The sermon emphasizes the importance of standing firm on the Gospel's truths amidst the spread of false teachings and deceptive truths about Christianity.
This week, we are beginning a brand new sermon series called “Collide.” Since the beginning, the Christian faith has been on a collision course with the culture around us. The values of the world do not align with the values of our faith. The priorities of the world do not align with the priorities of our faith. The kingdom of man is not seeking the same things as the kingdom of God.
Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised when we experience conflict and tension. Instead, we should see the conflict and tension as confirmation that we are doing the right thing.
Have you ever been out on a hike or a walk and gone through a “rough patch.” You know the kind where every time you put your foot down you’re not sure if you’re going to roll an ankle or find solid ground. My favorite is trying to walk through ice covered snow. Any given step could send you airborne… It’s terrifying.
These types of perilous adventures are very much like walking through life trying to depend on worldly wisdom. You’re never quite sure you’re going to land on solid ground as principles and values are constantly shifting.
However, what we learn from Jesus is to trust in the eternally consistent teachings of scripture.
If you have a Bible with you, turn with me to Colossians 2:8. I want us to read these words of Paul together.
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
In this one verse, Paul warns us about the world’s logic and values. He calls us as believers to stand firm on a different set of values, those of Christ. But even when we choose to stand firm on the things of God, we will still be faced with the values of this world. How do we know when something we hear is worldly? How do we know when something we hear is Godly? How do we know when we are being led astray, or worse, being held captive by worldly principles and teachings?
The kingdom of man is not seeking the same things as the kingdom of God.
As we get started I’d like to draw your attention back to the illustration I brought up a few minutes ago about going through a “rough patch.” Regarding worldly principles and teachings I said, You’re never quite sure you’re going to land on solid ground as principles and values are constantly shifting.
This is an important lesson to remember; Worldly values are inconsistent.
Let me help illustrate this point with something that we are all familiar with, one of the primary mottos of the kingdom of man;
Follow your heart. Do whatever makes you happy.
These principles sound good enough, but the problem is they’re inconsistent, shaky, and contradict the teachings of scripture.
The word says in Jeremiah 17:9; “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” The world says, follow your heart, but the Bible warns us the heart is wicked, deceitful, and confusing. (Who can understand it?)
Jesus says in Matthew 10:39; “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium
Worldly values are inconsistent.
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