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Affects Every Congregation

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Presentation on theme: "Affects Every Congregation"— Presentation transcript:

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2 Affects Every Congregation
Indifference A Common Problem Many who have it – don’t know it Those that do – don’t care! Affects Every Congregation

3 Indifference Defined Apathy, unconcerned, and disinterest.
“1. Characterized by a lack of partiality or bias. 2. Not mattering one way or the other; of no great importance. 3. Having no marked feeling one way or the other Having no particular interest or concern Not active or involved” (AHD, p. 655). Lack of diligence, dedication and devotion. Attitude and actions that say, “I don’t care!”

4 God’s People Have Always Been Plagued
Indifference God’s People Have Always Been Plagued Lam. 1:1-12 – Judah is doomed – act as if nothing 1 Cor. 5 – Fornication in midst – done nothing – not even upset Rev. 3:15-16 – Church at Laodicea was lukewarm

5 Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church
Indifference Is Like a Cancer Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church

6 People of God Should Be Diligent, Devoted & Zealous
Indifference People of God Should Be Diligent, Devoted & Zealous Matt. 6:33 - Seek first the kingdom of God 1 Pet. 3:15 - Sanctify the Lord in your heart Rom. 12:11 - Fervent in spirit serving the Lord Col. 3:23 - Put everything you have into the service of the Lord Ecc. 9:10 - Whatever do - do it will all your might Tit. 2:14 - Zealous of good works

7 Indifference I. Its Subtlety

8 I. Its Subtlety A. Develops Gradually & Slowly
1. It doesn’t happen overnight. a. Not diligent / enthused one day – indifferent the next b. This makes it hard to recognize 2. It strikes first at the heart – then manifest itself in action I. Its Subtlety Mind Manifest Actions

9 Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (NKJV) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (KJV) Footnote KJV “run out as leaking vessels”

10 Gradually & Slowly Heb. 2:1 Jan. 2007 July 2007 Jan 2008 July 2008 Jan
2009 July 2009 Jan 2010 July 2010 Jan 2011 July 2011 Jan 2012 July 2012

11 Within 10 years – Complete Change!
Gradually & Slowly Heb. 2:1 July 2012 Jan 2013 July 2013 Jan 2014 July 2014 Jan 2015 July 2015 Jan 2016 July 2016 Within 10 years – Complete Change!

12 I. Its Subtlety A. Develops Gradually & Slowly
B. Harder To See What Not Doing I. Its Subtlety

13 B. Harder To See What Not Doing
1. Heb. 5:11-12 2. Overt acts are easily seen by self & Others (Lie, curse, steal, drink) 3. Even sin in attitude involves doing. (hate, lust, bitter, envy, jealous, anger) 3. Harder to see what I fail to do! 4. Even harder to see: That I don’t care as much as I ought to That I’m not involved as I ought to be That I’m not as dedicated as I should be That I should have grown more by now

14 I. Its Subtlety A. Develops Gradually & Slowly
B. Harder To See What Not Doing C. We Focus on Signs / Fruit – Rather Than the Real Problem I. Its Subtlety

15 C. We Focus on Signs / Fruit – Rather Than the Real Problem
1. When we see the symptoms, we deal with them a. If one doesn’t attend as he should – we preach on attendance. (It may not help) b. If one doesn’t study and grow, we talk to them about study & growth (It may not help) 2. The real problem is the heart (Prov. 4:23; Matt. 15:19) a. Problem is they don’t care! b. Cure the indifference – symptoms will be gone

16 Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes

17 II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God 1. Fear involves: Afraid of
Displeasing God 1 Sam. 11:7 Psa. 119:120 Isa. 66:2 Heb. 10:31; 12:29 Respect & Awe Luke 7:16 Jonah 1:9 Deut. 28:58

18 II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God 1. Fear involves:
2. Those who fear will: II. Its Causes 1. Do what God says (Duet. 6:2; 13:4; 17:19) 2. Be dedicated (Deut. 10:12, 20; 31:12)

19 II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world
1. Get wrapped up in this life a. Spiritual pushed aside b. Matt. 13:22 – cares of the world c. 2 Tim. 4:10 – loved present world 2. Materially blessed a. Tendency to forget God (Prov. 30:8-9; Deut. 6:10-12) b. Beware when at ease (Amos 6:1-6) c. Riches make us overconfident in material things (Psa. 30:6) II. Its Causes

