From Christian-ish to Genuine Faith: A Call to Commitment
Summary
As we embark on a new year, it's crucial to examine the depth and authenticity of our faith. Many of us may find ourselves in a state of being "Christian-ish," where we wear the label of Christianity but lack a genuine commitment to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This term, "Christian-ish," describes a half-hearted faith that is more about comfort than true devotion. It's a superficial version of Christianity that makes us feel better without demanding any real change in our lives.
In Revelation 3, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea, a wealthy and self-sufficient community, and calls them out for being lukewarm. He uses the analogy of their inadequate water supply to illustrate their spiritual state. Just as their water was neither hot nor cold, serving no real purpose, their faith was neither passionate nor impactful. Jesus desires for us to be either hot or cold, fulfilling our spiritual purpose with fervor and dedication.
Being lukewarm is not just about lacking spiritual passion; it's about failing to fulfill the purpose God has given us. We may have gifts and talents, but if we don't use them to make a spiritual impact, we risk becoming lukewarm. This state is intolerable to God, as it suggests a convenient, comfortable commitment that lacks true surrender to Jesus.
To move away from being Christian-ish, we must do something every day that requires faith. This could be as simple as forgiving someone who has hurt us, sharing our faith with others, or stepping out of our comfort zone to serve. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and live a life that pleases Him. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to let Him in fully. He desires all of our hearts, not just a part. As we open the door to Him, we embrace a life of faith, commitment, and purpose, leaving behind the lukewarm state that grieves God and robs us of the life He intends for us.
Key Takeaways:
- The Danger of Being Christian-ish: Many people identify as Christians but live a life that lacks true commitment to Jesus. This half-hearted faith is like being lukewarm, which is intolerable to God. It's crucial to examine our faith and ensure it is genuine and wholehearted. [02:14]
- Spiritual Purpose and Impact: Jesus calls us to fulfill our spiritual purpose with passion and dedication. Being lukewarm means failing to use our God-given gifts to make a difference. We must strive to live a life that glorifies God and impacts others positively. [09:18]
- Signs of Lukewarm Faith: Craving acceptance from people more than God, rationalizing sin, rarely sharing faith, only turning to God in need, and being indistinguishable from the world are signs of lukewarm faith. We must be vigilant and intentional in our walk with Christ. [19:24]
- Daily Acts of Faith: To grow out of a lukewarm state, we should do something every day that requires faith. This could be forgiving others, sharing our faith, or stepping out of our comfort zone. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and live a life that pleases Him. [26:28]
- Opening the Door to Jesus: Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to let Him in fully. He desires all of our hearts, not just a part. By opening the door to Him, we embrace a life of faith, commitment, and purpose, leaving behind the lukewarm state that grieves God. [28:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:44] - Meeting Someone New
- [02:14] - Defining Christian-ish
- [03:24] - Half-hearted Faith
- [04:22] - Revelation 3: The Lukewarm Church
- [09:18] - Spiritual Purpose and Impact
- [11:31] - The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency
- [13:52] - Realizing Our Spiritual State
- [15:50] - The Danger of Self-Deception
- [17:39] - Signs of Lukewarm Faith
- [19:24] - Rarely Sharing Faith
- [20:17] - Turning to God Only in Need
- [22:11] - Jesus' Loving Correction
- [23:28] - Moving Beyond Christian-ish
- [26:28] - Daily Acts of Faith
- [28:14] - Opening the Door to Jesus
- [29:27] - Embracing a Life of Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Revelation 3:15-20
- 1 John 2:15
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Observation Questions:
1. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus uses the analogy of lukewarm water to describe the spiritual state of the Laodicean church. What does it mean to be lukewarm in this context? [04:22]
2. According to the sermon, what are some signs that someone might have a lukewarm faith? [17:39]
3. How does the wealth and self-sufficiency of the Laodicean church relate to their spiritual condition as described in Revelation 3? [11:31]
4. What does Jesus promise to those who hear His voice and open the door to Him, as mentioned in Revelation 3:20? [28:14]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. The sermon describes "Christian-ish" as a half-hearted faith. How does this concept challenge the way one might view their own faith journey? [03:24]
