The “Old Fashioned” Unchangeable God…

Immutable God means God cannot change; He is constant, faithful.

God never changes in His attributes or counsel.  God does not grow, improve, or evolve because God is already perfect.  God cannot diminish, deteriorate, or regress.  He always has been and He will forever be.  He does not change His mind.  He does not make a promise and then change His vow.  This is good for us redeemed sinners; good news to us sheep dressed in full armor.

 

To the world—Change is progress, change is hip, change means you’re with it; you’re the cutting edge.  Remember this is in spite of all these changes and the progress.  Man’s problems remain the same—man needs a Savior no matter how sophisticated we become.  We need the unchanging God, His unchanging Son and the unchanging Spirit.  Because an honest self-appraisal reveals we are lost without this one and only unchanging God.  God is timeless, God’s word is timeless; God’s love for us is eternal = Timeless.  God is never old fashioned; He IS or should I say I AM.

 

 

Memorial Day Recognition

Every year in Danube, MN, there is a Memorial Day Program sponsored by the American Legion Post.  At the end of the program, the crowd assembles outside at the flag pole for the reading of the Roll of Honor--names of those veterans who have passed away.  We have heard those names each year for many years but what do we know about the individual person?  So, for the past several years, specific honorees have been recognized during the program so we can learn something about them. 

The following is what will be shared this year about Gust Standfuss, a decorated veteran of World War II.

Sgt. Gustave T. Standfuss

United States Army – World War II

Sgt. Gustave T. Standfuss was born on February 27, 1924 on the family farm in Emmett Township, rural Renville County.  He was born to Theodore and Augusta (Seehusen) Standfuss. 

Gust worked on the home farm before joining the U.S. Army in World War II.  He served in the Central European Rhineland Theatre from 1944-1946.  He served as a Combat Infantryman and was awarded the Bronze Star.  Not only did Gust serve, but two of his brothers, Elmer and Henry (Hank) also served in World War II.  Gust was one of seven first cousins that served in WWII.  His first cousin, Alice Ballard Meyer, lost her husband in WWII.

After the service Gust continued to farm and became a part-time police officer in Danube. In 1978 Gust became Police Chief in Danube and served faithfully until 1991; he was also selected Minnesota Peace Officer of the Year.  Gust married Anna Groen in 1950 and they were the parents of ten children.  Anna died in 1996 and Gust later married Jean Wendinger.  He was a member of the American Legion for over 50 years.

Three of Gust’s grandsons served in the Army National Guard during the Iraq war.  Jim Standfuss, son of Phil and Nancy Standfuss served in the Continental US; Daniel Stephens, son of Susan and Brad Stephens, and Adam Standfuss both served in Iraq.  Adam, also the son of Philip and Nancy Standfuss, was severely wounded in Iraq. 

Gust did not say much about his war experiences.  At the Seehusen family reunions the veterans are acknowledged.  One year Gust stood up and began to speak.  He told of going into battle with 252 men and Gust was one of only 19 that survived.  He shared that during this prolonged battle he turned 21 years old and grew a mustache that he would never shave off as it would serve as a daily reminder of his war experience. 

Gust was a POW of the Germans for a short time at the end of the war.  He and a fellow soldier were interrogated and then ordered to go to the basement.  The word was, if you went to the basement, you never came back up.  He and his friend prepared to die.  But Gust and his friend did come back up alive and the German officer in charge handed Gust his service weapon, a German Lugar pistol, and said “You’re in charge now; the war is over.”  The Standfuss family is still in possession that German Lugar pistol.

Gust’s records did not record his POW status but information gleaned from the memories of a buddy, Lee Gardner, made reference to the radio detachment being captured.  Gust was a member of that group. 

Gust’s daughter, Sue, shared some pages of the memoir of Lee Gardner, Gust’s buddy from North Carolina.  It is a valuable source of information. 

Gardner wrote a letter to Gust in March 2012.  I quote in part… the letter opens:

“I think you will recall us serving together in Company G, 119^th Infantry of the 30^th Infantry Division during World War II.  I have much admiration and respect for you.”

