Here is a recap of our message from this weekend...

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Finishers: Fool's Gold

This sermon, Fool’s Gold, warns believers about the subtle danger of spiritual deception. Pastor Jared draws from 2 Peter 2 to remind us that not every teacher, message, or platform is rooted in truth. Deception often looks appealing, but it leads people away from Jesus. Followers of Christ are called to know Scripture intimately, test every message, and stay anchored in a healthy church community so they can guard the truth in a world filled with spiritual counterfeits.

Weekly Bible Study List

1. 2 Peter 2:1-3 (NLT) — “But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you…”
2. 1 John 4:1 (NLT) — “Do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit… test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.”
3. Acts 17:11 (NLT) — “They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
4. 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT) — “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching…”
5. Matthew 7:15-16 (NIV) — “Watch out for false prophets… by their fruit you will recognize them.”

The Sunday Outline & Notes

Pastor Jared opens with a relatable story about online purchases that look perfect in pictures but arrive as cheap imitations. This sets the stage for the sermon’s theme, that deception is dangerous because it doesn’t appear as a threat. Instead, it comes looking like something we desire.

Peter’s letter isn’t addressed to outsiders, it’s to the Church. His concern is that deception will rise up from within, packaged in charisma and clever language but empty at the core. He warns against false teachers who abandon the foundation of the gospel for personal gain.

Point 1: Not Every Teacher is Telling the Truth

Using 2 Peter 2:1 and 1 John 4:1, Pastor Jared stresses the need to test teaching, not just trust charisma. Just because someone quotes Scripture doesn’t mean they are preaching the gospel. Acts 17:11 is given as a model for examining all teaching against the Word.

Point 2: Not Every Message Produces Maturity

Drawing from 2 Peter 2:2 and 2 Timothy 4:3, the sermon highlights that the true gospel doesn’t just make us feel good — it changes us. If a message doesn’t challenge our lifestyle and lead us toward obedience, it’s not the gospel. Jesus’s teaching transforms lives, while false teaching merely entertains.

Point 3: Not Every Platform is Spirit-Led

From 2 Peter 2:3, Pastor Jared warns that some platforms, though influential, are motivated by greed, politics, or personal agendas. The test of a Spirit-led platform is whether it points to Jesus, calls for obedience, and produces transformation.

From Sermon to Action

Pastor Jared ends the message with three clear steps:

1. Know the Real Thing — Study Scripture deeply to recognize counterfeits.
2. Test Every Message — Measure it against God’s Word, not just emotional impact.
3. Stay Anchored in Community — Avoid isolation by committing to church, godly leadership, and accountability.

Believers won’t drift into truth by accident but they must actively guard it. Pastor Jared calls the church to be truth-guarding, Scripture-loving, Jesus-exalting followers, anchored in the gospel and resistant to the lure of spiritual “fool’s gold.”

Worship Setlist

1. Graves into Gardens
2. No One Like the Lord (We Crown You)
3. Give Me Jesus

Quotes Worth Reposting on Social Media

1. "Just because something is branded Christian doesn’t mean it’s rooted in Christ."
2. "Real gospel doesn’t just hype you up, it grows you up."
3. "If you don’t know the Word of God, you’ll fall for the personality of man."
4. "Truth isn’t measured by how good it sounds; it’s measured by what it produces."
5. "If the message doesn’t lead to life change, it’s not the message of Jesus."
6. "The loudest voice in your life shouldn’t be the one that entertains you, it should be the one that disciples you."
7. "You will never drift into truth. You have to fight for it."
8. "If the message leads you to yourself and not to surrender, it’s not truth."
9. "Deception doesn’t come dressed like a threat, it shows up looking like something we really want."
10. "To spot the counterfeit, you have to know the real thing."

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