Notes + Questions: Marks of False Teachers

Intro:
From the beginning God's truth has been modified, twisted, maligned and reframed, and God’s good gifts have been counterfeited or perverted.
Be alert! Not every teacher who claims spiritual authority speaks for God or has your best interest at heart.

Marks of False Teachers:

Unorthodox Teaching - destructive heresies
• Lies about Jesus
• Lies about the Trinity
• Lies about Salvation
• Lies about the Scriptures
• Lies about the Return of Christ to rule and to judge (Heaven and Hell)

Great Popularity - many will follow
• Luke 6:26 - “woe to you if all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers about the false prophets”
• John 15:18-19 - “if they hated me, they will hate you”
• Matthew 7:13-14 - “the gate is narrow and the way is hard"

Questionable Morality - sensuality
• v.2 - sensuality
• v.7 - sensual conduct of the wicked
• v.10 - indulge in the lust of defiling passions
• v.13 - revel in the day time
• v.14 - eyes full of adultery

Hinderance to the Gospel - because of them the way of truth is blasphemed
• Titus 1:16 - they profess to know God but deny him by their works
• Titus 2:10 - so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God
• Matthew 5:16 - let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven

Suspect Motives - in their greed they will exploit you
• Jeremiah 23:1-5
• Ezekiel 34:1-16

The world and the Church will be full of false teachers, shepherds who are not caring for the flock that God has entrusted to them; shepherds who use and abuse the sheep for their own greed, lust and glory. They harm and neglect the sheep and they are only concerned about their own benefit.

BUT -
JESUS IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD!
JESUS HAS LAID DOWN HIS GLORY!
JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR YOU!
JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU!
JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!

Application:

• Test teachers according to Scripture and examine the fruit of their lives.
• If you have been hurt by false teachers, poor leaders and and selfish shepherds come to Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


#COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS:

Re-read 2 Peter 2:1-3 & 10b-22.
Have you seen the 5 Marks of False Teachers in action?
Share an experience with a good leader.
Share about a personal experience with a false teacher.
Pray for those who have been harmed by false teachers.
Pray for protection for Christ’s Church from false teachers and selfish shepherds like those in Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34.