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How to Study the Bible


10 Reasons to Read and Study the Bible
  1. Encounter God - The Bible is where we meet God and hear His voice and truth!
  2. Know God - We don’t just seek to know about God, but to relate to and grow in love for Him.
  3. Glorify God - We desire to grow in holiness and imitation of Christ in order to honor God. 
  4. Experience God’s Past Work - We learn from God’s revealed historical work among humanity.
  5. Understand God’s Present Work - We hear how God desires to work in & through us today.
  6. Look Forward to God’s Future Work - We trust in His promised future return and work.
  7. Protect from Satan’s Attacks - We remember our real enemy in Satan, his demons, the world, and our flesh and are reminded that His truth is a spiritual weapon of offense and defense.
  8. Share True Hope with Others - We evangelistically speak God’s hope, love, and Gospel truth.
  9. Live Life According to God’s Wisdom - We submit to our Father’s loving instruction for life
  10. Obedience - God has commanded us to listen and obey His voice through the Bible.
10 Ways to Read the Bible
As you seek to read the Bible, ensure to prioritize time to take the Bible for study and meditation: understanding, absorbing, internalizing, memorizing, and applying the Scriptures.
1. Through the Bible - Read the whole Bible from beginning to end or in some other order!
2. New Testament - If you read a chapter per weekday, you can read the whole Bible in a year
3. Proverbs - There are 31 Proverbs, so seek to read the one corresponding to the calendar day (i.e. read Proverbs 17 on the 17th day of the month, Proverbs 18 on 18th day of the month, etc.).
4. Psalms - There are 150 Psalms, so choose a Psalm each day to help guide your prayers (i.e. on the 17th day of the month select either Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107, or 137 to read and instruct you in prayer).
5. Read slowly through Romans - Go deeper and digest and study theology.
6. Pick a single Bible book to read - John: learn the basics of Jesus’ life and death. James: know and apply God’s wisdom. 1 John: ensure you are a believer.
7. Subscribe to a faithful devotional aid to compliment your Bible reading
8. Study a character. Search and read wherever their name appears.
9. Study a place.  Search and read wherever that place is mentioned.
10. Study a topic.  Search and learn about what God teaches about key issues.

