(Ephesians 2:1-10)

Death LifeGrace

Faithv. 8

Constant ThreatConstant Threat

Eight in ark (1 Peter 3:20)Eight in ark (1 Peter 3:20) Demas left Paul (2 Timothy 4:10)Demas left Paul (2 Timothy 4:10) Companion to apathy Companion to apathy

(Haggai 1:4-9)(Haggai 1:4-9)

Worldliness Apathy

Matthew 13:22Matthew 13:22

““And the one on whom seed And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” becomes unfruitful.”

I John 2:15-17I John 2:15-17

““Do not love the world, nor the Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the from the Father, but is from the world.”world.”

I John 2:15-17I John 2:15-17

And the world is passing away, And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides who does the will of God abides forever. forever.

““Respectable Worldliness”Respectable Worldliness”

Israel’s problem (Haggai 1:4-9)Israel’s problem (Haggai 1:4-9)

““Respectable Worldliness”Respectable Worldliness”

Martha’s priorities Martha’s priorities (Luke 10:41, 42)(Luke 10:41, 42)

Martha Mary

Things Right Within ThemselvesThings Right Within Themselves

Areas (Matthew 13:22)Areas (Matthew 13:22)• Jobs Jobs

• RecreationRecreation

• EducationEducation

How Do We Overcome?How Do We Overcome?

Stay focused on the goal like Stay focused on the goal like Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 6:3, 15)Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 6:3, 15)

Rebuilt The WallsIn 52 days

How Do We Overcome?How Do We Overcome?

Use proper priorities in choosing a Use proper priorities in choosing a career. (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:15)career. (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:15)

#1- Local Church Nearby?

#2- Good For My Family?

#3- Salary, benefits?

How Do We Overcome?How Do We Overcome?

Don’t become entangled in the Don’t become entangled in the affairs of everyday life affairs of everyday life (2 Timothy 2:4)(2 Timothy 2:4)

How Do We Overcome?How Do We Overcome?

Place pleasure and recreation Place pleasure and recreation secondary to godliness secondary to godliness (1 Timothy 4:8)(1 Timothy 4:8)

2nd- Pleasure Recreation

1st- Godliness

How Do We Overcome?How Do We Overcome?

Proper priorities in our homes. Proper priorities in our homes. (Ephesians 6:4)(Ephesians 6:4)

#1- God

#2- Others

#3- Self

Things That Are Inherently SinfulThings That Are Inherently Sinful

Nothing “respectable” about thisNothing “respectable” about this

• Molded like the world Molded like the world (Romans 12:1, 2)(Romans 12:1, 2)

• Want acceptance by the world Want acceptance by the world (John 15:19; (John 15:19; Hebrews 11:7)Hebrews 11:7)

• Threat to the purity of the church Threat to the purity of the church (1 Corinthians 5:1-9) (1 Corinthians 5:1-9)

Things That Are Inherently SinfulThings That Are Inherently Sinful

The effects of this are evidentThe effects of this are evident

• Divorce (Matthew 19:9; Mark 6:22)Divorce (Matthew 19:9; Mark 6:22)

• Dancing (Galatians 5:19-21)Dancing (Galatians 5:19-21)

• Social drinking (1 Peter 4:3)Social drinking (1 Peter 4:3)

• Immodesty Immodesty (Genesis 3:21; 1 Timothy 2:8-10) (Genesis 3:21; 1 Timothy 2:8-10)

Al DiestelkampAl Diestelkamp ““When I was a child there were When I was a child there were

times when Christians would plan to times when Christians would plan to get together at a public park for a get together at a public park for a picnic. I remember times when we picnic. I remember times when we would be driving through the park would be driving through the park looking for “our” group. Even from a looking for “our” group. Even from a distance, not being able to identify distance, not being able to identify their faces, we knew where “our” their faces, we knew where “our” group was by the way they were group was by the way they were dressed and groomed. That’s not dressed and groomed. That’s not true anymore!” true anymore!”

(Think On These Things, July-September, 1991)(Think On These Things, July-September, 1991)

Food For ThoughtFood For Thought

Things That Are Inherently SinfulThings That Are Inherently Sinful

Effects are evidentEffects are evident

• Apathy (Romans 3:23)Apathy (Romans 3:23)

• No discipline in local churches No discipline in local churches (2 Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15)3:6, 14, 15)

How Do We Overcome This Type?How Do We Overcome This Type?

Determine to do the right thing like Determine to do the right thing like Lot (Genesis 19:9; 2 Peter 2:6-9) Lot (Genesis 19:9; 2 Peter 2:6-9)

Purpose to be free from Purpose to be free from defilement (Daniel 1:8)defilement (Daniel 1:8)

Remove the “old man of sin” from Remove the “old man of sin” from “life support” (Romans 6:6; “life support” (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20, 21)Galatians 2:20, 21)

How Do We Overcome this Type?How Do We Overcome this Type?

Seek those things that are above Seek those things that are above (Colossians 3:1-4) (Colossians 3:1-4)

Remember that our purpose in this Remember that our purpose in this life is to serve God. (Ecclesiastes life is to serve God. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)12:13)

Support the church in discipline Support the church in discipline (2 Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14)3:6, 14)

A threat to each of usA threat to each of us A threat to the purity of the churchA threat to the purity of the church Make serving God our priorityMake serving God our priority

WORLDLINESSWORLDLINESS