How To Identify Counterfeits

Primary Scripture: 2 Peter 2:1-22 (focused on v19) Cross References: Ephesians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Hebrews 13:9, 1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:18, Isaiah 5:19, Malachi 4:1, Psalm 90:4, Ecclesiastes 8:11, Isaiah 30:18, Luke 18:7 Message Overview: False teaching is a guarantee. Satan uses clever, destructive heresies to cause doubt and denial of God. This has been his plan since the beginning (ie. Genesis 3:1 “Did God really say?”) One of the motivators of false teachers is self-gratification. Greed will lead them to believe and promote clever lies. God has provided several powerful examples of what will happen to the ungodly, but that is not His hope for us. His hope is that we would yield ourselves to the truth and follow in the way He has made through His son Jesus Christ! God is able to save the righteous while at the same time punishing the unrighteous. As Peter made clear in week 2, we know the truth, this week we are reminded to Stand Firm in self-control in order to keep ourselves from falling into the destruction of the ungodly. Where does self-control come from? Faith in Christ. When we set our sights firmly on the Son of God, He will send the Holy Spirit to empower us to Stand Firm in self-control helping us to recognize and repent of false teaching we have not only heard but, at times, believed! Prompting Questions: Where (from whom) does freedom come from? What is a false teacher? How do you know that a teacher is a false teacher? What are you allowing to control your life? What is the key motivation to deception/false teaching? Does this only motivate the teacher or is it also a motivator for those being deceived? What does verse 21 mean?