John 16:8 says of the Holy Spirit: “…He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” This verse shows that God the Holy Spirit will reveal to non-Christians their sin of unbelief. I have heard some Christians say this verse means leaders should rely purely on the Holy Spirit to show new converts and older Christians their specific sins and therefore they should not interfere by sharing personally or preaching to these believers about these sins.

The word “convict” in the New King James Version and New American Standard Bible and “reprove” in the King James Version of John 16:8 is “elencho” in the original Greek. The above view is shown to be false when we observe the usages of forms of the Greek word “elencho” in other parts of the New Testament.

A form of “elencho” is used in 2 Timothy 4:2 when Paul commands Timothy, the head pastor of the church at Ephesus to “reprove”: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (N.A.S.B.).

The word “rebuke” in 2 Timothy 4:2 is a form of the word “epitimao” in the original Greek. In the context of this verse, “epitimao” means “rebuke, reprove, censure…warn in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end”. [1] The word “epitimao” is also used in Matthew 16:22, 19:13, 20:31, Mark 8:32, 8:33, 10:13, 10:48, Luke 9:55, 17:3, 18:15, 18:39 and 23:40.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul reveals it is God’s will for church leaders to have a balance between three things: correcting, rebuking and exhorting church members while preaching the Word of God. Paul states any correcting and rebuking must be done with great patience. This is similar to how Jesus may rebuke and correct us (see Revelation 3:19) while still being very patient with us.

2 Timothy 4:3 reveals one reason Paul commands church leaders to rebuke, correct and exhort with careful instruction is that many churchgoers will reject true Biblical doctrine, preferring to listen to teachers who twist the Bible to suit their listeners’ wrong desires.

2 Timothy 4:2 also shows such correcting, rebuking and encouraging should be accompanied by careful instruction from the Word of God so people clearly understand about what wrongs they are being rebuked or corrected and in what things they are being exhorted.

 

Other key verses about rebuking and correcting

 

In Greek, the word “elencho” and forms of it mean different things in different contexts. But the New King James Version and Bauer and Perschbacher– the authors of two Greek lexicons – agree that the forms of the word “elencho” found in Matthew 18:15, Luke 3:19 and 1 Timothy 5:20 refer to rebuking or correcting or telling someone his fault. In these verses, the relevant forms of “elencho” mean “reprove, correct” [2] and “to reprove, rebuke” [3] Bauer states that the form of “elencho” in 2 Timothy 4:2 means “reprove, correct”. [4]

In Matthew 18:15, the relevant form of “elencho” is translated “tell his fault” in the context of telling a fellow believer his fault after he has sinned against you.

In 1 Timothy 5:19-21, Paul instructed Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” The above passage relates to the specific sins of elders or church leaders and not just sins in general.

Luke 3:19 records the prophet John the Baptist rebuked King Herod in public in relation to the specific sin of taking his brother Philip’s wife and other evils: “But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done.” John the Baptist was not here committing the sin of judgment which Jesus condemned in Matthew 7:1-5.

 

Paul’s instructions in Titus to church leaders

 

Three times in the Book of Titus, Paul used forms of the word “elencho” when giving instructions about what the ministry of the bishops or elders involves (see Titus 1:9, 1:13 and 2:15). In Titus 1:9, Paul says bishops or elders must be able to refute or expose those who contradict the sound doctrine found in the Word of God: “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” (N.A.S.B.). In the above verse, the word “to refute” is a form of the Greek word “elencho”.

In Titus 1:13-14, Paul instructed Titus, a church leader to rebuke others severely or sharply: “…Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.”

In Titus 1:13 in Greek, the word “sharply” is “apotomes” which means “literally in a manner that cuts, sharply, severely”. [5] This does not mean church leaders should rebuke out of bitterness, unforgiveness, arrogance or with the aim of hurting or destroying other people. But “apotomos” does mean church leaders sometimes are called by God to rebuke others severely in a manner which figuratively cuts their hearts, arousing their consciences about in what matters they are disobeying God’s Word.

Such severe rebuking is similar to what God led the Old Testament prophets to do sometimes. Godly rebukes can be given either gently or severely.

