Francis Chan: How to Recognize False Teaching

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a call to focus on the true essence of church: Jesus Christ. We tend to make issues out of things that aren't meant to be issues, creating rules and judging each other based on our own understanding and biases. However, this passage reminds us that we've been forgiven through what Jesus did on the cross, and we should not let anyone take away from that freedom in Christ.

Key Scripture References

• Colossians 2:13-14 - In these verses, Paul reminds us of our past condition as dead in sins, but God made us alive with Christ. He canceled the written code with its regulations that stood against us and nailed it to the Cross.
• Colossians 2:16-17 - Here, Paul warns against letting anyone judge us by what we eat or drink, or in regard to religious festivals. These are all shadows of things to come, but the reality is in Christ.
• Colossians 2:18 - This verse cautions against false humility and worship of angels, which can disqualify us from the prize. Paul reminds us that there's only one mediator between God and man, and that's Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 2:19-20 - In these verses, Paul warns against losing connection with the head (Christ) and submitting to human commands and teachings. He encourages us not to handle, taste, or touch things that are destined to perish with us because they're based on human regulations.
• Colossians 2:21 - This verse reminds us that such regulations have an appearance of wisdom but are actually empty and destructive. Paul urges us to focus on Christ and not be distracted by these human teachings.

Key Takeaways

• We've been forgiven through what Jesus did on the cross, and we should not let anyone take away from that freedom in Christ.
• The church should be about Christ, not about people judging each other for their choices or practices.
• We should focus on our connection with Christ as our head, rather than submitting to human commands and teachings.
• Regulations and rules based on human understanding are empty and destructive; we should focus on Christ and His teachings.

Application

This message encourages us to examine our own lives and see where we're making issues out of things that aren't meant to be issues. We should focus on Jesus Christ and not let others distract us from the true essence of church. Let's strive to live in freedom in Christ, unencumbered by human regulations and rules.

Practical Implications

This message has practical implications for our daily lives as Christians. We should:

• Avoid judging others based on their choices or practices, especially when those things aren't explicitly mentioned in Scripture.
• Focus on building up and encouraging one another in Christ, rather than tearing each other down with human regulations and rules.
• Seek to live in freedom in Christ, unencumbered by the weight of human expectations and regulations.

Conclusion

This message is a call to focus on Jesus Christ and not let anyone take away from our freedom in Him. Let's strive to live in accordance with Scripture, rather than human regulations and rules. May we be reminded of the true essence of church: Jesus Christ, and may we live accordingly.