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1
XXXX Before you enter into the most sacred shrine in the country of
Portugal, you encounter this warning. It is written in several
languages and it is a huge sign. Among the several warnings about
what not to wear are other precautions. This is a holy place -- (and
the picture communicates) so hang on to your wallet. This is a holy
place -- so make sure you lock your car. This is a holy place. Beware
of people begging.
This is symbolic of what I see Paul saying in 2 Corinthians 11. He is
saying ... church is a holy place, but BEWARE of what goes on in
church. Protect your goods. Hold on to your wallet. Don't blindly
trust everyone who is present in the church.
Not all activity in holy places is endorsed by God. Not all messengers
who oversee sacred spaces are God's chosen messengers.
Slide
2 2 Corinthians 11:4
4 For if someone comes to you and
preaches a Jesus other than the
Jesus we preached, or if you
receive a different spirit from the
Spirit you received, or a different
gospel from the one you
accepted, you put up with it easily
enough.
XXXX Let's read the passage.
2 Corinthians 11:4–21 (NIV)
4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the
Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit
you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you
put up with it easily enough.
Slide
3 2 Corinthians 11:5-6
5 I do not think I am in the least
inferior to those “super-apostles.”
6 I may indeed be untrained as a
speaker, but I do have knowledge.
We have made this perfectly clear
to you in every way.
XXXX 5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”
6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge.
We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
Slide
4 2 Corinthians 11:7-8
7 Was it a sin for me to lower
myself in order to elevate you by
preaching the gospel of God to
you free of charge?
8 I robbed ot her churches by
receiving support from them so as
to serve you.
XXXX 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by
preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to
serve you.
Slide
5 2 Corinthians 11:9
9 And when I was with you and
needed something, I was not a
burden to anyone, for the
brothers who came from
Macedonia supplied what I needed.
I have kept myself from being a
burden to you in any way, and will
continue to do so.
XXXX 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a
burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia
supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to
you in any way, and will continue to do so.
Slide
6 2 Corinthians 11:10-11
10 As surely as the truth of Christ
is in me, nobody in the regions of
Achaia will stop this boasting of
mine.
11 Why? Because I do not love
you? God knows I do!
XXXX 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of
Achaia will stop this boasting of mine.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Slide
7 2 Corinthians 11:12-13
12 And I will keep on doing what I am
doing in order to cut the ground from
under those who want an opportunity
to be considered equal with us in the
things they boast about.
13 For such people are false apostles,
deceitful workers, masquerading as
apost les of Christ .
XXXX 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the
ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered
equal with us in the things they boast about.
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,
masquerading as apostles of Christ.
Slide
8 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
14 And no wonder, for Satan
himself masquerades as an angel
of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his
servant s also masquerade as
servant s of righteousness. Their
end will be what their actions
deserve.
XXXX 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as
servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions
deserve.
Slide
9 2 Corinthians 11:16-17
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for
a fool. But if you do, then tolerate
me just as you would a fool, so
t hat I may do a lit t le boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I
am not talking as the Lord would,
but as a fool.
XXXX 16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then
tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,
but as a fool.
Slide
10 2 Corinthians 11:18-19
18 Since many are boasting in the
way t he world does, I too will
boast.
19 You gladly put up wit h fools
since you are so wise!
XXXX 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will
boast.
19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
Slide
11 2 Corinthians 11:20-21
20 In fact, you even put up with
anyone who enslaves you or
exploits you or takes advantage of
you or puts on airs or slaps you in
t he face.
XXXX 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or
exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in
the face.
Slide
12 2 Corinthians 11:20-21
21 To my shame I admit that we
were too weak for that! Whatever
anyone else dares to boast
about—I am speaking as a fool—I
also dare to boast about.
XXXX 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever
anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also
dare to boast about.
Embedded in the passage you can find this warning:
Slide
13 HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL
DECEPTION
1. Believe what every preacher says
when he/she talks about Jesus.
Assume everyone who speaks
positively about Jesus is from God. (v.4)
2. If the messenger is eloquent and
dignified, dynamic and motivating,
you can trust their message. (vvs. 5-6)
XXXX HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
The Apostle Paul diplomatically warns the congregation about his
opponents' tactics.
For instance, look at verse 4 in your Bible. Paul is saying: If you
want to be misled and deceived when you go to church ...
