If this lesson applies to you Apply it

Introduction • Revelation 3: 1 Church at Sardis was dead. • Two ways in

To Kill A Church Persecution More like the fear of persecution We Should Expect

To Kill A Church 1 Peter 4: 12 What matters is how we respond

To Kill A Church False Teaching Satan has used this tactic effectively. Revelation 2:

To Kill A Church The church has good defenses when the attack comes from

To Kill A Church • • How to fight off the attack from within.

To Kill A Church Worldliness We must know what it is. The love of

To Kill A Church • It chokes the work of the word in your

To Kill A Church Indifference or Apathy Subtle yet very effective tactic of Satan.

To Kill A Church • • • What are the symptoms? Irregular attendance at

To Kill A Church • • • The antidote Do good. Galatians 6: 9

To Kill A Church Conclusion There are more than 100 ways to skin a

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If this lesson applies to you: Apply it. If not, then pray that those to whom it does apply will heed it and apply it.

Introduction • Revelation 3: 1 Church at Sardis was dead. • Two ways in which a church can die. • 1. Cease to exist (disbands, breaks up, various reasons not in the control of the members. • 2. Dies inwardly • Some of these things that kill a church are:

To Kill A Church Persecution More like the fear of persecution We Should Expect it. 1 Timothy 1: 13 1 Peter 5: 6 -9 Persecution was taking place in the first century.

To Kill A Church 1 Peter 4: 12 What matters is how we respond to it. Some are silenced by persecution John 12: 42 -43 Our future as a church depends on each individuals reaction to persecution. James 1: 2 -3 Matthew 5: 11 -12

To Kill A Church False Teaching Satan has used this tactic effectively. Revelation 2: 13 -14 But we have to figure out why false teaching could take place so close to the Apostles and their doctrine being preached.

To Kill A Church The church has good defenses when the attack comes from without, but we are vulnerable when the attack is from within. • Test everything, person, teaching, etc. • 2 Corinthians 13: 5 test yourselves • 1 John 4: 1 test the spirits • 1 Thessalonians 5: 21 test all things.

To Kill A Church • • How to fight off the attack from within. Hold to sound doctrine 2 Timothy 4: 1 -4 The job of the preacher is to teach the truth. • Good preaching should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable (Marshall Keeble).

To Kill A Church Worldliness We must know what it is. The love of everything in the world. 1 John 2: 15 -17. The world wants you to be happy, and to be happy, you must drink beer, romance the ladies, take what you can get, lie, cheat, or steal.

To Kill A Church • It chokes the work of the word in your life. • Luke 8; 14 • Too many Christians do not bring fruit for God because they are too busy trying to bring fruit for themselves. • The answer and remedy? • Matthew 6: 19 -21 lay up treasure in heaven. • Romans 12: 2

To Kill A Church Indifference or Apathy Subtle yet very effective tactic of Satan. Even attacked the first century churches. Revelation 2: 4; 3: 15 -17 We do not have to oppose the church to kill it. Just be lazy and indifferent.

To Kill A Church • • • What are the symptoms? Irregular attendance at services. Lack of participation in the services, Lack of bible study or giving Lack of effort to help save souls.

To Kill A Church • • • The antidote Do good. Galatians 6: 9 -10 Diligence. Hebrews 6: 11 -12 Be Steadfast 1 Corinthians 15: 58 Encourage one another. Hebrews 10: 2325; 3: 12 -13

To Kill A Church Conclusion There are more than 100 ways to skin a cat. Doesn’t matter to the cat, the end is still the same. There are many ways to kill a church. Doesn’t matter which method is used, but the end result is Satan’s victory. Now, what are you doing to kill or save this church?