THE “IN” CROWD

Are You a Member?

When we speak of the “in” crowd, we usually mean “a small, fashionable, and exclusive or influential group.”

THE “IN” CROWD

Are You a Member?

In this lesson, however, I am using “in” as a negative prefix.

The “in” crowd is composed of those who are the opposite of what they ought to be.

The In-DifferentIndifferent to Indifferent to

their own their own spiritual needsspiritual needs

Indifferent to Indifferent to the spiritual the spiritual needs of othersneeds of others

THE “IN” CROWD

Revelation 3:15-17Revelation 3:15-17‘‘I know your works: you are neither I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.naked.

Revelation 3:18-19Revelation 3:18-19‘‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.’ zealous and repent.’

The In-Sincere

Judge others Judge others when they when they should be should be judging judging themselvesthemselves

THE “IN” CROWD

Matthew 7:1-5Matthew 7:1-5““Judge not, that you be not judged. For Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

John 7:24John 7:24““Do not judge according to appearance, Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” but judge with righteous judgment.”

The In-Sincere

Judge others Judge others when they when they should be should be judging judging themselvesthemselves

Do not practice Do not practice what they what they preachpreach

THE “IN” CROWD

Matthew 23:1-4Matthew 23:1-4Then Jesus said to the crowds and to Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell practice and observe whatever they tell you— but not what they do. For they you— but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” them with their finger.”

The In-Sincere

Judge others Judge others when they when they should be should be judging judging themselvesthemselves

Do not practice Do not practice what they what they preachpreach

Make long Make long prayers for a prayers for a pretensepretense

THE “IN” CROWD

Matthew 23:14Matthew 23:14““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long houses and for a pretense make long prayers; therefore you will receive the prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.”greater condemnation.”

The In-Sincere

Emphasize Emphasize minor matters minor matters while neglecting while neglecting major mattersmajor matters

THE “IN” CROWD

Matthew 23:23-24Matthew 23:23-24““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

The In-Sincere

Emphasize Emphasize minor matters minor matters while neglecting while neglecting major mattersmajor matters

Have only an Have only an outward outward appearance of appearance of righteousnessrighteousness

THE “IN” CROWD

Matthew 23:25-26Matthew 23:25-26““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. outside also may be clean.

Matthew 23:27,28Matthew 23:27,28““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” lawlessness.”