The Standfuss family received some pages of the memoir from Gardner.  Gardner would write in the margins, “Gust, remember this?” or “Gust was here.”  Gust and Gardner were together from France to the Elbe River.

In closing I will share three paragraphs from Lee Gardner’s memoirs that were marked Gust’s name.

“On another occasion during the same battle, Lee’s (and Gust’s) company was cut off by the Nazi’s and had no food for three days.  Wnd had no food for three days.me battle, Lee'orge Lee Gardner'd respect for you."s of a buddy, George Lee Gardner, made referorse still, they were forced to wear the same uniforms for three months and they contacted body lice.  After the Battle of the Bulge, one of the Army generals took all of us to a spa in Belgium where the rich and famous from that region came to bathe,” Lee recalled.  “It was a tremendously wonderful feeling getting to bathe and change clothes after we hadn’t had the opportunity to do either for so long.  We bathed in mineral water and I then felt like I was the cleanest guy on Earth.  The Army took our old uniforms, burned them and gave us new clothes.”

“Lee (and Gust) were some of the famous General George S. Patton’s troops who had to walk 72 miles in only three days during blizzard conditions to get back behind German forces after they had made their breakthrough.  Lee recalls wading through snow up to his waist and got both feet frostbit in the battle.  Fortunately, he didn’t have any lasting medical problems from that.  He also remembers how he and one of his Army buddies went inside an old barn in the area hunting eggs to eat, as food was scarce, and once again his life was spared.  He apparently walked in a slightly different direction than his buddy, who stepped on a mine in the barn.  “It blew both his legs off and he bled to death because he couldn’t get any medical help.”

“Lee (and Gust) also helped liberate five Nazi Concentration camps which Lee said was “One of the absolute worst parts of war.  Those places were brutal and horrible beyond all means of description.  You could smell them for many miles before you got to them.  There were millions murdered in them in every conceivable manner.  And many of those who survived were beaten, starved and treated as inhumanly as you can imagine.  It is so sad that the human mind can comprehend treating people in such barbaric ways.”

This day we remember with honor the sacrifice of Sgt. Gustave T. Standfuss.   This is a time when our news is filled with ongoing government scandals.  Four Americans were left to die in Benghazi and a Government official says, “What difference does it make?”  It shows our lack of appreciation for our freedoms; freedoms that were obtained and maintained with the shedding of blood.  We would all do well to remember the high price paid not only the sacrifice of the Standfuss family but also of others who have served and sacrificed.

If Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay for our freedom, it surely is the least we can do.

Blessed be the memory of Sgt. Gustave Theodore Standfuss.

 

I would like to remind each of you to take time this Memorial Day to remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom.  ~ Beef

 

 

 

 

 

Be careful when we spout off...

 

Bildad, Job’s buddy, goes on a rant in Job 25 about the power of God and the hopelessness of man.  Job has been suffering, hurting, irritable and frustrated with his buddies’ advice.  Job says in Job 26:1-4 ... “Then Job replied: 2 "How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble!  3 What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed!   4 Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?”

Job says (Jerry paraphrased) “by the way Bildad, you may criticize God but what have you done to help the powerless or feeble? (Job 26:1-2)

If we are prone to spout off about God, we need to ask ourselves, “What are we doing for the powerless and feeble?”  Probably nothing.  In and of ourselves we lack true wisdom (verse 3) and have none, if any, insight.

Then Job launches the broadside in verse 4:  "Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?"

We could not speak, grumble, utter, whisper, complain, sing, cry, weep, whistle, or yodel unless God gave us life, breath, and everything else.  Acts 17:25  -- “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.”

Before we spout off about God, we should consider the stupid things we are about to say or do.  And remember, every breath we take, every beat of our heart is an undeserved gift from God himself!  We need to be careful before we spout off…forgive us God.

 

The Unprepared Army

The Unprepared Army

For about two years, I have been preaching once a month at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Annandale, Minnesota. We have been preaching through the first twelve verses of 1st Peter, Chapter 1. It’s taken us five sermons but that’s all right. Some of you are not surprised since I’m considered long winded anyway.