Where did the Bible come from? What is the Bible?  The Bible was spoken and revealed from God into the hearts of men that the Scriptures might be written and shared among God's children.  Some of these writings are historical descriptions, prophetic writings, poetry and songs, wisdom, and letters.  Although written by the hands of men, these writings were not written by the will of man, but were inspired and given by the power and will of God's Spirit.  The Bible is the specific revelation by God about Himself, His work, and His plan for all of humanity so that we may love, trust, and obey Him.  The whole Bible is breathed out by God, to make His people wise for salvation and to equip His people to lovingly teach, train, correct, and confront with God's truths (2 Timothy 3:10-17)
"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:19-21
"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 2 Peter 1:16
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29
Can we expect more books to be discovered or added to the Bible?  No.  God has clearly spoken in the Scriptures and across early church history such that the current collection of recognized biblical books (canon) is complete.  This process of recognizing the words of God comes through the recognition of the authorship as a biblical prophets or apostle, the self-attestation of the book within the Scriptures themselves, and their continuity with other books of the Bible.
Does the Bible have errors?  The original writings (autographs) have no errors at all.  The ancient copies (manuscripts) we possess have small differences between them. These differences have primarily arisen from those who were copying and translating them.  These differences have been recognized, described and corrected via a modern day comparison of the thousands of manuscripts to produce reliable Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) compilations that have been reliably translated into many languages.  None of the manuscript differences affect or speak to major theological issues but are most commonly mere grammatical issues.  Comprehensive resources are available to explain the process of translation and decisions made concerning the compilation of manuscripts.
Is the Bible trustworthy? Yes.  The Bible shows its own trustworthiness through its self attestation in the lives of believers and its internal consistency over thousands of years at the hands of many writers.  The Bible is clearly seen to be the most accurate book in all of human history through archaeological, historical, scientific, and documentary evidence.  The biblical content clearly reveals that its author is God Himself.  The Bible has the most and best manuscript evidence, seen in its thousands of copies that were written soon after its original writing and discovered ina multiplicity of geographic locations.  No literary work in all of human history is comparable to the trustworthiness of the Bible.
"He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it." Titus 1:9
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13
"The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." Psalm 119:72
Is the KJV the best translation? The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is a good translation of the Bible.  When it was written only a few manuscripts had been discovered, which limited the scope and accuracy of its translation.  Since its translation hundreds of years ago, many additional archaeological discoveries have been made which provided thousands of more trustworthy manuscripts in the twentieth century.  Many modern day translations have been written since the KJV translation, providing plenty of accurate biblical translations.  Many people prefer the KJV because of their personal familiarity with it.  Many others struggle with the KJV since it uses Old English, a language that is antiquated, no longer spoken, and difficult for many modern day English speakers to understand.  
Many teachers give the false impression that the KJV is the only accurate Bible to be used.  This is a touchy issue, one which must be handled with great care and humility.  Such teachers may have genuine motives in preventing any corruption of the Biblical translations, but such opinions are often rooted in human pride and personal ignorance of the translation process and manuscript evidence.  Those who prefer the KJV have the joy of continuing in their freedom of this preference but must humbly encourage and accept the fact than many prefer translations based on a more comprehensive collection of biblical manuscripts and translated into the common languages of the day.
Why are there so many translations?  When translating the Bible, the translators must make decisions to translate either literally with a word for word approach (formal) or with a thought for thought approach (dynamic equivalence).  These two approaches are both accurate and helpful.  Some writings are written with more simple wording to recognize the differences in literary capabilities of different people and communities.  
There are also other translations based upon a paraphrase approach.  The paraphrase approach is when the Biblical text is not translated but is instead summarized and restated.  Although such an approach may be helpful for children's Bibles and chronological Bible storying, it is not a good approach for maturing and literate Christians.
The English language is blessed to have many translations, but some languages possess only one translation.   Many languages have yet to have the Bible translated.  Although the multiple translations are extremely beneficial, we must recognize and be aware that there are translations that make unhelpful and heretical changes to the meaning of the biblical text.  There are modern translations that have removed gender specific language (NIV), removed references to Christ's deity (Jehovah's Witnesses' New World Translation), added books to the Bible (Catholics), or subjugated the Bible to other books (Mormons).
"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9
Which translation is the best? Assuming the translation is faithful to the biblical text, the best translation is the one that you can easily read and understand.  As some grow in their reading and comprehension abilities, they may find that more formal translations are most helpful to them in the process of study.
Are devotional guides and books ok? Devotional guides and books can be helpful for Christians as an aid and tool to enhancing their personal study of God's Word.  Devotional guides and books can also be a dangerous impediment to spiritual growth if Christians never grow in their own abilities to study Scripture.  True Christians seek to mature and should never be content with solely a second hand experience with God as related through others.  The Bible is clearly understood (perspicuity of the Bible), which means that it is intelligible through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.  If you struggle with your own personal and direct study of God's Word, pray to God and seek help from others in order to enhance and increase your ability to hear God's voice through the study of His Word.
How can I go about reading more of the Bible? Make a plan.  Make time.  Be intentional.  The reading of God's Word is essential for spiritual growth.  The best plan is the one in which you will be able to follow.  It could be as simple as picking a Bible book and reading through it one day at a time.  It could involve a goal like reading through the entire New Testament in a year by reading one chapter per weekday.  Many books, Bibles, and apps have a a plan for reading through the entire Bible in a year.  We tend to prioritize that which we find valuable.  Prioritize and make time for the reading of God's Word, it is of infinite value.
"the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.  10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb." Psalm 19:9-10
Is the New Testament more important than the Old Testament?  What is their relationship? All of Scripture is valuable and trustworthy.  The Bible is one big story, not two separate sections (Hebrews 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:14-17). God speaks not only through his prophets, but also through the life of Christ.  The expression that "the New is in the Old concealed and the the Old is in the New revealed" helps us to understand this relationship.  We need to give equal attention to the study of both the Old Testament and New Testament for "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17
"Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way." Psalm 119:127-128
How can I understand the meaning of the Bible? The best way to understand the Bible is to spend time in it.  Study Bibles, commentaries, and online resources (GotQuestions.org , BibleStudyTools.com , and BibleHub.com ).  Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself, and seek answers to, as you discover the meaning of the Scriptures: 
  • Who is writing this?
  • Who is it being written to?
  • What type of writing is this?
  • What does the Scripture mean?
  • What do we learn about God?
  • What do we learn about God's work?
  • What do we learn about ourselves?
  • Why does this passage matter?
  • How do I need to respond to and apply these truths to my life?   (Is there a sin to avoid, a command to obey, an example to follow, a prayer to offer, a truth to remember, an attitude to change, or a teaching to share?)
What does it mean to meditate on God's Word?  Meditation on God's Word is the filling up of one's heart and mind with the truths of God.  As these truths are internalized, we areto spend more time in mental contemplation and processing over His truth in order to grow in our faith and to share our faith with others.  Meditation happens when we read, listen to, pray over, learn, think, speak, write, and share about God's truths.
"Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:7-8
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
How can I share and speak God's truths lovingly to others? Memorizing the Scripture is the best way to prepare to share God's truths.  We should pray to God for opportunities and courage to witness.  When we pray according to His will we know he hears and answers us (1 John 5:14-15), and we know it is His will that we be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8).  The more we meditate, study, and memorize God's Word, the more our hearts and lips will naturally and courageously bear witness to the glory and goodness of God.
We must remember that we have a responsibility to warn others of God's coming judgment (Ezekiel 3:17-19 & 33:7-9).  When we share the Gospel we ought to communicate the truths concerning God as Creator (Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 4:13, 9:27), mankind's sinful rebellion (Romans 3:23), Christ's sacrifice and gift (Romans 6:23), and our need to respond to God as our Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9).  The Gospel must be clearly spoken from our lips but also must be faithfully lived out in our lives, marriages, families, and workplaces (Ephesians 5 & 6).
Here are three great online resources to learn how to share your faith:
Many people fear the questions that may arise when witnessing, but it is ok to answer that "I do not know, but will find out."  A great resource for discovering God's answers to difficult questions is www.gotquestions.org .  Finally we must always remember that our calling is not simply to make converts, but to make disciples, connecting believers into church fellowships where they can grow in their love and knowledge of God.
How can I recognize false teachers and false prophets?  The best way to recognize false teachers is to listen to their teachings and watch their lives (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:15-22, Matthew 12:33-37, Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Peter 2, Jude 1:1-10, 2 John 1:9, James 3:1).  If their teachings and lives do not line up with Scriptural truths, they may be false teachers, false prophets, or immature believers who do not need to be teaching or leading.
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction." 2 Peter 2:1
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8-9
Steps to Studying the Bible
  1. Pray before Studying the Bible - ask God to open your mind and heart to His truths
  2. Read the Bible - follow a plan, be disciplined, seek accountability, use an audio bible such as found from faithcomesbyhearing.com (“Bible.is” as an app)
  3. Listen to Faithful Teachings - commit to regularly listen to your pastor’s and others’ teachings while diligently checking the Scripture to ensure what they say is true (Acts 17:11).
  4. Study the Bible - slowly and intentionally dig deep into the Scriptures
  5. Meditate on the Bible - remove distractions and seek the work of the Spirit for your understanding and application of these truths in your life
  6. Pray through the Bible - use the Scriptures to guide your prayer.  The Psalms are the best for this, but you can pray as the Lord leads for conviction and turning from sin as well as for the increased maturity in Christ
  7. Memorize the Bible - write, speak out loud, draw, usegames, acronyms, songs, and repetition,  recite portions of verses and progress to the whole verse, keep accountability to your memorization goals
  8. Teach the Bible - find someone to mentor and teach, learning how to study the Bible,  in teaching you will learn and grow most rapidly
  9. Evangelize with the Bible - the Bible is meant to be shared, focus on Gospel presentation passages to use in witnessing
  10. Pray for God to remind and deepen you into the truths of God, asking Him to help you to obey His Word
Passages Emphasizing the Importance of the Study of the Bible
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. - 2 Timothy 2:15
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  - Isaiah 55:10-11
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. - John 5:39-40
Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" - Mark 12:24
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra - which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 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 3:10-17
Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. - 1 Timothy 4:11-16
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. - James 1:21-25
take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, - Ephesians 6:17
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. - Revelation 22:18-19
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. - Hebrews 4:12-13
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. - 1 Timothy 6:3-5
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. - Hebrews 1:1-2
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What Does the Bible Say About Church Discipline?


