Podcasts about false teachings

Jude 1:17-19 Little Letters for Big FaithSupport The Journey

Galatians 4:15 — Christians can suffer from bouts of unhappiness in their faith. One contributing factor may be conflict and confusion due to false teaching within the Christian church. The main problem of spiritual depression lies within the church, not outside. In this sermon on Galatians 4:15 titled “False Teaching,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the apostle Paul confronting false teaching within the church. Today, false teaching can be very subtle and creep its way into the believer's life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that false teaching sometimes detracts from the Christian message. Other times, as in the case of the Galatians, it adds to the Christian message. Either way, false teaching leaves the believer conflicted and confused. Maybe the believer hasn't thoroughly embraced false teaching, but they are disturbed by it. In either case, the believer has lost their first happiness. How might the church safeguard herself against these dangers? Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the church to embrace and cling to the original apostolic message. It cannot be subtracted from, and nothing can be added to it. There is joy in the Christian message.

Galatians 4:15 — Christians can suffer from bouts of unhappiness in their faith. One contributing factor may be conflict and confusion due to false teaching within the Christian church. The main problem of spiritual depression lies within the church, not outside. In this sermon on Galatians 4:15 titled “False Teaching,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the apostle Paul confronting false teaching within the church. Today, false teaching can be very subtle and creep its way into the believer's life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that false teaching sometimes detracts from the Christian message. Other times, as in the case of the Galatians, it adds to the Christian message. Either way, false teaching leaves the believer conflicted and confused. Maybe the believer hasn't thoroughly embraced false teaching, but they are disturbed by it. In either case, the believer has lost their first happiness. How might the church safeguard herself against these dangers? Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the church to embrace and cling to the original apostolic message. It cannot be subtracted from, and nothing can be added to it. There is joy in the Christian message.

Galatians 4:15 — Christians can suffer from bouts of unhappiness in their faith. One contributing factor may be conflict and confusion due to false teaching within the Christian church. The main problem of spiritual depression lies within the church, not outside. In this sermon on Galatians 4:15 titled “False Teaching,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the apostle Paul confronting false teaching within the church. Today, false teaching can be very subtle and creep its way into the believer's life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that false teaching sometimes detracts from the Christian message. Other times, as in the case of the Galatians, it adds to the Christian message. Either way, false teaching leaves the believer conflicted and confused. Maybe the believer hasn't thoroughly embraced false teaching, but they are disturbed by it. In either case, the believer has lost their first happiness. How might the church safeguard herself against these dangers? Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the church to embrace and cling to the original apostolic message. It cannot be subtracted from, and nothing can be added to it. There is joy in the Christian message.

Galatians 4:15 — Christians can suffer from bouts of unhappiness in their faith. One contributing factor may be conflict and confusion due to false teaching within the Christian church. The main problem of spiritual depression lies within the church, not outside. In this sermon on Galatians 4:15 titled “False Teaching,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones focuses on the apostle Paul confronting false teaching within the church. Today, false teaching can be very subtle and creep its way into the believer's life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that false teaching sometimes detracts from the Christian message. Other times, as in the case of the Galatians, it adds to the Christian message. Either way, false teaching leaves the believer conflicted and confused. Maybe the believer hasn't thoroughly embraced false teaching, but they are disturbed by it. In either case, the believer has lost their first happiness. How might the church safeguard herself against these dangers? Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls the church to embrace and cling to the original apostolic message. It cannot be subtracted from, and nothing can be added to it. There is joy in the Christian message. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

Jude 1:17-19 Little Letters for Big FaithSupport The Journey

Send us a textTherefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we a are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4: 16)The world in its depravity has nothing to offer its occupants but trouble in increasing measure. Believers are not exempt from the problems of this world; we just have hope that far outweighs all the troubles of this world. In our infallible and inerrant holy Scriptures, we have the promises of the almighty God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that offers of joy, peace and strength in our journey through this life in spite of any storms that may arise.There is only ONE way to be a Christian!

We need to turn down the volume on the noise that drowns out what we ought to be listening to.

