In today's sermon, "The Identity Of The False Gospel", according to the section "Summary From Last Week(#43)": What will be the greatest miracle and blessing for all of us? What must happen within the church in order to hear the voice of God? What should everyone do in order to equip us with the weapon of God's word, and why should we do this? According to 1 Corinthians 14:12, what type of spiritual gifts should we try to excel in? What should everyone do while growing according to their spiritual gifts? What will happen to those whose are open to listen to God's voice, and how can we do this?
In the section "They traveled through the whole island ... because he wanted to hear the word of God"(vv.6-7): What does the name Bar-Jesus mean, and who was he? What must he have done for Sergius Paulus?
Give some examples of various sorceries in the bible. How has sorcery been used throughout history and in the world today? What does this prove, and what is this kind of man hoping for?
Why have many political and religious leaders practiced some sort of sorcery, magic, and fortune-telling throughout history? Why is this spiritually corrupt leadership style still prevalent in every nation, and what does Ephesians 2:2 say about this? Who is the god of this age, and what does 2 Corinthians 4:4 say about him? Why does the devil empower his followers to do supernatural works? What does God say will happen to these followers, and how does Revelation 21:8 affirm this?
Why do people try to rely on sorcery and practice idol worship? How does our choice (free-will) and god's predestined will affect us? What does Romans 8:28 say about free will? How might curses and magic affect us, and how does the Holy Spirit help us? Who was Balak, and how did he try to curse the people of Israel? How did God use the sorcerer Balaam, and what does Numbers 23:23 say about this? Why will our new status given in Christ never be shaken, and why does God allow them?
What are more serious problems than the use of sorcery and magic power, and how is this done? How is this like Bar-Jesus, and what are some examples of this? Who are the real wicked devil followers mentioned in Matthew 24:24? How must God's saint discern truth, and why must we struggle with the word of God seriously? How can we cast out the power of darkness when our faith is challenged, and why can't we discern truth? What is our spiritual problem, and what must we do about it? What does Galatians 1:7-8 say about false gospels?
In the section "Then Saul, who was also called Paul ... said ...Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?"(vv.9-10): How could this curse of blindness on Bar-Jesus actually be a great blessing for him? How is this entire incident similar to what happened to Saul?
Who is the only one that can save us from our deceitful life captured by sorcery and false beliefs, and why? What is necessary if we understand the true content of the gospel? What did the people do as Jesus continually proclaimed and taught the word of truth more deliberately? What does John 6:60,66 quote them as saying?
Why can't we easily agree with and accept His word without God's grace, and what happens unless one continues to grow in the truth of the gospel? How does Hebrews 6:4-6 state this fact. What keeps us from going back into the same or worse corruption, even though we can fall into temptation for a while? Why is there no such "apostasy" in the saint's life, and what does the life of apostasy prove? Who are the false prophets who do more evil things inside the church than the evil ones in the world?
In the "Conclusion": What do the false Christs and false prophets like Bar-Jesus do? Why can't one realize the depth of the true gospel, or never discover the true light and power of Christ? What happens to the false Christs and prophets who do not have this kind of true experience in the gospel? What happens when the gospel becomes the true gospel within our lives? How can we discern the false teaching and performance that mimic the true gospel? What must we do so that the people of God can be saved from their sins and renewed once again from their deceptions?
In "The Strategy Of The Spirit", by Ray Stedman: See Discussion 42 for discussion questions (Discussion 42)
In today's daily devotion, entitled - Ask The Author: Discuss the difference between knowing an author and knowing about an author, and how both would help you appreciate the material better. How does knowing the material help you to know the author? Read Hebrews 12:2 in the King James version and discuss what you can see here about Christ. What other verses in the Bible can you think of that describe God or Jesus? How can you "know" God in your daily life?