1. Two Greatest Problems Facing The Church I don’t know and I don’t care –Ignorance and Apathy Millions make no effort to serve God –They pose no great threat to the church the indifferentThe great problem: Christians in name only (the indifferent) –Destroy themselves, family, and church

2. Indifference no differenceIndifference: in = not + different, thus “no difference” –Unconcern –Disinterest –Apathy –Coldness

3. I Indifference Makes Haste Slowly Rv.2:4, three facts: –Once they were strong –Their spiritual marriage is now on the rocks –If they do not correct it soon, they will lose everything

4. Rv.3:1 A Christian (or congregation) seldom realizes what is happening until it is too late Je.7:13, 25, (first order of business) Mt.6:33, first (above all, especially; priority) –Mt.22:38 –2 Co.8:5 (= Mt.6 and 22)

5. II Indifference Is Serious Indifference is apostasy in baby steps 1. Attendance 1. Attendance: Indifference gives priority to something of lesser importance. Mt.22:…5 Lk.4:16 / Hb.10:24-25... 2:3 2. Study 2. Study: To spiritual life what eating is to physical life. Jn.4:34; 1 Pt.1:25 3. Prayer 3. Prayer: Concern kindles prayer. Ep.6:18

6. 4. Giving 4. Giving: 2 Co.9:7 –Temple: two chests for alms 5. Fruit 5. Fruit : Lk.8:14-15, the loser and the winner. What made the difference? 6. Grudge 6. Grudge : Lv.19:18, opposite of love

7. Indifference – Eternal Condemnation Lk.19:…20-26 –While others worked, this man coasted –He loses his reward. He is: wickedwicked (22) wastefulwasteful (23) woefulwoeful (24-27) Lk.20:10, not only bore no fruit but actively opposed their Lord

8. III What Causes Indifference? Worldliness 1. Worldliness. Mt.6:33 –Some try to “share” God w. everything else –Ja.4:4 Sin 2. Sin. Mt.24:12 –Brutality of Jews and Romans, false prophets, the betrayal of Christians by Christians turns passion into apathy –Nothing is more contagious than sin. It afflicted the entire Laodicean church

9. Ignorance 3. Ignorance –Ga.1:10 Some think the assembly is designed to please, not edify Some inconsistently reject the social gospel concept but are disappointed w. book, chapter, and verse preaching We have nothing else to offer; nothing else can save

10. –Ga.2:20 they weSome think a local church consists of two groups: they and we –They –They do the work –We –We let them Jg.4-5 (23) Am.6:1-3

11. – Ga.3:27 Put on Christ: “To become so possessed of the mind of Christ as in thought, feeling, and action to resemble him and, as it were, reproduce the life he lived” (Th.) Ga.4:19

12. – Ro. 13:14 Put on… (v.12) –We first put on Christ in baptism –We continually renew that life –Same exhortation as Ro.12:2 – »Recreating the image of Christ in us »He is the original; we are the reproduction

13. Ep.4:24 –Putting off is only half the job –Some want the new relationship while keeping the old behavior –25-32 explain Col.3:10 –As the first man was created in His image, so is the new man –In practical terms: 12-14

14. IV The Cure For Indifference Confess it 1. Confess it –Can’t cure it by ignoring it –If you are indifferent, admit it (Rv.3:15) –Ask Lord for forgiveness, Ja.5:16 Repent of it 2. Repent of it –Ja.4:17 –Ac.8:22

15. Do something about it 3. Do something about it –Ja.1:22-24 –Mk.6:19 Herod is a warning to us If hearing the gospel does not change our nature, it has done little or nothing for us

16. Love 4. Love –Indifference is the opposite of concern; concern leads to zeal –“Love will find a way; indifference will find an excuse” killers victimsbystanders –“In the place that I come from, society was composed of three simple categories: the killers, the victims, and the bystanders”– Elie Wiesel