What is church discipline?  Church discipline is a process clearly described by Matthew 18:15-20 that describes a progression from personal/private confrontation/rebuke to a small group confrontation/rebuke to a level of church awareness of the unrepentant state of huge church member.  The process ends either with repentance or the eventual expulsion of the unrepentant individual outside of the church.
What are the goals of church discipline? The goals of church discipline are: 
1) Restore the relationship between a Christian in sin and Christ (Galatians 6:1).
2) Restore the relationship between a Christian in sin with other believers and their church in a spirit of love (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).
3) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member for the sake of their salvation (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).
4) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member for the protection of the flock (1 Corinthians 5:2, Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:6). 
5) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member as a warning for church members (1 Timothy 5:20).
Why is church discipline so important? Church discipline is so important because Satan is constantly attacking the love, forgiveness, and unity of the church (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Satan also uniquely attacks and seeks to divide and misdirect the church through false teachers (2 Peter 2, 3:17-18).  Public punishment and discipline is difficult, but necessary for obedience to the Lord in His plan for the shepherding of His children (2 Corinthians 2:6).  When repentance occurs, loving forgiveness and restoration is a beautiful picture of God's mercy and grace.  Churches are warned of the danger of not confronting sin and unrepentant believers within their churches (Revelation 2:20-25).
How is church discipline to be done? Church discipline is designed to be done with truth-filled conviction but also grace-filled gentleness (Galatians 6:1).  In that process Christians are also reminded to be watching their own attitudes and thoughts to prevent themselves from also falling into temptation (Galatians 6:1).
What do these stages of discipline look like today?  The stages should always be done one on one first, secondarily through the inclusion of a pastor or church leader, thirdly through the church leadership as a whole before the issue being carried in front of the church in a godly and orderly manner.  In the case of a charge against a pastor, the charges must be verified by two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19).
What is an example of a mutual decision to "part ways"?  Paul and Barnabas and Mark in Acts 15:36-41 are an example of a mutual decision to “part ways.”  Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement over using Mark (Barnabas' cousin, Colossians 4:10) in ministry.  Paul's concern was over Mark's faithfulness after Mark had previously abandoned them on a mission trip to Pamphylia and had proved unfaithful to do the work he was called to do (Acts 15:38).  Paul replaced Barnabas and Mark with Silas whose faithfulness was attested to by other Christian brothers.
Were Paul and Barnabas and Mark ever restored? Although that we do not see a restoration between Paul and Barnabas, we do see a restoration between Paul and Mark in 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul states "Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry."  Time in faithful ministry evidenced Mark's restoration to Gospel service alongside Paul and his instruction to the church at Colossae to welcome Mark (Colossians 4:10).
WHAT ARE THE STEPS OF BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE?
How is Matthew 18:15-20 to be conducted?  Biblical discipline continues until either true repentance or expulsion from the church results.  The spirit to which it is done is a spirit of love and gentleness, with an emphasis on prayer towards God granting repentance (2 Timothy 2:8, 24-26).   The intent is not to embarrass or humiliate the offender with a self-righteous attitude.  The goal is forgiveness and restoration of unity within the church (2 Timothy 2:10).   The church must diligently follow Matthew 18:15-20 to completion with the awareness that Satan seeks to destroy and divide churches (2 Timothy 2:11).  A little tolerated sin within the church threatens to spread and corrupt the entire church (1 Corinthians 5:7, Revelation 2:20, Romans 6:17-20).
What sins are to be dealt with according to Matthew 18:15-20?  Although no specific list of sins is given, it appears that public sins against the holiness of God, the unity and leadership of the church, and the teachings of the Scriptures are the areas of sins most commonly dealt with by church discipline.
When has true repentance happened?  True repentance ends the process of discipline within Matthew 18:15-20 and is the optimal goal.  True repentance is not made merely in the fear of consequences, but is clearly heartfelt, sincere, and lasting.   True repentance shows an understanding of the particular sins committed, confessing them completely and specifically to those to whom they have been against.  True repentance does not make excuses for one’s sin, verbally apologizes without qualification, asks for forgiveness, and demonstrates repentance through a changed life (Acts 26:20).
Who does the apology need to be directed towards?  The scope of the apology needs to be as wide as the scope of the offense.  In simple terms, the offender needs to apologize to as many people as they sinned against.  If they sinned against the whole church, the apology should be to the gathered congregation in an orderly and appropriate manner.
What is biblical discipline?  Discipline is a form of punishment designed to correct the offender back to a right practice that demonstrates true repentance.  Biblical discipline may be implemented “by the majority” (2 Corinthians 2:7) in “the presence of all” (1 Timothy 5:20) and seems to almost always to involve an expulsion from church membership (1 Corinthians 5:1-10).
What if the offending individual is in church leadership?  If the offender is in church leadership, but repents, they should be restored but wisdom should be used in regard to the roles of leadership they are within.  Even though they may remain within the membership of the church it may be wise for them to take a voluntary or enforced sabbatical from leadership until they demonstrate trustworthiness and “obedience in everything” (2 Timothy 2:9).  If the offender is unrepentant, than the process should continue to follow Matthew 18:15-20 towards a public rebuke and expulsion.
What if the individual is ordained as a deacon or pastor?  In the case of a charge against a pastor, the charges must be verified by two or three witnesses (1 Timothy 5:19).  Pastors and Deacons should be reevaluated to see if they continue to meet their biblical qualifications for their position (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9, Acts 6:1-6).  If they do not meet these qualifications they do not need to be serving in such a role and should be removed from active service.  Furthermore, if they were licensed or ordained as a church affirmation, such an affirmation may need to be suspended or revoked.  If the offender is unrepentant, than the process should continue to follow Matthew 18:15-20 towards a public rebuke and expulsion.
When and how does expulsion occur?  When an individual demonstrates a persistence in sin (1 Timothy 5:20) they are to be treated as a non-believer (“Gentile and a tax collector,” Matthew 18:17).  This punishment and expulsion is also referred to as:
  • “rebuke them in the presence of all” (1 Timothy 5:20)
  • “removed from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:2)
  • “deliver to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5)
  • “cleanse out the old leaven” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
  • “not to associate with” (1 Corinthians 5:11)
  • “purge the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:13)
  • “must be silenced” (Titus 1:11)
  • “rebuke them sharply” (Titus 1:13)
  • “handed over to Satan” (1 Timothy 1:20)
What happens after an individual is cast out of a church?  Part of treating an individual like a “Gentile and a tax collector” (Matthew 18:17) is the understanding that by their unrepentance they have demonstrated their spiritual deadness and lostness.  The primary efforts and focus of prayers should be towards the salvation of the individual (Acts 26:18).  Their impact and influence of their sinful teachings or practices must be minimized.
What if an individual leaves the church instead of repenting or facing church discipline?  Running away from accountability is helpful to neither the individuals involved, the current congregation, or any future congregations involved.  Avoiding accountability is a form of unrepentance that should be brought to the attention of the church.  It may also be necessary and helpful to warn a future church of the unrepentant church member’s aggrieved condition upon their departure.  This warning may occur through the form a formal church letter or a pastor to pastor warning (2 Timothy 4:14-15).
What is an example of a church constitution and by-laws that includes church discipline?  Here is an excerpt from our church.  A more comprehensive version of church discipline procedures and comments can be found at: peacemaker.net & alliancedefendingfreedom.org.
(1) In cases of differences between members or broken fellowship with the church, reconciliation rather than punishment shall be the objective, which governs the attitude of one toward another. It is our purpose to pursue every reasonable measure to assist any troubled member. The pastor, staff, and deacons are available for counsel and guidance.
(2) Should any unhappy difference arise between members, the aggrieved member shall follow in a tender spirit the rules of Christ given in Matthew 18:15-22, in an effort to settle the  difficulty.
(3) Should a member repeatedly become an offense to the church and to its good name by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct, public scandal, persistent breach of our Church Covenant, or undermine the mission of the church, the deacons with the counsel of the pastor, following the Matthew 18:15-22, shall attempt to correct the offense; and if such an effort fails, they shall report the case to the church.
(4) In case of grave difficulty, the church may request the advice of an acceptable council of brethren from churches of like faith and order.
(5) In such cases the church may withdraw church membership by a three-fourths (3/4) majority ballot vote of those members present and voting, but only after notice and hearing and faithful efforts have been made to bring such member to repentance and reconciliation.

