As we open to Acts 20:17, may I remind you of an old truth? “There is nothing new under the Sun”, that's what God's Word said three thousand years ago by Solomon (Ecclesiastes 1:9). When it comes to the state of Christ's Church, that truth is very helpful.
Satan has just one old playbook. His lies and tricks are old, have been used repeatedly through the centuries, and are all clear to spot. Each generation of believers faces very new and real attacks of these very old and familiar lies and deceptions. For years I have reminded you of Satan's original pack of deceptive lies in Genesis 3. They are still with us. Remember the tools Satan used in the Garden of Eden—
• Doubt God's Word: “Hath God said” (An attack on whether God has even spoken); • Doubt God's Plan: “ye shall not surely die” (An attack on the Penal Substitutionary Atonement—only those who will trust in the perfect death of God's Substitute will be saved). • Doubt God's Authority over Life: “your eyes shall be opened” (An attack on Biblical Epistemology—whether God's Word is the source of truth to live life God's way.)
One of the current issues that many are talking about is called the Emergent Church Movement. When examined closely, we find these same three errors present. But before we dive into the present, we need to see that some of the errors of the ECM are also the very same issues that Jesus confronted in the main stream of Bible believers in His day. In fact, we could say that Jesus faced the same situation.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
Pastor John Barnett has been devouring the Word of God for over 30 years. John, now the teaching pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan has served congregations in Oklahoma, New England, Georgia and California. He also served on the Faculty of the Master's College...
