2. What could Happen: DANGER Drift (Heb. 2:1)
Led away by error (Acts 20:28-32)

3. The effect it could have:
DANGER
The effect it could have:
What we believe (Acts 20:30)
How we live (1 Cor. 15:33)
Strength of local churches (Acts 20:29)
Destiny of our souls (Acts 20:29-30)

4. DANGER
What can we do?
Watch & be alert (Acts 20:31)

5. Gradually & Slowly
Heb. 2:1

6. Gradual Steps Toward Apostasy questionable practices
1. Change in attitude
2. Talk about new
ideas - long before
suggested.
3. Slowly introduce
questionable practices
4. Full innovation
Mid 1800’s
Midway, KY

7. Instrument Introduced Slowly

8. I. Soft Preaching A. What preaching should be:
Biblical in content (1 Pet. 4:11)
Positive & negative (2 Tim. 4:2-5)
Distinctive (1 John 4:6)

9. I. Soft Preaching A. What preaching should be
B. Signs of softer preaching
Little or no Scripture
Message says nothing
Not distinctive
Vague - little or no application
Topics are social . . .
Don’t want anything will offend

10. I. Soft Preaching A. What preaching should be
B. Signs of softer preaching
C. Hard to identify
Not what ARE saying.
It is what ARE NOT saying.

11. I. Soft Preaching A. What preaching should be
B. Signs of softer preaching
C. Hard to identify
D. Effect:
Weaker Christians & churches
Tolerant environment
Fertile ground for error

12. Participation in sin that makes us like the world
II. Soft On Worldliness
A. Worldliness is:
Participation in sin that makes us like the world
Dancing (Prom)
Immodesty
Social Drinking
Petting & Fornication
Watching Filth
Divorce
Materialism

13. II. Soft On Worldliness A. Wordliness is B. Signs of being soft:
Little or no preaching against it
Those who participate - left alone
Parents, preachers & elders doing the same thing!

14. II. Soft On Worldliness A. Worldliness is B. Signs of being soft:
C. Sin must be dealt with
Souls are in danger (1 Jno. 2:15-17)
Part of preaching - truth (2 Tim. 4:2)

15. III. Tolerant of error and its teachers
A. Error is dangerous - must be marked
1 Cor. 15:33
Rom. 16:17-18
2 Tim. 2:16-18
2 Thess. 2:10-12

16. III. Tolerant of error and its teachers
A. Error is dangerous - must be marked
B. Efforts to be more tolerant
Broaden the scope of Romans 14
Narrow the scope of “false teacher”

17. ? Romans 14 God received him (v. 3) To the Lord (v. 6)
Doctrine
Faith
Morals
Indifference
Liberty ?
God received him (v. 3)
To the Lord (v. 6)
Not to judge (condemn) him (v. 13)
Not wrong within itself (v. 14)
Keep it to self (v. 22)

18. ? “False Teacher” Consequence: honest man could not be a false teacher
Teaches
error /
false doc.
Dishonest ?
Consequence: honest man could not be a false teacher
Consequence: Teacher’s attitude makes the difference:

19. Which Couple Is In Adultery?
Doctrine:
Guilty Party
Can
Remarry
Error / False
Teaches
Teaches
Honest
Dishonest
Marry
Marry
Which Couple
Is In Adultery?

20. ? “False Teacher” Consequence: honest man could not be a false teacher
Teaches
error /
false doc.
Dishonest ?
Consequence: honest man could not be a false teacher
Consequence: Teacher’s attitude makes the difference:
How can we know if he is false teacher?
By what he teaches (1 John 4:1, 6)

21. III. Tolerant of error and its teachers
Broaden the scope of Romans 14
Narrow the scope of “false teacher”
Point of All This:
“Don’t call me a ‘false teacher’ or cut off
fellowship because you think my doctrine
is wrong. Allow me to teach what I want!”

22. What’s The Big Deal About Romans 14?
Error!
Abuse Of
Romans 14

23. IV. Confusing Excitement with Edification
A. Real edification & spirituality
Edified by the word (1 Cor. 14)
Tongues (w/o interp) - not edify
Prophecy (reveals word) - edifies
Faith comes by the word (Rom. 10:17)

24. IV. Confusing Excitement with Edification
A. Real edification & spirituality
B. Confusion:
Think if speaker is dynamic, pleasant, stirs excitement & emotions - really edified!
Think if a class is fun, lot of discussion, good argument, exciting - really edified!
If feel good about self following a class, sermon, etc. - it was great!
Think if we enjoy social events (eating, playing games, laughing) - “That was edifying!”

