Paul: A Servant of the Gospel - Colossians 1:24-29. Though Paul was an apostle, he saw himself as a servant of the gospel and the church in a stewardship entrusted to him by God. Because of that he was able to rejoice even in the midst of suffering. God has revealed the mystery of salvation by faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though the gospel is openly proclaimed, only the saints will respond because the unrighteous refuse to believe it.

The Preeminence of Christ Over the Church - Colossians 1:18-23.   In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the Jesus' supremacy in the church by virtue of His person, nature and work of reconciliation. He also discusses the ramifications of Jesus being the head of the church and not any man or group of men.

The Preeminence of Jesus Over Creation - Colossians 1:15-17.  This passage demonstrates the deity of Jesus as the image of God and the architect, builder and possessor of all Creation. In examining this passage Pastor Harris will also point out the specific reasons the Jehovah Witnesses are absolutely wrong to continue to teach the ancient Arian heresy that Jesus was a created being.

The Prayer for the Colossians, Pt. 2 - Colossians 1:12-14.  In this sermon Pastor Harris finishes his examination of the prayer for the Colossian believers with emphasis on the four reasons they should give thanks to God. All of these reasons are related to God's saving them from their sin and its consequences. God qualified them, delivered them, transferred them and redeemed them so they could be forgiven and receive an inheritance as part of His kingdom. 

The Prayer for the Colossians, Pt. 2 - Colossians 1:12-14.  In this sermon Pastor Harris finishes his examination of the prayer for the Colossian believers with emphasis on the four reasons they should give thanks to God. All of these reasons are related to God's saving them from their sin and its consequences. God qualified them, delivered them, transferred them and redeemed them so they could be forgiven and receive an inheritance as part of His kingdom. 

The Prayer for the Colossians, Pt. 1 Colossians 1:9-12. In this sermon Pastor Harris examines Paul's prayer as a model for how we can and should pray for other Christians. He looks at the reason for the prayer, the nature of the prayer, its request, means of fulfillment, the desired outcome and the four characteristics of walking worthy of the Lord.

Paul’s Thankfulness
- Colossians 1:3-8. In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the thanksgiving Paul gives for the Colossian believes. They had responded properly to the word of truth, the gospel resulting in their hope of heaven and love for all the saints.

Introduction to Colossians - In this sermon Pastor Harris gives the background and theme of Paul's letter to the Colossians. It includes a brief biography of Paul and Timothy and discussion of the heresies the ascetic and mystical heresies that had arisen in Colossae.

Jesus' Warnings About False Teachers - Matthew 7:13-27.  As a conclusion to the series warning about false religions, philosophies, cults and aberrant Christianity, Pastor Harris examines Jesus' stern warnings at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Your righteousness must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees in order to enter heaven, but false teachers only offer the same self-righteousness which God condemns. There is hope in Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Philosophical Foolishiness - The Errors of Philosophical Based Theology.   In this sermon Pastor Harris explains some of Scriptures warnings about vain philosophies and the fool as described in Psalm 14. Topics he addresses includes the types of atheists and agnostics, empiricism, rationalism and theological liberalism. He concludes with our hope in teh rock of God's word. 

What’s Emerging? The Errors of Post-Modern Theology.  In this sermon Pastor Harris discusses the Emerging Church Movement, Modernism, Postmodernism and the Biblical incompatibility of the gospel and postmodernism. While commendable in its desire to reach the postmodern, the emerging church movement fails because the gospel and a postmodern mindset are contradictory. Either the postmodern changes to believe in the Bible's absolute propositional truths, or the gospel must be distorted and will become heretical

Tickets to Heaven: The Errors of Market Based Theology    As long as the purpose of the church remains making disciples of Jesus Christ and its focus with unbelievers is proclaiming the gospel, there are many things that can be very helpful that have come from the Church Growth Movement. However, when attracting numbers crowds becomes the purpose and the gospel is toned down to avoid offense of the unbeliever, those same principles are detrimental. The change from being God centered to man centered changes the church into just a religious social organization.

A Godly Mother, Grace Bible Church, 5/9/2010   A Mother's Day sermon describing four criteria by which to evaluate being a godly mother. This sermon also traces the decline of godly mothers in America since the mid twentieth century. 

