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Saints & Sinners - Mature & Wise

Primary Text: Ephesians 4:14                                                               July 11 & 12, 2026

Last Teaching:  Lying Spirits

1)  Deceiving Spirits

1 Timothy 4:1:  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.   

2)  Another Gospel

Galatians 1:6-8:  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.  Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  

3)  Legalism

Colossians 2:20-23:  Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?  These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.  

This Week’s Teaching:  

1)  Unity & Maturity

Ephesians 4:11-13:  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.   

DQ 1) Define maturity in Christ.

2)  No Longer Infants

Ephesians 4:14:  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  

DQ 2) Do you stand firm in truth?

3)  All Authority

Matthew 28:18-19:  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...”  

DQ 3) What has always been and continues to be the mission of the 

            church?

4)  Sheep Among Wolves

Luke 10:1-4:  After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.  He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.  Go!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.  Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.  

DQ 4) Who are the sheep and wolves Jesus mentioned in Luke 10:3 and 

            Matthew 10:16?

5)  Snakes & Doves

Matthew 10:5-6, 16:  These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel….  I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

DQ 5) What does it mean to “be shrewd as snakes and as innocent as 

            doves”?