2. In what ways does the analogy of lukewarm water in Revelation 3:15-16 illustrate the importance of spiritual purpose and impact? [09:18]
3. How does craving acceptance from people more than from God contribute to a lukewarm faith, according to the sermon? [19:24]
4. What does it mean to "open the door" to Jesus in one's life, and how might this action transform a lukewarm faith into a committed one? [28:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you might be "Christian-ish" rather than fully committed to following Jesus? What steps can you take to change this? [03:24]
2. The sermon suggests doing something every day that requires faith. What is one specific action you can take this week that will stretch your faith? [26:28]
3. Consider the signs of lukewarm faith mentioned in the sermon. Which of these signs do you recognize in your own life, and how can you address them? [17:39]
4. How can you use your God-given gifts to fulfill your spiritual purpose and make a positive impact in your community? [09:18]
5. In what ways can you prioritize seeking God's approval over the approval of others in your daily life? [19:24]
6. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to let Him in fully. What does it look like for you to open the door to Jesus in every aspect of your life? [28:14]
7. Reflect on 1 John 2:15. How can you ensure that your love for God surpasses any attachment to worldly things? What practical steps can you take to align your life with this principle? [22:11]
Devotional
Day 1: The Peril of Half-Hearted Faith
Many people today identify as Christians but live a life that lacks true commitment to Jesus. This half-hearted faith, often described as being "Christian-ish," is akin to being lukewarm, which is intolerable to God. It is crucial to examine our faith and ensure it is genuine and wholehearted. In Revelation 3, Jesus addresses the church in Laodicea, highlighting their lukewarm nature. This serves as a warning to us to avoid a superficial version of Christianity that prioritizes comfort over true devotion. We are called to move beyond a convenient, comfortable commitment and embrace a faith that demands real change in our lives. [02:14]
Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV): "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself being "Christian-ish"? How can you take a step towards a more genuine and wholehearted faith today?
Day 2: Living with Spiritual Purpose
Jesus calls us to fulfill our spiritual purpose with passion and dedication. Being lukewarm means failing to use our God-given gifts to make a difference. We must strive to live a life that glorifies God and impacts others positively. The church in Laodicea was wealthy and self-sufficient, yet their faith was neither passionate nor impactful. This serves as a reminder that material wealth and self-sufficiency can lead to spiritual complacency. Instead, we are encouraged to use our gifts and talents to make a spiritual impact, aligning ourselves with God's purpose for our lives. [09:18]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What specific gifts or talents has God given you, and how can you use them to make a spiritual impact in your community this week?
Day 3: Recognizing Signs of Lukewarm Faith
Lukewarm faith is characterized by craving acceptance from people more than God, rationalizing sin, rarely sharing faith, only turning to God in need, and being indistinguishable from the world. These signs indicate a lack of spiritual passion and purpose. It is essential to be vigilant and intentional in our walk with Christ, ensuring that our faith is not just a label but a true reflection of our commitment to Him. By recognizing these signs, we can take steps to reignite our spiritual fervor and live a life that is pleasing to God. [19:24]
James 4:4 (ESV): "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily habits and interactions. Are there areas where you are seeking acceptance from the world rather than from God? How can you shift your focus to prioritize your relationship with Him?
Day 4: Embracing Daily Acts of Faith
To grow out of a lukewarm state, we should do something every day that requires faith. This could be forgiving others, sharing our faith, or stepping out of our comfort zone. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's purpose and live a life that pleases Him. Daily acts of faith help us to cultivate a deeper relationship with God and ensure that our faith is active and alive. These acts may seem small, but they have the power to transform our lives and the lives of those around us. [26:28]
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Reflection: What is one specific act of faith you can commit to today that will challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and grow closer to God?
