1. What to do: Guard the Truth

A. The truth is the power of God.

According to John 8:32 - what does the truth do?

When you consider the second half of Proverbs 29:18 it becomes clear that people aren't perishing because leaders don't have a clear goal, but rather because they don't have a vision of what?

According to Isaiah 5:13, and Hosea 6:4 - what did the prophets blame the problems of the people on?

Read Romans 1:13-17 and answer the following questions:

  1. What issue was Paul writing Romans to address? (13a)
  2. Why did Paul feel a debt? (14-15)
  3. To whom was he indebted? (14)
  4. What is the power of God to salvation? (16)
  5. What reveals the righteousness of God? (16-17)

B. The truth is under attack.

Attacking the truth is Satan's favorite tactic.

Read Genesis 3:1, how did Satan begin his temptation of Eve?

Read Matthew 4:6, what did Satan use in his temptation of Christ?

Is it fair to say that one of Satan's favorite tactics is twisting and denying the word of God?

Consider the following New Testament epistles and the attacks on truth they were written to correct: - 1 Corinthians - people misusing spiritual gifts. - 2 Corinthians - people denying the apostleship of Paul. - Galatians - people teaching that keeping the law was part of Salvation. - Colossians - people teaching a form of angel worship and ceremonial law keeping and denying Christ. - 1 John - people denying that Christians sin - 2 John - people denying the humanity of Christ - 2 Peter and Jude - false teachers in the church subverting people for money.

Attacking the truth still happens today.

Discuss among the group and come up with a list of ten ways Satan is currently attacking the truth.

(Empty list of blanks in notes)

C. God has chosen pastors to be the guardians of truth.

Read 2 Timothy 1:13-14 and Titus 1:9 and answer the following questions:

  1. Who were Timothy and Titus?
  2. What does it mean to "hold fast"?
  3. What are pastors to "hold fast?"
  4. What is meant by keeping the thing which is committed unto thee? (2 Tim 3:14)
  5. What is required for us to "keep" it?
  6. What other reasons are given for us to "hold fast" the word?

Pastors must hold to the truth

The doctrines and beliefs of the church, rooted in the Scriptures, are the lifeblood of the church. If we fail to guard the truth, the good thing of Gods' word, nothing else will matter.

  • According to John 17:17 - what is the truth?
  • According to 2 Timothy 2:2 - what is God's plan for passing on the truth?
  • According to John 14:6 - what Person ultimately is the Truth?

Pastors must refute those who contradict the truth

Read Titus 1:9-11 and answer the following questions: - Who are the gainsayers (9-10)? - What must we do to the gainsayers? (11) - If we don't do it, what will they do? (11) - How do we exhort and convince the gainsayers? (9)

Read Romans 16:17. What two things must we do to them who cause doctrinal divisions?

What did Paul say about people who twist the gospel in Galatians 1:7-8?

2. How to do it

A. Preach the whole Bible

  • Preach through whole books of the Bible.
  • Do not skip over hard things.
  • Keep a good balance in your preaching:
    • Old vs. New Testament
    • Didactic teaching (Like Romans and Ephesians) vs Narrative (Stories)
  • Suggestion: Am - Gospel or NT Epistle, PM - Practical or Old Testament, Midweek - Stories of the Bible
  • Keep Jesus the theme of your preaching.
  • Do not assume that people know the gospel

B. Guard the purity of your church

  • Vet people thoroughly before they join the church.
    • Make sure they are baptized believers
    • Make sure they believe the same things.
  • Guard the front door of your church.
  • Have a membership list.
  • Meet with every potential members and make sure they are believers before they join your church.
  • Vet people even more thoroughly before they can teach in your church. (James 3:1, 1 Timothy 5:22)
  • Vet the resources you use.
    • False teachers don't just show up at your door, they show up on the internet and through books.
    • Be careful about the resources you use and recommend.

C. Study

  • Study the Bible
    • You cannot defend the truth if you do not know it (2 Tim. 2:15, Col. 4:6, 1 Peter 3:15)
  • Study church history
    • Imagine getting your mind wiped after every year of school and starting over - that is what it is like to never learn from church history.
    • Whatever problem you are dealing with, Christians in history have probably already dealt with. So learn from them.
  • Study your culture
    • Your job is to go into the world of the Bible and bring it back into the world of your listeners. This means you must be familiar with both worlds.
    • Keep an ear out for what is going on. What music are the kids listening to? Who is being idolized? What new ideas and trends are emerging?

D. Be on the lookout for false teachers in the church

Read 2 Timothy 2:14-18, what was Paul telling Timothy to be careful of in the church?

Sometimes taking care of the sheep means driving off wolves. Look out for theological wolves in your ministry.