wrecked me this week. After everything Jesus said to the Laodicean church — after the scathing rebuke — he doesn't walk away. He says this:

"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." — Revelation 3:20

This wasn't spoken to people who had never heard of Jesus. This was spoken to a church — a church that had, in effect, locked Jesus out. And still, he knocks. Still, he wants in. Still, he loves them.

That should stop all of us cold. Jesus doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up before he comes to us. He wants to be with us in our most shameful, lowest moments. As he says just a few verses earlier: "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline."

The hard words come from love. Every single one of them.

What Would Jesus Say to Us?

I spent time this week asking that question honestly. I think there are areas where we might hear well done — a love for the gospel and the Word, care for the poor, commitment to discipleship and community.

But I also think there are warnings we need to hear.

Don't be called off course, like Ephesus — losing gospel zeal and dependence on the Holy Spirit as we grow more comfortable and self-sufficient.

Don't get lukewarm, like Laodicea. Paul's words to Timothy are worth sitting with here:

"As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." — 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Wealth — and the false confidence it breeds — is one of the clearest recipes for lukewarm discipleship in Scripture. It's worth examining honestly.

And don't be complicit in compromise. Consumerism, discontentment, unwillingness to serve or give — these are the quiet forms of idolatry that creep in when we're not paying attention.

We Need Jesus — And We Need the Church

One more thing I want to say: some people respond to passages like this by concluding that the church is the problem, and they'd rather just have Jesus on their own. I understand that impulse. Churches are imperfect — ours included, and I say that with full awareness of the ways we've let people down over the years.

But Revelation won't let us go there. Chapters 2 and 3 make us negotiate with the church. The church is where we hear what we're doing right, where we're corrected and challenged, and where we're reminded of what God wants to do in and through us.

And yet — the church cannot be our ultimate hope either. Even the best church will disappoint you. What we need most, what those seven churches needed most, is the risen Jesus himself.

No matter what they faced, Jesus was enough. No matter how far they'd strayed, Jesus beckoned them back. And no matter what they were going through, Jesus was among them — the one who, as Revelation 2:1 says, "walks among the seven golden lampstands."

He is not far off. He walks among us. That should sober us — and it should deeply comfort us.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

If you're not yet a follower of Jesus, know this: no matter what you've done, no matter what you need — Jesus is enough. He's not asking you to clean yourself up first. He's simply knocking. You can let him in.

And if you are a follower of Jesus, let's ask ourselves honestly: Has our discipleship become unremarkable? Have we drifted off course, gotten comfortable, or compromised somewhere we shouldn't have? The good news is the same for all of us — he's still knocking.

Watch the full message on our website or app, and consider bringing these questions into conversation with your community group this week. These are the kinds of things best processed together.

Social Media Excerpt (Facebook/Instagram): What would Jesus say to your church if he wrote you a letter today? In Revelation 2-3, he does exactly that — with affirmations, hard warnings, and stunning grace. This week's message is one I haven't been able to stop thinking about. Read the full recap or watch the sermon on our app. 🙏

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