Day 5: Opening the Door to Jesus
Jesus stands at the door and knocks, inviting us to let Him in fully. He desires all of our hearts, not just a part. By opening the door to Him, we embrace a life of faith, commitment, and purpose, leaving behind the lukewarm state that grieves God. This invitation is a call to surrender our lives completely to Jesus, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. As we open our hearts to Him, we experience the fullness of life that He intends for us, marked by genuine faith and devotion. [28:14]
Revelation 3:20 (ESV): "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Reflection: What areas of your life have you kept closed off from Jesus? How can you begin to open the door to Him fully and allow Him to transform those areas?
Quotes
As we start a new year, I wanna give you a new word, Christian -ish, and I wanna start by defining it because we're starting a new message series called Christian -ish. What does it mean to be Christian -ish? My definition is this. It's having a half -hearted faith, wearing the label of Christianity without truly following Jesus. [00:03:00]
And I would say, very honestly, from a pastoral perspective, to be Christian -ish is to kind of embrace a superficial, watered -down version of Christianity. It's where you have enough of Jesus that it makes you feel better, but not so much of Jesus that it changes anything in your life. [00:03:35]
Jesus says, I wish you were one or the other. So because you're lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I'm about to spit you out of my mouth, Jesus said. He goes on to say, you say, I'm rich. I've acquired wealth, and I don't need a thing. But you don't realize that your wretched, pitiful, [00:05:16]
poor blind and naked Jesus goes on to say those whom I love I rebuke and discipline so what do you do he says so be earnest and repent then Jesus says it's so powerful he says Here I am I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with that person and they with me [00:05:37]
God can't stomach comfortable Christianity it's not just undesirable to God it's intolerable Christian if it suggests this half -hearted you convenient, comfortable commitment to receive the benefits of Jesus without fully surrendering to the call of Jesus. And it suggests this half -hearted faith that is so repugnant to God that it provokes a visceral reaction. [00:10:45]
You may be lukewarm if you crave acceptance from people more than you do acceptance from God. The second thing is you may be lukewarm if you rationalize sin. If there's sin in your life, there's something in your life that is displeasing and dishonorable to God, and you just kind of explained it away. [00:17:48]
A third indicator you may be lukewarm is this, is that you rarely share your faith in Christ. You say, oh yeah, I'm Christian. Yeah, I believe in Jesus and everything. And okay, I know I'm called to be a light in the world, but it's just not my gift. I just don't talk about my faith. I don't want to offend people. [00:19:24]
Number four indicator that you may be lukewarm is that you only turn to God when you need something. That God's like your emergency 911 call, right? And instead of seeking him daily, instead of letting his spirit guide you instead of letting his word build your faith and renew your mind you call on him when you're in trouble [00:20:17]
And when you're doing something that requires faith and when you're depending on God, suddenly, you're not concerned with what people think. You're more concerned with what God thinks and you're living for his approval to glorify him above anything else. And instead of rationalizing your sins, you confess your sins. [00:27:02]
And so if you find out, cut my eyebrows too tight. I might be a little bit lukewarm. And I didn't realize it. What do you do? Well, you open the door and you let Jesus in. Jesus said this. He said, look, I stand at the door and I knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, Jesus says, I will come in and I'll share a meal together with you as friends. [00:28:14]
Lukewarm, it doesn't just grieve God, but it robs you from the life that God wants for you, the purpose for which God created you. And so what's Jesus asking for? He's continuing to knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock. He don't want half your heart, part of your heart, a little bit of your heart, whatever it is that you're asking for. [00:30:20]
Today, you may realize that you're lukewarm. You're not fully devoted to him. And Jesus is standing at the door and knocking. If you let him in, he will forgive your sins. He will make you new and he will reveal the life, the calling, the purpose that God has for you. [00:34:33]
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