XXXX 1. Believe what every preacher says when he/she talks about Jesus. Assume everyone who speaks positively about Jesus is from God. (v.4)
Verses 5-6 have a similar message:
XXXX 2. If the messenger is eloquent and dignified, dynamic and motivating, you can trust their message. (vvs. 5-6)
Slide
14 HOW TO FALL PREY TO SPIRITUAL
DECEPTION
3. Assume that an appeal for your money
is really an appeal from God rather than
a cash grab by the messenger. When a
preacher asks for money, never question
his motives. (v.7)
4. Look for leaders who want to run your
life and make all your decisions for you. (vvs. 19-20)
XXXX If you want to be misled and deceived ... (verse 7)
3. Assume that an appeal for your money is really an appeal from God -- rather than a cash grab by the messenger. When a preacher asks for
money, never question his motives. (v.7)
If you want to be misled and deceived ...
XXXX 4. Look for leaders who want to run your life and make all your decisions for you. (vvs. 19-20) (These 4 points adapted from Xenos.com)
Slide 15
Just because it is a Christian program, or a
Christian camp or a Christian church does
not mean that what is said
is what Christ would approve of. Hence the theme of ALPHA:
Question Everything!!!
XXXX Like the sign at Portugal's most holy shrine, every believer must
put up his/her guard when you go to church, when you watch
religious TV programs, when you listen to the radio preachers, when
you send your kids to camp, etc. Just because it is a Christian
program, or a Christian camp or a Christian church does not mean
that what is said is what Christ would approve of. Hence the theme
of ALPHA: Question Everything!!!
If you don't put up your guard, you are liable to be deceived. Don't
blindly trust those who teach and preach and work in the church.
They may or may not have your best spiritual interests at heart. You
must learn to discern.
So what do you do to keep your guard up -- so that when you do go to
church you are not misled or deceived?
Slide 16
HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to
those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed
be untrained as a speaker, but I do have
knowledge. We have made this perfectly
clear to you in every way.
Precaution #1:
Examine t he content of a person's
message, rat her t han simply t rusting t he
outward image (5-6 ).
XXXX HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
Look at what the Apostle Paul said in verses 5-6:
5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I
may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We
have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
XXXX Precaution #1:
1. Examine the content of a person's message, rather than simply
trusting the outward image (of the person or the presentation )
(5-6).
Image is not everything. Some of us will walk into a church that lives
and breathes "success" outwardly. We may smell "success" and
think, "This smells good. I like the smell - - - even though I get the
occasional stench of something rotten." Don't ignore that rotten
smell. True spirituality is not built upon appearances and
superficiality. It is built upon substance. Don't trust only in the looks
of the messenger. Investigate the content of the message. Is God's
word central? Is knowledge present?
Paul could have considered competing with the "super-apostles" in
the church at Corinth. But he didn't try to copy them; he tried to
imitate the Lord. He knew that by trying to imitate the Lord only, he
would be ridiculed by the "super-apostle" crowd. They were
eloquent speakers. They were entertainers and comedians who could
"wow" the congregation with their words. Paul simply said: "I might
not have the gift of communicating in a relevant manner and I may
not stroke everybody's fancy when I speak. But, I do have one thing.
I have knowledge. The fact that you know Christ and have seen the
work of His Spirit in you, is a demonstration of that knowledge. Paul
had no reason to feel inferior. Image sells in our society. It's true.
BUT, before the throne of grace, knowledge of the truth
communicated with a humility of spirit are the measurement of
success.
Slide 17
HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
Precaution #2: Try to discover if the mot ivat ion of the messenger matches the content of the message (7-9)
7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
XXXX How to avoid the snare of spiritual deception:
Precaution #2:
2. Try to discover if the motivation of the messenger matches the
content of the message (7-9)
XXXX 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by
preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other
churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And
when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to
anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I
needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way,
and will continue to do so.
The message of the gospel, the ministry of the Spirit, and the
Messiah, Jesus Christ, are full of two things: GRACE AND TRUTH
(John 1:14,17).
So when a preacher comes to church or when a spiritual leader
stands up to pontificate on some issue of spirituality, you need to
discover if the content of their message is truly BIBLICAL, and
secondly, you need to discover their motivation. Does their
motivation for speaking match the content of the message?
How do you do that?
The MESSAGE of the gospel, the MINISTRY of the Spirit and the
MESSIAH HIMSELF, Jesus Christ are all full of grace. Does the human
messenger speaking to the church relate to the congregation with
grace? Notice the phrases Paul uses that describe himself in
comparison to the super-apostles.
