Accountability of the Church to Proper Teaching
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Introduction
Introduction
There are some things in our world that will spark a heated debate among people. One would be politics. Depending on where you are, it might be team sports. Another topic of conversation that is bound to get some people heated is the topic of “religion.”
Introduction
At the center of this last topic is the issue of truth. People are trying to define what is really the truth and how to go about living by it. The question of “what is truth” is one that has been asked for some time. We see this question even posed to Jesus by Pilate — the very man who handed Jesus over to be crucified.
There are some things in our world that will spark a heated debate among people. One would be politics. Depending on where you are, it might be team sports. Another topic of conversation that is bound to get some people heated is the topic of “religion.”
One thing that troubles my heart greatly is the shifting of people’s stance on what is truth. You can see a person stand on the truth that comes from the Bible in one setting and in the next setting, you see that same person deny it.
At the center of this last topic is the issue of truth. People are trying to define what is really the truth and how to go about living by it. The question of “what is truth” is one that has been asked for some time. We see this question even posed to Jesus by Pilate — the very man who handed Jesus over to be crucified.
Illustration: I can remember hearing one man “preach” one of the best sermons on the name of God (YHWH) back in 2003 at a conference that drew hearers to understand more clearly who God is and God’s pursuit of us. Today, that very same man today denies the existence of hell, that Jesus had to die for our sins, and holds that every person will go to “heaven”.
With this shifting view of truth before us, I want to look at a statement from our church covenant and talk about its importance.
One thing that troubles my heart greatly is the shifting of people’s stance on what is truth. You can see a person stand on the truth that comes from the Bible in one setting and in the next setting, you see that same person deny it.
Illustration: I can remember hearing one man “preach” one of the best sermons on the name of God (YHWH) back in 2003 at a conference that drew hearers to understand more clearly who God is and God’s pursuit of us. Today, that very same man today denies the existence of hell, that Jesus had to die for our sins, and holds that every person will go to “heaven”.
We determine by the aid of the Holy Spirit to promote the prosperity and spirituality of the church, to sustain its worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines…
With this shifting view of truth before us, I want to look at a statement from our church covenant and talk about its importance.
If you were here last week, we talked about the responsibility that is shared by church members to make sure that the church is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Today’s message will fall in line with that somewhat as this phrase from our church covenant speaks to the responsibility that the church has to make sure that it is teaching what is proper — the truth of God.
We determine by the aid of the Holy Spirit to promote the prosperity and spirituality of the church, to sustain its worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines…
The church prospers and is spiritually healthy most when it is centered around and in line with what the word of God says. It is the word of God that directs and determines our worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
If you were here last week, we talked about the responsibility that is shared by church members to make sure that the church is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Today’s message will fall in line with that somewhat as this phrase from our church covenant speaks to the responsibility that the church has to make sure that it is teaching what is proper — the truth of God.
This is one of the reasons that the apostle Paul wrote to a younger pastor, Timothy, in the final letter that we have from him before his death. While the words of 2 Timothy were first written to a young Pastor in Ephesus in the first century, they were intended for all churches of all times to listen to and put into practice.
READ & PRAY
The church prospers and is spiritually healthy most when it is centered around and in line with what the word of God says. It is the word of God that directs and determines our worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
This is one of the reasons that the apostle Paul wrote to a younger pastor, Timothy, in the final letter that we have from him before his death. While the words of 2 Timothy were first written to a young Pastor in Ephesus in the first century, they were intended for all churches of all times to listen to and put into practice.
Three Truths From
Three Truths From
READ & PRAY
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The church has to answer to God.
The church has to answer to God.
Three Truths From 2 Timothy 4:1-4
Three Truths From 2 Timothy 4:1-4
The church has to answer to God.
The church has to answer to God.
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
As he wrote these words to Timothy, Paul reminded Timothy of the fact that the church will have to give an account before God with how it stood. There are many people and groups that want you or this church to bend to their thinking. The truth is, God is the only one that the church will have to stand before and be held accountable to.
As he wrote these words to Timothy, Paul reminded Timothy of the fact that the church will have to give an account before God with how it stood. There are many people and groups that want you or this church to bend to their thinking. The truth is, God is the only one that the church will have to stand before and be held accountable to.
The church belongs to God. The Bible refers to the church as the “bride of Christ” in . A bride is not accountable to anyone and everyone. A bride is first accountable to her husband. The same is with the church.
