how readeth...
TRANSCRIPT
HOW READETH THOU?AVOIDING UNLEARNED QUESTIONS
Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry
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Scripture
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2 Corinthians 4:2 - But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2nd Timothy 2:22,23Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity,
peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that
they do gender strifes.
Introduction
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We are to share the truth of God’s Word in good
conscience and spirit
We are not to share the doctrines of the Gospel to serve
any secular or carnal purpose
We are called to preach the gospel in such a way that
everyone can understand and receive it
Realize that people are capable of seeing the truth even
when they do not receive or obey it; they can perceive that
it has demonstration that it is from God.
The woman at the well in John 4 is a good example how revelation
of God’s Word can lead to a transformed life
The Apostle Paul preached a gospel of integrity based on
truth, and not an elaborate scheme of hidden mysteries and
philosophies
Avoid Unlearned Questions
What does this mean?
The word “unlearned,” here, refers to “trifling, or that which
does not tend to edification; in other words, stupid.”
The Greeks and the Hebrews were greatly given to controversies of
various kinds, and many of the questions discussed pertained to points
which could not be settled, or which, if settled, were of no importance.
Foolish and unlearned questions distract us from our God-given purpose
of preaching the gospel
As we pursue our God-given purpose and make full proof of our ministry,
we are to avoid and stay clear of endless and fruitless disputes and
arguments which can distract us and hinder us in exercising the Great
Commission
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“But I Have Questions”
Consider the Amplified Version of 2 Tim 2:23
and judge your questions by this:
2 Timothy 2:23 - But refuse (shut your mind against,
have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying,
stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you
know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.
Immediate Checklist:
Is your question one to understand a truth or to expose and
discuss a controversy?
Is your question in search of a biblical principle or an attempt
to validate a worldly mindset?
Will this question distract from what is being preached; from
the doctrine of salvation, and would it lead to strife, division,
and contentions?
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Scriptures
2 Timothy 2:16 - But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will
lead to further ungodliness,
This refers to anything that takes the focus off of the gospel and God's Word.
Man’s opinions, philosophies and teachings are profane and vain when
compared to God’s Word
Vain – even though people like to discuss these things, they have no intrinsic value
Profane – unholy in contrast to the holiness of God’s Word
1st Timothy 6:20: Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,
avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the
"knowledge" that falsely bears that name. (Berean Bible)
Carefully preserve that doctrine which I have delivered to thee
Why is the Apostle Paul keep stressing this? It must be important
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Why Is This Message Important?
You are to guard what was committed to your trust: The gospel is a trust
committed to pastors like Timothy; but also to all believers.
The world is full of error and false teachings with one purpose: to
overthrow the faith of others and distract many from the faith
As we share the gospel and the Word of God with others, we may be
challenged by others whose only purpose is to distract us from teaching and
distract others from receiving the truth
It is important that we know how to respond to questions and answers
appropriately and if necessary avoid questions regarding issues that does
not lend itself to edifying the body of Christ
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Point of Emphasis
Many today accept and honor teachers who are way off in one
area or another; and they justify it by saying, "I eat the meat and
spit out the bones." This kind of thinking will certainly overthrow the
faith of some, because some will certainly choke to spiritual death
on the bones you say you spit out.
(Guzik’s Commentary)
We are encouraged to cleanse ourselves from everything that
can defile our body or spirit (2 Cor 7:1). I believe doctrines that
divide, foolish controversies and biblical error can allow trash to
lodge in our spirit, rendering us ineffective to serve God.
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Sin Began With a Discussion
Genesis 3:1-5:
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the
field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto
the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of
the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods,
knowing good and evil.
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Satan’s Strategy
Sin has a dual source (Dr. Ed Murphy: Handbook on Spiritual Warfare)
Human sources – one’s wrong choices
Spiritual (Supernatural) source – Satan’s temptations
Through deception, Satan plant seeds of evil thoughts and imaginations into
human minds and hearts
Deception means “to give a false impression.”
