BE ENCOURAGED!
“False Apostles”
Pastor Duane Cross | 11.10.2013

“I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”

“But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.”
2 Corinthians 11:1-4; 12-15 (NLT)

Picture #1: A Jealous Father of the Bride

“For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)

Take away truth: God is jealous for you!

Picture #2: Eve Deceived

“But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

1. Satan questions God’s word

2. Satan changes God’s word

3. Satan denies God’s word

4. Satan replaces God’s word

Take away truth: I must guard against false teaching

Picture #3: A Masked Man

Take away truth: I must recognize the real teachers of God’s Word

GOING DEEPER QUESTIONS

These questions are designed to help you go deeper with the sermon during your week – to take a closer look at the scripture and find fresh ways to live out the main points of the sermon. Going Deeper questions also are used in all of our Grow Groups.

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Genesis 3; Exodus 34:10-14

Getting Started

Growing up, what voices had the most influence on you? Why?

How important was the difference between “truth and lies” when you were growing up?

How do you discern whether or not a person is a person of integrity? What are the characteristics of such a person?

A Closer Look

Read 2 Corinthians 11:1-15. In verses 1-5 Paul pictures himself as a loving father who is arranging a wedding for his virgin daughter. Who are the bride and the groom (vs. 2-3 cf. Rom. 7:4; Eph. 5:25-33)? Why is Paul concerned the bride might get cold feet, and run after someone else? Who is the “other man”?

In verse 3, why does Paul use a rebellion image from Genesis? Why is he concerned that the Corinthian church will experience a “second fall”?

What concerns Paul the most about the false teachers?

Read Jeremiah 2:2 and Revelations 2:4. What does the frequent use of marriage imagery in the Bible reveal about God? About His love for His people? What does it mean that God is “jealous” for us?

Why is it notable that Paul said so much about our adversary, the devil, in his letter to the Corinthians? What warnings did Paul offer (see 2 Corinthians 2:10-11; 4:4; 11:3; 12:7)?

How do these warnings apply to the Church today?

Digging Deeper

What did “single-minded devotion to Christ” (v. 3) look like in Paul’s life? How does it look in your life? In Hope Covenant Church’s life?

The false teachers in Corinth wanted to take the rough edges of Christianity (e.g. suffering), and make the faith more mainstream and socially/culturally acceptable. Where do you see this happening today? How do you combat these teachings?

What qualities do you look for in teachers of God’s Word? How about false teachers?

How can you encourage those who teach the Word at Hope?