The first 12 verses remind us of who we are as Christians; in verse 13 of Chapter One, the message changes. To my unprofessional eye, Peter states seventeen things in these 12 verses about who we are in Christ. It’s an impressive list; it should make us dance.

In verse 13 it says, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action.” Peter writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit calls us to action. What action? How about getting our head screwed on right before we go to war. How about true worship before action.

Matthew 16:21-27 says, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.' Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.'”
In verse 22 Peter says, "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Peter wanted his plan not God’s. This suffering and being killed stuff was not part of Peter’s plan. Oh, how unprepared and stupid we, like Peter, can be! Today we want Christ and our plan doesn’t include suffering and being killed either. No, we like Peter want Christ but we don’t want the cross.

We want the easy faith. Lord, don’t call me to suffer yet in verses 24-27 Jesus tells us we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.

Today, in the American church, are we prepared for this taking up the cross and following Christ? We like all the “benefits” as it were, of being a Christian yet we shrink from the ensuing battle and the sacrifice it will take to follow Christ. Peter knows what’s going to happen to him. Read John 21:18-19: “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" Tradition has it; Peter died being crucified upside down.

We are not prepared to fight much less have the basic truths of the faith rooted deeply in our mind. Peter waited for Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was to pray and watch—he fell asleep. We have fallen asleep; we haven’t prayed; we haven’t watched. We wanted Christ, but please no cross for me. Brother and sisters, persecution is coming and we are an unprepared army. See 1 Peter 1, we are not ready to fight. Oh Lord, please forgive our slumber, may we watch, pray and worship you. May we fully understand your plan. Fill us with your Spirit. Prepare us for battle, root truth deep in our hearts and minds. Do not leave us to ourselves. Come Holy Spirit, come. Amen.

 

This is a repost of the October 22, 2009 Blog.

What is true manhood?  Characteristics  of Being a Man

Last time we studied some things that characterized a true man.  These are my own ideas that I’ve learned working with men over the years.  Culture has rooted some of them out of our society.

As to wives and girlfriends…

Quote:  “A real man will always carry your bags, open the door, show you respect and remind you how beautiful you are.”

Quotes from Don Juan Matus:  “The worst that could happen to us is that we die, and since that is already our unalterable fate, we are free; those who have lost everything no longer have anything to fear”

Fear God alone; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Don’t live life being afraid of other men.  Don’t pick or start fights…if you get in a fight, finish them.

1.    The past is forgiven – Psalm 103:1-5 says “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,  who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

2.    Today is in God’s hands: Psalm 104:1-5 – “Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.  He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.”

3.    The future is with Him.  Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

4.    Teach those around you.   Teach during everyday life not just formal settings.  Teach all the time.  Teach what you know.   Pick the time and the place.  Just tell is as it is.  Uncle Jim and I were not taught a lot of things.  We had to learn on our own; that can be a costly and painful lesson.

                  Titus 2:6-8 – “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

                  Deuteronomy 6:6-7 --  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

5.     Be a warrior protector - Let everyone in town know that if anyone messes with your family or friends, you will hold them accountable.  Make your statement by actions not just words.

Joshua 14:10-12; Jeremiah 22:16; Proverbs 31:9

Never stop being a warrior.   Stand up for the right thing; defeat what is wrong.  A warrior is:  “A man or a woman who is a fearless, strong and skilled fighter standing up for what is right.” Sometimes we must do something we don’t want to do—that’s being a man (adult).  Do the right thing.

6.    Be a friend – Be an honest friend.

a.    _________ down your life for others.  John 15:12-15 -  .  “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

b.    The greatest friend we have is God.  -- James 4:8 – “Come near to ________   and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

c.    How do you pick friends? 

                                  i.    Proverbs 13: 20 --  “He who walks with the _________  grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”

                                ii.    Keep your tongue.  Proverbs 22:24-25 – “Do not make friends with a ___________   ______, do not associate with one easily angered,  or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.”

                               iii.    1 Corinthians 15:33 -- Do not be misled: "______     ______________ corrupts good character."

7.    How do you treat your friends? 

Luke 6:31— “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  (Sound familiar??)

