center of my belief feb. 19. think about it decide whether these quotes are in the bible or not in...

Center of My BeliefCenter of My Belief

Feb. 19Feb. 19

Think About ItThink About It

• Decide whether these quotes are Decide whether these quotes are InIn the Bible the Bible or or NotNot in the Bible in the Bible

____ 1. You can’t judge a book by its cover.____ 1. You can’t judge a book by its cover.____ 2. Spare the rod and spoil the child.____ 2. Spare the rod and spoil the child.____ 3. Money is the root of all evil.____ 3. Money is the root of all evil.____ 4. Waste not, want not.____ 4. Waste not, want not.

Think About ItThink About It

• None of these are Bible quotes … close, but None of these are Bible quotes … close, but maybe a bit off or merely Bible basedmaybe a bit off or merely Bible based

Today we look at the importance of having a Today we look at the importance of having a clear, objective standard of …clear, objective standard of …– what is truewhat is true– what we believewhat we believe

Listen for why false teachings are Listen for why false teachings are hollow and deceptive.hollow and deceptive.

Col. 2:8-15 (NIV) See to it that no one takes Col. 2:8-15 (NIV) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive you captive through hollow and deceptive

philosophy, which depends on human tradition philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. [9] For in Christ all the fullness of the on Christ. [9] For in Christ all the fullness of the

Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and you have Deity lives in bodily form, [10] and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head been given fullness in Christ, who is the head

over every power and authority.over every power and authority.


[11] In him you were also circumcised, in the [11] In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a putting off of the sinful nature, not with a

circumcision done by the hands of men but with circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, [12] having the circumcision done by Christ, [12] having

been buried with him in baptism and raised with been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, him through your faith in the power of God,

who raised him from the dead. [13] When you who raised him from the dead. [13] When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision

of your sinful nature, of your sinful nature,


God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the written all our sins, [14] having canceled the written

code, with its regulations, that was against us code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed nailing it to the cross. [15] And having disarmed

the powers and authorities, he made a public the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the

cross. cross.

Choose Fullness over EmptinessChoose Fullness over Emptiness

• What are three characteristics given in verse 8 What are three characteristics given in verse 8 of hollow and deceptive philosophies?of hollow and deceptive philosophies?

• What kinds of philosophies have no place in What kinds of philosophies have no place in the life of a believer?the life of a believer?

• Why are these false doctrines and Why are these false doctrines and philosophies hollow and deceptive?philosophies hollow and deceptive?

• If they are empty, why do we find them If they are empty, why do we find them appealing?appealing?


• What did Paul affirm about Christ? What did Paul affirm about Christ? • What “additions” to faith in Christ have you What “additions” to faith in Christ have you

encountered, even (especially) from some encountered, even (especially) from some people in the Christian community?people in the Christian community?


• Note that it is important not to get side Note that it is important not to get side tracked by these kinds of issues because …tracked by these kinds of issues because …– Men’s traditionsMen’s traditions– Christ did not teach or model Christ did not teach or model – Distract from Truth, from primary callingDistract from Truth, from primary calling

• If Christ’s character is what we are to compare If Christ’s character is what we are to compare all philosophies, what steps can we take to all philosophies, what steps can we take to ensure we don’t become captive to false ensure we don’t become captive to false teachings?teachings?

Listen for reasons that people in the Listen for reasons that people in the church at Colosse judged each other.church at Colosse judged each other.

Col. 2:16-19 (NIV) Therefore do not let anyone Col. 2:16-19 (NIV) Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon regard to a religious festival, a New Moon

celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the shadow of the things that were to come; the

reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the let anyone who delights in false humility and the

worship of angels worship of angels

Listen for reasons that people in the Listen for reasons that people in the church at Colosse judged each other.church at Colosse judged each other.

disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. [19] He has lost connection with the Head, from [19] He has lost connection with the Head, from

whom the whole body, supported and held whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as

God causes it to grow. God causes it to grow.

Choose Substance over ShadowsChoose Substance over Shadows

• According to the passage, how were some According to the passage, how were some believers judging others?believers judging others?

• What reasons did Paul give for why these What reasons did Paul give for why these things were secondary?things were secondary?

• How does Paul describe false teachers?How does Paul describe false teachers?

Choose Substance over ShadowsChoose Substance over Shadows

• How can false teachings cause deep problems How can false teachings cause deep problems in a church?in a church?

• What happens to us when we forget that What happens to us when we forget that Christ (our Head) is the source of our Christ (our Head) is the source of our nourishment, strength, and growth?nourishment, strength, and growth?

Listen for the results of false humility.Listen for the results of false humility.

Col. 2:20-23 (NIV) Since you died with Christ to Col. 2:20-23 (NIV) Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though the basic principles of this world, why, as though

you still belonged to it, do you submit to its you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: [21] "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not rules: [21] "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not

touch!"? [22] These are all destined to perish touch!"? [22] These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human with use, because they are based on human

commands and teachings. commands and teachings.

Listen for the results of false humility.Listen for the results of false humility.

[23] Such regulations indeed have an [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed

worship, their false humility and their harsh worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value treatment of the body, but they lack any value

in restraining sensual indulgence. in restraining sensual indulgence.

Choose Relationship over RulesChoose Relationship over Rules

• How did Paul challenge the legalism that had How did Paul challenge the legalism that had infected the church? infected the church?

• What happens when people value rules above What happens when people value rules above relationships?relationships?

• How does it affect a church when people try How does it affect a church when people try to live by human religious rules and to live by human religious rules and regulations?regulations?

Choose Relationship over RulesChoose Relationship over Rules

• Why do some people think it is easier to keep Why do some people think it is easier to keep the rules than maintain a relationship with the rules than maintain a relationship with Christ?Christ?

• According to Paul, what are the failings of According to Paul, what are the failings of human commands and teachings? human commands and teachings?

ApplicationApplication

• Note that there are many departures from Note that there are many departures from Scriptural Truth in our culture todayScriptural Truth in our culture today– AstrologyAstrology– Eastern religionsEastern religions– Trends in music and entertainmentTrends in music and entertainment– Commit to evaluate all cultural influences in your Commit to evaluate all cultural influences in your

life by comparison to Scripture and the character life by comparison to Scripture and the character of Christof Christ


• Remember that subtle deceit is sometimes Remember that subtle deceit is sometimes harder to resist than obvious deceitharder to resist than obvious deceit– Ask God to reveal to you in what ways you may Ask God to reveal to you in what ways you may

have been fooled in your home, your family, your have been fooled in your home, your family, your workplaceworkplace

– Discuss with family or friends what kinds of Discuss with family or friends what kinds of actions you need to take to bring your lives back actions you need to take to bring your lives back into line with Scriptureinto line with Scripture


• The Christian life is a life of freedom, not an The Christian life is a life of freedom, not an enslavement to rules and regulationsenslavement to rules and regulations– Ascetics give up certain things in hopes of Ascetics give up certain things in hopes of

becoming better peoplebecoming better people– Know that this doesn’t workKnow that this doesn’t work– Focus on knowing Jesus – that will make you a Focus on knowing Jesus – that will make you a

better personbetter person

Center of My BeliefCenter of My Belief

Feb. 19Feb. 19

center of my belief feb. 19. think about it decide whether these quotes are in the bible or not in...

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