Revelations 1: I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” Revelations 1:9-11

Hardin Valley: How will we be known?

The Hardin Valley Church What are going to be our defining characteristics? What churches that we read about in the Bible should we try to emulate or have traits to avoid?

The Hardin Valley Church What are going to be our defining characteristics? Committed

Laodicea Revelations 3: "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Lukewarm people … attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they do it. Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.”

Lukewarm people … gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they may not be as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere near as horrible as the guy down the street. Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Lukewarm people … say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives. Luke 9:57-62 “… He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ … Still another said. ‘I will follow you Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.’ …”

Lukewarm people … go to church because that is where they see their friends; it is a social event. Oh, by the way, they worship God while they are there. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Lukewarm people … give money to church and charity … as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? Luke 21:1-4 “As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put more than all the others. All these people gave out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’ ”

Lukewarm people … rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”

The Hardin Valley Church What are going to be our defining characteristics? Committed Not Lukewarm

Thessalonica I Thessalonians 1:3-8: 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. … And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. …

Thessalonicia Christians … were workers engaged in a “full program” of work. Evangelism outreach in Thessalonica (I Thess 1:3) missions in Macedonia, Achaia & everywhere (I Thess 1:8) Benevolence collection for poor saints in Jerusalem (Rom 15:26) cheerful and liberal givers though poor (II Cor 8:2) Edification encouraged & built-up each other (I Thess 5:11)

Thessalonicia Christians … though a model for other churches to follow, were not perfect and asked to do more. Holy Living 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. (I Thess 4:1) Brotherly Love 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (I Thess 4:9-10)

The Hardin Valley Church What are going to be our defining characteristics? Committed Not Lukewarm A Model to be Followed