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What Can Kill A Church?. Revelation 3:1-6. What Can Kill A Church?. Persecution. Persecution. Revelation 2:9-10 1 Peter 5:8-9 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
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What Can Kill A Church? Revelation 3:1-6
What Can Kill A Church? Persecution
Persecution Revelation 2:9-10 1 Peter 5:8-9 2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Persecution How will we react? • Will we be silenced? John 12:42-43 • Will we rejoice? • Acts 5:41-42 • Romans 5:1-5, 1 Peter 1:3-9 • James 1:2-3 • Matthew 5:11-12; Revelation 2:13, 3:8
What Can Kill A Church? Persecution False Teaching
False Teaching • Has threatened churches • Revelation 2:2, 6; 2:13-15 • Paul and Peter warn of it. • Acts 20:29-30 • 2 Peter 2:1-2
False Teaching • We must guard against it. • Endure sound doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:6,12-16 • Accept both positive and negative teaching. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 • Reject those who teach it. 2 John 9-11, Ephesians 5:11, 2 Timothy 2:17-18
What Can Kill A Church? Persecution False Teaching Worldliness
Worldliness • Immorality and Materialism • 1 John 2:15-17 • Revelation 2:20-23; Luke 8:14 • To fight off worldliness: • Have the love of the Father. 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4 • Be Transformed. Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 3:1 • Watch and Pray. Luke 21:34-36;
What Can Kill A Church? Persecution False Teaching Worldliness Indifference
Indifference • Revelation 3:15-17 • We don’t have to oppose the church to kill it. • Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. • Proverbs 18:9 He who is slothful in his workIs a brother to him who is a great destroyer.
Indifference • Symptoms • Poor attendance • Chronic Tardiness • Lack of participation in worship • No private study or prayer • No effort to reach the lost.
Indifference 1 Corinthians 15:58 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. Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Indifference Hebrews 6:11-12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
What Can Kill A Church? Persecution False Teaching Worldliness Indifference What About Our Congregation?
Be Saved Today! Believe – John 3:16 Confess – Romans 10:9-10 Repent – Acts 17:30 Be Baptized – Acts 22:16 Be Faithful – Hebrews 3:12