Sermon or Lesson:  Colossians 2:4 (NIV based)
[Lesson Questions included]

TITLE:  Discern And Reject False Teaching

INTRODUCTION:  Are you able to detect when your child, or your teenager, or your co-worker, or a salesman is telling you a lie?  Do you immediately detect their falseness when it is embedded in a smooth-sounding discourse?  And do you immediately realize the problem or the hazard that will occur if you fail to adequately detect the disguised falseness they are feeding you?  Adverse consequences usually befall those persons who lack discernment.  In our study now, we will identify and examine these kinds of circumstances when they occur in church, regarding the promoting of false doctrines.
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READ:  Colossians 2:4, with vv.1-3 for context

BACKGROUND:
- - Following the example of Paul, the approach used in churches should be to knowledgably proclaim, admonish, and teach Christ and the Word of God, in order to facilitate the achieving of spiritual maturity in the life of every believer.  (v.1:28)
- - Churches and believers should take on the same perspective, mission, and ministry approach that Paul has - even if corresponding challenges, struggles, labor, suffering, and afflictions arise for them.  (vv.2:1; 1:29,24)
- - Local churches and home groups should follow the example of Paul by actively facilitating new believers and immature believers in adjusting, continuing, and growing in the faith, and in drawing on the indwelling power from God.  (from vv.2:2-3)
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v.4 - READ

[Lesson Question:  List the ramifications of the statement in this verse 4.]

SECTION POINT:  God is warning in this verse that false doctrines and their corresponding supporting "fine-sounding arguments" are destructive to the spiritual well-being of believers.

- - The core of the reasons why this letter was written to the Colossian believers is stated here in verse 4 - so that they will not be deceived into believing false doctrines.
- - Believers, and particularly new believers, who are not well-grounded in their knowledge of Scriptures and doctrines, are very vulnerable to being doctrinally deceived, especially when the deception is presented with "persuasive words" that are produced by "treacherous cunning, skillful deceit", "subtlety, and trickery".  (Strong's #3884 - "beguile", "delude" (AHD))
- - There are people in churches who skillfully present "fine-sounding arguments" in order to support, defend, and promote doctrines that they assert are true, correct, valid, and applicable to believers and the faith.
- - Their intentions are not merely to state or make known their doctrines, but they furthermore strive to persuade other people to believe and adopt their doctrines.
- - The line of reasoning and argumentation that they use to support their doctrines flows smoothly from their lips and seems logical, good, wise, and beneficial, but in some way the argumentation and its doctrine contain one or more ingredients that is not true in accordance with proper interpretation of the Scriptures.
- - Thereby, God does not approve of these doctrines, and believers are herein warned not to agree with these doctrines, nor to be fooled by them, nor to promote them, nor to tolerate them.

- - The Word of God is declaring here that false doctrines and their corresponding supporting "fine-sounding arguments" are a serious and substantial threat to the spiritual well-being of believers.
-- False doctrines and their corresponding supporting "fine-sounding arguments" are contrary to, oppositional to, and destructive to:
- - - - obtaining "the full riches of complete [spiritual] understanding";  (v.2)
- - - - intimately "knowing the mystery of God, namely, Christ";  (v.2)
- - - - accessing "all the [spiritual] treasures of wisdom and knowledge";  (v.3)
- - - - maintaining "order" among believers;  (v.5)
- - - - establishing and maintaining "firmness" in one's faith in Christ.  (v.5)
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SECTION POINT:  God is declaring in this verse that there are people in our churches who would or are deceiving us, and perhaps intentionally.

QUESTION:  Why would people in our churches intentionally deceive us?
- - to control other people;
- - to gain power and authority;
- - to gain status;
- - to enslave others;  (v.8)
- - to justify their own actions;
- - because their fine-sounding arguments make sense to them;  (v.8)
- - because they are motivated by what they perceive to be confirming benefits from a personal experience that they had;
- - because they are motivated by a prior bad experience with the church, which fuels a subsurface or subliminal desire to get revenge or justice;
- - because they have a hardened heart;
- - because they are a deceiver, one who regularly and naturally and habitually engages in deception;
- - because they are a destroyer, one who delights in tearing down what is good;
- - because they are an abuser, one who compulsively brings harm on others;
- - because they are a corrupted salesman, one who is skilled at and enjoys in getting people to buy what they are selling;
- - because they are a corrupted eloquent speaker, one who is naturally skilled at spewing smooth talk.
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SECTION POINT:  There are numerous conditions that can make believers susceptible to being "deceived by fine-sounding arguments".