Spiritual Confusion: The Errors of Experience Based Theology - May 2, 2010.  In this sermon Pastor Harris seeks to expose the theological problems that have their root in allowing experience to determine truth instead of the Scriptures. This foundational error not only results in heresies in false religions and cults, but it also causes problems in aberrant Christian sects and even among the conservative orthodox.

Cultic Oppression - The Errors of Man Based Theology. In this sermon Pastor Harris defines cults and exposes their foundational error in putting supreme authority in something other that the Scriptures. He also explains practical ways in which to protect yourself and others from the various cults

Experts in Enigmas - The Errors of Mystical Religions / The New Age Movement.  In this sermon Jonathan Harris gives an overview of the origin and basic beliefs in the New Age Movement and how its ideas have become mainstreamed into American society. He contrasts it to the teachings of the Bible to expose its lies and dangers.

Demonic Deception: The Errors of Angelic Based Theology  Grace Bible Church, April 11, 2010  In this sermon Pastor Harris warns of the danger of demonic deception and explains how to defend against it including how to discern between revelation that comes from God through Angels and that which comes from demons.

The Resurrection of Jesus - Matthew 28:1-20. Pastor Harris examines the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from Matthew's account. The resurrection is the focal point of the Christian's hope and the even that makes Christianity different from every other religion.

The Triumphal Entry - Matthew 21:1-11  Grace Bible Church, March 28, 2010.  In this Sermon Pastor Harris examines the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the precise day and manner prophesied. The people shouted "Hosanna" and acclaimed Him to be the Son of David - but they did not necessarily believe what they were saying. Even so, Jesus is Lord and King and the clear hand of God in this story makes it an encouragement to believers though we live in the midst of a world filled with evil and with immoral leaders that lack integrity. God's plans are fulfilled regardless of man.

Faith Worth Believing: The Necessity of Biblically Based Theology.  In this sermon Pastor Harris follows up on the warnings in 2 Peter 3:17 and begins a new series of sermons designed to expose the foundational errors of false religions, cults and worldly philosophies. This sermon examines the importance of truth as the foundation for theology.

Motivation for Maturity  - 2 Peter 3:10-18. In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the coming Day of the Lord and the motivation it gives to pursue Christian maturity and walk with the Lord in holiness. From the negative side, since the things of this present world will be destroyed, it is ultimately futile to pursue them. From the positive side, the Lord's return will bring His righteous reign for which we prepare for now by striving to be holy in conduct and godliness in the present.

The Day of the Lord - 2 Peter 3:10  In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the concept of  the day of the Lord in 2 Peter 3 and how it is used in its other references in the scripture. Peter jumps from its beginning at the Lord's return and then jumps to its culmination with the coming of the new heavens and the new earth. Other Bible passages tell us about what occurs in between. 

The Patience of God - 2 Peter 3:7-9.  In this sermon Pastor Harris explains that God's relationship with time is not the same as our own, and that His longsuffering of man's sin against Him is for our benefit. If man was not patient, all men would have been judged long ago. God's forbearance, kindness and patience should lead men to repent. 

Mockery in the Last Days, Part 2  Pastor Harris continues in his explanation of 2 Peter 3:3-7 expanding on the error their premise “all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation”  which is the basis of uniformitarian geology. The earth is radically changed since the beginning - and the physical evidence for the Genesis Flood is overwhelming. Five lines of physical evidence for the flood are given along with links for further study.

Mockery in the Last Days, Pt. 1 - 2 Peter 3:1-7. In this sermon Pastor Harris warns of the dangers of those who mock God, His revelation, and willfully ignore the evidence around us of His past judgment of the earth in the Genesis Flood. In this sermon Pastor Harris explains the text and cites some of the flood mythologies around the world that parallel the Genesis account.

Grace Bible Church

Defense Against False Teachers - Selected Scriptures

---

(If you would like to receive Pastor Harris' weekly sermons via e-mail, Click here)

Pastor Scott L. Harris

Grace Bible Church, NY

October 18, 2009

Defense Against False Teachers

Description of False Teachers - 2 Peter 2:10-22  In this sermon Pastor Harris continues his exposition of 2 Peter and its description of false teachers. Such false teachers are still around, even prevalent, and we must be able to identify them in order to protect ourselves and others from their evil influence, even if they are self-deceived.

