1. Are We a Compromising Church? Series: What Kind of Church Are We? September 25, 2011 This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab Type in action items as they come up Click OK to dismiss this box This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered.

2. Churches… …strive desperately to remain relevant in the midst of an ever-changing cultural landscape.

3. A Problem …occurs, however, when churches strive so hard for cultural relevance that they lose their biblical uniqueness This is called moral compromise.

4. Moral… …compromise is like loading a map of Detroit into your GPS when you live in Dallas.

5. You might… …enjoy the sights of Dallas, but you will never get to your intended destination.

6. Compromising… …churches may have great church but they will never become a great church.

7. Such was… …the problem in Pergamum –The church wanted to remain culturally relevant in Satan’s hometown. –But they allowed false teachers to load the wrong maps into their moral GPS

8. Jesus has three… …admonitions for Pergamum and every compromising church

9. The Word of God is the only map that should be loaded into your GPS Moral GPS

10. The Word of God… …is the ultimate standard by which all thoughts and actions are judged.

11. Old Paradigm FFF AAE CIE TTL SHI N G S

12. The Word of God… …informs our thinking. It tells us what is true and what is not. We put our faith in the truth of God’s word, and feelings come after we have trusted God.

13. Example Fact: God is sovereign Faith: I believe that God is in everyone of my circumstances Feelings: No matter what I am going through, I will not be afraid

14. New Paradigm FFF EAA E CI LTT ISH N G S

15. Feelings… …constitute my ultimate reality. If I am not feeling it, it is not valid.

16. Example Feelings: God is blessing others but not me Fact: God is not fair Faith: I am leaving the church

17. Pleasing God means faithfully following your GPS Moral GPS

18. Pergamum…...held fast to God’s name …they did not deny the faith

19. You have to… …listen to GPS Sally and you have to follow her instructions

20. Compromise happens when someone tampers with the map Moral GPS

21. Pergamum…...mixed in the teachings of Baalam and the Nicolaitans

22. Your moral GPS… …is only as good as the map that is loaded and your commitment to obey the instructions.