Awakening from Apathy: Engaging in God's Mission
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound issue of apathy within the church and its detrimental effects on both individual believers and the broader mission of God. Using the vivid imagery of a road trip through Texas and the stark contrast between El Paso and Juarez, we were reminded of the visible and invisible divides that exist in our world. These divides often lead to a sense of detachment and indifference, encapsulated in the phrase, "You can't see it from my house."
We delved into the biblical text from Revelation 3, focusing on the church in Laodicea. This church was criticized by Jesus for being "lukewarm," neither hot nor cold, which rendered them ineffective and distasteful. The Laodiceans' self-sufficiency and affluence had blinded them to their spiritual poverty, making them complacent and apathetic. Jesus' message to them was a call to recognize their true state of need and to seek genuine spiritual wealth, vision, and purity from Him.
The sermon emphasized that apathy is a significant barrier to the mission of God both inside and outside the church. It is a silent killer that lulls believers into a state of spiritual inertia, preventing them from engaging in meaningful acts of love and service. To combat this, practical steps were suggested, such as asking daily how one can be more like Jesus, giving generously, and serving others selflessly. The ultimate challenge was to move from a state of apathy to active participation in God's work, thereby transforming both individual lives and the world around us.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Danger of Apathy: Apathy is a silent killer that can infiltrate our spiritual lives, making us indifferent to the needs of others and the mission of God. It is easy to become complacent when we are comfortable, but this indifference is a significant barrier to fulfilling God's purposes. We must be vigilant and proactive in combating apathy by staying engaged and compassionate. [42:28]
2. The Lukewarm Church: The church in Laodicea was criticized for being lukewarm, a state that made them ineffective and distasteful to Jesus. This lukewarmness stemmed from their self-sufficiency and affluence, which blinded them to their true spiritual poverty. We must recognize our need for Jesus and seek genuine spiritual wealth, vision, and purity from Him. [44:20]
3. Practical Steps to Combat Apathy: To overcome apathy, we must take practical steps such as asking daily how we can be more like Jesus, giving generously, and serving others selflessly. These actions help us stay engaged in God's mission and transform both our lives and the lives of those around us. [01:02:50]
4. The Importance of Generosity: Generosity is a powerful antidote to apathy. By giving of our resources, time, and love, we can break free from the grip of indifference and experience the joy of serving others. This not only blesses those we help but also enriches our own spiritual lives. [01:03:38]
5. Living Out Our Faith: True faith is not just about what we believe but also about what we do. We must move beyond mere thoughts and feelings to take concrete actions that reflect the love of Jesus. This involves getting our hands dirty, stretching our commitment, and actively participating in God's work in the world. [01:05:52]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:26] - Road Trip and El Paso
[37:02] - The Divide: El Paso and Juarez
[38:48] - Concealing Poverty
[39:58] - The Rise of Apathy
[41:02] - The "Nones" and Apathy in the Church
[42:28] - Apathy: A Barrier to God's Mission
[43:36] - The Church in Laodicea
[44:20] - Lukewarm: Neither Hot Nor Cold
[46:32] - The Meaning of Lukewarm
[49:12] - The Water Analogy
[51:03] - The Problem with Lukewarm Christians
[53:26] - The Root of Laodicea's Lukewarmness
[55:27] - Misplaced Self-Sufficiency
[57:00] - Jesus' Direct Challenge
[59:05] - The Danger of Self-Reliance
[01:02:50] - Practical Steps to Overcome Apathy
[01:03:38] - Generosity as an Antidote
[01:05:52] - Living Out Our Faith
[01:06:35] - Closing Prayer
[01:10:54] - Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Revelation 3:14-22
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific criticism does Jesus have for the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22?