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Miracles from Heaven - Movie Review from a Biblical Perspective

Christians, 
As another sure-to-be-popular movie on "Heaven Tourism" emerges ("Miracles from Heaven") beware the dangers of this genre and these sorts of books/movies/stories. The main character, Anna Beam, claims in her accidental fall from a tree to have gone to Heaven to sit in Jesus' lap and be healed. We should hear some of God's below reminders about His revelation about Himself and Heaven before seeking out the experiences of a person.
"No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man." (John 3:13 ESV)
Ultimately, biblically minded Christians should know that our God does not work this way ("near death experiences" or "dying, going to Heaven/Hell and returning") in order to teach us about Himself and Heaven. Even though this genre ("Heaven Tourism") may feel good, be emotionally moving, and be seemingly sincere, it causes us to seek God in our experiences rather than through His revealed Word.
"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)
Here is a simple 6 minute audio response by John Piper to these sorts of books and movies.
"No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." (John 1:18 ESV)
If you are seriously considering taking 90 minutes of your time to watch this movie, I strongly encourage you to first invest 15-30 minutes by reading these Bible-saturated articles:
-"Heaven Is Real: Hallucinations Are Not" by John MacArthur
-"Dead Men Tell No Tales" by John MacArthur
-"What the Bible Says About the Heaven Books" by Tim Challies
-"Heaven Tourism" by Tim Challies 
- "What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?" by TrustworthyWord.com 
"And when they say to you, 'Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,' should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?"
(Isaiah 8:19 ESV)

Should Christians spend their time on a movie or book that represents someone's recollection of Heaven or Hell?  No.  Their time is better spent in the Bible, discovering God's certain revealed truth.  Don't open yourself to subtle or blatant deception through such books and movies.


Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!

Holiness and Sin

Holiness.  What is it?  How does it happen?  Is it possible?  

 We know Christ is holy.  We know we are called to be holy.  We know holiness is connected with our behavior, and behavior is connected with our hearts, and our hearts are connected with our head.
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, [15] but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, [16] since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" (1 Peter 1:14-16 ESV)

There are two important aspects to holiness: mortification and vivification.   Mortification means killing sin in our mind, hearts, and hands.  Vivification means imitating Christ in righteous thinking, feeling, and action.

Here is a good resource for discovering the depths of our sin through God's commandments, so that we may continuously mortify (kill) the flesh through knowledge, repentance, and confession.

Here is a helpful handout on understanding the work of holiness that God desires to accomplish within us!


"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated." - D.A. Carson

Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, on Instagram, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!


Top 10 Bible Verses on Love

Love.  We all desperately desire to be loved.  Some may outwardly appear to resist, avoid, or be dispassionate about love, but inwardly everyone desires to be loved deeply, permanently, and passionately.

God is love.  His Word expresses the depths, permanency, and passion of His love for His children.   The Bible simultaneously expresses how Christians are to overflow Jesus' love into the lives of others.   Perhaps the most well-known Bible verse it centered on God's love for the world!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

Check out these "Top 10 Bible Verses on Love"... and click the image if you want to find some more powerful, biblical references on how to love one another!


  1. 1 John 4:8-11 “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
  2. Mark 12:28-31  “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"  29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’”
  3. Ephesians 5:1-2 “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
  4. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
  5. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  6. John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
  7. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.  4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8Love never fails.”
  8. Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
  9. 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
  10. Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!


Prioritizing Family

How is your family life?  Do you ever struggle in balancing life commitments with home commitments?  Work stress ever seem to take away the joy of your home life?

Many people have never heard of Jephthah nor can remember much about him.  Although he seems buried deeply in the Bible as a seemingly obsolete and insignificant figure, there is much we can learn from him (Judges 11-12:7) about the dangers of not prioritizing our family.


Jepthah had a bad family background and made some unwise decisions growing up.  Despite these challenges, Jephthah was extremely successful in life, being described as a "mighty warrior" and a leader of Israel for 6 years.  But in Judges 11:29-40 we read how Jephthah, made a rash vow that resulted in significant loss within his family in exchange for mere military victory.

Although we may not make the same level of mistake as Jephthah did, we often make small mistakes in prioritizing work, people, possessions, and passions over and above our family.  Maybe today is a day that God is calling you to reprioritize your family in your daily commitments and decisions!


Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!

Sneaky, Sneaky Pride

When things are going good in life, a subtle danger always seems to creep in...pride.

Pride is so dangerous.  It places the emphasis on ourselves.  When times are bad, pride helps us justify our anger or frustration, or encourages us to throw a pity party of despair or depression.

When times are good, pride again places the emphasis on ourself, patting ourselves on the back, comparing ourselves to others, boasting in our accomplishments.  Paul knew that pride is ultimately the root sin...the sin of self-worship.

We must remember that the great things we see God doing in our lives are for His credit and glory and not our own.  Especially in church or ministry life, all spiritual success is the Lord's!  Ultimately we need to humbly realize that we are but tools in the Creator's hands...but isn't it amazing when we see Him work powerfully through us!

Maybe today is a day to stop and repent of thinking of ourselves more and better than we ought to.  Maybe today is a day of redirecting all praise and glory from our name to His name.  Let's never fail to give credit where credit is due!

Check out TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!



Regular Maintenance

So I am not the best example for regular and timely vehicle maintenance.  I usually hold off on taking my car in for service when things are terribly broken already or I am thousands of miles over my maintenance due date.  Sometimes I do the same thing with doctors and dentists...

Well the other day was different, something happened that had never happened to me before.

 I didn't wait until something was broken...I didn't wait until I was thousands of miles overdue...I was intentional in being proactive and scheduled some vehicle maintenance.  On my way out of an oil change I noticed the odometer and the maintenance reminder to be exactly the same, to the mile!  Pretty cool, huh?
What would happen if we were more disciplined with our spiritual maintenance...if we didn't run to God only when things were broken?  If we didn't wait until we were thousands of miles "overdue" for maintenance?  Jesus is ready to heal, repair, grow, and fix us daily.  All we need to do is to be disciplined and proactive enough to seek His face!

When is "your next service due"?  Maybe in reading this you realize God is calling you to Himself NOW ... not later ... not tomorrow .... NOW!  So hit pause on whatever you have planned for the next few minutes and intentionally seek His face in the Word and in prayer, you won't regret it!

Let's seek Him and His kingdom as our priority each and every day.  Then we won't find ourselves so troubled about what the future holds.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] 'Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.'" (Matthew 6:33-34 ESV)

Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!




Having a Heart for the Lost

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself, be sure of that.” Charles Spurgeon

This quote strikes a nerve doesn't it?  But isn't evangelism the most loving thing we can do for someone? We may seek and find excuses and justifications for not witnessing, but I know all true believers inwardly have a desire for the lost to come to salvation.  