Tragically, atheists must do everything in their power to deny their guilt and accountability before God. Even if it means denying that their own existence has meaning. Today, R.C. Sproul uncovers the moral reasoning of unbelief. For your donation of any amount, get R.C. Sproul's teaching series Defending Your Faith, plus lifetime digital access to all 32 messages and the study guide. We'll also send you two books from Ligonier: A Field Guide on False Teaching and A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4024/donate   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get R.C. Sproul's digital teaching series and digital study guide for your gift of any amount, plus the two ebooks from Ligonier: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Send us a textIn this episode, we take a serious look at the popular YouTube channel  @Truthunedited  and its controversial “Testing Christianity” series by Ron Charles. With over 100 million views, his teachings are spreading confusion about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We examine his five-question "test" of Christianity and compare it directly to the Bible. Is his theology biblically sound—or spiritually dangerous? Join us as we confront false teaching, defend the Gospel, and pray for truth to prevail.“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16)Keep me honest! You can watch the full Truthunedited video here if you question whether I presented their positions in a proper context.Defending the Biblical Roots of ChristianityOur websiteOur YouTube ChannelProf. Solberg's BlogSupport our Ministry (Thank you!)Chapters00:00 Introduction02:49 Wheat or Tares? (The Test)08:53 Question #1: Covenant Partners17:28 Question #2: The Christian Covenant25:25 Question #3: What Will the Father Do?32:05 Question #4: These Last Days35:29 Question #5: Heaven or Earth?40:19 Wrap it up, Solberg.#apologetics#falseteaching #torahkeeper#gospeltruth #hebrewroots #hebrewisraelites

As we continue through our series on the book of Colossians, pastor David Adair warns us about the three dangers found in Colossians 2:16-23.

Chad Puckett picks up our Colossians series at the end of chapter 2, showing how Paul confronts false teaching by proclaiming that the fullness of God is found in Christ alone, making legalistic asceticism and mystical obsession both unnecessary and powerless.

Without Jesus Christ, there can be no hope. Today, R.C. Sproul evaluates the grim price tag of atheism. He shows us that the logical end of unbelief is emptiness and futility. For your donation of any amount, get R.C. Sproul's teaching series Defending Your Faith, plus lifetime digital access to all 32 messages and the study guide. We'll also send you two books from Ligonier: A Field Guide on False Teaching and A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4024/donate   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get R.C. Sproul's digital teaching series and digital study guide for your gift of any amount, plus the two ebooks from Ligonier: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Scripture tells us to 'be like the Bereans'. So who WERE the Bereans, and why should we be like them? Ken Legg sheds some light on this often mis-quoted verse, today on Set Free.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Ken Legg continues his series on False Teachings today, he'll point out that there is ONE teaching we CAN trust - the Bible! He'll explain how we got the current version of the Bible and why we can trust its authors. A good lesson in Christian history on today's edition of Set Free! Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's an interesting exercise to trace where false teachings came from. At some point, they were devised by humans, NOT by God - and then they were accepted by a growing percentage of believers. On Set Free today, Ken Legg looks at the origins of some common false doctrines.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Second Thessalonians Series: 2 Thessalonians 2:3a-The Thessalonians Must not Be Deceived By False Teaching Related to the Timing of the Day of the Lord-Lesson # 22

Second Thessalonians Series: 2 Thessalonians 2:3a-The Thessalonians Must not Be Deceived By False Teaching Related to the Timing of the Day of the Lord-Lesson # 22

There is a delicate line between exposing and being aware of false teachers, and unnecessarily criticising every single ministry you come across! So when do we speak up, and when should we keep quiet? Ken Legg continues his series helping us to identify False Teaching, today on Set Free.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode (#126), I look over an article I wrote examining the NT verses on False Teaching.

Could you define what a 'heretic' is? Ken Legg begins his series on False Teaching by starting to define what is true and false teaching. Important insight, on Set Free today!Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Kouri picks up our Colossians series at the end of chapter 2, showing how Paul confronts false teaching by proclaiming that the fullness of God is found in Christ alone, making legalistic asceticism and mystical obsession both unnecessary and powerless.

