When Apostasy is a Danger to the Church

Acts 20:29-30

“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

Acts 20:29-30• The concern for apostasy has

not changed• Apostasy means to depart from

one’s faith or beliefs. In reality, it is departing from God!

• What are some factors that lead to apostasy?

When we stop studying• The Bible can inoculate us

against error!•2 Timothy 3:16-17•Hosea 4:6, Malachi 2:7-8

•Proverbs 10:21

When we stop studying•2 Timothy 4:2-4• When churches make Bible

study secondary to other activities, or when they suppress portions of His word, they are in danger of apostasy – Acts 20:32

We cannot identify error• A product of ignorance • Many are not equipped to

identify and deal with error.• There is always someone

ready to exploit the ignorant•2 Peter 2:1-3•2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

We cannot identify error

• Knowledge equips us•Acts 20:29-30•Ephesians 4:14-15•Ephesians 5:15-17

We cannot identify error•1 John 4:11 Thessalonians 5:21

• More than simply knowing the word – it includes HOW to use it

•Colossians 2:8

When we leave our first love•Revelation 2:2-6• Ephesus had begun to be less

fervent concerning God.• When zeal begins to fade, we

relax and that is when error can creep in.

•Hebrews 10:24, 2 Peter 1:13

We seek the world’s ways•1 John 2:15-17• It should never be our goal to

compete with the world! When we do it is only a matter of time before the worldly reject us or we appease them

• Consider 1 Samuel 8:19-20

We seek the world’s ways• We are supposed to be

different! •Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 2:9•2 Corinthians 6:17•Romans 12:1-2• Both as individuals and His

church we ought to stand out!

We let down our guard•1 Peter 5:8• Satan is ready to devour his

prey (cf. Acts 20:29)•2 Corinthians 2:11 – don’t

be ignorant of his devices•1 Peter 5:9 - resist him!

We let down our guard•Hebrews 2:1, give earnest

heed lest we drift away!• It is easy for a church to become

complacent and let down its guard as well (Revelation 3:17-19, 3:1-2)

•1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong!”

• We have addressed dangers to the church concerning apostasy

• We have also addressed the danger as individual Christians.

• As the Christian goes, so goes the church! (Eph. 4:16, 1 Corinthians 5:6)

• As we begin 2016, let us be on guard, both for ourselves AND for His church here in Bellflower, California!