Text: 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 One Who Simply Believes Error It is expected that our knowledge will grow from infancy to maturity (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14) Growth can only happen through the teaching of the word (1 Peter 2:2) Error needs to be explained & refuted (2 Corinthians 10:5) One Who Openly Promotes Error This [...]

Text: Ephesians 5:18 This is a Command Therefore, this does not mean that God miraculously fills us with the Spirit — we can obey this command How do we become filled with the Spirit? … By letting the word of Christ richly dwell within us (compare Ephesians 5:18-6:9 with Colossians 3:16-4:1) What is this verse [...]

Text: Acts 20:27 Is It Important What We Believe? NT teaches the importance of faith (Hebrews 11:6) Faith comes from the word of God (Romans 10:17) God revealed what He wants us to know (1 Corinthians 2:10-13) God’s word is true (John 17:17) — we must believe it (all of it) Should We Preach/Teach on [...]

Do Not Be Deceived By: Yourself (1 Corinthians 3:18-20; James 1:26) False teachers (Romans 16:17-18) False concepts (Colossians 2:8) How Do We Keep from Being Deceived? Be honest & objective (Luke 8:15) Recognize the threat of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1) Do not put your trust in men (Romans 3:4,23) Test everything according to the [...]

Text: John 10:27-29 Many Believe the “Once Saved, Always Saved” Doctrine — It would be comforting if it were true Warnings About Falling Away If the righteous do evil, their righteousness will be forgotten (Ezekiel 33:12-13) Parable of the sower — rocky soil (Luke 8:13) The vine & the branches (John 15:2,6) Paul — it [...]

Text: Galatians 1:6-10 Jeopardizes Our Salvation (v. 6; Romans 1:16) Regardless of Preacher (v. 8; Matthew 7:15) Condemnation for Preaching a Different Gospel (v. 8-9; 1 Peter 4:11) What Other Gospels? Judaizers – failed to distinguish between the covenants (Colossians 2:14) Gnostics – taught a different Jesus (Colossians 2:9) and that sin was not a [...]

Text: Romans 14 What We Must Understand As We Begin: Controversy: Does Romans 14 allow ongoing fellowship with those in sin/error? We can understand this (Ephesians 3:4) Scripture does not contradict itself (John 10:35) What Does This Chapter Teach & What Does It Not Teach? Don’t judge others’ opinions by your opinions. NOT: Don’t judge. (v. [...]

Text: 1 John 3:18 Obey God (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3) Sacrifice Self (1 John 3:16) Put Others First (Romans 12:10; Philippians 2:3-4) Help Those in Need (1 John 3:17) Speak the Truth (Ephesians 4:15) Correct Error (2 Timothy 1:13; 4:2)

Misunderstanding Grace Leads to Error More sin leads to more grace (Romans 6:1-2) Grace is a license to sin (Jude 4) With the grace-unity movement, grace is the basis for unity What is Grace? God’s gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:8) The gospel is the message of God’s grace (Acts 20:24) Grace is not without works [...]

What Makes Us Brethren? By faith we have been baptized into Christ (Acts 2:37-38; Galatians 3:26-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13) What if one does this but joins an institutional church or a denomination? Still a brother What if one doesn’t do this, but is religious and claims belief in God/Jesus? Not a brother Be Mindful of [...]