Be Discerning

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we looked intently at 1 Thessalonians 5:20, and particularly The Importance Of Scripture and what the Proper Response To Scripture looks like.

Scripture, as we have seen, is central to the Christian life and church. We saw how Jesus exemplified living by God’s Word during His temptation in Matthew 4, where His repeated line to Satan was, “it is written.” Paul taught that preaching God’s truth strengthens the church. Biblical teaching instructs, convicts, and sanctifies believers, making faithful preaching essential for spiritual health.

For our part, believers should respond to Scripture by listening carefully, studying diligently, testing teachings against God’s Word, meditating on its truth, and obeying God’s commands. Genuine faith values Scripture as authoritative, allowing it to shape understanding, character, and daily living through reflection and faithful obedience.

The Lord uses the Bible, His Word, to change lives and equip people to be faithful in ministry.

In 1850, a 16 year old boy was on his way to an appointment when a blizzard forced him to turn into a Primitive Methodist chapel. The regular preacher was unable to make it to the meeting because of the storm; so in his absence a simple, poor church member stepped into the pulpit to preach as best he could. He read his text:

Isaiah 45:22 (KJV 1900) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else.

With only a dozen or so in attendance, the man did all he could to preach, repeating the text several times and connecting it to Jesus Christ. The preacher then looked at the 16 year old boy, and singled him out with a challenge, saying, ‘Young man, you look very miserable. And you will always be miserable—miserable in life and miserable in death—if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.’ That young man responded in faith, and would spend 38-years faithfully preaching the Word of God to millions of people. That man is Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

It is so important that we Do not despise prophecies… the accurate, faithful proclamation of the revealed truth of the Word of God.

It is how we are nourished in righteousness

It is how we are instructed in unity

It is how we know how to glorify God in all things

But it is not merely the hearing of the preached Word that we must cherish. Christians must also exercise biblical discernment by testing all teaching against Scripture and holding firmly to truth..

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

The Command For Discernment

The command in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 is to test everything.

This preserves the thoughts and actions of believers from becoming meaningless and ungrounded

It protects them from changing their minds on a whim and being influenced by whatever is fanciful

It brings believers under the seriousness of the will of God

Discernment is not optional for Christians because the church is constantly exposed to:

False teachers

Distorted doctrine

Worldly philosophies

“Ear-tickling” preaching

The common cultural refrain that has been hijacked from the Bible, void of any context, and thrown into the face of Christians is Matthew 7:1, Judge not, that you be not judged.

This has been used to shame believers for being discerning

It has been a bridle to steer believers away from the truth of the Word of God, and to allow unbiblical influences to come into their lives

It has led churches and denominations to compromise their stance on the clear teachings of Scripture, even to the point of embracing anti-biblical teachings and celebrating depravity

Jesus:

Matthew 7:15–16 ESV

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.

John 7:24 LSB

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

Believers must evaluate teachings carefully rather than accept everything emotionally or blindly.

Biblical faith is not gullibility. It is informed by, and grounded on, the Word of God.

Dangers Facing The Church

Danger 1 - Doctrinal Compromise altering or downplaying core Christian teachings in order to avoid conflict, gain popularity, or fit modern expectations.

Examples:

Liberal theology, which prioritizes reason, individual experience, and modern ethics over traditional doctrines or biblical authority. It continuously reinterprets the text and doctrine to align with scientific discoveries, contemporary philosophy, and social justice J. Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism (1923) At the very root of the modern liberal movement is the loss of the consciousness of sin.

The prosperity gospel

Ecumenical movements that ignore major doctrinal differences

Danger 2 - Cultural appeasement changing beliefs or behavior primarily to gain approval from society or avoid criticism.

Examples:

“Seeker-sensitive” churches that avoid hard truths

Entertainment-driven worship

Redefining morality based on social trends

The church is called to confront culture with truth rather than mirror it.

Danger 3 - Weak biblical conviction This is lacking confidence in biblical authority, thus failing to live consistently with biblical teaching.

Many Christians:

lack theological depth

are biblically illiterate

rely on feelings over Scripture

are easily influenced by false teaching

Some signs that this is present in the Church:

Little prayer or Bible study

Minimal discipleship

Fear of speaking truth respectfully

Moral inconsistency between belief and behavior

James 1:22 ESV

be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

This is resolved by biblical teaching/preaching that emphasizes:

verse-by-verse exposition

doctrinal precision

discernment

serious Bible study

Ephesians 4:14 LSB

we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming,

Danger 4 - Misinterpretation of Scripture This means reading Scripture incorrectly, out of context, or in a way that distorts its meaning.

Examples:

Taking verses about wealth as guarantees that faithful Christians will become rich.

mystical or subjective interpretations

misuse/misunderstanding of spiritual gifts

teachings detached from proper biblical context (i.e. “judge not”)

2 Timothy 2:15 LSB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Lit.: cutting straight

What Is Expected From The Church

According to Paul’s letter to Timothy, the church…[is] a pillar and buttress of the truth, (1 Timothy 3:15).

This means that:

Christians must love truth.

Teachers should be held accountable to accurately interpret Scripture.

As Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 ESV

hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Hold fast what is good

Cling to sound doctrine

Preserve apostolic teaching

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Abstain from every form of evil

This emphasizes the believer’s complete avoidance of any evil teaching or behavior.

Reject false teaching and corrupt ideas

Separate from spiritual deception

Nowhere does Scripture permit believers to expose themselves to the influences of what is false or evil.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

Flee from sexual immorality

1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV

flee from idolatry

1 Timothy 6:11 ESV

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Psalm 97:10 ESV

O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Proverbs 3:7 ESV

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

CONCLUSION

It is very clear from what we looked at this morning that all believers are to:

Love truth deeply

Reject deception

Proclaim biblical truth boldly

Become spiritually mature and discerning Christians

The Church in Thessalonica were young, immature believers.

Paul had been driven off sooner than desired

They were facing persecution and opposition to sound doctrine

Paul wants to be sure they are discerning of all matters, so that they will stand in the truth

The hope of the church is believers who can recognize truth from error.