Truth or Consequences

 

“The teaching of a false prophet cannot withstand scrutiny under the divine light of Scripture.” John MacArthur

 
It’s a case that’s scandalized Kenya and has thrown a global spotlight on the too often deadly consequences of bogus religious teaching. Please don’t think it’s just the 3^rd world. It seems nearly every year there are sincere people following a false teacher that can result in deadly consequences.
  This time the preacher was prominent Kenyan ­televangelist, Ezekiel Odero, who described himself as “God’s chosen one.” Last April authorities arrested Odero along with another prominent pastor, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, after finding more than 100 dead or starving people on Mackenzie’s property. Mackenzie, the founder of Good News International Ministries, had asked his followers to fast until they died and met Jesus. Prosecutors linked the two charlatans as business associates who led their followers in some cases even fatally astray.
  More than 85% of Kenya’s population is “Christian.” Ministers, like Odero in a country where poverty is widespread, prey on the desire for health and wealth. Those in dire poverty are easily victimized by charlatans promising “God’s relief.”
  2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns us, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” While most false teaching doesn’t have such dire consequences, it’s still spiritually deadly. How can we protect ourselves from it?
  We must test everything by the standard of Scripture. False teachers like to use phrasing “God told me.” Or “I have a word from the Lord.” They use this as a cover because if God is saying something, how can you question it? But you can question it and are encouraged to in the Bible. God’s Word is always the yardstick. At Grace, we believe in Sola Scriptura. That simply means the Bible is the only infallible source of authority for our faith and practice.
  In the book of Acts the “the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). The Bereans were being taught by the Apostle Paul himself, yet they didn’t take what even an apostle taught at face value. They examined the Scriptures to see if what he said was accurate and true.
  That should be done with whatever is taught that claims to be God’s message. Every sermon, lecture or a claim of divine knowledge must be measured by what the Bible says to determine if it’s true.
  Don’t be intimidated by someone’s celebrity status or the size of their platform. In social media there’s something known as “social proof.” It’s the idea that if many people like it, it validates the person or what they’re saying. That doesn’t work for biblical truth. Just because the one saying it has a large following, it doesn’t mean that what they’re saying is true.
  Sometimes the bigger the platform gets the less people want to tell the truth because they’re worried about losing fans or financial support. As a result, they may be tempted to say what they believe their followers want to hear so they’ll keep coming back. The size of the following is not a validation that the message is true. It often only means that the message is popular. Popularity and truth rarely go hand in hand.
  Study God’s Word personally and be a part of a community of believers committed to faithfully studying God’s Word. The most important words when dealing with any teaching is to ask, “What does the Bible say?” When we read a book, even from a trustworthy source, we must ask that question. When we listen to a sermon or someone teaching a group, we need to do that. Even when we read books, blogs, tweets and other things, it’s the question we must ask. And when we do this, when we’re committed with the help of the Holy Spirit to seek to understand the Scriptures to the best of our ability, and when we hold all teaching—even good teaching—up to the light of God’s Word, there’s no place for false teaching to hide.
  There is safety too in a community of committed believers. All of us have preconceptions and prejudices. Partnering and studying with those who love God and His Word help protect all of us.
  Half-truth is one of Satan’s most dangerous weapons. A tragic example is – Does God want us to be moral and “good” people? Does He want us to obey the Ten Commandments and other commandments in Scripture? Yes! But will that gain us God’s forgiveness and entry into heaven? No, it’s not what the Bible teaches. It’s a half truth. We’re to seek to live as good people and obey God’s Word because we’ve been forgiven and committed our lives to Christ but not to gain points with God or entry into heaven. We do it because we’re His children not to become His children.  
  As Martin Luther said, “The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God.” Just this half-truth has led many to believe that if they’re relatively good, attend church, have been baptized, do nice things or give away lots of money, etc., then they’re on their way to heaven. But it’s not what the Bible teaches. Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
  If we could be “good” enough for heaven, would God have sacrificed His Son Jesus on the cross to pay our sin debt? Yet Satan loves half-truths. Tragically, many will go into a Christless eternity because they believed that lie and didn’t check God’s Word for themselves. There’s only one yardstick for spiritual truth – God’s Word. Please use the right measure of truth, not just what someone says is the “truth” because believing a lie could kill you. Be like those Bereans. Check it out for yourself!

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Are YOU connected?

