Does God Care How We Worship--Part Six--Preaching/Teaching--Part One

Introduction:

1. The First question that needs answered is...

A.Does God care about doctrine?

1. Paul instructed the young gospel preacher Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:6–7 (NKJV)

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

A. We need to remember that Paul told Timothy these things by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 3:14–16 (NKJV)

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

1. Notice what Peter records.

A. Paul’s wisdom was given to him—This means his writings are inspired as he himself points out.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV)

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

B. Untaught and unstable people twist the Scriptures.

1. The word untaught means something needs to be taught.

2. To twist means to distort.

Body:

1. But the world says that doctrine does not matter.

A. Jesus does not agree.

1. Jesus says if we are going to call Him “Lord”, we must do what He says.

Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

2. Jesus says if we “love” Him, we must keep His commandments.

John 14:15 (NKJV)

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

3. Jesus says if we are going to be His “friends”, then we must do whatever He commands.

John 15:14 (NKJV)

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

4. Jesus says the “doctrine of men” is vain.

Matthew 15:9 (NKJV)

9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

5. Jesus says if we have ears, we should listen to Him.

Matthew 11:15 (NKJV)

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

6. Jesus says we should listen to the Spirit.

Revelation 2:7 (NKJV)

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

A. The Spirit still speaks to us through the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NKJV)

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

B. Paul does not agree.

1. Paul said we are to have “unity of faith”.

Ephesians 4:11–13 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

2. Paul says we should not be “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV)

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

3. Paul says we should “speak the truth in love”.

Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

A. Truth is what we are to be sanctified by.

John 17:17 (NKJV)

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

1. The word sanctify means to be set apart but if doctrine does not matter, then how could one be sanctified or set apart?

B. How does truth matter if doctrine does not?

C. Peter does not agree.

1. Peter says we are to be “established in the present truth”.

2 Peter 1:12 (NKJV)

12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

A. If doctrine does not matter, then what would be the purpose of being established in truth?

2. Peter says we can “fall from our own steadfastness”.

2 Peter 3:17a (NKJV)

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness.

A. How can one fall from his steadfastness if doctrine does not matter?

3. Peter says “we can be led away with the error of the wicked”.

2 Peter 3:17b (NKJV)

17 Being led away with the error of the wicked.

A. How can one be led away if doctrine does not matter?

D. John does not agree.

A. John says “if we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth”.

1 John 1:6 (NKJV)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

1. How could we tell the difference between light and darkness if doctrine does not matter?

2. How would we know if we were practicing the truth if doctrine does not matter?

B. John says “fellowship” is determined by walking in the light.

1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

C. John says we can be “deceived”.

1 John 1:8 (NKJV)

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1. How could we be deceived if doctrine does not matter?

D. John says if someone does not bring the doctrine of Christ, do not receive him.

2 John 9–11 (NKJV)

9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

Conclusion:

1. We need to remember that if we disagree with the word of God, it is not God that is wrong.

A. If God did not care about doctrine, He would not have given us the Scriptures that are full of how to live.

1. If God cares about doctrine, then He cares about how we worship Him in our preaching and teaching.