2. “Forever Reign” What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8:4

3. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Review: Last week we asked the question, “Is God Off His Rocker?” as we explored His outrageous, unrelenting love for His people. We saw this “Crazy Love” of God illustrated profoundly in the book of Hosea and marveled at God’s grace towards the adulterous nation of Israel and us.

4. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Years ago, there was a popular TV show called “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Then MTV came out with their version of this show called, “Cribs”. “Teen Cribs” later spun off from that show. It seems that our culture has a strange fascination with the excessive extravagance of others.

5. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless

6. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Today, we turn this concept on its head and will use it to examine our own response (or lack thereof) to God’s lavish love for us.

7. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless One would think that having received so great a love from God, the church would be full of people completely “gaga” for Him! However, Francis Chan, author of “Crazy Love” points out all too often the opposite is true and challenges us to examine how “lukewarm” our own response to His love is.

8. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless What does it mean to be “lukewarm” in our response to God’s love? Jesus, addressing the church in Laodicea, said, Revelation 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (All scripture quoted from the New International Version)

9. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Early in my dating relationship with my wife Kathy, I remember making excuses to be with her! She had a computer (not everyone had one back then!) and I would sometimes “fake” a need to use it, just so I could spend time in her presence!

10. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless That is the kind of response to His love that God wants from us! It is expressed well in David’s desperate desire to be with God: Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

11. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Jesus described the kind of “all in” response God is longing for from us: Matt. 13:44-46 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

12. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Perhaps we need a self evaluation? Rom. 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

13. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Expected” or “Enthusiastic” Isa. 29:13a The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

14. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Expected” or “Enthusiastic” Do we do only what is expected of us as “normal” Christians or are we enthusiastically worshipping, serving, giving, sharing, etc? “En theos” = In God

15. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Safe” or “Sold-out” 1 Chron. 21:24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

16. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Safe” or “Sold-out” Luke 21: 3-4“…this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

17. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Safe” or “Sold-out” Do we give to God when it is convenient and non-disruptive to our lifestyle or are we giving in a way that shows Him we truly trust Him to continue providing for our needs?

18. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Popular” or “Proclaiming” Matt. 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

19. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Popular” or “Proclaiming” Do we care more about others’ approval and trying to “fit in” with a certain group than about sharing the joy of our relationship with God to others?

20. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Familiar” or “Following” Matt. 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

21. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Familiar” or “Following” Are we satisfied with being familiar with God rather than truly surrendering to Him and following Him in simple obedience?

22. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Self-righteous” or “Self- deprecating” Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men— robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

23. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Self-righteous” or “Self- deprecating” Luke 18:10-14 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

24. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation: “Self-righteous” or “Self- deprecating” Do we tend to spend more time pridefully comparing ourselves to others or humbly confessing how far short we fall in comparison to God’s holiness.

25. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation “Leftovers” or “Prime cuts” Matt. 6:33 But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.

26. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation “Leftovers” or “Prime cuts” Are we giving God first crack at us in terms of our time and resources, or do we tend to stick Him with the leftovers of our life?

27. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation “Complacent” or “Committed” Amos 6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!

28. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation “Complacent” or “Committed” Have we become complacent in our worship, service and giving to God or are we constantly asking, “What would You have me do Lord?”

29. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Crazy Love Self Evaluation “Complacent” or “Committed” Complacency is a bad place to be!

30. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless God’s “Crazy Love” toward us is lavish and unchanging… even during seasons when we are “lukewarm” in our response to Him! How is your response to His “Crazy Love” right now?

31. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless Take a moment of silent confession and repentance for areas in your heart that have grown lukewarm and indifferent to Him!

32. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless

33. “Forever Reign” “Crazy Love” Part 2: Lifestyles of the Lukewarm and Passionless What is one way this week that you will seek to “stoke the fire” under your own kettle?

34. See You Next Sunday!