The church belongs to God. The Bible refers to the church as the “bride of Christ” in . A bride is not accountable to anyone and everyone. A bride is first accountable to her husband. The same is with the church.
There will come a day when when the local church has to stand before God and answer for how she was either faithful or disobedient to the leading of her Creator. While the church may be pushed on all sides by culture, culture will not be the one to whom the church will answer one day.
There will come a day when when the local church has to stand before God and answer for how she was either faithful or disobedient to the leading of her Creator. While the church may be pushed on all sides by culture, culture will not be the one to whom the church will answer one day.
The church is commanded to preach the Word.
The church is commanded to preach the Word.
The church is commanded to preach the Word.
The church is commanded to preach the Word.
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
The next truth that we see is in the charge that Paul gave to Timothy: preach the word. The word ‘preach’ means ‘to herald’. Paul is very clear about what should be the centerpoint of all teaching within the church. It is the Word of God — the Bible.
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
The next truth that we see is in the charge that Paul gave to Timothy: preach the word. The word ‘preach’ means ‘to herald’. Paul is very clear about what should be the centerpoint of all teaching within the church. It is the Word of God — the Bible.
The next truth that we see is in the charge that Paul gave to Timothy: preach the word. The word ‘preach’ means ‘to herald’. Paul is very clear about what should be the center-point of all teaching within the church. It is the Word of God — the Bible.
There is a temptation to focus on what is popular in the culture or what might give people the “warm fuzzies.” While we do need to address the issues at hand, we do so by pointing back to what God says in His Word.
There is a temptation to focus on what is popular in the culture or what might give people the “warm fuzzies.” While we do need to address the issues at hand, we do so by pointing back to what God says in His Word.
It is the word of God that is powerful and able to change people’s lives not the opinions of any man or woman.
= For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
It is the word of God that is powerful and able to change people’s lives not the opinions of any man or woman.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
The reason that the word of God is powerful and able to change people’s lives is because it is truth. Jesus Himself told us that in as He was praying to the Father before going to the cross. He said, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
This is why the church should be ready at all times to share the word of God with those who will give her an audience. It doesn’t need to just come from the pulpit though. It needs to come from the classrooms... from the houses of its members… at our places of work… at our schools… anywhere that God will take us, we are to “herald” the message of the life-changing word of God because it is the truth that every man, woman, boy, and girl is looking for.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.
Paul shows us three ways to use the word of God in our daily lives.
Rebuke - warn forcefully; to prevent or bring to an end; these are times when we point out why something is wrong. We do not need to be fearful of calling sin a sin.
I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.
Correct - to call someone back in line; this is where we share the word of God with someone and urge them to get in line so that they may experience true life. It would be a tragedy to know the remedy for those around us’s sins and not share it with them.
Encourage - to build someone up; we should not just use God’s word to show people what we are against but also what we are for. We are for life… we are for peace… we are for what God is for.
My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.
The church needs to realize a time is coming.
The church needs to realize a time is coming.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:3
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
Paul warns that a time would come when people did not want to hear the truth of God’s word, but they would just want to hear what made them feel good or better about themselves. This is a sad truth. We know this to be true because we see it more and more each day. The gospel is being exchanged for pop-psychology more and more. People are in a rush to share their “10 ways to have a better life” instead of looking to and listening to the One who created life.
The reason that the word of God is powerful and able to change people’s lives is because it is truth. Jesus Himself told us that in as He was praying to the Father before going to the cross. He said, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
As much as we would like it to be true, holding to the Word of God as absolute truth and the foundation of our beliefs is not popular in today’s culture. There are those who will say that it is “ancient”… “out-of-date”… “no longer relevant to life as it is today”. These statements could not be any further from the truth.
This is why the church should be ready at all times to share the word of God with those who will give her an audience. It doesn’t need to just come from the pulpit though. It needs to come from the classrooms... from the houses of its members… at our places of work… at our schools… anywhere that God will take us, we are to “herald” the message of the life-changing word of God because it is the truth that every man, woman, boy, and girl is looking for.
It would be so much easier to just go along with popular opinions of the day. More people would show up and want to listen because it would be something that just stroked their ego and told them they were okay in whatever circumstance they found themselves.
Paul shows us three ways to use the word of God in our daily lives.
Illustration: How would this work with a doctor’s appointment? Would you want your doctor to just tell you that everything’s fine when in fact it was not? Sure the news may not be what you want to hear, but the truth is what you need to hear so that you can deal with the issue at hand.