QUESTION:  What conditions can commonly be present in order for believers to be deceived by fine-sounding arguments?
- - foolishness, lack of godly wisdom;  (v.3)
- - lack of proper theological knowledge, education, training;  (vv.2,3)
- - lack of discernment when exposed to "persuasive language";  (v.4, Strong's #4086; v.8)
- - adhering to faulty and unsound doctrine;  (v.8)
- - shallow faith;  (v.7)
- - not possessing a genuine faith;  (vv.2,6)
- - spiritual immaturity;  (v.7)
- - instability in faith;  (v.5)
- - confusion, chaos, disorder;  (v.5)
- - laziness, not willing to research the Scriptures;
- - apathy, passivity;
- - naivety, gullible, easily charmed and captivated;  (vv.22-23; v.4, Strong's #3884 "beguile")
- - worldly thinking;  (vv.8,20)
- - worldly or sinful living;  (vv.6,20)
- - selfish-ambition;  (v.18; cf. James 3:14-15)
- - divisiveness, disunity, desire to split from the group;  (v.2)
- - faulty leadership;  (v.4)
- - sensually oriented, wanting to feel good;  (v.23)
- - entrenched bureaucracy or tradition;  (vv.8,16)
- - insecurity, inflexibility, or unwillingness to change;  (v.20)
- - eagerness to be accepted or included in the group, avoiding ridicule;  (v.16)
- - desire to gain higher spirituality through trying to invent and utilize a shortcut while being unwilling to exert the hard work necessary to achieve higher spirituality;  (v.18)
- - inviting and listening to persuasive speakers without properly vetting them beforehand for sound doctrines;  (v.8)
- - superficial regard for God's Word;  (v.1:25)
- - self-deception;  (James 1:22)
- - lackadaisical, not keeping one's guard up.  (1 Peter 5:8)
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BIG IDEA:  Believers are to properly discern and not be persuaded into believing "fine-sounding arguments" that are deceptive and contrary to Scriptures.

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APPLICATIONS:

- - Is the holding of correct sound doctrines a high priority for you, as verse 4 is saying it should be?  Is your answer completely truthful?
- - Do you now appreciate the danger that false doctrines and their corresponding "fine-sounding arguments" pose?
- - Whenever you hear anyone teaching doctrinal content, do you mentally question it, critique it, and verify its accuracy and alignment with God's Word?
- - Do you possess Bible knowledge thorough enough that you are able to immediately discern false doctrines when you hear them?
- - Are you currently holding any false or questionable doctrines?
- - Do you promote any false or questionable doctrines?
- - Do you engage in the practicing of a false or questionable doctrine?
- - Do you try to rationalize your support for a false or questionable doctrine?
- - Judging from verse 4, how do you think God regards your holding or promoting or practicing or supporting of a false or questionable doctrine?
- - Do you realize that when you hold or promote or practice or support a false doctrine, you are in actuality siding with the Kingdom of Darkness and collaborating with evil spirits, as clearly declared in 1 Timothy 4:1-2?

- - Why not dump every one of your false or questionable doctrines, right now, this very moment, and permanently?
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[Additional Lesson Question to ponder (optional, if time allows):
- - What effects occur in and to the church and its ministries when any of its people are "deceived" by "fine-sounding arguments"?  Contemplate, analyze, and theorize.]
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Works Cited:
The American Heritage Dictionary (AHD). 3rd ed., ver. 3.6a (CD-ROM). Cambridge, MA: SoftKey International Inc., 1994.

Bible. “The Holy Bible: New International Version.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.

“Strong's Greek Dictionary.” The Bible Library CD-ROM. Oklahoma City, OK: Ellis Enterprises, 1988.
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