2 Timothy 2:14-3:9

Our sense of duty to do good can only have meaning if it comes from God. Is this enough to prove that God exists? Today, R.C. Sproul responds to the influential views of Immanuel Kant. For your donation of any amount, get R.C. Sproul's teaching series Defending Your Faith, plus lifetime digital access to all 32 messages and the study guide. We'll also send you two books from Ligonier: A Field Guide on False Teaching and A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4024/donate   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get R.C. Sproul's digital teaching series and digital study guide for your gift of any amount, plus the two ebooks from Ligonier: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Some people assert that Greek philosophy has infiltrated Christian thought and corrupted our view of God. Today, R.C. Sproul addresses this misunderstanding and considers the place of philosophy in our theological reasoning. For your donation of any amount, get R.C. Sproul's teaching series Defending Your Faith, plus lifetime digital access to all 32 messages and the study guide. We'll also send you two books from Ligonier: A Field Guide on False Teaching and A Field Guide on Gender and Sexuality: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4024/donate   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get R.C. Sproul's digital teaching series and digital study guide for your gift of any amount, plus the two ebooks from Ligonier: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global   Meet Today's Teacher:   R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

A new MP3 sermon from Grace Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: False Teaching About Ethnicity Subtitle: Our True Source of Bravery Speaker: John Pittman Hey Broadcaster: Grace Bible Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 4/27/2025 Bible: Genesis 9:24-27; Luke 22:47-51 Length: 41 min.

Message from Andrew Hopper on April 27, 2025

On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Elder John West lead a discussion about "The Church's Identity and the Threat of False Teaching" based on 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5.1. The Purpose of Paul's Instructions (3:14, 15)2. The Confession of the Mystery of Godliness (3:16)3. The Prediction of Apostasy (vs. 4:1, 2)4. The Nature of False Teaching (4:3-5)

Because God has given us a faith that keeps us in His love, we must keep keeping on in that faith, holding fast by the means of grace, even as we hold out to others the promise of redemption.I. Keep Yourselves in God's Love by Keeping Hold of Faith in Christ vv 20-21 (1) By building yourselves up in your most holy faith (2) By regularly praying in the Holy Spirit (3) By waiting in Hope for God's promised mercy CC: Keep Yourselves in the Love of GodII. Reach Out to Those Whose Faith Has Been Perverted by False Teaching vv 22-23 (1) To those limping along in doubt, show merc! (2) For those who are following false teachers into judgement, Go after them (3) To those in the midst of soul-killing sin, continue to hold our redemptive mercy

When confronted by religious leaders demanding a sign from heaven, Jesus sighs deeply - a profoundly human moment revealing his disappointment with their hardened hearts. Rather than jumping through their hoops, he firmly declines their request and moves on. This teaches us a crucial lesson: Christ never indulges those who approach him with cynicism rather than sincere inquiry.The narrative shifts as Jesus warns his followers about "the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." This brilliant metaphor illustrates how false teaching - whether religious or worldly - can insidiously permeate our spiritual lives just as yeast spreads through dough. Religious falsehood distracts from authentic relationship with Jesus, while worldly values pull us away from kingdom priorities.What daily worries might be preventing you from trusting God more fully today? Join us as we unpack these powerful lessons about discernment, trust, and the patient heart of our Savior who never gives up on teaching those who follow him.Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

EZEKIEL: GOD'S PASSION FOR HIS GLORY#4 | Truth DecayPastor Jay Childs | Ezekiel 12-14False Confidence (chapter 12)False Teaching (chapter 13)False Worship (chapter 14)

Send us a textToday, we discuss the little god false teaching.Check us out atgraceintheshadowsor.orgdrjonathan@graceintheshadowsor.org(251) 244-4645 - call*If you are searching for a clinical counselor and you live in Alabama, Virginia, or North Carolina, Dr. Jonathan Behler would be happy to see you as a client! He does all counseling virtually through a secure portal. He will also work with you on payments - don't let finances keep you from getting counseling!If you live out of the US or not in Alabama, Virginia, or North Carolina, Dr. Jonathan Behler is an ordained minister and trained in pastoral counseling. If you are seeking pastoral counseling, please reach out as well!Support the show

Three primary desires give rise to false teachers: “I want to be well known.” “I want to be preeminent over others.” “I want to amass power by money.”