In Titus 2:15, Paul instructed Titus to rebuke with all God-given authority: “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority…” All church leaders are called to rebuke with such authority sometimes.

Rebuking and correction can be done in new converts classes, Sunday meetings, personal conversation or in other ways.

The main intended usages of God’s written Word

 

2 Timothy 3:16 uses a form of the associated Greek word “elegmos” when it says that one of the main usages of the Scriptures is for reproof: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” “Elegmos” means in the context of the above verse “to state that someone has done wrong, with the implication that there is adequate proof of such wrongdoing”. [6]

2 Timothy 3:16 reveals the Word of God has the following wonderful uses:

 

·         for teaching us sound doctrine about God, Jesus Christ and many other matters.

·         for convicting or reproving us of our sins.

·         for correcting us so our lives and characters can be restored to the right ways God intended.

·         for instructing or training us in God’s righteousness.

 

All these uses aim at what Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:17 – so we can be complete in Christ and equipped to do Holy Spirit-empowered good works.

 

How the Apostles operated

 

The words of the Apostle Paul, Peter, John, James and Jude in the New Testament prove that they did not believe that the Holy Spirit would always mystically lead Christians about which specific sins He desires them to forsake, without clear preaching, teaching and correcting about such matters. The specific Scriptures written by these Apostles contain many clear instructions to Christians about forsaking stealing, lying, sexual immorality, all forms of sexual impurity, dirty jokes, envy, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness, pride and many other specific sins.

The Apostles did not preach or teach only about our standing in Christ, the new creation, God’s grace and love and then expect the Holy Spirit to mystically reveal what specific sins He wanted Christians to abandon.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit can reveal to a Christian by a dream or vision or His audible voice that He wants this Christian to stop sinning in some way. But far more commonly, the Holy Spirit works in relation to the public preaching or teaching and private sharing or reading of His written Word.

 

Rebuke but only as Jesus leads

 

Jesus guides church leaders by His Spirit how to minister (see Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:17, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13 and 3:22). If a church leader rebukes or disciplines a church member or church without Jesus leading them to do this, more harm than good can be the result.

 

 

We must be careful of our attitudes

 

Also, we as leaders need to be very careful of our attitudes when rebuking or correcting. We must make sure we are not:

 

·         doing it out of self-righteousness, thinking we are better than others (see Luke 18:9-14).

·         trying to be a “know-it-all”.

·         paying back people who have hurt or rejected us. The Apostles John and James became influenced by a wrong spirit after being rejected and offended (see Luke 9:51-56).

 

When rebuking or correcting, we as leaders must make sure our attitudes are based on love. We must speak the truth in love as Ephesians 4:15 commands. Also, we should pray for those whom the Holy Spirit leads us to rebuke or admonish about their sins.

 

A God-given responsibility of all ascension gifted leaders

 

It is the God-ordained responsibility of every ascension gifted New Testament ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers – to correct false “gospels” and unbiblical doctrines and practices. It is a serious matter to resist the Holy Spirit when He inspires us to correct errors He wants opposed. Such correction can be regarded in one sense as “prophetic correction”.

 

All leaders need to challenge or correct at times

 

Verses such as 1 Timothy 5:20, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:13 and 2:15 prove God commands His leaders to rebuke or tell or show others their faults. Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 18:15 to tell others their sins against them.

In Ezekiel 20:4, God led Ezekiel, His minister to judge the people of Israel according to how God judged their behaviour and to confront them with their sins. Ezekiel 20:4 records God’s words to Ezekiel: “Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.”

Ezekiel 3:16-21 records God called Ezekiel to warn others to turn from their sins to Him: “Now it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of Man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.’” God does not punish his ministers for rebuking, correcting and warning others. Instead He says He will hold responsible those ministries who refuse to tell others about their sins and the results of such sins.

In Lamentations 2:14, God condemns false prophets for not uncovering their listeners’ specific sins: “Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not uncovered your iniquity, to bring back your captives, but have envisioned for you false prophecies and delusions.” In this verse, God showed great displeasure towards those ministries who would not pronounce God’s right judgment of other people’s sins.

Jeremiah 23:21-22 reveals that those who really hear and proclaim God’s Word, focus on turning people from their evil ways: “I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.”

