Warning “Do not be led astray”

1. Warning “Do not be led astray” John 14: 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

2. John wrote to the Ephesians Patmos An early Christian family of believers

3. The “Guardians” of Ephesus Jesus Love the Lord your God with all you’re your heart, mind and strength. Love your neighbour as yourself. Love your enemies. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 0 John Anno Domini 1 John 10 110 2 John 3 John 100 20 Paul “Dear Children” Salvation and eternal life through repentance expressed through brotherly love. This is your witness to the world. Therefore, put on the full armour of God. Use your gifts to build, strengthen and Love each other and the body – the Church. Submit to once another out of reverence to Christ. Don’t make one another stumble Jesus Rev 2 Patmos Exile 90 30 60yrs John Jesus through John Service & Adherence is good. You have not been led astray but have lost your first Love Paul 80 40 Acts 1 John “Dear Children” Dear Children, as a witness who saw, touched, ate and was taught by Jesus. Listen! Always be repentant of your sins, Love one another in practical ways, remain rooted in Christ and his teachings. Do not let anyone lead you astray. Eph. 50 70 60

4. What is Truth? Truth Warning: Do not be led astray

5. t h T u r Absolutism The voice of the King and the Church

6. The Enlightenment Evidence Modernism The age of Reason God becomes hostage to Reason and Evidence

7. Post Modernism ? Truth Truth Truth Relativism Truth Truth Truth Truth Truth is relative to context So what is sin? What is there to repent of?

8. Atheism Truth Anti-Christ Materialism Religion without God One shared social truth which changes with context

9. Jesus Came to seek and save that which was lost The Way, The Truth, The Life Thoughts Struggles Prayers Holding on to this truth should influence your behaviours in your relationships. Expressed by Frustrations Worship Others Disappointments Deeds Self In need Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self Control In private God In plenty At home Sadness At play Hopes A lifestyle of relationships of Love At work Giving In community

10. Ready to stand firm? Separation Distraction Devoured Ready or not What is Truth? Doubt Discouragement

11. 1 John 3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray Led Astray? Proverbs 5:23 For lack of discipline the fool will be led astray by their own great folly. Proverbs 7:21 The adulteress leads the foolish away with seductive smooth talk Proverbs 20:1 Wine and beer: whoever is led astray by them is not wise Hebrews 13: 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. 2 Corinthians 11:3 Just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ Recognise the signs

12. Stumbled, Wounded but safe in the fellowship Ecclesiastes 4: 9 - 11 Two are better than one. If either of them should fall the other is there to pick them up Cared for and Protected Confession / Repentance Forgiven New purpose assigned Restored stronger Galatians 6:1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted

13. God is Love Expressing His Love is the Truth Jesus is the way the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through him Be Rooted in Love Behave as a child of God

14. On Not Loving the World 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Fatheris not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Warnings Against Denying the Son 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.[e]21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.