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The sin of lukewarmness can look like indifference to sin, disinterest in the lost, eroded Christian values and integrity, apathy in obedience to Christ, neglect of personal devotional life and selfishness. God is grieved when His people lose their love for Him. If the church is to remain strong until Christ returns, it will be because, as individual Christians, we have stayed passionately on fire for Jesus Christ.

Jesus teaches that it is hard to live by God’s values when we don’t know what they are. He instructs us to saturate our minds with the Scriptures and live accordingly. Compromise usually starts small, erodes slowly, always lowers the original standard and is seldom offensive (except to true Christians and to Jesus). We are significant in the Lord’s eyes when we are faithful to His Word in all situations.

The battle is at hand. We must carefully avoid compromising our faith and drifting away from our relationship with Christ. Walk intimately with Jesus every day by holding firm to the tenants of our faith. The best way to avoid apostasy is to live a well-intentioned, vibrant, living, growing and maturing Christian life.

Jesus warns Sardis, the dead church, that pretension is deadly. They are commanded to strengthen their faith, repent and obey God’s Word. When we do the same, our eternal destiny is settled once and for all.

Faithfulness means that we have a balanced view of a loving God and a holy God so that we proclaim both doctrines of Heaven and of Hell. How do we avoid apostasy? Put mystery, fear, awe and holiness back into our view of God. Live like Jesus is our Lord—not just our friend. Do not allow Satan a foothold. Instead, interact with the Holy Spirit to lead a spirit-filled life.

What causes Peter’s transformation? He is transformed by his journey through suffering, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus. To be changed by Christ, we must welcome suffering with joy, keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit and saturate our lives with the words of Christ.

Faith means a long-term commitment to God’s will in spite of circumstances or criticism. A true experience with God will evoke life change. Faith’s actions have long-lasting and eternal results.

Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need. Deep fulfillment and joy are ours when we pause and give to help others. If our beliefs and behaviors don’t result in a deeper expression of our love for God and others, then our beliefs need to be re-processed and altered.

ONE MINUTE OF SILENCE FROM 5:14 to 6:14. Resting from work is a part of a healthy lifestyle. God thought it was so important, it was the longest of the ten commandments. Jesus taught that Sabbath was not a religious observance, but a time to commune with God and others. We are to remember, rest and delight in God. NOTE: Audio lost between minutes 5 and 6 Move cursor forward.

At some point in our journey, most of us trade adventure for routine. While some routines can be good, we have to be careful. Sacred routines become empty rituals that keep us caged!

Jesus had much to say about divorce and remarriage. The sermon deals with what Jesus said about marriage and divorce, whether or not Jesus was a liberal or conservative when it came to the issue of divorce, and the Biblical guidelines for marriage and divorce. The permanence of marriage is also emphasized.

Many of us analyze the Bible to resolve doctrinal and behavioral questions instead of immersing ourselves in a story that is intended to saturate our heart, soul and mind. To delve into the feelings and emotions that underlie our actions and behaviors, we must ask the relational questions grounded in Matthew 22: How does this passage relate to loving Jesus? How does this passage relate to loving others? How does this passage relate to loving myself?