Religion over Relationship? Feeling a disconnect between your outward religious activities and spiritual life? Many Christians are unaware they can be oppressed by a spirit of religion! Spirit of religion is characterized by outward righteousness – attending church and performing religious duties – without the corresponding inner transformation of the heart and mind. It's a counterfeit faith, a spiritual facade that leaves you feeling empty despite your outward efforts. It's a subtle shift away from a heart-centered, intimate relationship with Jesus towards a performance-based faith. If so, you might be wrestling with the insidious spirit of religion. Join Melia and explore three subtle yet powerful influences of the spirit of religion and break free from its stronghold grip today! Chapters: **Podcast Chapters: Prophetic Insight & Healing Through a Relationship with Jesus** **Chapter 1: Introduction & Testimony (00:00:00-00:05:00)** *Meet Melia Diana and the "Vertical Relationship Show" podcast.* **Chapter 2: The Spirit of Religion (00:05:00-00:15:00)** *Understanding the deceptive nature of religious works.* **Chapter 3: Identifying the Spirit of Religion (00:15:00-00:20:00)** *Signs you might be struggling with religious legalism.* **Chapter 4: Testing the Spirit (00:20:00-00:25:00)** *Discerning truth from deception; John 4:4.* **Chapter 5: False Teachings & Charismatic Dangers (00:25:00-00:30:00)** *"Spiritual candy wrappers" and the importance of discernment.* **Chapter 6: True Faith vs. Outward Actions (00:30:00-00:35:00)** *Beyond "attaboy" and "attagirl" attitude – genuine faith requires testing.* **Chapter 7: The Importance of Bible Study (00:35:00-00:45:00)** *Deeper study for mature faith; avoiding deception.* **Chapter 8: The Fear of Deception (00:45:00-00:50:00)** *Protecting your devotion from false gospels and evil spirits.* **Chapter 9:  Prioritizing God's Word (00:50:00-00:55:00)** *The danger of ignorance and the importance of diligent study of God's Word.* **Chapter 10: Call to Action & Prayer (00:55:00-01:00:00)** *Strengthening your vertical relationship with Jesus + Prayer.* Blessings xo- Melia's Services -> https://meliadiana.com/our-services Melia's Books ->https://meliadiana.com/books Melia's Courses -> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-relationship-academy Melia's Prophetic Mentorship-> https://meliadiana.com/vertical-ambassador-mentorship  

In this season finale of Jesus Every Day, hosts Andrew McPheron, Matt Novitsky, and Ethan Callison walk through the final verses of 1 Timothy 6:11-20, exploring what it means to guard the mission Christ has given us. As we wrap up this journey through 1 Timothy, we reflect on what is truly life and how we can live with an eternal perspective today.In this episode, we discuss:What is truly life? Understanding the fullness of life in ChristEternal life: Here and now vs. there and then—living with a kingdom mindsetGod's perfect timing—trusting how His plan unfoldsEnjoyment & pleasure deficiency—are we missing out on the joy God intends?Common grace—God's goodness to all peopleDoes giving really fix everything? A deeper look at generosity and stewardshipWe'd love to hear from you! What have you enjoyed from this season? Send your thoughts to ecallison@fcclife.org and help shape future episodes.S6E4 Episode on False Teaching and Aesticism

In Colossians 2 we find a macro-perspective on recognizing false teachers/teaching, as well as several micro-level identifiers. Join us as we examine these timeless warnings for the Church.

Series: Letters to a PastorScripture: 1 Timothy 6Speaker: Rev. Emilio Beato

The early church was very vulnerable to false teachings because the New Testament was still being written. In the third part of 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his apostleship amidst many false teachers. Paul saw Jesus and was called by Jesus himself to preach the one true gospel and boast in Christ. Speaker: Brad Bell

The early church was very vulnerable to false teachings because the New Testament was still being written. In the third part of 2 Corinthians, Paul defends his apostleship amidst many false teachers. Paul saw Jesus and was called by Jesus himself to preach the one true gospel and boast in Christ. Speaker: Brad Bell

Are you being misled about the end times? In 2 Peter 3:1-9, we see how false teaching distorts God's truth—fueling fear, doubt, and confusion. It always starts with sinful desire, leading people to question Christ's return and misinterpret God's patience as weakness. But here's the good news: true teaching brings boldness and trust! Don't let deception shake your faith—grow in grace and stand firm in God's promises.