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a

college education.”  Theodore Roosevelt

  True story – three women were visiting Bellevue, Washington and were out after midnight, unable to find their way back to their hotel. After asking their GPS to re-route them, they took what they thought was a road that would lead them to the highway. Instead, their SUV ended up sinking into deep water. It seems that the “road” turned out to be a boat launch, and the water a lake. All three managed to get out safely, but by the time the tow truck arrived, the SUV was completely submerged.

  I’ve had that experience too, though not nearly as serious. Some years ago I remember my GPS directing me deeper and deeper into a subdivision for the local Walmart. It quickly became apparent that the GPS was wrong and I never did find the Walmart.

  Think about this. When do you need a map or GPS? When you’re going somewhere you have never been. When it comes to life and eternity, we are all traveling somewhere we have never been.

  Last week school started locally. Students entered new grades. Some entered college for the first time or a new stage in college. All of us are continually moving into new phases of life. We move from being single to marriage, to having kids to having teens, to having an empty nest to having married adult children, to having grandchildren to having great-grandchildren. Every part of life has a new season from education to work to a career. It happens with housing. Most couples start small and rent, yet will finally move to owning a home.

  Life is in a constant state of change. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, was correct, “No man ever steps into the same river twice for its not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

  At Grace, we believe without apology in Sola Scriptura. That simply means that all truth necessary for our eternal salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture. It’s not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture. For example, Scripture has little or nothing to say about DNA structures, microbiology or even the rules of Chinese grammar. Scripture though is a “more sure Word,” standing above all other truth in its authority and certainty.

  We believe every person should first study God’s Word for themselves (2 Timothy 2:15). Yet, what’s lost in an individualistic culture is the vital importance of group Bible study. The model of group study and learning permeates God’s Word. Jesus chose 12 disciples to teach and do life with. The Apostles traveled, studied, prayed and did mission work as a team. God designed the local church to be a family, a body, an army – to name just a few New Testament metaphors.

  When we study in a group, we profit from multiple insights and perspectives. The amount of combined knowledge and experience will be broader than when we study on our own. We gain much by learning from others. We also serve others by sharing our own knowledge and experience. It opens up a place for us for discussion and application of what we’re learning. As we share what we’re learning, it becomes more imbedded in our hearts. We can ask each other questions, share real-life stories of how Scripture has transformed us and share struggles of faith.

  God never intended Christianity to be a “me, God, and my Bible” lifestyle. We’re designed for community. God’s Word teaches that we greatly need each other. What are some benefits of group Bible study?

  In a group we realize that others have similar struggles and problems. We often think there’s something uniquely wrong with us. When we hear that others have similar struggles, we feel both relieved and encouraged.

  In a group we can encourage each other in our faith. The Apostle Paul taught us that when we see the faith in another believer, it encourages us in our own (Romans 1:12). In a group, people share personal insights and testimonies. As we share, others see new ways they can draw closer to God and new steps they can take with others.

  Change is hard. There’s nothing like a word of encouragement when someone feels hopeless or discouraged. Members of a study group support one another, both during meetings and outside of them (2 Corinthians 1:4).

  In a group we can use the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted to us to minister to each other. God never intended spiritual leaders to do all of the ministering. He’s given each of us gifts and talents to encourage, teach, and challenge one another. Group Bible studies provide an ideal setting for Christians to minister to each other (Hebrews 10:24).

  In a group we help hold each other accountable. When someone announces he or she plans to work on making a change, others in the group may ask how it’s going the next time they’re together. It can be done in a positive, encouraging way. Or, group members may make a plan to be accountable to each other. As Proverbs 27:17 says, “iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Then, when members know that they have an upcoming meeting, they’re motivated to prepare and do their “homework.”

  In a group we pray with and for each other. God honors and answers prayer. As we begin to pull back the masks, we become more transparent and are more deeply connected with each other. Then, we’re more open to praying for each other. We begin to share burdens and prayer requests or even become prayer partners  (Matthew 18:20).

  In a group we help each other in tough times. Periodically, all of us feel isolated, alone or frightened when facing health, emotional, family, financial or spiritual problems. Group members help provide a “safety net,” supporting one another through those hard times. Too many Christians lack close friends. When believers get together in a smaller group, close friendships form and often remain long after the group ends. 