Romans 12:10 – “Be _______________ to one another.”  (Could also use ‘loyal’)

Ephesians 4:29-32 -  “Forgive as _________ forgives.”

8.     Importance of friendship

a.    Proverbs 17:17 - ________________ makes friends like brothers.

b.    Proverbs 19:20 -  Listen to _______________ and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

c.    1 Samuel 18:1-3 – David loved __________________ as a _________________.

In closing, remember God has a purpose for each of us.

Psalm 57:2 – “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me.”

Seehusen Family Bible Study #2

“Boys take; men give.  Boys criticize; men create.

Boys complain; men solve.  Boys consume; men serve.  Boys pout; men endure.”

 John Bryson

Three truths in a man’s life:

1.    I have to be intentional

2.    I must rely on God

3.    I need other men

From “Stepping Up—A Call to Courageous Manhood” a video series by Family Life

Answer these questions:

1.    A boy becomes a man when he…

2.    What is the last courageous thing you have done?  Have you done any?

To be a man, lead.

Remember Jeremiah 10:23-25 from last week.   “I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.24 Correct me, LORD, but only with justice-- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.”

·         Genesis 2:18 – “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

            Women will love a servant leader.  A servant leader is a man who leads those he is in charge of (family, business, military unit) with the best intentions for those whom he is responsible.  Not his agenda, but a respectful leader that leads quietly with measured words and by example.

·         Be a protector and provider.  1 Timothy 5:8 says “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Your girlfriend, wife and children must know you will lay down your life and personal agenda for their benefit.

1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”   ‘Weaker partner’ means of lesser physical power; it does not mean of lesser worth.

·         Grow up – be stable – measure your words.

Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.”

Proverbs 12:16 – “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 11:12 – “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.”

2 Timothy 4:5 – “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Titus 1:12-16 – “Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.”    Don’t act like a brute (1/2 step above an animal).

1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Culture measures manhood by:*

o   Billfold

o   Ball field (sports arena of any kind)

o   Bedroom

o   Number of toys (I added this)

*From “Stepping Up” by Family Life

 

Next week – What is true manhood? 

 

Seehusen Family Bible Study

This is the first in a series of the Seehusen Family Bible Study.  Humbly I ask God to bless our efforts.  May God bless us.

1.     God is incomprehensible. Scripture teaches that we can know God personally but we cannot completely understand Him.

Acts 17:24-27 - "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”  Every beat of our heart is a gift from God. 

Great is the Lord - Psalm 145:3-4 -- Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  Note:  This is why we, as men, must do this study and share it with others. 

Quiet and Loud - Job 26:12-14 -- By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?" 

Isaiah 55:8-9 -- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Romans 11:33-34 -- Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

Heard of God but do not know or see Him: Job 42:1-6 -- Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.3 [You asked,] 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.4 ["You said,] 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.'5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." 

Deuteronomy 29:29--- The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
 

2.     Incomprehensibility without knowability can lead to 1) despair or 2) apathy. But God is knowable. 

2 Peter 1:2-8 -- Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

My life-changing verse: Jeremiah 10:23-24 -- I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.24 Correct me, LORD, but only with justice-- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. 

Jeremiah 9:23-24 -- This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.  

"Power of God" -- 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 -- When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

John 17:1-3 -- After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.2For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.


Philippians 3:10-11 -- I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  

1 John 4:7-8 -- Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

John 20:30-31 -- Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Acts 17:24-27 -- "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

 

Knowing God or "Dead Orthodoxy"

"Knowledge of God is the goal of theology.

"Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy.  Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability.  But true knowledge of God includes understanding everything from His perspective.  Theology is learning to think God's thoughts after His.  It is to learn what God loves and hates, and to see, hear, think, and act the way He does.  Knowing how God thinks is the first step in becoming godly."
 

(Taken from "Biblical Doctrine: An Overview" in the ESV Study Bible)

 What is "dead orthodoxy"?

1. Correct doctrine without being born again.
2. Correct doctrine without practical outworking or living a godly life
3. Correct doctrine without zeal; lack of zeal for the Word or souls.  Zeal is ardent, active interest.
4. Lack of emotional experience in worship (not manufactured)
5. Formalism = rigidness in worship