Today's devotional looks at Jesus' message in Revelation to the church in Thyatira, which was in danger of following false teaching.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, watch or listen to Dr. Michael Youssef's sermon God's Final Call, Part 5: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOWAVAILABLE NOW FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNTOne out of every seven Christians around the globe suffers intense persecution. As hatred toward followers of Jesus increases, we will be forced to either take a stand for Christ or retreat into cowardice. We will be forced to either proclaim our love for Jesus or deny our Lord. That's why Dr. Michael Youssef has written his newest book, God's Final Call. In this timely teaching from Revelation 2-3, Dr. Youssef leads you through important warnings and uplifting encouragements from Christ Himself delivered in His seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation—words just as relevant today as they were to the first-century church. Jesus' letters teach His followers how to live victoriously in times of peril and hostile opposition, so may we heed them closely as the world grows darker and more evil. Request your copy today for your gift of any amount!*Offer valid in US, UK, and Canada through April 20, 2025.

Sermon on Titus 1:10–16 by Jordan Hunt

We need the Lord's help to strengthen our faith and understanding, so that we recognize unbelief and false teaching.

In today's world, false teaching takes many forms—New Age spirituality, progressive Christianity, and Christian nationalism—all of which add extra requirements to salvation, distorting the pure gospel message. But how can we recognize and resist these distortions?In this episode of Jesus Every Day, we explore what it means to stay rooted in biblical truth. The church, described as God's household, is both a structured community and a spiritual family where believers grow together in truth. The best way to combat false teaching isn't by studying every deception—but by immersing ourselves in the real thing: God's Word.Just as bank tellers study real currency to spot counterfeits, Christians must deeply know Scripture to discern truth from error. We'll discuss:How false teachings subtly twist the gospel into a “Jesus plus something” equationWhy a strong foundation in Scripture is the key to discernmentHow church community and spiritual gifts help us stay grounded in truthThe balance between understanding other beliefs and prioritizing gospel clarityJoin us as we dive into the power of the simple, life-changing message of Jesus and learn how to stand firm in the faith—every single day.

Pushing Back the Darkness in Your Life | KIB 471 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description: Welcome to Episode #471 of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing (KIB) with Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake. In this powerful discussion, we dive into critical spiritual topics, exposing hidden deceptions and equipping the remnant to stand firm in the light of Christ. In this episode, we cover:✅ Urgent Prayer Requests & Spiritual Warfare✅ The Hidden Influence of the Yin-Yang Philosophy in Western Culture✅ How Darkness Has Crept into the Church & Society✅ The Rise of False Teachings, Grooming in Ministries, and Spiritual Abuse✅ Freemasonry, the Occult, and Their Connection to Church Infiltration✅ Discerning the True Walk with God vs. Religious Deception✅ The Power of Prayer & Returning to the Fear of the Lord✅ Understanding Spiritual Warfare & How to Push Back the Darkness