7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you
8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to
serve you.
9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden
to anyone
9 I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way
Ministry done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of
delivering the message of the gospel should only be performed by the
means of the Spirit which is BY GRACE. That is not to say you can't
take money. It simply says that when you represent God before
people, what you do is not self-serving nor is it for self-reward. You
represent God before people by offering to them A GIFT OF GRACE
FROM GOD FOR THEIR BENEFIT AND THEIR BETTERMENT.
The super-apostles were not doing that. They were communicating a
message that was corrupt because it served them rather than the
congregation. Paul suffered himself and made others foot the bill so
that the Corinthian congregation would experience a message free of
charge - a message that spoke about grace and a message that was
offered with grace. By doing so, Paul was imitating Jesus Christ.
Slide 18
HOW TO AVOID THE SNARE OF SPIRITUAL DECEPTION
Precaution #3:
Determine if the messenger's pleasure
comes from the power over the
congregat ion or f rom the pleasure of
serving the congregat ion. (20 -21)
20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who
enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage
of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.
21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for
that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast
about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to
boast about.
XXXX How to avoid the snare of spiritual deception:
Precaution #3:
3. Determine whether the messenger's boasting comes from the
power he has over the congregation or from the pleasure of
protecting and serving the congregation.
You could tell what the super-apostles were up to by what their
boastings did to the congregation. The Corinthians were being
abused and manipulated by the boastings of the "super-apostles."
XXXX 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or
exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in
the face.
21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that [a true
messenger of Christ couldn't treat the congregation that way]!
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a
fool—I also dare to boast about.
Sometimes you've got to play the game the way your opponents do.
The super-apostles were boasters - full of pride. But if you have to
resort to boasting, how do you tell who is boasting for the benefit of
the congregation and whose boasting is hurting and manipulating the
congregation?
Paul does not want to boast about his ministry, but if his critics'
ridicule go unanswered completely, the congregation will start
believing the boastings of the super-apostles. If that happens, verse
20 says they will be abused and enslaved. It is so easy to believe
what someone else says about themselves. When you trust them
implicitly without testing the truthfulness of their boasting you are
setting yourself up to be enslaved, exploited, taken advantage of,
conned and abused (not my words, but the inspired Bible's words -
see verse 20).
So ... for this reason ... for the spiritual health of the Corinthian
congregation... Paul plays their game. He will boast as well.
However there is a difference between the one boasting in self-
defense [for the benefit of the congregation] and the one who boasts
naturally and snobbishly [to the detriment of the congregation]. The
truly foolish person believes that he must boast about himself and his
boasting will better his chances of gaining what he wants out of life.
The one boasting in self-defense will readily admit that what he is
doing is uncomfortable and unspiritual - even unwise (10:12). He is
forced to do it so that misunderstandings are not propagated ... so
that the congregation is not hurt worse.
Slide 19
You can feel Paul's discomfort in verses 16-19:
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if
you do, then tolerate me just as you would a
fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as
the Lord would, but as a fool.
18 Since many are boasting in the way the world
does, I too will boast.
19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so
wise!
21 [therefore] ... Whatever anyone else dares to
boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare
to boast about.
XXXX You can feel Paul's discomfort in verses 16-19:
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate
me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would,
but as a fool.
18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will
boast.
19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise!
21 [therefore] ... Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am
speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.
Paul clarifies that his boasting is (a) foolish, (b) it is not what the Lord
would do and (c) it is something that comes natural to the world, but
not to him. Admittedly, he does not want to do this, but if he is losing
the respect of his congregation, he is not going to lie down and let
them be deceived by a bunch of liars. He is going to rise up in self-
defense and tell them the truth. He cannot suffer them to be hurt.
That's what a shepherd does.
When we compare the super-apostles' boastings to the boastings of
the apostle Paul we discover something very, very key about Christian
ministry.
Slide
20 We have already said that along
with the content of the message it
is necessary to make sure it is
delivered with grace.
Now along with grace, the true
Christian message will achieve one
key result:
the congregation will be SERVED.
XXXX We have already said that along with the content of the message it
is necessary to make sure it is delivered with grace. Now along with
grace, the true Christian message will achieve one key result: the
congregation will be SERVED. The STATUS of the messenger will be
secondary, if not, unnoticed.
Slide
21 So then, think about this:
• When a spiritual leader is trying to deceive
you, you will smell the presence of STATUS -
self-serving, self-congratulating, self-
promoting status.
