SERIES: Moving Forward (3 of 5)
TITLE: Dangers to Avoid
TEXT:
Acts 20:28-30
PROPOSITION:
We must
avoid the dangers that threaten the church.
QUESTION:
What?
KEY WORD:
Dangers
SCRIPTURE READING:
Same
INTRODUCTION:
Anytime a church is moving forward – there will be dangers
What if a rattlesnake was loose in the building? (it isn't)
Would you want to know?
Here are 4 dangers to avoid
False Doctrine
False = something that is not true, a lie
Doctrine = a teaching, taught for the purpose of leading people to obey God
False doctrine = an attempt to lead people to obey something that is not true
Matthew 7:15 – false prophets in sheep's clothing
Matthew 7:22-23 – many say Lord, Lord
Acts 20:28-30 – take heed to the flock
2 Timothy 4:3-4 – not endure sound doctrine
1 Timothy 6:3-5 – not consent to wholesome words of Jesus
Romans 16:17 – mark ones who teach contrary to the doctrine and avoid them
How do we avoid all the false teachings?
Identify each one, flag it, avoid them – impossible
You would spend all your time with what is false
Learn what is TRUE – hold to it – teach it
The Bible must be our source for all truth
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – inspired of God
2 Peter 1:3 – all that pertains to life and godliness
Division
Division has always been a danger
Romans 14:1 – disputes over doubtful things
Romans 16:17-18 – cause divisions among you
1 Corinthians 1:10 – speak same thing, no divisions
1 Corinthians 11:18 – I hear there are divisions among you
Matthew 12:25 – house divided cannot stand
Division will destroy every work of this church
Jesus prayed for unity – John 17:20-21
Extremism
Some take what is good and push it to an extreme
Pharisees did this
Extremism is a real danger
Matthew 23:23-24
Matthew 23:27-28
Amos 5:19a - as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him
We use labels – liberal, conservative
We act as if we are the only balanced one
Stricter than me – too conservative
Looser than me – too liberal
Extremism is often the cause of false doctrine and division
Over-reaction
People tend to over-react to things
They come from what others do
We want to repair the false teaching or Division
Example – Luther saw wrong in Catholic Church – went to other extreme
Example – Many try to repair division by saying that doctrine does not matter
Balance is important
Conclusion
If the church moves forward – we must avoid the dangers
They will destroy what is already built
They will make our efforts useless