Embracing Truth amongst Itching Ears
Key passage(s)
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (Itching ears)
Many NT letters writen to correct false teaching (diff issues)
Key points
Bible predicts that people will go astray (2 Tim 4:3)
There will be many teachers who say appealing unbiblical things (2 Tim 4:3) and many wanting to hear them (v4)
Be prepared to preach, correct, rebuke and encourage (2 Tim 4:2)
Keep your head and expect opposition (v5)
Examples of false teachers on SSA
Steve Chalke
Rob Bell
Jeremy Marks
Alan Chambers
Matthew Vines
Roy Clements
Resources
Kevin DeYoung book
Pete Williams mp3 (Keswick 2017) "Trusting the scriptures"
Vicky Beeching
How to respond
Unhelpful examples
Tim Farron? (don't be bullied)
Like Westboro Baptist Church? (don't bully)
Helpful examples
Principles
Truth and grace - win people not arguments
"Radical reorientation of the church towards the scriptures"
"Get obsessive about the scriptures"
Awareness of our culture
David Landrum "Post Truth" talk (Westpoint 2017)
Renew your mind --> read, listen to good resources
Reflective questions
What do my ears itch to hear?
Do I put Christian teachers on pedestals?
Don't be surprised (2 Tim 4)
Don't encourage false teachers (Titus 3:10-11)
??? (don't be silent)
Identify false teachers by their attitude to scripture (Titus 1:16)
Genesis 3:1 - "Did God really say?"
2 Cor 11 (False Apostles)
Satan appears as an angel (v14)
Listen to godly informed teachers, not orators (v6)
Better Story (Glynn Harrison)
Keep calm (see photo) and trust in our sovereign Lord
Post-truth age (truth devalued)
Media culture that undermines Christian faith
Expect opposition and persecution
Matthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49 "House on a rock"
Tell a better story (cf Glynn Harrison)