  God said, “It’s not good to be alone,” so don’t be! Join a group Bible study!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Preaching: Sharing God's Truth

“One of the reasons for the disinterest in expository preaching is surely that so many attempts at it prove lifeless, dull, and even thoroughly boring. I never cease to be amazed by the ingenuity of those who are capable of taking the powerful, life-changing text of Scripture and communicating it with all the passion of someone reading aloud from the Yellow Pages!”  Alistair Begg

  Today we’re in the third week in our return to the study of Luke’s Gospel, Luke: Finding Jesus. Every now and then it’s important to share why we do what we do at Grace Church.

  At Grace, we’re committed to a systematic study of God’s Word. All of us have lots opinions and sometimes can speak with authority, but only God’s Word has ultimate authority. It’s what the Reformers called, Sola Scriptura. That term is from the Latin. Sola has the idea of “alone, ground and base.” Scriptura means “writings,” referring to the Scriptures. Sola Scriptura means that the Bible, God’s Word alone is authoritative for faith and practice. It’s complete, authoritative and true. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

  Because the Bible is our only authority, we’re committed to expository preaching. That simply means that the sermon is designed to communicate what the biblical text says with its meaning and application for today’s audience. A recent example would be the last two sermons from Luke 12.

  Yet, those were very difficult passages. First, they were very convicting for all of us and secondly, Jesus says some “hard things.” To be candid, if we were not working our way through Luke, I doubt if I’d ever preach on those passages. But they’re part of the Bible and specifically, the words of Jesus. They’re very important. Expositional preaching means that just because something is uncomfortable or not PC, we can’t skip over it.

  Expository preaching then means to preach with the highest view of Scripture. It demands that the preacher take the Bible seriously and show the utmost respect to the original meaning. The preacher is not the interpreter of what God has written, rather he is responsible to honestly seek to understand what the passage means and then share that with the congregation. It’s not bringing one’s own interpretation or opinions to the biblical text, but instead submitting to God’s intended meaning and purpose. The preacher must let the text speak again through the sermon with the same message God intentionally had the original message declare.

  Expository preaching is not a commentary or seminary lecture. It’s a sin to take the living Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) and make it boring. Our aim in preaching is not to be some world class scholar. Nor is it to titillate and amuse. Our aim is not even to build a big church or be flooded with comments of “nice sermon” at the door at the end of the service. No, our aim is to take the sacred text, explain what it means, tie it to other scriptures so that people can see the whole a little better, and apply it to life so it corrects and heals, instructs and edifies. It’s our conviction that there is no better way to accomplish this end than through expository preaching.

  Dr. Don Carson, professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School has suggested a number of strong reasons why expository preaching deserves to be the primary method of preaching God’s Word.

  It’s the method least likely to stray from Scripture. If you are preaching on what the Bible says about self-esteem, for example, undoubtedly you can find some useful insights. But even when you say entirely true things, you will likely abstract them from the Bible's central story line. Expository preaching keeps you anchored to the main source.

  It teaches people how to read their Bibles. Especially if you're preaching a long passage, expository preaching teaches people how to think through a passage, how to understand and apply God's Word to their own lives.

  It gives confidence to the preacher and authorizes the sermon. If you’re faithful to the text, then you’re certain that your message is God's message. Regardless of what’s going on in the church—whether it’s growing or even whether people like you—you know that you’re proclaiming God’s truth. That is wonderfully freeing for a preacher.

  It meets the need for relevance without letting the clamor for relevance dictate the message. All true preaching is to be properly applied. That’s of extraordinary importance in our generation. Expository preaching keeps the eternal and the real world central to the discussion.

  It forces the preacher to handle the tough questions. You start working through text after text, and soon you hit passages about divorce, re-marriage, church conflict, lawsuits, etc., and you have to deal with the text.

  It enables the preacher to expound systematically the whole counsel of God.  If we’re going to preach the whole counsel of God, we must teach the whole Bible. Other sermonic structures have their merits, yet none offers our church family more, week after week, than careful, faithful exposition of the Word of God.

  Preaching and deep study of God’s Word is not just for older saints. Millennials long for truth and authenticity. Even in today's hyper-techno-driven conversational-wiki-culture, preaching is of supreme importance. Of the several church-related or pastor-related issues noted by church dropouts, preaching came up several times as a critical issue in retaining young adults. In a day of “fake news,” the world is starving for ultimate truth. God’s Word is that source of truth and we must honestly share it!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.