When we are called to love God and to love others (the Greatest two commandments, Mark 12:28-34), that means talking about Him to those who do not yet know Him.  God is the definition of love (1 John 4:7-21) and must be heard of, believed in, trusted in, and shared to experience true love.  Love flows into the soul through Jesus, and out of our heart and through our lips in witnessing.


Have you witnessed to someone this year? This past month? This week? Will you pray for the opportunity to share the Gospel today? 

Evangelism is tough.  It is a spiritual battle.  But it is often more simple than we make it out to be.  Want some help with sharing Jesus with a lost friend, coworker, family member, or neighbor?  Check out livingwaters.com for evangelism encouragement, resources and ideas!


Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!


Continuous Prayer

I love this quote!

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continued conversation with God." Brother Lawrence


Better than hearing or reading this quote, have you experienced it?  Have you ever had one of those days when you intentionally conversed with Jesus as if he were walking with you everywhere?

The truth is that for those who are Christians, God is with us EVERYWHERE and ALL-THE-TIME! So let's be intentional to hear His voice through His Word, to be tuned into His Spirit, and to "pray without ceasing!" (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!


Church Discipline

"Church discipline" is a process and phrase that often comes with many misunderstandings or misconceptions, yet God's Word is not unclear in speaking to its importance and process.

What is church discipline?  Church discipline is a process clearly described by Matthew 18:15-20 that describes a progression from personal/private confrontation/rebuke to a small group confrontation/rebuke to a level of church awareness of the unrepentant state of a church member.  The process ends either with repentance or the eventual expulsion of the unrepentant individual outside of the church.

What are the goals of church discipline? The goals of church discipline are: 
1) Restore the relationship between a Christian in sin and Christ (Galatians 6:1).
2) Restore the relationship between a Christian in sin with other believers and their church in a spirit of love 
(2 Corinthians 2:5-11).
3) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member for the sake of their salvation (1 Corinthians 5:3-5).
4) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member for the protection of the flock (1 Corinthians 5:2, Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:6). 
5) Rebuke and expel an unrepentant church member as a warning for church members (1 Timothy 5:20).

Why is church discipline so important? Church discipline is so important because Satan is constantly attacking the love, forgiveness, and unity of the church (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Satan also uniquely attacks and seeks to divide and misdirect the church through false teachers (2 Peter 2, 3:17-18).  Public punishment and discipline is difficult, but necessary for obedience to the Lord in His plan for the shepherding of His children (2 Corinthians 2:6).  When repentance occurs, loving forgiveness and restoration is a beautiful picture of God's mercy and grace.  Churches are warned of the danger of not confronting sin and unrepentant believers within their churches (Revelation 2:20-25).

Check out more info on church discipline HERE.

 Checkout TrustworthyWord.com online, on Facebook, or on Twitter for some great daily truths, encouragement, and resources from the Bible!

False Prophets & Teachers - Part 3 - Heretical Teachings: Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer

In my final post on the subject of false prophets and teachers, I consider in detail some of the teachings of Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen.  Here are links to the three parts to this series (HINT: if you haven't read parts 1 & 2, they are the foundation for understanding this post):

Part 1 - Understanding Biblical Truths Today: Heaven is for Real and Jesus Calling
Part 2 - Heretical Teachings: The Word of Faith Movement & "Prosperity Gospel"
Part 3 - Heretical Teachings: Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer

I often get asked about teachers and whether I would recommend them or not.  It is a touchy issue, but an essential role for a pastor to guide sheep into God's truths and to protect them from Satan's lies.  As I stated in my previous posts, false teachings and prophecies are on the increase and are more subtle and mainstream than most Christians are aware.

That being said, I believe Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer are not simply bad teachers, but false teachers because they fundamentally misrepresent (1) Who God is (2) What Christ's atonement, salvation, & sanctification are all about (3) What faith is & (4) What the Scriptures really say.

Why did you pick Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer as false teachers to highlight?  Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer are two of the more influential speakers and authors among my church congregation and represent a spectrum of the Word of Faith movement (little Scripture used to no Scripture used) that helps warn us about the spectrum of heresies.

Why do you state that Joel Osteen is a false teacher?  Mr. Osteen is an entertaining and encouraging speaker but fails to share the Gospel completely and uses Scripture out of context.  Mr. Osteen makes these errors: (1) The Bible is about me and my glory rather than God's glory (2) Minimizes and ignores sin, thus failing to present the Gospel (3) Disregards a biblical understanding of suffering, that sometimes such suffering is God’s will (4) Places the source and object of faith on oneself (5) Makes salvation more about my life now than an eternity with Christ (6) Consistently uses Scripture out of context (7) Ongoing association and endorsement of other Word of Faith leaders (8) Misrepresents what “need” is, characterizes it being okay to want/desire more worldly treasures (9) Makes himself a "prophet" of his own future and (10) Goes to God in prayer with a "genie in the bottle" approach and (11) Many of his teachings follow the Word of Faith and “prosperity gospel” misunderstandings of who God is and what salvation is ultimately all about.

Here are some example quotes that evidences Mr. Osteen's false teachings...

