1. False Teaching (Error)
& False Teachers
Are not pleasant to address (confrontation)
Are not pleasant to talk about (sermon)
Are not pleasant to hear about (sermon)
Yet nearly every NT book deals with error!

2. There will be false Teachers
Warnings are Clear:
There will be false Teachers
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
2 Pet. 2:1
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”

3. Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

4. The Dangers of Error

5. Determining What is Error
Teaching that is contrary to revelation
Not determined by the amount of error
Not all disagreements are doctrinal error

6. Determining What is Error
The Dangers of Error
Determining What is Error
How Error is Spread

7. False Teacher How Error is Spread
Error is not presented by a teacher who looks untrustworthy and wears a label
False Teacher

8. How Error is Spread From outside and from within Openly and privately
Elders Need to Be Alert
What is taught / comments in class
Material circulated / private teaching

9. Determining What is Error
The Dangers of Error
Determining What is Error
How Error is Spread
The Danger of Error

10. The Danger of Error Who is influenced
Many will follow (Matt. 24:11; 2 Pet. 2:2)
Error is like leaven (Matt. 16:6-12)

11. The Danger of Error Who is influenced Way it appears
Harmless (Matt. 7:15)
Seem to be of Christ (2 Cor. 11:13-14)

12. The Danger of Error Who is influenced Way it appears Damage it does
Corrupt morals (1 Cor. 15:33)
Overthrow faith (2 Tim. 2:18)
Undermines the very word that is basis of faith
Example: Premillennialism
Shipwreck (1 Tim. 1:19)
Lose faith altogether (Heb. 3:12)
Mislead and deceived (Col. 2:8, 18)
Ruin hearers (2 Tim. 2:14)

13. The Danger of Error Who is influenced Way it appears Damage it does
Teacher’s soul endangered
Jude 13
2 Pet. 2:4-9

14. The Danger of Error Who is influenced Way it appears Damage it does
Teacher’s soul endangered
Appeal it has
Look for what want (2 Tim. 4:3)
Ex: Error on MDR fits family
Rail against authority (2 Pet. 2:10-12; Jude 8-10)
Begins as a rejection of same restrictions
Leads to rejection of word (even God) behind them

15. Determining What is Error
The Dangers of Error
Determining What is Error
How Error is Spread
The Danger of Error
Dealing with Error

16. Dealing with Error Identified 1 Cor. 15:12 Rom. 16:17 2 Tim. 1:15
Different than personal sin (Matt. 18:15-17)

17. Dealing with Error Identified Rebuked Answered (Titus 1:9)
Admonish (Titus 3:10)
Goal is to correct (Titus 1:13)

18. Dealing with Error Identified Rebuked Warned against
Reason identified (Rom. 16:17)
Because of leavening effect (Matt. 16:6-12)
Example: Paul identified them by name (2 Tim. 2:17)

19. Dealing with Error Identified Rebuked Warned against Contend against
Jude 3
Acts 15:2

20. Determining What is Error
The Dangers of Error
Determining What is Error
How Error is Spread
The Danger of Error
Dealing with Error