Embracing Truth: The Need for Truth Speakers
Summary
In today's message, I explored the critical need for truth speakers in our lives, emphasizing how our culture has become increasingly comfortable with deception and resistant to truth. We live in a time where truth is often overshadowed by what feels good or aligns with our personal desires. This cultural shift has led to a reluctance to invite truth speakers into our lives, even within the church, where the focus has sometimes shifted from repentance to prosperity. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about a time when people would not endure sound teaching, preferring instead to hear what suits their passions. This warning is relevant today as many Christians lean towards teachings that make them feel good rather than those that challenge them to grow.
I highlighted the importance of having individuals in our lives who can speak truth to us, even when it's uncomfortable. These truth speakers help us avoid self-deception and poor decisions. Without them, we are prone to be led astray by our own desires, as James warns, leading to sin and ultimately death. The church should be a place where truth is spoken in love, helping us mature in our faith. Speaking truth in love is not about being sweet but about caring enough to say what needs to be said, even if it risks discomfort or conflict.
I shared personal experiences of having truth speakers in my life and how they have helped me make better decisions. It's not natural to have these people; it requires intentionality and trust. We must actively seek out and give authority to those who can speak truth into our lives. This week, I encourage you to pray for God to reveal someone who can be a truth speaker for you and to consider how you can be that person for someone else. This is the essence of true Christian community—loving each other enough to speak and receive truth.
Key Takeaways:
- Cultural Comfort with Deception: Our society has grown comfortable with deception, often preferring what feels good over what is true. This comfort with lies has infiltrated even the church, where the focus can shift from repentance to prosperity. We must be vigilant in seeking truth, even when it's uncomfortable. [24:19]
- The Role of Truth Speakers: Having truth speakers in our lives is essential for spiritual growth. These individuals help us see beyond our self-deception and guide us towards better decisions. Without them, we are left to our own desires, which can lead to sin and destruction. [39:19]
- Speaking Truth in Love: Speaking truth in love is not about being gentle or sweet; it's about caring enough to say what needs to be said, even if it risks discomfort. This kind of love is willing to endure the discomfort of truth for the sake of growth and maturity. [43:37]
- Intentional Relationships: Truth speakers are not naturally occurring; they must be intentionally sought out and given authority in our lives. This requires trust and love, creating a space where truth can be spoken and received for mutual growth. [49:27]
- The Church's Role: The church should be a place where truth is spoken in love, helping believers mature in their faith. This involves creating an environment where truth speakers are welcomed and encouraged, fostering a community that seeks truth above comfort. [55:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [24:19] - Cultural Comfort with Deception
- [26:11] - Trust and Media
- [28:20] - Self-Deception and Sin
- [30:02] - Preaching Truth vs. Popularity
- [36:05] - Abortion and Truth
- [39:19] - The Need for Truth Speakers
- [40:26] - James on Desire and Sin
- [42:06] - Church's Role in Truth
- [43:37] - Speaking Truth in Love
- [45:21] - Personal Testimony
- [47:49] - Proverbs on Truth and Friendship
- [49:27] - Intentional Truth Relationships
- [51:36] - The Impact of Truth Speakers
- [52:31] - Wisdom and Reproof
- [53:15] - Homework: Seeking Truth Speakers
- [55:53] - Conclusion and Next Steps
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 - "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."
