Ephesians 5:6-7

(Apologies: Text Only, Audio and Video did not record properly)

Title: Deception and Partners

Intro:

Anyone here ever had to form an allegiance that your had reservations about?  Anyone ever come to regret those allegiances?

(read/pray)

  1. See that no one deceives you with empty words…

empty

Greek:  Kenos

Definition:  empty, vain, devoid of truth, of places, vessels, etc. which contain nothing

What are the ways in which Christians today are deceived with empty words?

  1. Relying on the promises of politics instead of the promises of scripture.
  2. Becoming divided and even angsty at other believers over non primary doctrine.
  3. Getting swept up in “Christian Movements” led by charismatic pastors, authors, personalities, without examining how rooted (or not rooted) the movement is in Scripture itself.
  4. Others?

Note:  God reminds us in verse 6 that the givers of these promises will not go unpunished.

2.  Do not become partners with them…

Partners/Partakers

Greek:  symmetochos (soom-met-okh-os)

Definition:  partaking together with one, a joint partner

In what ways do we become partners with those who deceive with empty words?

  1. Placing political allegiance about Christian allegiance.  (compromise, rationalization, abusing the voice of the Church to endorse a candidate or party.)
  2. Pushing forward any agenda that leads to church division over non-primary doctrines. (theologically, denominationally,  worship style preference, etc.)
  3. Becoming a “Fanboy” of any contemporary/classical teacher, school of thought, and having your default setting being to defend them.
  4. Others?

Indulge me for a moment while I personally demonstrate what I believe discernment looks like in regard to “fanboy-ism”

  1. Al Mohler (alcohol)
  2. Charles Spurgeon (infant salvation)
  3. Tim Keller (creation account)
  4. R.C. Sproul (baptism)
  5. Dave Guzik (Dan Phillip likes him)

There are Three things to take away from this:  

  1. Defend scripture, not personalities.
  2. Don’t let one or two theological disagreements keep you from gaining a wealth of knowledge in other areas.
  3. Read and listen to teachers you greatly respect theologically, but you also KNOW there are few points you don’t see eye to eye on.  (It challenges your viewpoints and forces growth!)

Pray/QA