Desensitized! Scriptural “Sensitivity” Training!

Desensitized! “…to make emotionally insensitive or callous; specifically: to extinguish an emotional response (as of fear, anxiety, or guilt) to stimuli that formerly induced it” Merriam-Webster Online

Desensitized! To render insensitive or less sensitive. To make emotionally insensitive or unresponsive, as by long exposure or repeated shocks: “This movie in effect may re-sensitize people who thought they were desensitized to violence”. Source: Dictionary.com

Have we lost the Battle? “Far from living in a world elsewhere, the faithful in the United States are remarkably like everyone else” … in the battle between faith and culture, “American culture has triumphed.” - Alan Wolfe How We Actually Live Our Faith

Example of Insensitivity Parable of the good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 Priest & Levite were insensitive to the needs of the man who was robbed and beaten! Key Lesson Be sensitive to our “neighbor”! Ex 20:12-17 Matt. 22:34-40

Desensitized! When God’s people are not sensitive to sin! Jer. 6:15; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:12-13 3

Why do we become desensitized to sin & error? Lack knowledge - Hos. 4:6 Teach…Learn -Eph. 4:20-21; Heb. 5:12-14 Failure to put off the old man of sin - Eph. 4:17-24 Transform mind - Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23

Why do we become desensitized to sin & error? Influence of worldliness - 1 Cor. 15:33 (Prov. 6:27) Beware of the faithless deceit of sin - Heb. 3:12-13 Not love the world - 1 Jno. 2:15-17 Do not pitch our tents toward Sodom - (Gen. 13:12-13)

Why do we become desensitized to sin & error? Complacency toward God & His will - Zeph. 1:12 Wake up! Rom. 13:11-12 Obstinate rebellion - Heb. 3:7-11; 10:26-27 Fear God & obey Him - Heb. 10:31 (Prov. 1:7; 9:10)

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Immodest Dress It is Sin - 1 Tim. 2:9-10 (Prov. 7:10; Jer. 6:15) Modest (kosmios): “Orderly, well-arranged, decent...” Shamefastness (aidos): “A sense of shame” Sobriety (sophrosune) - “Soundness of mind… sound judgment” Ephesians 4:22-24

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Immodest Dress Applications include: Revealing clothing (dresses, blouses, midriffs & mini-skirts) Underclothes Short shorts Skin tight pants Shirtless (men)

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Profanity Euphemisms, Eph. 4:29 “the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensively blunt or harsh” (Webster’s) Ephesians 4:22-24

Such Euphemisms Include… Gee; Geez (Jesus) Gosh; Golly (God) Lordy (Oh, Lord) Heck (h__l) Blue blazes (slang for h__l) Darn; Dang (to curse, da_n) Shoot (s__t) Dog gone (God d__n)

Our Speech Should Be… Sound - Titus 2:8 Gracious & seasoned Col. 4:6 Truth in love - Eph. 4:15, 25 Plain; bold - 2 Cor. 3:12; 7:4 As the words of God 1 Peter 4:11

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Fornication Adultery; “Shacking up”; homosexuality - 1 Cor. 6:9-11 Common in entertainment Humor…Personalities… Accepted by Most! Flee fornication! - 1 Cor. 6:18

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Doctrinal Error Endure sound doctrine 2 Tim. 4:3-4 “Truth is relative” “Nobody agrees on everything” “Everybody does something without Bible authority” “Stop judging others” Need to be more tolerant! Maintain pure teaching and living 2 Tim. 1:13 Gal. 1:6-10 2 Jno. 9-11 Rom. 16:17

Renew Our Sensitivity Toward Lost Souls Try to save some with sound doctrine Matt. 9:36-38 Conscious (He “saw” them) Compassion (moved Him) Commitment (toward them) We must properly value lost souls - Matt. 16:26

Desensitized! When we become desensitized to sin & error we will certainly lose our souls! John 17:14-19 15