Here is the difference between Paul and the
super-apostles.
• When a spiritual leader, like Paul, is
delivering to you the message of Christ, you
will smell the presence of SERVICE.
XXXX So then, think about this:
When a spiritual leader is trying to deceive you, you will smell the
presence of STATUS - self-serving, self-congratulating, self-promoting
status.
Paul's opponents liked to think of themselves as "super-apostles."
That was their reputation among the congregation at Corinth.
- this is the big problem with our cultural emphasis on "self-
esteem"
- there is a "self-esteem" that comes from God's word. It tells
us to be confident in what God has done for us and, when we
feel inadequate, it tells us to rely on God's faithfulness
- Cultural self-esteem is different. In many ways, cultural self-
esteem is what the Bible would call "thinking more highly of
yourself than you ought to". It is a confidence not rooted in
reality, but only in the perception that one has of oneself.
- Paul's critics and foes represented our cultural kind of self-
esteem
- They boasted about themselves, about their image, about
things that they did not even accomplish themselves - but
what Paul had accomplished. They plagiarized another
person's work and called it their own.
What are the accusations they leveled against Paul? What made Paul
so irrelevant and insignificant to them?
- Paul was an untrained speaker (v.6)
- Paul was someone who served the Lord free of charge (v.7-8)
- Paul was someone who refused to put a burden on the people he
helped (v.9).
Among the "super-apostles" GRACE was absent. The attitude was:
Paul, you're doing ministry all wrong. You're not to serve people!
They are to serve you!
What is the difference between the "super-apostles" and Paul?
XXXX Here is the difference between Paul and the super-apostles.
XXXX When a spiritual leader, like Paul, is delivering to you the
message of Christ, you will smell the presence of SERVICE.
To the "super-apostles" ministry was status and to Paul ministry was
serving.
Slide
22 Status Serving
Status is maintained
by pride
Serving is
maintained by
humility
Status is motivated
by greed
Serving is motivated
by grace
Status can easily
become abusive
Serving will
generally foster
gratitude
XXXX STATUS vs. SERVING
How do you tell the difference?
1) Status is maintained by pride (bolsters one's own reputation) vs.
Serving is maintained by humility (bolsters the reputation of others)
XXXX 2) Status is motivated by greed vs. Serving is motivated by grace (a
spirit of generosity)
XXXX 3) Status can easily become abusive (the congregation is consumed
by the leader, or at least, becomes the prey upon which the leader
gains his status) vs. Serving will generally foster gratitude (the leader
earns the admiration of the congregation for his sacrifice for them) .
In the super-apostles' case, they had their eye on some target they
wanted to reach, and they saw the congregation at Corinth as being
something that would help them achieve what they wanted. That's
what the Bible would call deceptive ministry.
Slide 23
In the Apostle Paul's case, the end result
would be that the congregation looks back
at Paul and would testify that they had
become what they were because of the
grace God manifested to them through
the sacrificial ministry of Paul. In this
case, it is God who gets the glory for
ministry. The ministry is not about a target
being reached. It is about a God who
manifested his glory.
XXXX In the Apostle Paul's case, the end result would be that the
congregation looks back at Paul and would testify that they had
become what they were because of the grace God manifested to
them through the sacrificial ministry of Paul. In this case, it is God
who gets the glory for ministry. The ministry is not about a target
being reached. It is about a God who manifested his glory.
So when it came to ministry style in the Corinthian church, the
inspired word of God deemed certain practices in ministry to be
suspicious - even though they were culturally accepted.
Slide
24 Ministry Style of the “Super-apostles”
1. Paul's critics considered themselves to
be eloquent speakers because the
message they preached was done with
style.
2. Paul's critics took from the congregation
rather than invested in it.
3. Paul's critics promoted their own
authority and abused their leadership
privileges
XXXX For instance:
1. Paul's critics considered themselves to be eloquent speakers - not
because of the message they preached, but because the message
they preached - which was a different Jesus, a different spirit and a
different gospel - was done with style. Style became more important
that content (4-6). This is true of many motivational speakers in
churches today. Eloquent speakers need to be weighed in the
balance of God's word to be sure we are not attracted to eloquence
instead of truth.
XXXX 2. Paul's critics took from the congregation rather than invested in
it. It was more about their personal goals and their peer approval
than it was about getting God's message into men's hearts.