2. James 1:14-15 - "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
3. Ephesians 4:14-15 - "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul warn Timothy about in 2 Timothy 4:2-4, and how does this relate to the current cultural comfort with deception? [30:02]
2. According to James 1:14-15, what is the process that leads from desire to death, and how does this highlight the need for truth speakers in our lives? [40:26]
3. How does Ephesians 4:14-15 describe the role of truth in helping believers mature in their faith? [42:06]
4. What personal experiences did the pastor share about having truth speakers in his life, and how did these experiences impact his decision-making? [45:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the cultural comfort with deception affect the church's role in speaking truth, according to the sermon? [28:20]
2. In what ways can having truth speakers in our lives prevent us from being led astray by our own desires, as described in James 1:14-15? [40:26]
3. What does it mean to speak the truth in love, and how does this differ from simply being gentle or sweet? [43:37]
4. How can intentional relationships with truth speakers contribute to spiritual growth and maturity within the church community? [49:27]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have become comfortable with deception? How can you actively seek truth in these areas? [24:19]
2. Identify someone in your life who could be a truth speaker for you. What steps can you take to give them the authority to speak truth into your life? [49:27]
3. Consider a time when you avoided speaking truth to someone because it was uncomfortable. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [43:37]
4. How can you create an environment in your church or small group that encourages truth speaking in love? What practical steps can you take to foster this culture? [55:53]
5. Think about a decision you are currently facing. How can you involve a truth speaker in this decision-making process to ensure you are not led astray by your own desires? [39:19]
6. What specific actions can you take this week to become a truth speaker for someone else, and how can you ensure that your words are spoken in love? [53:15]
7. Reflect on the role of the church as a place where truth is spoken in love. How can you contribute to this mission in your own church community? [42:06]
Devotional
Day 1: The Comfort of Deception
In today's world, society often prioritizes comfort over truth, leading to a culture where deception is normalized. This tendency has even infiltrated the church, where the focus can sometimes shift from repentance to prosperity. The challenge is to remain vigilant in seeking truth, even when it is uncomfortable or inconvenient. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about a time when people would prefer teachings that suit their desires rather than sound doctrine. This warning is relevant today as many are drawn to messages that make them feel good rather than those that challenge them to grow. As believers, it is crucial to resist the allure of comfort and instead pursue truth, allowing it to transform our lives. [24:19]
Ephesians 4:14-15 (ESV): "So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you chosen comfort over truth? How can you begin to prioritize truth, even when it is uncomfortable?
Day 2: The Essential Role of Truth Speakers
Truth speakers are vital for spiritual growth, as they help us see beyond our self-deception and guide us toward better decisions. Without them, we are left to our own desires, which can lead to sin and destruction. James warns that unchecked desires can lead to sin and ultimately death. Having individuals in our lives who can speak truth to us, even when it's uncomfortable, is essential for avoiding self-deception and making wise choices. These truth speakers help us navigate life's challenges and grow in our faith. [39:19]
Proverbs 27:5-6 (ESV): "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."
Reflection: Who in your life serves as a truth speaker? How can you intentionally seek out and give authority to someone who can speak truth into your life?
Day 3: Speaking Truth in Love
Speaking truth in love is not about being gentle or sweet; it's about caring enough to say what needs to be said, even if it risks discomfort. This kind of love is willing to endure the discomfort of truth for the sake of growth and maturity. The church should be a place where truth is spoken in love, helping believers mature in their faith. This involves creating an environment where truth speakers are welcomed and encouraged, fostering a community that seeks truth above comfort. [43:37]
Galatians 6:1-2 (ESV): "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: How can you practice speaking truth in love this week? Is there someone you need to have a difficult conversation with for their growth and maturity?
Day 4: Intentional Relationships
Truth speakers are not naturally occurring; they must be intentionally sought out and given authority in our lives. This requires trust and love, creating a space where truth can be spoken and received for mutual growth. Building these relationships takes effort and intentionality, but the rewards are significant. By surrounding ourselves with truth speakers, we create a support system that helps us grow in our faith and make wise decisions. [49:27]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: What steps can you take to build intentional relationships with truth speakers? How can you create a space where truth can be spoken and received?
Day 5: The Church's Role in Truth
The church should be a place where truth is spoken in love, helping believers mature in their faith. This involves creating an environment where truth speakers are welcomed and encouraged, fostering a community that seeks truth above comfort. The church's role is to equip believers to speak and receive truth, creating a community that supports spiritual growth and maturity. By prioritizing truth, the church can help believers navigate the challenges of life and grow in their faith. [55:53]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a church environment where truth is spoken in love? What role can you play in fostering a community that prioritizes truth over comfort?