Resolutions Worth Keeping  In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the difference between worldliness and godliness and how to discern between them. He then gives suggestions for some resolutions from the Scriptures that are worth keeping for the New Year - and anytime. 

Our Lord, Immanuel. December 20, 2009. Grace Bible Church. Pastor Harris examines two crucial aspects of the miracle of Christmas - Jesus' humanity and His deity . 

Encourage Me - Psalm 42 & 43, Pastor Scott L. Harris, Grace Bible Church, NY. In this sermon Pastor Harris explains the meaning of encouragement and how to encourage yourself and others by following the example of David in Psalm 42 & 43. He also looks briefly at a few New Testament passages that command us to encourage one another and concludes with practical tips on how to do it.

Grace Bible Church

There Shall Be False Teachers - 2 Peter 2:1-10

---

( If you would like to receive Pastor Harris' weekly sermons via e-mail, Click here)

Pastor Scott L. Harris

Grace Bible Church, NY

October 18, 2009

There Shall Be False Teachers

Basic Bible Interpretation, Grace Bible Church, October 4, 2009.  In this sermon Pastor Harris explains the proper method to be able to interpret the Bible to understand what God was communicating to those to who first received His revelation. This is the basis for any proper application of Biblical truth in one's own life. The basis for most of the errors of false teachers is interpreting the Scriptures according to their own opinions. Proper Bible interpretation protects against their falsehoods.

Developing a Biblical Mindset - 2 Peter 1:20-21 & Selected Scripture.  September 27, 2009  Grace Bible Church. In this sermon Pastor Harris looks at how God uses the Bible to enable us to withstand the pressure of the world to conform us to its sinfulness and make us adequate and equipped for every good work in godliness.

The Basis for Belief - 2 Peter 1:16-21.  Grace Bible Church, 9/20/09.  In this sermon Pastor Harris contrasts the mythology of the Greek and Romans (and the modern myth of evolution) with the eyewitness account of Peter and the other apostles as the basis for belief in the Bible as the word of God and truth. 

Remembering What You Know - 2 Peter 1:12-15.   Grace Bible Church, September 6, 2009. It is easy to take for granted what is common and normally available which can lead to complacency and apathy. This can occur with machines and gadgets we use daily, but it can also affect our relationships including our  spiritual walk with God. In this sermon Pastor Harris explains Peter's solution to this problem, a solution Peter was very diligent to strive to prevent.

The Assurance of Salvation - 2 Peter 1:10-11,  Grace Bible Church, August 30, 2009.  In this sermon Pastor Harris deals directly with the claim based on this passage that a believer can lose their salvation. He traces the basis of our salvation in God's work upon which eternal security rests, and concludes with a discussion of the three means by which the believer gains a sense assurance of being saved.

Steps to Maturity - 2 Peter 1:5-11  Grace Bible Church August 23, 2009   Many professing Christians are religious schizophrenics. They profess faith in one thing, but their actions show they believe something quite opposite. Believers should not live defeated by sin. The Apostle Peter points the way to spiritual victory - God has already done His part for He divine power has already granted us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness and His precious and magnificent promises by which we become like Christ. We must also do our part in supply along side our faith certain qualities that lead us to spiritual maturity.

Power for Living - 2 Peter 1:1-4  Grace Bible Church. Pastor Scott L. Harris.   In this sermon Pastor Harris examines the change in Peter's life after started living by God's power and how we can do the same. Divine power to live in godliness is already given to those who share in the same faith as Peter, and in these verses Peter tells us how to plug into that power which will radically change our lives.

Introduction to 2 Peter. August 9, 2009  Grace Bible Church.  This is the first sermon in Pastor Harris' series on 2 Peter. A proper understanding of the book begins with setting the context of Peter's letter: Who wrote it, when it was written, to whom it was written, and its purpose. Pastor Harris answers each of these questions and gives a brief overview of Peter's life. A man used by God because he was willing to try, fail, learn and grow.

God’s Mercy on a Repentant People - Jonah 3 & 4. In this sermon Pastor Harris examines Jonah's ministry to Nineveh, their response and God's mercy to them. Though Jonah's preaching only predicted destruction in 40 days, the people of Nineveh repented and God was merciful to them. They are a good example of true repentance as opposed to the false claims of belief by so many in our own day.