Speaking The Truth In A Twisted World Series

Introduction – When Truth Gets Twisted

Good morning, church.

Let me ask you something:

Have you ever said something that got completely misunderstood—or maybe twisted into something you never meant?

It happens all the time today, doesn’t it? You share a simple post online—something encouraging, or a Bible verse—and suddenly people are debating your motives in the comments. Some “like” it, some criticize it, and some twist it into something it was never meant to say.

We live in a world that doesn’t just ignore truth—it reshapes it. It redefines it to fit how we feel or what’s trending.

(pause) And that’s exhausting, isn’t it?

We don’t just wrestle with lies anymore—we wrestle with distortion.

That’s nothing new.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas travel to the town of Lystra, and they preach the good news of Jesus. The people listen, they see a miracle—and then they completely miss the point.

They take the truth and twist it into something that fits their culture.

Sound familiar?

So today, Our Live series, looking at being different, we’re going to see what it looks like to speak truth in a twisted world—and how to do it without becoming hard, angry, or self-righteous, but with courage, humility, and love.

Read: Acts 14:8–10 (NLT)

1) God’s Truth Speaks to the Individual

Paul wasn’t just speaking to a crowd—he was looking at a person.

He saw one man who had faith to be healed.

I love that detail. In the middle of a crowd, Paul looked into someone’s eyes and recognized faith. That’s what truth does—it meets people personally.

When we talk about truth, we’re not talking about ideas floating in the air. We’re talking about God’s truth meeting real people with real needs.

Truth isn’t just a concept—it’s a connection.

Sometimes we think speaking truth means arguing a point online or winning a debate. But in the Bible, truth is meant to heal, not just to prove someone wrong.

Paul didn’t just preach at people; he spoke into their lives.

And church, that’s what we’re called to do too.

Application:

• When you share truth, remember there’s a person behind the opinion.

• Don’t let the noise of culture make you miss the one person God’s trying to reach through you.

• Truth is always personal before it’s public.

Illustration:

A teacher once noticed a student who had stopped turning in assignments. Instead of scolding him, she wrote a simple note on his paper: “You matter. Don’t forget that.”

That single note became a turning point in his life. Someone saw him—not his mistakes, not his grades—but him.

And that’s exactly how God sees us.

Luke 12:6–7 (NLT)

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

God doesn’t just see the crowd—He sees you.

God’s eyes never overlook you.

He doesn’t just see the crowd—He sees the person.

And when we learn to see others that way, our words begin to carry truth that brings life.

Read: Acts 14:11–13 (NLT)

2) Culture Will Always Try to Twist Truth

The miracle was real—but the meaning was distorted.

The people of Lystra took what God did and tried to interpret it through their cultural lens.

They didn’t reject the truth—they just redefined it.

They believed what they saw—but not what it meant.

They thought Paul and Barnabas were gods come down in human form. Their worldview couldn’t handle a single God who heals by grace, so they twisted it into something that fit their story.

And that’s what happens today too. People still worship gods—just not by name.

• Some bow to success.

• Some to self-image.

• Some to “my truth” or “my feelings.”

It’s the same pattern: when people don’t know God’s truth, they’ll invent their own version of it.

Application:

• Be alert to half-truths that sound good but lead us away from God.

• Culture constantly says, “Live your truth,” but Jesus says, “I am the truth.”

• Don’t let comfort rewrite conviction.

Illustration:

A survey found that over 80% of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.

It’s not—it’s Ben Franklin.

But it shows how easily we replace God’s Word with cultural wisdom when we stop reading Scripture for ourselves—See how subtle that is? We can sound spiritual but drift from truth.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.