Quotes
1) "We have become very, very comfortable with deception. So a truth speaker is something we don't invite into our lives. We don't actually want it, but it's what we need, right? If you are going to move, think of all the things that you could have avoided had you had someone speaking truth in your life. Think of this, okay? All you were present in all of your stupid decisions. You were present. I mean, you were. And think about this. You're... last sin or the last time you fell or the last time you did something, think about this. You convinced yourself that was a good idea. You did. You told yourself either I deserve this or this is, oh yes." [28:20] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We don't want truth. We want what's going to sound good and feel good. And people who have my job actually are doing this. They're, they're fostering, they're giving because people don't want, to hear truth. You can, you can grow a church quickly by telling them everything they want to hear, but you shake them up, man, they don't like it. And that's the reason Paul told Timothy this. He said, preach the word. I don't have a lot of that going on anymore. Preach the word. This is what he's telling young Timothy. He was a preacher. Preach the word, be ready in an out of season, reprove and rebuke. But they don't want to hear that." [30:02] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Christians are becoming too sensitive to truth and too desensitized to sin right we because lies or deception or or think sin it can go on and we just know you know it used to a long time ago things that you would see on tv you go oh that's horrible i can't believe they'd show that i can't believe on on tv the national now it's just happens you don't it doesn't even phase you anymore does it oh it's just part of we become desensitized we become decent stuff we're not upset anymore we're not we're not drawing anymore because we become desensitized to sin but yet we're too sensitive to truth so we don't have truth speakers in our lives we don't have people who will say hey i want to share something with you and this this is not it's not going to sound good but it's for you" [36:05] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "When we have someone who will speak the truth in love, I'm telling you, you're going to mature. You're going to grow up. You're going to walk away from that continually back. And forth, but we don't have that because it hurts. It's not, it doesn't feel good. We don't like it. And we become a culture that does not invite it. Let me tell you something, speaking truth and love. I want to tell you something too. Speaking truth and love is not speaking truth in a sweet way. It's not going, oh, well, you know, that's not speaking truth and love. Okay. That's speaking truth and sweetness. Okay. I'm talking about when you're speaking truth and love, that means you're telling someone the truth. You're telling someone the truth. You're telling someone the truth because you love them because you love them so much." [43:37] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Better is one rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Profuse are the kisses of the enemy. Man, you hear that? It does not, I mean, yes, I know. None of these situations where I've had did not feel good. But how it kept me from so many bad decisions. It's overwhelming. But we don't have that. It's hard. It's someone you have got to cultivate. You've got a place in your life. You've got to say, it's not there naturally. Okay? Do not think you just naturally have those people. You don't. Okay? It's something you've got to place. You've got to say, okay, God, show me. I want to know people that I love enough and trust enough that I can say, tell me truth and I'll receive it." [47:49] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Do you have wise people in your life that will reprove you? Because you're a scoffer. Because you love them. This is hard. And this is not natural. You're not going to come up with it on your own. You've got to go out and ask God, God, place this in my life. So this is your homework. This is your homework for the week. Okay? Your homework. I want you to pray this week for God to show you someone that you can give authority to to speak into your life truth. Someone you know that you trust. Or someone you know that you don't trust. Someone you know you love. And you give them authority to speak truth into your life. And I also want you to pray, God, allow me to be that for someone else." [53:15] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Love, it does not rejoice in wrongdoing. It's not going to go along with you going, yeah, that was a great, that's all man. Oh, I hate that they didn't like what you did. Their love, real love is not going to rejoice in wrongdoing because they love you too much. Right. But rejoices with the truth, real love is going to rejoice with the truth, regardless. It may make you feel love bears all things, believes all things. Can you be like, can you have someone, you love someone, I mean, you can believe whatever they're saying and why they're saying it. You can believe whatever they're saying and why they're saying it. This is not that sweet love. This is real love. Hopes in all things and endures all things. See, a real love, it's going to endure. It's going to endure you getting your feelings hurt. It's going to endure that truth that did not feel good. It's going to endure because that's what real love does." [54:31] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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