It is for this reason that we have the statement in our church covenant that says we determine by the aid of the Holy Spirit to promote the prosperity and spirituality of the church, to sustain its worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
Rebuke - warn forcefully; to prevent or bring to an end; these are times when we point out why something is wrong. We do not need to be fearful of calling sin a sin.
Correct - to call someone back in line; this is where we share the word of God with someone and urge them to get in line so that they may experience true life. It would be a tragedy to know the remedy for those around us’s sins and not share it with them.
It is each member’s responsibility to be familiar with the Word and making sure that what is taught and done by the church lines up with God’s word. How is that done?
Encourage - to build someone up; we should not just use God’s word to show people what we are against but also what we are for. We are for life… we are for peace… we are for what God is for.
We make sure that each of us is reading and hearing the Word.
We make sure that we are testing the Word.
We make sure that we are applying the Word.
The church needs to realize a time is coming.
The church needs to realize a time is coming.
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.
In , we can read about a place that the apostle Paul and others went to share the gospel with them. They shared the message of God’s word with the people at Berea. Look at what happened...
The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.
Paul warns that a time would come when people did not want to hear the truth of God’s word, but they would just want to hear what made them feel good or better about themselves. This is a sad truth. We know this to be true because we see it more and more each day. The gospel is being exchanged for pop-psychology more and more. People are in a rush to share their “10 ways to have a better life” instead of looking to and listening to the One who created life.
As much as we would like it to be true, holding to the Word of God as absolute truth and the foundation of our beliefs is not popular in today’s culture. There are those who will say that it is “ancient”… “out-of-date”… “no longer relevant to life as it is today”. These statements could not be any further from the truth.
They heard the Word of God… they tested the Word of God… they applied the Word of God. Many of them experienced the life-changing effects of the Word of God. The wonderful thing about this is that the same power that changed the Bereans lives can do that same work in ours if we will listen and do it.
Conclusion
It would be so much easier to just go along with popular opinions of the day. More people would show up and want to listen because it would be something that just stroked their ego and told them they were okay in whatever circumstance they found themselves.
Illustration: How would this work with a doctor’s appointment? Would you want your doctor to just tell you that everything’s fine when in fact it was not? Sure the news may not be what you want to hear, but the truth is what you need to hear so that you can deal with the issue at hand.
While the Bible is still the #1 best-selling book of all time, it does no good if we do not spend time knowing it and living by what it says. Here at FBC Fulton, we are unapologetic about the fact that we base everything that we say and do as a church on the truth of the Word of God.
It is for this reason that we have the statement in our church covenant that says we determine by the aid of the Holy Spirit to promote the prosperity and spirituality of the church, to sustain its worship ordinances, discipline, and doctrines.
This is also the reason that we say that every member has the responsibility to make sure that our church stays on track with what the Word of God directs. We all have a part to play in this. This responsibility will call for us to know the Word ourselves so that our church can be healthy and prosper.
It is each member’s responsibility to be familiar with the Word and making sure that what is taught and done by the church lines up with God’s word. How is that done?
I would encourage you today to make a commitment to know the Word of God better than you do today. Take time reading and studying it. Wrestle with it. Allow God to show you the truth of His life-giving Word. What you will find is that this is not just another book but rather an invitation to come and know a person — Jesus Christ.
We make sure that each of us is reading and hearing the Word.
We make sure that we are testing the Word.
We make sure that we are applying the Word.
In , we can read about a place that the apostle Paul and others went to share the gospel with them. They shared the message of God’s word with the people at Berea. Look at what happened...
The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.
They heard the Word of God… they tested the Word of God… they applied the Word of God. Many of them experienced the life-changing effects of the Word of God. The wonderful thing about this is that the same power that changed the Bereans lives can do that same work in ours if we will listen and do it.
Conclusion
While the Bible is still the #1 best-selling book of all time, it does no good if we do not spend time knowing it and living by what it says. Here at FBC Fulton, we are unapologetic about the fact that we base everything that we say and do as a church on the truth of the Word of God.
This is also the reason that we say that every member has the responsibility to make sure that our church stays on track with what the Word of God directs. We all have a part to play in this. This responsibility will call for us to know the Word ourselves so that our church can be healthy and prosper.
I would encourage you today to make a commitment to know the Word of God better than you do today. Take time reading and studying it. Wrestle with it. Allow God to show you the truth of His life-giving Word. What you will find is that this is not just another book but rather an invitation to come and know a person — Jesus Christ.
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