Messages to the Church – Pt 4
Revelation 2:12-17 NLT
12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.
14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. 16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
Revelation 1:16 NLT
16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
Matthew 10:32-34 NLT
32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.
Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Matthew 24:4-5,11 NLT
4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.
11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV
3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
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.
Romans 12:2 NLT
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Three things Jesus reveals as the one with the two-edged sword in his mouth:
1. His word is the standard of truth.
2. His word confronts tolerating false teaching.
3. His word aligns our identity with Him.
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Jesus prepares His church to guard against spiritual deception by confronting false teaching with the authority of His word.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
1 Read Hebrews 4:12-13. As you read this verse and think about the authority of God’s word, what are your thoughts about every thought being exposed, even our innermost thoughts and desires?
2. Read Matthew 10:32-34. Pastor Matt said, “Being a faithful witness means to hold fast to the truth in enemy territory, which protects from the deception of false teaching.” What does ‘holding fast’ to the truth look like for you?
3. Read Matthew 24:4–5, 11; 2 Corinthians 11:3–4; and Romans 12:2. How can we guard against false teaching?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
Which of these steps is He prompting you to take this week?
- Be a student of God’s word
- Examine your starting assumptions
- Check your influences
- Invite accountability
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Lord, help us to pay attention to your words. Examine our hearts, check our influencers, and invite accountability.