25. V. Special Programs For Women & Children
Women’s Retreats & Lectureships
Collinsville Hosts Ladies Lectureship
The church in Collinsville (Illinois DVR) was the host on Saturday, March 19, to an all day "Lectureship for Ladies." Designed to serve the needs of the metropolitan St. Louis area, the event brought more than 650 ladies from 51 different area congregations together. Mrs. Ray Felts of the Brookside church in Tulsa, OKIa., was the guest lecturer for the three lecture event. Her theme was "Journey Into The Unknown" and the topics she discussed were "Making the Right Preparations," "Laying Aside Every Weight" and "Steering a Straight Course."
Church Women To Hear Talks
Two lectures for women of the Shoals area have been scheduled at Eastwood church of Christ, 102 Leland Dr., Florence. On Sunday, Mrs. B.C. Goodpasture of Nashville, Tenn., will speak at 9 a.m. Her topic will be "Rejoicing With Those That Rejoice." She is well known as a church speaker throughout the country. On Wednesday, Mrs. Elvis Huffard, wife of the minister of Eastside church of Christ in Sheffield, will speak at 9:30 a.m. Her topic will be "Dealing With Nervous Tensions.” (Florence Times 1971)
History
60’s -70’s
“liberals”
had special
Ladies’
Lectureships
Area Ladies' Devotional
The ladies of the South Antonio Church of Christ have planned an area devotional on the evening of April 23. A light meal will be served, beginning at 6:00. At 7:30 the worship time will begin. The theme of the program will be THE CHRISTIAN WAY, featuring six Christian women from area congregations as speakers. Young women of Junior High, High School, and College age are also invited. (Berney Points Bulletin - May 12, 1966)

26. V. Special Programs For Women & Children
Women’s Retreats & Lectureships
History
60’s -70’s
Special Ladies’
Lectureships
Women Elders
Women Preachers
Danger
Feel of pulpit
& public acts.
“First step that
leads to the
second step”
-Mrs. Lee
Suggests:
Something
Missing
Needs are not
being met

27. V. Special Programs For Women & Children
Women’s Retreats & Lectureships
Youth Lectureships
Implies
that reg.
services &
meetings
is not
for them
Casual
&
Informal
Same
concerns
have for
“youth
minister”
Why not
preach
to all?
(Titus 2)

28. Special Young People’s Meetings
N. B. Hardeman On
Special Young People’s Meetings
It is the duty of the overseers to feed and to develop the members of any church. To do so does not require organization of something unknown to the Bible Many brethren have looked upon our young people's meetings with some degree of suspicion. If we are not careful, we may have an organization not at all different from others which we now condemn. Really, brethren, I have failed to find anywhere in the Bible where there is a difference made in teaching or church work between a young fellow and an old fellow Just where is that passage which intimates that the church should be divided according to years? Brethren Srygley and Tant thought that such distinctions evidenced our drifting away To say the least of such, there is danger. I submit to you preachers that we should be exceeding careful lest, in our enthusiasm to make a big show, we turn apart from the straight and narrow path and have within our midst something that the Lord does not want.
(Tabernacle Sermons V:53)

29. VI. Compromise With Evolution
A. What are the compromises?
Gap
Theory
Millions of
year
between
Gen. 1:1 &
Gen. 1:2
Day Age
Theory
Day = millions
of years
Literal
Day +
Long Gap
Day = 24 hrs.
millions of
year between

30. VI. Compromise With Evolution
A. What are the compromises?
B. Consequences:
Puts rest of Genesis suspect to figurative interpretation
Questions the word & its accuracy
Undermines our faith

31. VI. Compromise With Evolution
A. What are the compromises?
B. Consequences:
C. What does the text say?
Evening & Morning = Day (Gen. 1)
Creation week = Work week (Exo. 31:16-17)
Spoke it - done (Psa. 33:6-9)

32. Created Closer to us than begin.
Matt. 19:4-6; Mark 10:6
“He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’”
Created Closer to us than begin.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Made
Man
Day 7
“Now”

33. Dangers Facing The Church
I. Soft preaching
II. Soft on worldliness
III. Tolerant of error & Its teachers
IV. Confusing excitement with edification
V. Special Programs - Women / Children
VI. Compromise With Evolution