Satan’s plan or strategy is the following: (The Deadly D’s)
He conceals his evil wisdom by Disguising himself so that the woman is unaware of his
evil – Just as we allow false brethren to enter into our homes and churches unaware
By carefully “choice” words, the serpent Distorted her view of what God had said
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Satan’s Strategy….Cont’d
With her mind now distorted, she is ready to embrace a total
misinterpretation of God’s Word … “You will not surely die.”
Eve now embraces Satan’s thoughts and now sees the forbidden tree from an entirely new
and wrong perspective
Is as if she believes that God was “short-changing” her and withholding something from her
She begins to Doubt God’s Word and His Goodness – she allowed a different line of
thinking to enter her minds (2nd Cor 10:4,5) – Satan’s assaults God’s motives and purpose
With thoughts and vain philosophies, Satan attacks our minds with doubts, attacking our faith,
confidence, pointing towards perceived “inconsistencies” in God’s Word
When Eve followed the wrong course of thinking, she overtly Denied God’s Word
Satan’s Word appealed to her senses over what God had said
She ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband
Adam exercises free will and eats the forbidden fruit, Disobeying the Word of God
Without the presence of God’s Word in Adam’s thoughts, his mind was on evil continually
(Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 6:14) causing strife and confusion
People being deceived, in turn become deceivers (2nd Tim 3:13)
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Unlearned Questions Complicate
2 Corinthians 11:3 - But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Beware when leaders and churches make the gospel too “complicated”
Satan is subtle and cunning – using words to stir doubt and confusion
So your minds should be corrupted - So your thoughts should be perverted
or distracted from the prize. So your hearts should be alienated from the
life of God
We are to avoid corrupt and unlearned questions that will take away from
the message of Christ
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What is the Simplicity That is in Christ?
Trust and confidence in the work of Christ completed through the cross
Luke 19:10: ‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost
Trust and obedience to a pure doctrine, free of opinions, ideas, and
philosophies that distract our attention from God and His promises
Psalms 119:105 - NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
True Devotion and Worship in response to God’s precious gift
John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth.
Simplicity in manner of living
1 Timothy 4:12 - Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
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Nothing Has Changed
For those who will not accept the “simplicity that is in Christ”
(2nd Cor 11:3), Satan still offers liars, philosophies, and
other sources of “spirituality”
Pagan philosophies and practices, New Age Thinking,
Certain Movements are orchestrated by the rebellion of
men and the tactics of Satan to:
Discredit the Work of Christ and the Gospel – i.e. Focus on
“works” and “religion”
Take away from Deity of God, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit
Defuse vs. Diffuse - The gospel was meant to be diffused or
spread out; To defuse means to disarm or pacify the power of
the gospel (Romans 1:16)
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Wait A Minute! Another Question
What about all these teachings on the Occult, New Age
Movements, Yoga, and such? Don’t they distract churches
who are supposed to be focusing on the gospel message?
Jesus said that he came to expose the works of the devil
and we are too (1st John 3:8
Remember Satan and his actions are the antithesis of the
gospel – to distract, divert, and deceive the message
Therefore we must expose Satan's lies that he uses to
draw people away from hearing and receiving the good
news of the gospel
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Conclusion
The world, even the church world, grows weary of hearing the simplicity of the
gospel. We try our best to make it seem more and more confusing and
complicated. We add our little doctrines and subjective knowledge. We add
our rituals and traditions of men. We give our own little private interpretations
of every word that God speaks. We try to stimulate our understanding of
God and the bible by searching after philosophies and questions that add
nothing to our acceptance of the good news. We try to make ourselves seem
more knowledgeable than God himself concerning the message of the gospel.
Yet the message is still simple and it still changes lives
today.
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Practical Living Ministry
Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and
organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life
changing principles for spiritual growth and development.
If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.
If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these
kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website
at www.practicallivingministry.org
If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your
church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian
culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at
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