In Jeremiah 6:13-15, God said that the prophets and other Jewish religious leaders at that time were ruled by greed and only concentrated on encouraging the Jewish people with soothing comforting predictions of peace. This is even though God was going to punish the Jews severely because of their continual lack of turning from their sins to Him.

Jeremiah 6:13-15 states: “‘Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace!” When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the Lord.”

Examples of such rebels against God who spoke encouraging comforting words which were against what He was saying were Hananiah (see Jeremiah 28:1-17) and Shemaiah (see Jeremiah 29:24-32).

Some churchgoers who have been brought up on a diet of easy believism and abused grace are like the religious Jews God told the prophet Isaiah to write about in Isaiah 30:9-11: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ And to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from being us.’”

These Jews refused to turn from their sins to God but still wanted their religious leaders to only prophesy to them positive words of encouragement, comfort and promises of future blessings. They hated being told of how our perfectly holy God totally opposed their sins.

In 2 Timothy 4:3, Paul prophesied that there would be a period in church history when many churchgoers would not want to hear the sound teachings in God’s Word but would gather around themselves teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.”

Do not believe the lie that God only led His Old Testament prophets and not His New Covenant leaders to rebuke and correct people about their sins. Acts 13:9-11 records Paul rebuked an occultist about his sin: “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lords? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”

According to the false humanistic understanding of Jesus’ Words in Matthew 7:1-5, some Christians could accuse Paul of the sin of judging. But note Paul was filled and ruled by the Holy Spirit when he rebuked this occultist. In other words, God led Paul to state God’s judgment on the occultist’s sin. God the Holy Spirit would not lead Paul to commit the type of sin that God the Son condemned in Matthew 7:1-5.

 

What does touching the Lord’s anointed mean?

 

Some church leaders claim that no other church leaders have the right to rebuke or correct their teachings or practices. The former claim that it is the sin of “touching the Lord’s anointed” when anyone rebukes or corrects them. But note in its original context in 1 Samuel 24:4-7 and 26:8-11, the phrase “touching the Lord’s anointed” referred to the possibility of David murdering Saul and not to correcting or challenging Saul’s false ideas and practices.

Note Samuel corrected Saul’s ideas and practices without touching the Lord’s anointed (see 1 Samuel 15:10-29).

 

They imagine they are infallible Protestant Popes

 

Some church leaders try to set themselves as types of supposed infallible Protestant versions of the Pope. They make the unbiblical claim that any other leader who corrects their teachings or practices is resisting the Holy Spirit and rebelling against the Lord. But no ministry including myself is perfect in his/her teachings or practices. We all need correction.

 

God will hold all Bible teachers strictly accountable

 

James 3:1 shows teachers will be judged strictly about what they teach: “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Every teacher has the God-given right to teach God’s truth from the Bible and to oppose error. It is sinful for other leaders to try to suppress such discussion of the Scriptures.

 

Usually humans do not like being rebuked

 

One of the main problems with all Christians is mostly we do not like being corrected or rebuked by other Christians. The corrections and rebukes of ourselves by others usually hurt our fleshly pride and make us feel unloved and inferior.

But Proverbs 15:31-32 says we should all be willing to listen to life-giving corrections or rebukes: “The ear that hears the reproof of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.” Verse 32 says he who does not want to listen to such instruction really despises himself. Read also Proverbs 25:12.

Believers who are truly devoted to God will expect to be rebuked or admonished in preaching by their leaders.

Psalm 141:5 reveals that godly king David greatly appreciated the rebukes of people who were walking in right relationship with God: “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him reprove me; it shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it…” David’s life proved he meant these words. David listened to the godly rebukes of the woman Abigail (see 1 Samuel 25:14-35) and the prophet Nathan (see 2 Samuel 12:1-14).

Proverbs 12:1 says a person who hates to ever to be corrected is foolish: “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Proverbs 15:12 states: “A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, nor will he go to the wise.”

Proverbs 9:8 states: “Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.” A wise person loves those who rebuke him in wisdom.

Proverbs 10:17 shows that those who refuse to be corrected will go astray: “He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses reproof goes astray.”

 

Too loving to rebuke and discipline?