ñ  “When you say of the Lord you are healthy, you are whole, you are free, you are blessed, you are prosperous – when you say it, God has promised He will do it. ...If you are not sharing in His favor, you might want to watch your words.  Here's the key: If you don't unleash your words in the right direction, if you don't call in favor, you will not experience those blessings.  Nothing happens unless we speak. Release your faith with your words.” (It's Your Time, 121-23.)
ñ  “Our thoughts have tremendous power. Remember, we draw into our lives that which we constantly think about.  If we're always dwelling on the negative, we will attract negative people, experiences, and attitudes.” (Your Best Life Now, 109)
ñ  “Our words have tremendous power, and whether we want to or not, we will give life to what we're saying, either good or bad... Words are similar to seeds, by speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, and they take on a life of their own.” (Your Best Life Now, 122)
ñ  “I've come to expect to be treated differently.  I've learned to expect people to want to help me.  My attitude is this: I'm a child of the Most High God.  My Father created the whole universe.  He has crowned me with favor; therefore, I can expect preferential treatment.  I can expect people to go out of their way to want to help me.” (Your Best Life Now, 38-39).
ñ  “there is a miracle in your mouth.  If you want to change your world, start by changing your words...If you'll learn how to speak the right words and keep the right attitude, God will turn that situation around.” (Your Best Life Now, 125)
ñ   “Everything I put my hands to prospers and suceeds! Friend, when you make those kinds of bold declarations, all heaven comes to attention to back up God's Word.” (Your Best Life Now, 130)
ñ  “with our words, we can prophesy our own future” (Your Best Life Now, 114)
ñ  “God has breathed His life into you. He planned seeds of greatness in you. You have everything you need to fulfill your God-given destiny....It's all in you. You are full of potential. But you have to do your part and start tapping into it...You have the seed of Almighty God on the inside of you...We have to believe that we have what it takes.” (Becoming A Better You, p.5)
ñ  “We have to conceive it on the inside before we're ever going to receive it on the outside. If you don't think you can have something good, then you never will.” (Your Best Life Now, p. 3)
ñ  “I can guarantee you that your difficult situation will never improve as long as you stay in a negative frame of mind. But if you'll develop an attitude of faith and expect events to change positively, then at the right time, that situation will turn around.” (Your Best Life Now, p. 16)
ñ  “God wants to increase you financially, by giving you promotions, fresh ideas, and creativity.” (Your Best Life Now, p.5)
ñ  “God wants you to live an overcoming life of victory. He doesn't want you to barely get by. He's called El Shaddai, 'the God of more than enough.' He's not 'El Cheapo,' the God of barely enough!” (Your Best Life Now, p.33)
ñ  “No, God wants to give you your own house. God has a big dream for your life.” (Your Best Life Now, p.35)
ñ  “God wants to make your life easier. He wants to assist you, to promote you, to give you advantages.” (Your Best Life Now, p.38)
ñ  “You don't have to dwell on every thought that comes to your mind. The first thing you need to do is ascertain where that thought is coming from. Is that thought from God, is it your own thought, or is it a destructive thought from the enemy?  How can you tell? Easy. If it's a negative thought, it's from the enemy.” (Your Best Life Now, p.109)
ñ  “Forgive the people who did you wrong. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you have made. You may even need to forgive God.” (Your Best Life Now, p.144).
ñ  “I am blessed; I am prosperous; I am healthy; I am continually growing wiser.” (Become a Better You, 131)
ñ  Beginning of messages, claiming his messages are rooted in Scripture: “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am, I have what it says I have, I can do what it says I can do. Today I’ll be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive, I will never be the same, in Jesus name.” (Sermon online, December 1, 2013)
ñ  Typical “Gospel presentation”: “We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life.  Would you pray with me? Just say, 'Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Savior.” (Sermon online, December 1, 2013)

Why do you state that Joyce Meyer is a false teacher? Mrs. Meyer is an articulate speaker with a great intellectual knowledge of the Bible.  My concerns with Mrs. Meyer that make me warn others that she is a false teacher are: (1) Claims of personal revelation from God and angels that she shares verbatim her audience (2) Years of financial improprieties and greed within her ministry organization (3) Failing to distance or deny her association with the Word of Faith movement and “prosperity gospel” (4) Continued emphasis on God’s blessings through health, wealth, and prosperity instead of presenting a biblical understanding and balance (5) Ongoing misunderstanding on the essence of faith through the “power” of words (6) Improper descriptions and actions towards the demonic (naming of spirits and rebuking) (7) Ongoing active association and endorsement of other Word of Faith leaders (8) Misrepresenting what “need” is, characterizes it being okay to want “as much as I can handle properly” ("Power Thoughts" message, part 4) (9) She ignores a biblical understanding of suffering, that sometimes such suffering is God’s will (10) Goes to God in prayer with a "genie in the bottle" approach and (11) Many of her teachings follow the Word of Faith and “prosperity gospel” misunderstandings of who God is and what salvation is ultimately all about.

 Here are some example quotes that evidences Mrs. Meyer's false teachings...