(Deuteronomy 32:2) Doctrine is not for professional theologians and academic minds. It is simply our beliefs and teachings, taken directly from the Word of God. Study the Scriptures and settle what you believe from the Bible. (0939250212) ----more----  God's Doctrine and Our Opinions Libraries and bookstores are absolutely filled with men's opinions. Radio, television, talk news, all of it, totally filled with everybody's ideas about what they think is right. But I wonder How often we stop to say, what does God think? Did you know that God's thoughts are revealed in His Word? And if you want to know what God thinks about something, then ask yourself this question, what does the Bible say? The Importance of Doctrine We're beginning this series of what the Bible says. And I've started here by just laying a little foundation about the importance of what we call doctrine. That's a word that some people stay away from today. Let me just tell you, doctrine is not a dirty word. Not at all. In fact, it's God's word. Biblical References to Doctrine Did you know that the word doctrine is found 51 times in 50 verses of your Bible? Let me show you a couple of them today. You may want to get a good concordance and look them all up for yourself and walk through them and meditate on them. I've done that. And it's a rich, refreshing way to study that Bible word. But let me show you the first one. The first one is Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse number 2. Now remember, the first time a word is used in the Word of God, it has great significance. It's the law of first mention. Because the first time it's given, it really gives a pattern to follow. It gives an opening truth, if you will, that the Lord will consistently go back to. Doctrine as Refreshing Rain In Deuteronomy 32, we read these words, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain. My speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." There are two or three things that really strike me even as I read that verse. One is, that God connects doctrine to rain. We think of doctrine as being some really heavy thing. But I want to say to you, really, God says, my doctrine is refreshing. My doctrine is a blessing to you. It drops down as the rain, it distills as the dew. Think of the gentleness of dew and then not only what it is as it comes down, but what it produces, it brings about the tender herb. It brings showers upon the grass. I believe that every good thing that grows in our life grows out of the truth. And until we understand the importance of doctrine, we will never become the people that God wants us to be. Now that's Deuteronomy 32 too. Let me read the verse before it and the verse after it. Verse 1 of Deuteronomy 32 says, "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak. And hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distill as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender herb, And as the showers upon the grass, Because I will publish the name of the Lord. Ascribe ye greatness unto our God."  Doctrine and Worship The very first time the word doctrine is used in scripture, it is connected to worship. We don't study to know. We study to worship. We don't study to simply have facts. We study to know the God of truth. We come to Bible doctrine and we say, Dear Lord, we want to know you better. We want to know what you have to say to us. Oh God, speak to us and show us yourself. That's the great message of Deuteronomy chapter 32, and that's the great purpose of doctrine.  False Teachings and Doctrines The last mention of the word doctrine is found in Revelation 2, in the church age, in the letters to the seven churches, and it says in Revelation 2 24, But I say unto you and unto the rest in Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I will put upon you none other burden. So here we have the exact opposite. Here we have. A reference to false teaching. There's always going to be truth and error. There's always going to be this battle this warfare between the God of truth and the old liar, the deceiver, the serpent, the devil. Always. That's what we're watching in our world today. That's what's going on on school campuses. That's what's going on in the news. That's what's going on In government, there's always this conflict and struggle between what is true and what is not. And in the end, we must go back to this, what does the Bible say? I said to you that the word doctrine is found 51 times in Scripture, but the plural word, doctrines, is used 5 times. And did you know that the 5 times it's used in the New Testament, it is always in the negative. It's never a reference to truth. It's always a reference to error. Now, that's very significant. For example, Matthew 15:9 Jesus says, "In vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Or how about Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried away with divers and strange doctrines, for it's a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." God reserves the plural for men's ideas But he reserves the singular for his own truth. Why is that? Because men have lots of disconnected ideas. They teach lots of varied things and call them truth. But God has one body of truth and it's all connected. And it's all important. I have the Bible in my hand right now. The Word of God. Friend, I need it all. I don't need part of it. I need every bit of it. I don't want to fall short of Scripture. And I don't want to go beyond Scripture. I just want to know what the Bible is.  The Myths About Doctrine Now there are basically two great myths when it comes to doctrine. I've heard both of them and so have you. Number one, some people say we stay away from doctrine because doctrine is divisive. As a matter of fact, I hear even some churches advertise, Come to our church. We don't talk about doctrine. We talk about real life things. I think, excuse me, that's a very ignorant thing to say. Because the word doctrine literally means our beliefs and teachings. So what those people are saying is, Come to our church. We don't believe or teach anything. Why would you go to a church that doesn't believe or teach anything? No, doctrine is real life. It's truth that is to be applied to the way we live every day. Doctrine is not divisive. It simply divides truth from error. It does divide. Oh yes, it divides believers from unbelievers. It divides the obedient from the disobedient. It divides the humble from the proud. It does divide, but it is not divisive. In other words, The truth is not what stirs up the problem. What stirs up problems are the responses of people to the truth. It's not loving to say everything goes. Anything and everything can be truth. Love always has to measure up to the truth. The God of love is a God of truth. So the first great myth is that doctrine is divisive. I say to you that doctrine comes from a God of unity and our hearts are only made one. And our minds are only singularly fixed on what is right when we come in line with what the Bible says. The second myth is this. Doctrine is dry. I hear that from time to time. People say, people can't handle all this doctrinal teaching. I even hear people brag sometimes. I'm no theologian. You should be. Theology is the study of God. You should be a real student of God. Doctrine is not dry. The speaker may be dry, I've been dry, and you've been dry, but the Word of God is perennially fresh. And as we study the Word of God, we should do it with enthusiasm. And when we share it with others, we should do it with a spirit of We're at excitement that we have the truth of God and we have the joy and privilege of sharing it with other people. A Call to Study Doctrine All men have some truth, the truth of creation and of conscience, but all of them don't receive it alike. And see, it's how you respond to the truth that's important. We're not searching for the truth, we're searching in it. We've come to find out what the Bible says. So we can bring our lives in line with it, and we can pass it along to someone else. Outro Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. 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