2. How does the imagery of "lukewarm" water relate to the spiritual state of the Laodiceans? [44:20]
3. What does Jesus advise the Laodiceans to "buy" from Him, and what do these items symbolize? [44:20]
4. How does the sermon describe the visible and invisible divides between El Paso and Juarez, and what does this illustrate about apathy? [37:02]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus prefer that the Laodiceans be either hot or cold rather than lukewarm? What does this imply about spiritual fervor and indifference? [44:20]
2. How does self-sufficiency contribute to spiritual apathy according to the sermon and the passage in Revelation? [53:26]
3. What are the practical steps mentioned in the sermon to combat apathy, and how do they align with Jesus' message to the Laodiceans? [01:02:50]
4. How does the sermon connect the concept of generosity with overcoming apathy? [01:03:38]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel spiritually "lukewarm"? What steps can you take to become more spiritually fervent? [44:20]
2. The sermon mentions the phrase "You can't see it from my house" to describe indifference to others' suffering. Are there situations or people in your life that you have been indifferent to? How can you change that? [37:02]
3. Jesus advises the Laodiceans to seek spiritual wealth, vision, and purity from Him. What specific actions can you take this week to seek these qualities in your own life? [44:20]
4. The sermon suggests asking daily how you can be more like Jesus. What is one specific way you can embody this in your daily routine starting today? [01:02:50]
5. Generosity is highlighted as an antidote to apathy. Identify one way you can give generously of your time, resources, or love this week. How do you think this will impact your spiritual life? [01:03:38]
6. The sermon challenges us to serve others selflessly. Think of someone in your community who cannot repay you. What is one act of service you can perform for them this week? [01:04:18]
7. Reflect on the idea that true faith involves concrete actions. What is one specific action you can take this week to live out your faith more actively? [01:05:52]
Devotional
Day 1: The Silent Killer of Apathy
Apathy is a silent killer that can infiltrate our spiritual lives, making us indifferent to the needs of others and the mission of God. It is easy to become complacent when we are comfortable, but this indifference is a significant barrier to fulfilling God's purposes. We must be vigilant and proactive in combating apathy by staying engaged and compassionate. Apathy can creep into our lives unnoticed, leading us to a state of spiritual inertia where we no longer feel compelled to act on behalf of others or God's mission. This indifference can be particularly dangerous because it often goes unrecognized until it has already taken root. To combat this, we must remain vigilant, constantly assessing our spiritual health and seeking ways to stay engaged and compassionate. [42:28]
Hebrews 6:11-12 (ESV): "And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you have become complacent. What steps can you take today to re-engage and show compassion in that area?
Day 2: The Lukewarm Church
The church in Laodicea was criticized for being lukewarm, a state that made them ineffective and distasteful to Jesus. This lukewarmness stemmed from their self-sufficiency and affluence, which blinded them to their true spiritual poverty. We must recognize our need for Jesus and seek genuine spiritual wealth, vision, and purity from Him. The Laodiceans' self-sufficiency led them to believe they had everything they needed, but in reality, they were spiritually impoverished. This false sense of security made them complacent and ineffective in their faith. To avoid this pitfall, we must continually seek Jesus, acknowledging our dependence on Him for true spiritual wealth and vision. [44:20]
Revelation 3:17-18 (ESV): "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see."
Reflection: In what ways have you relied on your own self-sufficiency rather than on Jesus? How can you seek genuine spiritual wealth and vision from Him today?
Day 3: Practical Steps to Combat Apathy
To overcome apathy, we must take practical steps such as asking daily how we can be more like Jesus, giving generously, and serving others selflessly. These actions help us stay engaged in God's mission and transform both our lives and the lives of those around us. By actively seeking ways to be more like Jesus, we can break free from the grip of apathy. This involves daily self-reflection, generous giving, and selfless service. These practical steps not only keep us engaged in God's mission but also bring about transformation in our own lives and the lives of those we serve. [01:02:50]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to be more like Jesus? How can you give generously or serve someone selflessly this week?
Day 4: The Importance of Generosity
Generosity is a powerful antidote to apathy. By giving of our resources, time, and love, we can break free from the grip of indifference and experience the joy of serving others. This not only blesses those we help but also enriches our own spiritual lives. Generosity shifts our focus from ourselves to others, helping us to see and meet the needs around us. It breaks the chains of apathy by engaging us in acts of love and service, which in turn enrich our spiritual lives and bring us closer to God's heart. [01:03:38]
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Reflect on your current level of generosity. How can you increase your giving of time, resources, or love to those in need this week?