ñ  “I don't want to spend my whole life talking about the promised land without ever getting there. I want to live in it”(Joyce Meyer, “What Does Your Future Hold” May 21, 2004)
ñ  “Words are containers for power” (The Name, The Word, The Blood, p. 37)
ñ  “I prosper in everything I put my hand to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life – spiritually, financially, mentally, and socially.  I take good care of my body. I eat right, I look good, I feel good, and I weigh what God wants me to weigh.  Pain cannot successfully come against my body because Jesus bore all my pain.  I lay hands on the sick and they recover.  I receive speaking engagements in person, by phone, and/or by mail every day.  I walk in the spirit all of the time.” (Joyce Meyer, “List of Confessions”)
ñ  “If you stay in your faith, you are going to get paid.  I am now living in my reward.” (Jones and Woodbridge, 67)
ñ  “The key to partaking of the life and healing energy in the Word is feeding on it until it penetrates your spirit where it deposits that life and energy.” (Joyce Meyer, “Healing Scriptures”)
ñ  “'I will' is the strongest assertion that can be made in the English language.  God is speaking to me now saying 'I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.' God is watching over this Word, performing it in me now.  He is taking sickness away from the midst of me.  Good-bye, sickness! The Lord is taking you away from the midst of me. Thank you, Father, for taking sickness away from me.  I thank You for doing what You said...I'm abiding under the shadow of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that healeth me.  No plague shall come nigh my dwelling or my body.  I resist sickness and disease.  I refuse to accept it!  It's not mine! I refuse to be sick in Jesus' Name.  Sickness cannot trespass in my body. Sickness, (name it), you can't come nigh my dwelling.  I refuse you! I resist you!” (Joyce Meyer, “Healing Scriptures”)
ñ  “By His stripes I was healed.  Healing belongs to me. ...I've already got healing, because by His stripes I was healed!”  (Joyce Meyer, “Healing Scriptures”)
ñ  “Will help you to take inventory of what you’ve been saying and begin speaking faith filled words that will bring to pass God's good plan for your life” (May 14, 2000 LeSea broadcasting)
ñ  “But you cannot throw out positive confession, and you cannot throw out all the faith teachers, and you cannot throw out positive thinking.  And you cannot get rid of those kinds of things because they're in the Bible from one end of it to the other” (Joyce Meyer, PFO Quarterly Journal, April-June 2002, p. 6., Witchcraft and Related Spirits, pt. 1, sides 1 and 2).
ñ  “Romans 4:17 says God gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things as if they already existed. He created the world with faith-filled words (see Genesis 1). We are created in His image, and we can also call things that are not as though they are. We can speak positive thoughts about ourselves into the atmosphere and thereby ‘prophesy our future.'” (Joyce Meyer, “Your Mouth is a Weapon,” Life in the Word March 1997, p. 4.)
ñ  “You got a storage bin, a storage locker in heaven that has a lot of stuff in it that needs to be claimed.”(Joyce Meyer, “What Does Your Future Hold” May 21, 2004)
ñ  “Even though she had had the problem for twelve years, and the crowds looked impossible to penetrate, she pressed through and received her miracle. Her faith was released through her words. What a powerful example for you and me” (Joyce Meyer, Enjoying Everday Life Magazine, “Crossing Over to the Other Side,” May 2004).
ñ  “Sowing and reaping is a spiritual law...Sow generously and you will reap generously...We need to claim as much of that inheritance as we possibly can...One of the things you can do right now is speak positive things about your future right now” (Joyce Meyer, “What Does Your Future Hold” May 21, 2004).
ñ  “Remember whatever you are willing to do for God, God is willing to do for you” (week of Sept.20-26, 2005 LeSea broadcasting)
ñ  “Now spirits don't have bodies, so we can't see them. Okay? There probably is, I believe there is, and I certainly hope there is several angels up here this morning that are preaching with me. I believe that right before I speak some anointed statement to you, that one of them bends over and says in my ear what I'm supposed to say to you.” Joyce Meyer (“Witchcraft & Related Spirits” (Part 1) - 2 A-27 Audiotape)
ñ  “There is no hope of anyone going to heaven unless they believe this truth I am presenting. You cannot go to heaven unless you believe with all your heart that Jesus took your place in hell” (Joyce Meyers, The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make 1991).
ñ  “We laid hands on the check and prayed. I went and got all of our checkbooks and my pocketbook and Dave got his wallet and we laid hands on them and put the blood on them, asking God to protect our money, to cause it to multiply and to see to it that Satan could not steal any of it from us” (p.111 The Name, The Word, The Blood).

There are many, many, other quotes from both Mr.Osteen and Mrs.Meyers messages and writings that demonstrate their teachings represent a false understanding of God, the Gospel, and the Scriptures. If you don't understand why some of these teachings/quotes are so concerning, please see my previous post on the Word of Faith movement and "prosperity gospel."

I still don’t believe ______________ is a false prophet/teacher, so how does this message matter for me?  What should I do next?  If you haven't been convinced from this outline, you need to be very concerned about your understanding of God, the Gospel, and His truths.  Invest some time in reading the Scriptures, the included links, and Health, Wealth, and Happiness: Has the ProsperityGospel Overshadowed the Gospel of Christ? to make sure you understand the teachings of Scripture.

Even if you haven’t become convinced that one of the individuals mentioned is a false teacher, you need to begin to listen very closely to what you hear and read in the future (Acts 17:11).  You need to make sure that who you listen to is trustworthy and is teaching the whole counsel of God accurately.  The constraints of this handout and message limit what I can share but I encourage you to seek out a pastor who will help you to evaluate and consider these claims in light of God's eternal truths.

My hope and prayer for those reading this series of posts that: 
(1) You are a true believer, treasuring Christ above any worldly treasure & loving God more than you love yourself by calling to Him as Lord & Savior, confessing your sins (Romans 3:23), accepting Christ's free gift (Romans 6:23) by believing Jesus died on the cross and rose from grave (Romans 10:9-10).

(2) If you are a Christian, I hope that these posts have helped equip you to see, recognize, & avoid the increasing amount of false prophets and teachers.  I hope that you will use and share these truths to help other Christians be rooted in "the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness." (1 Timothy 6:3)


Ephesians 4:11-14 “that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”


Part 1 - Understanding Biblical Truths Today: Heaven is for Real and Jesus Calling
Part 2 - Heretical Teachings: The Word of Faith Movement & "Prosperity Gospel"
Part 3 - Heretical Teachings: Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer
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Is Christianity a One-Time Decision?

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