 

If a pastor says he loves the members of his church so much he can only encourage and never rebuke and discipline them, he is deceived about the nature of true love.

1 John 4:16 reveals God is love. Jesus is God. Therefore, Jesus is love. Jesus is the perfect expression of love. So let us look at one of the ways Jesus says He expresses His infinite love. Revelation 3:19 records Jesus said: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…” Jesus’ wonderful love is sometimes expressed in rebukes and discipline.

Jesus was the perfect pastor. 1 Peter 5:4 calls Him “the Chief Shepherd”. Jesus sets a perfect example for all pastors. If pastors really love Jesus’ sheep, they will be willing to rebuke and discipline the sheep also. If they are not willing to do this, they are showing they do not really fully love the members of their church. This is like if I see you walking across the street and I notice a car is coming which you do not see, I do not love you if I do not warn you.

If you are a gentle, kind and very friendly person who does not like rebuking and disciplining and you believe God has called you to be a church leader, you must trust the Holy Spirit to empower you to fulfil these latter two God-given responsibilities.

Jesus was very straight in his rebuking of religious people. Read Matthew Chapter 23 and see Jesus did not only encourage people. He knew in some instances, rebukes, corrections and warnings are needed.

When required, Jesus was willing to discipline. Matthew 21:12-13 reveals Jesus drove people, who were more focussed on greed than prayer, out of the Temple. Jesus did not follow the principles of Dale Carnegie’s “How to win friends and influence people” at such times. (I say this in jest.)

It is good for church leaders to follow Jesus’ characteristics of gentleness, kindness and grace. But to be Biblically balanced, they must also be willing to rebuke, warn or discipline, whenever Jesus leads. Church leaders who will not rebuke, correct or discipline end up as mere motivators or promoters or salesmen or entertainers.

 

 

 

Jesus rebuked not just the Pharisees and scribes

 

Some humanistic churchgoers may wrongly claim that Jesus rebuked and corrected only many Pharisees and scribes. But note Luke 9:51-56 records He also rebuked his disciples James and John because of their attitudes. In Luke 9:61-62, Jesus rebuked a man who said he would follow Jesus some time later: “And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

Luke 12:4-10, 12:13-21 and 13:1-5 show Jesus gave some other strong warnings to a crowd of many thousands. He even called the crowd “Hypocrites” (see Luke 12:56). In Mark 8:33, Jesus rebuked Peter: “But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’”

There are many other examples in the Gospels of Jesus rebuking, correcting and warning people who were not Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Read Revelation 2:1-3:22 and see the very strong warnings, rebukes and corrections Jesus gave to Christians at a number of churches.

In Revelation 2:1-3:22 Jesus often encouraged and praised the believers in these churches before He rebuked, corrected and warned them. His encouragement and praise given at first possibly opened the believers’ hearts to receiving His later rebukes and correction better.

 

False Jesuses

 

There are a number of false Jesuses being preached in the Church worldwide at present. One of these is a hard, cold cruel Jesus who loves seeing Christians suffering all the time. This false Jesus is quick to anger and loves punishing believers.

The opposite type of false Jesus is preached by most liberal Protestants and increasingly by some compromising types of Evangelicals, Pentecostals and Charismatics. This is the Jesus who is so meek and mild He would not even kill a fly. He would never even think of rebuking or disciplining believers.

 

God rebukes as a loving father

 

Hebrews 12:5 states: “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.’” This verse tells us not to be discouraged or lose heart when God rebukes us. God uses rebukes to help us change and to be released from various sins, idols and hindrances. He rebukes us out of love for our long term good.

 

Two types of imbalance

 

A church, which has no encouragement and comforting but only rebuking and correcting from the leaders, will usually end up legalistic, self-righteous and full of divisions and fights. It will probably also major on minor matters.

A church, however, which has no rebuking or correcting but only encouragement and comforting from its leaders, will usually end up spiritually fat, slack and with liberal compromising attitudes to sin. It will usually be apathetic and lukewarm like the church in Revelation 3:14-19. Jesus said He would spew this church out of his mouth if it did not repent.

Many churches are not at either of these extremes, but lean towards one extreme.

