Laodicea: The Church of Apostasy Revelation 3:14-22

1. Laodicea: The Church of Apostasy Revelation 3:14-22

2. Builders 61% Christian • Boomer 39% Christians • Buster/Gen x 25% Christian • Bridgers/Millennials 4% projected to be Christian • Only 17% of Millennials attend church at least once a month. • Most dropouts are leaving at ages 17-19 • 2/3 drop out of church between 18-22

3. The local church is non-essential to their lives. • Has nothing to do with the level of activities at the church • It is no more important than leisure activities, work, or simply doing nothing. • This has nothing to do with personal freedom. (not mad either) • Receptive spiritually but they disconnect spirituality from the church

4. What they believe doesn’t match up to their church’s statement of faith. • They believe that taking a break from church is permitted and refreshing. • Church had become a time waster for them • The spiritual journey makes them happy but they never get to the end.

5. Destination: • Laodicea: People ruling • Represents the age roughly between 1900 and today.

6. 3. Description of Christ • Faithful and True Witness • Beginning of the creation of God

7. Matt. 13:47-50 Parable of the Dragnet 47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

8. Commendation • Nothing good to say

9. Condemnation • Hot=Believers Cold=Unbelievers • Lukewarm=unbelievers who claim to believe in Jesus but are not regenerated. • They possess worldy wealth and believe they are self-sufficient. • They are self deceived (wreteched, poor,, blind, and naked) and not saved.

10. 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away (apostosia) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

11. 1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3

12. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 2 Timothy 3:5

13. 90% of Millennials, say that their parents are key influencers in their lives. Don’t dilute Doctrine. Teaching anything less than absolute truth betrays not only the Gospel but them as well. Be biblically literate. In 3 years Paul told the Corinthians that they should be on the meat of the word. Keep your evangelistic passion Be relevant by applying scripture to life for guidance.

14. Make disciples: 8 out 10 Millennials who stayed in church stated that their parents gave them direct spiritual guidance. • Hypocrisy. What they hear and what they see do not match up with the parents concerning church and spirituality. (Also, legalism and moral laxity) • The twist: Doing church is not enough. We must tell why church and spirituality are essential. Going to church and liking the church are essential