4-SIDED TRIANGLES Week 1
February 7, 2021

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4-SIDED TRIANGLES
Week 1: Willing to Win
Brad Saab
One Missoula Church
02/07/2021

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” —Matthew 7:15-20

Main idea for the series: What we have come to call “churches” in our culture are not genuine churches ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE because genuine churches are made up of genuine Christians and what we have come to call “Christians” or “Disciples of Jesus” in our culture are not “Christians” or “Disciples” ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.

Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! —Lamentations 3:40
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test —2 Corinthians 13:5

WARNING! This is how cults begin! Here are some critical declarations:

• Jesus Christ of The Bible is the sinless, crucified, risen, and reigning Lord and the only sufficient payment for sin (John 14:6; Romans 8:34; 1 Peter 1:19)
• The Bible is authoritative, inerrant, inspired, sufficient word of God (2 Timothy 3:16)
• This comes from the WHOLE Bible, not an angelic-vision, a divine dream, or whisper of God, or external text (Acts 20:27; Revelation 22:18-19)
• We do not claim to be the only church who has it right, but we do claim that there are many who have been consumed by error (Revelation 2:1-3:22)
• We still have more refining to undergo… the good news is that you get space, patience, and understanding while you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, —Philippians 2:12-14

I will never ask you to embrace correction and refinement when I’m not willing to embrace it myself

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. —2 Timothy 3:16-17

Genuinely following Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment to refinement and growth

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. —Hebrews 12:5-11

If God loves you, He hates the sin that is destroying you

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit…. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” —John 15:1-2, 8

If you’re wrong, do you WANT to know it? If your error is destroying you and others, do you WANT to change it?

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:4-6

THINKIT. DOIT. CHANGEIT.

  • What impacted, challenged, or encouraged you most about this message? What one thing are you going to change in your thinking, speech, habits or behaviors because of this message?

  • What is your reaction to the possibility that what we call “Christian”, “Disciple” or “Church” in our culture looks significantly different from what the Bible talks about when it uses those words?

  • What do you see as the greatest obstacle to accepting correction from the Bible in your own beliefs and behavior?