Prove all things
William MacDonald emphasizes the necessity for Christians to exercise discernment by testing all teachings and holding fast to what is good, guarding against gullibility and false doctrines.
In this teaching sermon, William MacDonald challenges Christians to develop spiritual discernment by testing all teachings and holding fast to what is good. He warns against the dangers of gullibility and passing fads that can mislead believers. Drawing from key biblical passages, MacDonald encourages a faith grounded in the Word of God rather than in unproven claims or emotional appeals. This message equips listeners to be vigilant and wise in their spiritual walk.
Text
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Th. 5:21)
Sometimes it seems that Christians are especially prone to accept passing fads and winds of doctrine. John Blanchard wrote of two tour-bus drivers who were comparing notes. When one mentioned that he had a bus full of Christians, the other said, “Really? What do they believe?” To which the first replied, “Anything I tell them!”
One minute it may be a food fad. Certain foods are denounced as poison and others are credited with almost magical properties. Or it may be a medicinal fad, claiming spectacular results for some strange weed or extract.
Christians can be gullible when it comes to financial appeals. In this country, at least, they respond readily to publicity involving orphans or anti-Communist crusades without investigating the integrity of the sponsoring agency.
Impostors have a heyday among believers. No matter how ridiculous their sob story, they are able to rake in the money.
Perhaps the problem is that we fail to distinguish between faith and gullibility. Faith believes the surest thing in the universe, that is, the Word of God. Gullibility accepts things as fact without evidence and sometimes in the face of evidence to the contrary.
God never intended His people to abandon their powers of discernment or their critical faculty. Interspersed in the Bible are such exhortations as the following:
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Th. 5:21),
“…take forth the precious from the vile” (Jer. 15:19),
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Phil. 1:9 NASB),
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 NASB)
The danger is especially great, of course, in connection with doctrinal fads and novelties. But in many other areas as well it is possible for Christians to get sidetracked or duped with schemes or crazes that they pursue with exaggerated zeal.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The prevalence of passing fads among Christians
- Examples of gullibility in food, medicine, and finances
- The problem of accepting things without evidence
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II
- Distinguishing faith from gullibility
- Faith is based on the Word of God
- Gullibility accepts without evidence or despite contrary evidence
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III
- Biblical exhortations to exercise discernment
- Key scriptures encouraging testing and proving all things
- The importance of holding fast to what is good
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IV
- The danger of doctrinal fads and novelties
- The risk of being sidetracked by schemes and crazes
- The call to vigilance and critical thinking in the Christian life
Key Quotes
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — William MacDonald
“Faith believes the surest thing in the universe, that is, the Word of God. Gullibility accepts things as fact without evidence and sometimes in the face of evidence to the contrary.” — William MacDonald
“God never intended His people to abandon their powers of discernment or their critical faculty.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Always test new teachings against Scripture before accepting them.
- Develop a habit of critical thinking to distinguish faith from gullibility.
- Hold fast to what is good by anchoring your beliefs in the Word of God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'prove all things' mean?
It means Christians should carefully examine and test teachings and practices against the truth of Scripture before accepting them.
How can Christians avoid being gullible?
By grounding their faith in the Word of God and exercising critical thinking and discernment.
Why is discernment important in the Christian life?
Because false teachings and deceptive schemes can lead believers astray if they do not test and verify what they hear.
What is the difference between faith and gullibility?
Faith trusts in the sure and proven Word of God, while gullibility accepts claims without evidence or despite evidence to the contrary.
What scriptures support the call to discernment?
1 Thessalonians 5:21, Jeremiah 15:19, Philippians 1:9, and 1 John 4:1 all encourage believers to test and hold fast to what is good.