Sermon Info
Summary
God calls us to “be holy because I am holy.” Holiness means to be “set apart.” The world wants us to be passive about our faith and to live for ourselves. Yet, Jesus came to “do the will of the Father.” As Christ-followers, we are called to be like Jesus. We should passionately invest in the things of God. But we live in a world that wants us to be complacent and comfortable. Complacency is a challenge for Christians and for the American Church. God calls us to push past culture and to live for Him. We have one opportunity in life, so let’s give our best for God!
Content
1. Complacency keeps us from being our best.
Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise! Proverbs 6:6
- Complacency is the Biblical sin of sloth or laziness.
- Thomas Aquinas and the Early Church Fathers viewed this sin in light of spiritual disciplines.
- Complacency is a major hindrance to spiritual growth.
- Complacency causes us to drift.
- Do you choose comfort over God?
2. Satan takes the good things of God and distorts them.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
- There is no one in the world just like you.
- God gives us abilities and opportunities.
- We fall into the comparison trap.
- We tend to outsource everything in our life – even our spiritual growth.
3. “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning.” - Dallas Willard
...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13
- The Bible doesn’t say “work for” your salvation, but “work out” your salvation.
- We all say, “If I just had more time…” But, it's not about time; it’s about priorities.
- Nothing interrupts complacency like a crisis.
- In order to not become complacent spiritually, we need to be serving and have accountability.
So, how do I respond to complacency today?
- Conviction
- Confession
- Apply