Day 5: Living Out Our Faith
True faith is not just about what we believe but also about what we do. We must move beyond mere thoughts and feelings to take concrete actions that reflect the love of Jesus. This involves getting our hands dirty, stretching our commitment, and actively participating in God's work in the world. Living out our faith means putting our beliefs into action. It requires us to go beyond intellectual assent and emotional responses to engage in tangible acts of love and service. By doing so, we demonstrate the love of Jesus to the world and fulfill our calling as His followers. [01:05:52]
1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to live out your faith? How can you demonstrate the love of Jesus in a practical way to someone in your community?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "When life is good with us, it's easy to become unconcerned, disinterested in everything else. If you've seen that newest Disney movie, oh, what's it called, about emotions? Onwee is this character, he's out in the lobby, by the way, who stays on the couch the entire time. When they ask him who he is and they're trying to figure him out, he says he's the boredom. The word Onwee actually means a lack of interest. Or concern. There's another word that shares that same definition. It's called apathy." [38:48] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "One of the biggest barriers to the mission of God outside the church. One of the biggest barriers to the mission of God outside the church. Is apathy. One of the biggest barriers to God's work inside the church. Is also apathy. It's really a dangerous place to be when you don't care about the things God cares about." [42:28] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you are on fire for Jesus, you're obviously of use to the kingdom of God because you're hands and feet, man. You're taking it to the world. If you're cold, you're far from God. But if you've ever seen anybody who was so cold, one encounter with the Holy Spirit, all of a sudden, now they're hot. I can go from cold to hot in a hurry because of the power of the Holy Spirit." [51:03] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Apathy is why we spend our lives on the spiritual couch and never care enough to get up and do anything of real significance for the kingdom of God. It's why, if you wish to be honest with each other, can I be honest? It's why there's so much poverty and brokenness in our world. It's because for some of us, the people of God, we haven't done with all the things God has given us maybe what he's intended for us to do." [01:01:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Go out every day and do something for somebody that can't give you anything back in return, that cannot benefit you in any way. And that looks like a church that blesses somebody that can't come there or can't contribute to the bottom line. It looks like a neighbor of yours who you can do something for that can't do anything back for you. If you do something for another person for no reason other than the love of Jesus, it will start to change your life, and it'll change theirs. You can serve your way out of apathy." [01:04:18] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Apathy grows in this environment of self-sufficiency and self-reliance. When people have all they think they need, they lose sight of the needs of others have lost sight of what they actually need most. And cultures historically, and it's true today, power to the people, right? People of affluence who already have all they want have a hard time seeing their need for anything else. And they can't really see their need to do anything else either." [59:05] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You are deeply in need of a mercy that you don't even know you need. You're broken and you don't realize your brokenness. That's why he says that. You think you have all you need, but you don't realize what you need most only comes from me. And it's this reiteration of your wealth is actually what's bankrupted you your spirit." [55:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Apathy is why churches die. Apathy is why churches, they can't find enough servants to lead the church. Apathy would be the Christian who never really gets involved in the community of faith or outside the church by serving. Apathy is the one who refuses to honor God with their tithe. Apathy trains us to think that holding on to what we've been given actually makes us rich when Jesus says the blessed ones are the ones who learn to give themselves away." [01:01:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If God has richly blessed you, do something to be generous with all of that, your time, your money, whatever that is. Find something, somebody, who you know could use the love of Jesus in their life and love them in a way that they cannot explain, and watch that begin to change your life today with this word, I want you to do something." [01:05:52] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Apathy is depicted many times as it was in that movie of this person that's on the couch and they can't find any reason good enough to get up. And I don't know about your story, but there's been times in my life where that's been mine. I'll just be honest. As a pastor of an awesome, amazing community, it would be really easy for me to get so stinking comfortable to show up here every week and preach to you fat and happy, play golf five days a week." [01:00:36] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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