XXXX 3. Paul's critics promoted their own authority and abused their
leadership privileges. Instead of climbing down the ladder to lift
people up, they climbed up the ladder to put people down.
That was their ministry style.
Slide 25 Why is ministry style important?
• The kind of ministry style you resort to reveals the mentor after whom you model your ministry and through whom your ministry is accomplished.
• After whom was the ministry of the super-apostles modeled?
XXXX Why is ministry style important? The kind of ministry style you
resort to reveals the mentor after whom you model your ministry and
through whom your ministry is accomplished.
XXXX After whom was the ministry of the super-apostles modeled and
accomplished? The words of verses 13-15 reveal to us the true
source of abusive religions and aggressive, manipulative religious
leaders.
Slide
26 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
13 For such people are false apostles,
deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles
of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also
masquerade as servants of righteousness.
Their end will be what their actions deserve.
XXXX 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers,
masquerading as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of
light.
15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as
servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions
deserve.
Their boasting revealed their mentor. Who was their mentor? Satan.
Slide
27 How did Paul's boasting reveal a
different mentor?
• Paul does not boast about his glorious
accomplishments as his crit ics had,
but in a string of humiliating
experiences, and he boldly cont ends
t hat he is a bet t er servant of Christ
because of t hem [ the humiliat ing
experiences] (2 Cor. 11:23)
(1989). Review and Expositor, 86(3), 375.
XXXX How did Paul's boasting reveal a different mentor?
Paul does not boast about his glorious accomplishments as they [his critics] had but [he boasts] in a string of
humiliating experiences [which we will discuss next
message], and he boldly contends that he is a better servant of Christ because of them [the humiliating experiences] (11:23)
(1989). Review and Expositor, 86(3), 375.
Whereas, they boasted about their status over Paul, Paul boasted
about his service to the church.
He was like a Robin Hood before his time. He "robbed" the churches
(generated outside support) to serve the Corinthians. He lowered
himself to elevate his people. He made sure that the "grace of the
gospel of God" was modeled in his behaviour as a messenger of God -
he did it free of charge. He resisted pushing himself on them in any
way. Verse 21 says: "To my shame I admit that we were too weak for
that!" Being interpreted it means this: We just didn't want anything
we did to be construed as manipulation or man-handling. We
wanted our ministry to be modeled as much as we could make it
just like the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therein lies a stark warning to Christian churches, personal
evangelism and discipleship training: it is not about manipulation and
man-handling. It is always about serving and supporting and
submitting.
Paul muses in verses 9b to 12: (Here is my paraphrase of those
verses)
Should I have been harder on you? Maybe! But sometimes love
makes you gentler than you ought to be. I did it this way and I will
continue to do it this way. I do it because the "truth of Christ is in
me" and because my love for you is so strong. When it comes to
ministry and self-sacrifice, you have no equal to me. I am totally
committed to your spiritual well-being no matter how much it hurts
me. (In verses 22 and following, Paul will then describe just how
much that commitment cost him.)
What does it matter about the style of ministry as long as people
gather and a church grows?
It matters deeply because every believer is called to make disciples of
"Jesus Christ." I am not called to make you a Baptist, or a Catholic, or
a Mormon, or a Muslim, or a good person, or a church-attendee, or a
community worker or a freedom fighter for justice. As soon as I try to
make you anything other than LIKE CHRIST, (a) Christ is suppressed,
(b) I, as a minister, have neglected my calling and (c) my gospel is no
longer about Christ - BUT has become A DIFFERENT GOSPEL, A
DIFFERENT SPIRIT AND A DIFFERENT CHRIST (see v.4). My calling was
never to gather people together. The calling was never to build a
kingdom or build what we call a church.
We are all called to a well-known and well-understood game. It's
called "follow the leader!" As a disciple of Jesus myself, I am
commissioned to help you to become learners, students, apprentices,
followers of Jesus. I am called to make disciples of Jesus --> Christians
- people who are Christ-imitators, Christ-like, Christ-minded, and
Christ-serving. As these disciples grow toward becoming like Christ,
they will gather together into groups and become what the Bible calls
an assembly or church and through these churches God will build His
eternal kingdom.
(New Slide)
XXXX Let me leave you with these final words: How should people
attend and how should they listen to religious talk?
1. Know the word of God and listen for it at church.
XXXX 2. Look for servanthood among the leadership.
XXXX 3. Love God and live for Jesus.
XXXX 4. Learn to discern between what feels good and what is truly
healthy.