20 II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world
C. Ignorance II. Its Causes

21 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13)
C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) 2. Reasons why there is ignorance: a. Not been taught (cf. Matt. 28:20) –we leave them to “sink or swim” b. Forgot what knew (Heb. 5:11-12) c. Ignore what taught (Rom. 10:3, 17)

22 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13)
C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys God’s People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) 2. Reasons why there is ignorance: 3. What we don’t know makes a difference a. If we don’t know commands – can’t obey (Eph 5:17) b. If we don’t know about judgment – can’t fear (Heb. 10:27) c. If don’t know truth – led into error (2 Pet. 3:16-18)

23 II. Its Causes A. Lack of fear of God B. Focus on the present world
C. Ignorance II. Its Causes D. Softness

24 2. Lack of “teeth” in message
D. Softness 1. Soft Preaching a. Comforts those who are indiff. (Isa. 30:10) b. Does little to prick the heart c. “Positive” preaching make people who are in sin (and indifferent about it) feel good! 2. Lack of “teeth” in message a. Not enough to preach truth – must correct, rebuke, withdraw –if no repentance b. Often want the truth taught – nothing more done about it

25 Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs

26 A. A Loss of zeal III. Its Signs

27 A. A Loss of zeal 1. Dedicated people have a burning zeal (Rom. 12:11; Luke 24:32) 2. Possible to lose fire of enthus. (Rev. 2:4-5) 3. Judah let her service deteriorate into a weary routine (Isa. 29:9-14; Mal. 1:6–2:17) 4. When a church has members – lost their zeal – it has a problem with indifference When service to God is “Ho-hum, no big deal” Fire has gone out!

28 III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest
Easily follows a loss of zeal Lack of desire for word (Psa. 119; 1 Pet. 2:1-2) No interest in studying Don’t want to know what text means Not bothered by sin in self or others (Prov. 8:13) Not bothered by false doctrine (Psa. 119:136) Not concerned about the lost (Mk. 16:15-16)

29 III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest
C. Missing services III. Its Signs

30 C. Missing services 1. May start as occasional absence a. Maybe allow work to hinder. Bothers us at first, then we adjust b. May miss once in a while for other reasons c. Now becoming easier to miss d. May begin missing BS, or Wed. then Sunday PM and then AM

31 C. Missing services 1. May start as occasional absence 2.Every service we miss – miss out on spiritual growth a. If being present builds us up (Heb. 10:25; Eph. 5:19), then if we miss we are weaker! b. Thomas Missed out (John 20:20-28) 3. Do you forsake for reasons within your control?

32 III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest
C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest

33 D. Consumed with secular interest
1. This life is merely a land we are passing through (Heb. 13:14) - Means this is temporary - Secular things should rank below sp. things 2. When our secular concerns overshadow and crowd out the spiritual – are indifferent - When don’t have time for worship - When don’t have time to study - When making money is more important - When having fun is pushed ahead of service

34 III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest
C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest E. Not bothered by things used to… Heb. 3:7-13

35 III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest
C. Missing services III. Its Signs D. Consumed with secular interest E. Not bothered by things used to… F. Big contrast in what I used to be Gal. 1:6-9; 5:7

36 Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs IV. Its Cure

37 A. Preach & Warn IV. Its Cure

38 A. Preach & Warn 1. Col. 1:28 - Goal: present every man perfect (not indiff) - How? “Him we preach, warning…” 2. Preaching is God’s remedy - Gospel has power (Rom. 1:16) - Don’t need gimmicks, social programs, entertainment, etc. - Just need to preach & warn

39 IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent
Churches with indifference were told to repent Rev. 2:4-5 Rev. 3:16, 19 Repentance is a change of mind Prompted by godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10) Results in change of life (Rev. 2:5) If you recognize signs of indifference – need to repent! IV. Its Cure

40 IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent C. Study
Faith is based upon word (Rom. 10:17) More we study – stronger become (2 Thess. 1:3)

41 IV. Its Cure A. Preach & Warn B. Repent C. Study D. Be doer of word
Jas. 1:21-25 Activate the faith you have (Jas 2) More we exercise our faith – easier it is to continue in the practice

42 Indifference I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs IV. Its Cure

43

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