1. A Common Problem Many who have it – dont know it Those that do – dont care! Affects Every Congregation

2. A 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... 4. Having no particular interest or concern... 8. Not active or involved (AHD, p. 655). L Lack of diligence, dedication and devotion. A Attitude and actions that say, I dont care!

3. Not A New Problem Gods People Have Always Been Plagued L Lam. 1:1-12 – Judah is doomed – act as if nothing 1 1 Cor. 5 – Fornication in midst – done nothing – not even upset R Rev. 3:15-16 – Church at Laodicea was lukewarm Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church – Cancer… Eats away at the life of a Christian & a local church – Cancer…

4. 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 Eccl. 9:10 - Whatever do - do it will all your might Tit. 2:14 - Zealous of good works

5. I. Its Subtlety A. Develops Gradually & Slowly 1. It doesnt 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 Mind Manifest Actions

6. Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (NKJV) Hebrews 2:1 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

7. B. Hard To See What Were 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 dont care as much as I ought toThat I dont care as much as I ought to That Im not involved as I ought to be That Im not involved as I ought to be That Im not as dedicated as I should be That Im not as dedicated as I should be That I should have grown more by now That I should have grown more by now

8. C. We Focus on Signs / Fruit – Rather Than the Real Problem 1. When we see the symptoms, we deal with them a. If one doesnt attend as he should – we preach on attendance. (It may not help) b. If one doesnt 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 dont care! b. Cure the indifference – symptoms will be gone

9. 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 Deut. 28:58

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

11. 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)

12. C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys Gods 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 we knew (Heb. 5:11-12) c. Ignore what were taught (Rom. 10:3, 17)

13. C. Ignorance 1. Ignorance destroys Gods People (Hosea 4:6; Isa. 5:13) 2. Reasons why there is ignorance: 3. What we dont know makes a difference a. If we dont know commands – cant obey (Eph 5:17) b. If we dont know about judgment – cant fear (Heb. 10:27) c. If dont know truth – led into error (2 Pet. 3:16-18)

14. 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

15. III. Its Signs A. A Loss of zeal B. Loss of spiritual interest Easily follows a loss of zeal Easily follows a loss of zeal Lack of desire for word (Psa. 119; 1 Pet. 2:1-2) Lack of desire for word (Psa. 119; 1 Pet. 2:1-2) No interest in studying No interest in studying Dont want to know what text means Dont want to know what text means Not bothered by sin in self or others (Prov. 8:13) Not bothered by sin in self or others (Prov. 8:13) Not bothered by false doctrine (Psa. 119:136) Not bothered by false doctrine (Psa. 119:136) Not concerned about the lost (Mk. 16:15-16) Not concerned about the lost (Mk. 16:15-16) When service to God is Ho-hum, no big deal Fire has gone out! When service to God is Ho-hum, no big deal Fire has gone out!

16. 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

17. 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?

18. A. Preach & Warn 1. Col. 1:28 - Goal: present every man perfect (not indifference) - How? Him we preach, warning… 2. Preaching is Gods remedy - Gospel has power (Rom. 1:16) - Dont need gimmicks, social programs, entertainment, etc. - Just need to preach & warn IV. Its Cure

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

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

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

23. 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 dont have time for worship - When dont have time to study - When making money is more important - When having fun is pushed ahead of service

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

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

26. I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs IV. Its Cure

27. I. Its Subtlety II. Its Causes III. Its Signs

28. 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! When service to God is Ho-hum, no big deal Fire has gone out!