 

Fear and people-pleasing

 

Two of the main motivations of those leaders who refuse to rebuke and correct specific sins through preaching and teaching and who preach liberal compromising false gospels are fear and people-pleasing. Here are some of the fears which hold them in bondage:

 

·         a fear of being rejected or not accepted by their church members. These leaders fear being rejected and insulted like the prophet Jeremiah was for correcting the compromising sin-loving religious Jews at his time. Jeremiah 20:7-8 records: “…I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, ‘Violence and plunder!’ because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily.”

·         a fear of being regarded as a failure for not producing a church with large numbers.

·         a fear of church members leaving if they are corrected or disciplined by their ministers.

·         a fear of losing tithes and offerings if church members leave as a result of being offended by any correction from their ministers.

·         a fear of not being able to support their own family financially.

·         a fear of losing their ministry.

·         in the case of evangelists and other travelling ministries, the fear of not being given a good money offering to pay their expenses, the fear of not being invited back to preach, the fear that local church leaders will not recommend their ministries to other local church leaders and the last two fears listed above. Sadly, many evangelists and travelling ministries may often talk about faith but they are primarily motivated by their fears.

 

Proverbs 29:25 reveals fear is a trap or snare: “The fear of a man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Such fears put preachers into the terrible bondage of people-pleasing.

Paul revealed in Galatians 1:10 that our effectiveness as servants of God is diminished to the degree we are people-pleasers: “…Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

 

A false humanistic charge

 

In recent decades in the United States and other Western countries, there has been much reviling and speaking evil of church leaders who have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to rebuke, correct and admonish various false teachings and practices in the Church.

In the United States and other Western countries, multitudes of non-Christians and liberal unconverted churchgoers say repeatedly that we should not judge others and should be tolerant of attitudes and behaviours which the Word of God defines as sin and evil. Such people, however, are very intolerant and judgemental of anyone who rebukes or corrects others for doing any of these sins. The arguments of these non-Christians and liberal unconverted churchgoers are based on humanism and similar non-Christian philosophies.

Tragically in recent decades, some born-again Christians have adopted similar humanistic attitudes to being tolerant about sin and not to rebuking, correcting or admonishing. They have used various verses mostly interpreted out of context or in disagreement with many other verses in the Bible to try to prove their false ideas.

 

A false unity

 

Jesus Christ and Paul emphasised the importance of born-again Christians being in unity (see John 17:20-21 and Ephesians 4:3-6). This unity is in a heart sense and not necessarily an organisational sense.

But sadly, many believers allow their desire for unity to become an idol because they seek unity “at all costs”. In other words, they are willing to hear false gospels being taught in churches unopposed. How different they are from the Apostle Paul who said in Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

In 2 Corinthians 11:4, Paul also wrote strongly against false gospels: “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put up with it.”

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon spoke of churches compromising about evil doctrines in his day. He said, “We let the most abominable doctrines be preached, and then put our fingers to our lips and say, ‘There are so many good people who think so.’ Nothing is to be rebuked these nowadays. My soul is sick of this. Oh, for the old fire again! The church will never prosper until it becomes once more on fire.” [7]

 

 

Bible Study Questions

 

1.       Explain why 1 Timothy 5:19-21, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:9, 1:13-14 and 2:15 reveal that God expects His church leaders to rebuke and correct other believers.

2.       When rebuking or correcting, what attitudes should we avoid?

3.       What does Ezekiel 3:16-21 teach us?

4.       Explain what Lamentations 2:14, Jeremiah 23:21-22 and Acts 13:9-11 reveal to us about the difference between true and false prophets.

5.       Explain what “touching the Lord’s anointed” in 1 Samuel 24:4-7 and 26:8-11 means and does not mean.

6.       What do Psalm 141:5, Proverbs 10:17 and 15:31-32 teach us?

7.       Explain what Proverbs 9:8 reveals.

8.       Discuss the ways in which Jesus expressed His love through rebukes and discipline.

9.       What are the two false Jesuses who are preached in some churches?

10.   What are examples of the types of fears which hold the preachers of liberal compromising false gospels in bondage?

11.   What did Paul warn us of in Galatians 1:6-9 and 2 Corinthians 11:4?

12.   Explain what Galatians 1:10 teaches us.