Northshore Men's Conference

The Commission: Present Complete in Christ.

Ephesians 5:32 “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”

The Counterfeit: Promotes Contrary to Christ.

The Idol

Colossians 3:5 “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.”

1 Samuel 15:23 ““For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.””

Tactics Used to Build Idolatry

Abandonment of terms, topics, concepts & thinking

Lord, Christ, desire, will, faithfulness, love, brother

Redefine/deviate from standard meaning of above

struggle, vulnerable, mistake

Traditions of Men that Nullify God’s Word

bias for “grace” only as a reactive measure for sinners or the sinful.

“draw” referenced in John 6:44, but never John 12:32

“dead” referenced in Ephesians 2:1, 16 but never Romans 6:11, 8:10, 13, 23 (related: a weak doctrine of old self vs. new self; hence no reference to Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22, 24 ; Colossians 3:9, 10)

Normalization of deviation (commonness of unfaithfulness) dictates doctrinal teaching

grace (cheap version)

legalism (church version of secular use of “fundamental”)

the “strive for” versus “attain” interpretations

The Question: Is there Commitment to Christ?

Luke 18:8 ““I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?””

The Son of Man: Who is the Son of Man? Describe His kingdom, authority, and expectation (Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:28; Luke 5:24)?

Tactics of Satan: Within the local church, what are specific examples of tactics being used to excuse, permit, encourage idolatry?

Call to Faithfulness: Discuss Christ’s definition of the “faith” He seeks to find.