1. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 1

2. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 2  People can drift away – Heb 2:1; Gal 5:4 -  Causes of drifting away – 2 Sam 11; Heb 2:3  Signs that one is drifting away – 1 John 2:15-17  What to do... Apostasy doesn’t happen over night!

3. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 3  Peter warns us – 2 Peter 2:20-22  James warns us – James 5:19,20  Paul warns us – Hebrews 3:12-14; 6:11,12  John warns us – Rev 2-3 If apostasy were impossibl e – then why all the warnings against it?

4. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 4  Requires no effort - Heb 2:1  An unconscious process - Rev 3:17  We never drift upstream - Mat 7:13,14  Speed downstream increases – 2 Pt 2:20  Drifting is dangerous to others – Mal 2:8;  Ends in shipwreck – 1 Tim 1:19 Some things we should know about drifting

5. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 5  Idleness – 2 Sam 11:1  Through the eyes a thought entered - 2 Sam 11:2  He entertained the thought – 2 Sam 11:2,3  He acted upon the thought - 2 Sam 11:4  Because of prideful shame he attempted to cover up his sin - 2 Sam 11:5-27  Nathaniel points the finger – 2 Sam 12:7  David repents – 2 Sam 12:13  David suffers life-long consequences - 2 Sam 12:10-12,14 David is and example of one who drifted away from God 2 Sam 11

6. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 6  Diminished love for truth & increased love for entertainment – Ps 1:1-3  Diminished engagement in prayer & and increased love for the world – Luke 18:1; 1 John 2:15-17  Diminished desire to be with Christians – Ps 122:1  Diminished desire to share the gospel – Acts 4:20; 8:4; 1 The 1:8  Diminished spiritual mindedness – Col 3:1,2; Rom 8:1-6 Here are some warning signs that can help us identify Drifting

7. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 7  Keep rowing – 1 Peter 1:5-10; Phili 3:12-15; Mark 13:33  Watch out for undercurrents – 1 Cor 10:13; Mat 26:41; 1 Cor 15:33  Expect to go against the tide – Mat 7:13,14; 2 Peter 2:1  We must have strong anchorage – Col. 2:6,7; Eph 4:14,15; Eph 3:16-18; Heb 6:18,19 The scriptures teach us things to do that will keep us from drifting

8. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 8  A Real Danger  We must focus on stopping apostasy at its source  Recognize the warning signs - Can we see any of these in ourselves? Apostasy doesn’t happen over night!  Bible Study  Prayer  Attendance  Evangelism  Spiritual Growth  Salvation

9. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 9  It is time to stop drifting – Hebrews 2:1-3 (NKJV) Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. [2] For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

10. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 10  It is time to stop drifting – 1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

11. Don McClainW. 65th St church of Christ 9/4/04 11