Sunday, February 27, 2022 Evening Service

Discipleship Course 51

Pitfalls of Christianity

1 John 2:15-17

Two big problems a Christian will have to face:

  1. Unforgiveness
  2. Living with your own sinfulness

Worldly Influence

The world, the flesh, and the devil - see lesson on Spiritual Warfare.

  1. Peers
    • Embarrassed
      • You don’t know what to say.
      • They don’t know what to say.
    • The Gospel is foolishness to them that perish
    • They may be uncomfortable.
    • They may be looking for your mistakes.
    • Group dynamics
      • You are the minority.
      • Maybe they really are interested but afraid to ask in front of everybody.
  2. Boss
    • May hold your job over your head.
    • May keep you back from promotion.
    • Who do you submit to?
      • God or man?
  3. Old Habits
    • Besetting sin - Hebrews 12:1
    • Strong influence - Romans 6:13-19
      • Many years of sinful habits to overcome.
    • Keep your body under subjection - 1 Corinthians 9:27
      • Make if mind.
  4. Old Desires
    • Can’t forget the old memories, the flesh fights you - Philippians 3:13
    • Your flesh remembers the old bad times better than they were (nostalgia) - James 1:24

Religious Influence

  1. False Religion
    • You will have to get past bad or wrong teaching.
      • The older you are, the longer you were in it, the harder it is.
      • 2 Peter 2:1-3
      • 1 John 4:1
    • False teachers prey on weak Christians.
      • They usually have zeal.
      • They seem to be doing something.
      • They sound good.
        • Salvation by works appeals to a man’s pride.
  2. Non-church groups
    • God set up the church as the means of reaching the world.
    • Non-church, religious groups weaken the church - Masons, Elks, etc.
      • They take up time, talent, treasure.
    • They change the priority from being Bible-focused.
      • Relationship with the Lord
      • Soul-winning
      • Missions
  3. Christian Media
    • Weak in doctrine
      • Try to appeal to everyone
      • Minimize differences
    • False teachings
      • Of necessity need lots of money.
      • Weaken the church.
        • TV pastors. Where are they when you have a personal need?
      • Turn unsaved people off.
      • New Christians think it is spiritually motivated.
  4. Religious scholarship
    • Questions the authority of the Bible - 2 Peter 1:16
    • Put man in judgment over God and His word - pride.
      • 2 Peter 3:3-6
    • Education becomes more important that God.
      • 2 Timothy 3:4-7
      • 1 Timothy 6:20