Testing Truth: Discernment in a Confusing World
Summary
On this Memorial Day weekend, we pause to honor those who have given their lives for our earthly freedoms, recognizing that their sacrifice points us to the far greater sacrifice of Jesus, who secured our eternal freedom. We remember that the ability to gather and worship freely is a gift, both from God and from those who have served and sacrificed in our community and nation. As we turn to God’s Word, we are reminded that the truth is not just a suggestion or a historical event, but the very foundation of our lives, deserving our full attention and discernment.
We live in a world saturated with voices, messages, and influences, and John’s exhortation in 1 John 4 is as relevant today as ever: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” There is a widespread deficiency in our culture—not just among non-believers, but within the church—in testing what we hear, see, and consume. It’s easy to assume that those who agree with us are telling the truth, but John warns us that not every message, no matter how spiritual it sounds, is from God. We must be vigilant, testing every teaching, every platform, and every leader against the standard of God’s Word and the truth about Jesus.
The test John gives is clear: Does the message confess Jesus Christ as the Savior, the promised Messiah, who truly came in the flesh, died, and rose again? Anything less is not from God. This test is not just for the world “out there,” but for every sermon, every book, every podcast, and every influencer we allow to shape us. We are all being formed by something—by algorithms, by the voices we follow, by the messages we absorb. The question is not whether we are being discipled, but by whom and into what.
God has given us leaders, teachers, and community, but none are to replace the leadership of Jesus Himself. If those we follow do not consistently point us to Christ and away from themselves, we must be wary. Ultimately, we are called to know the voice of our Shepherd so well that we can distinguish it from every other. As we reflect on what is truly forming us, may we realign our hearts and minds to be shaped by Jesus and His unchanging truth, and help one another do the same as a church family.
Key Takeaways
- Discernment Is Essential in a World of Competing Voices
We are surrounded by countless messages and influences, many of which sound spiritual or even use the name of Jesus, but are not rooted in the truth of the gospel. John’s call to “test the spirits” is a reminder that spiritual-sounding language is not enough; we must discern the source and substance of every message. This requires humility, vigilance, and a willingness to question even those voices we are inclined to trust. [29:39]
- The Standard for Truth Is Jesus—Fully God, Fully Man, the Only Savior
The core test for any teaching or teacher is whether they confess Jesus as the Christ who came in the flesh, died, and rose again. This is not a superficial affirmation, but a deep acknowledgment of who Jesus is and what He has done. Any message that diminishes, distorts, or adds to this truth—no matter how compelling or popular—must be rejected. [39:26]
- We Must Test Not Only What We Hear, But Who We Follow
It is easy to become attached to charismatic leaders, popular teachers, or influential voices, but every human messenger is imperfect. If a leader or teacher does not regularly point us away from themselves and toward Jesus, we risk being formed in their image rather than Christ’s. True spiritual leadership always seeks to decrease so that Christ may increase. [48:30]
- We Are All Being Formed—The Only Question Is By Whom
Formation is inevitable; every day, we are shaped by what we consume, who we listen to, and what we follow. The algorithms, trends, and voices of our age are powerful forces of discipleship. We must honestly assess what is truly forming us and intentionally choose to be shaped by Jesus and His Word above all else. [52:57]
- The Church Exists to Help Us Follow Jesus, Not to Build Human Kingdoms
God has given us community, leaders, and spiritual practices like baptism and communion to help us remember and realign ourselves with the truth. The goal is not to create a following for any person or institution, but to point one another to the only One who laid down His life and rose again for us. In a world of mixed messages and failed leaders, Jesus remains the unchanging Truth who alone is worthy of our trust and allegiance. [54:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24:14] - Memorial Day Reflection and Prayer
[00:25:46] - Preparing Our Hearts for God’s Word
[00:27:30] - The Necessity and Value of Tests
[00:29:39] - The Problem of Discernment Deficiency
[00:31:50] - Understanding “Spirit” in 1 John 4
[00:33:44] - Options of Voices: Godly and Worldly
[00:35:40] - The Hearing Test: Testing What We Hear
[00:38:40] - The True Test: Confessing Jesus Christ
[00:42:13] - Testing Prophecies and Teachings
[00:42:59] - The Berean Example: Examining Scripture
[00:45:49] - Testing Who We Listen To
[00:48:30] - The Danger of Following People Over Christ
[00:50:14] - What Is Forming You?
[00:53:44] - Realigning to Be Formed by Christ
[00:54:35] - Invitation to Respond: Communion and Baptism
[01:04:42] - Baptisms and Celebrations
[01:08:33] - Next Steps, Introductions, and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Testing the Voices We Follow
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### Bible Reading
- 1 John 4:1-6
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 4:1, what are believers commanded to do with every spirit or message they hear?
2. What is the specific test John gives for recognizing if a message is from God or not? (see 1 John 4:2-3)
3. In the sermon, what examples were given of things that can sound spiritual but are not actually from God? ([34:18])
4. What does John say about the difference between the “spirit of truth” and the “spirit of error”? (1 John 4:6)
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think John emphasizes the need to “test the spirits” instead of just trusting every message that sounds spiritual? ([29:39])
2. What are some reasons it might be difficult for Christians today to discern which voices or messages are truly from God? ([29:39])
3. The sermon mentioned that “formation is inevitable; every day, we are shaped by what we consume, who we listen to, and what we follow.” What are some modern examples of things that form us, either for good or for bad? ([50:14])
4. Why is it dangerous to follow a leader or teacher who does not regularly point people to Jesus instead of themselves? ([48:30])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to honestly assess what is forming us—not just what we want to be forming us, but what actually is. What are the top three things (people, platforms, habits, etc.) that are shaping your thinking and your heart right now? ([52:57])
2. Have you ever realized that a message, book, podcast, or influencer you followed was not actually pointing you to Jesus? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([53:44])
3. Think about the leaders, teachers, or influencers you follow most closely. Do they consistently point you to Jesus, or do they draw attention to themselves? How can you tell the difference? ([48:30])
4. The sermon said, “If those we follow do not consistently point us to Christ and away from themselves, we must be wary.” Is there anyone you need to “unfollow” or listen to less because they are not helping you follow Jesus? What would it look like to make that change? ([53:44])
5. What practical steps can you take this week to “test the spirits” of the messages you hear—whether in church, online, or in conversations? ([42:13])
6. How can you help others in your church family or small group to be formed by Jesus and His truth, rather than by the world or by popular voices? ([54:35])
7. Communion and baptism were mentioned as ways to realign ourselves with Jesus and His truth. How do these practices help you remember who you are following and why? ([58:24])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you recognize His voice above all others, to give you discernment in what you hear and who you follow, and to shape you more and more into the image of Jesus.
Devotional
Day 1: Test Every Message You Hear
We live in a world overflowing with voices, messages, and platforms all claiming to have the truth, but not every message is from God. John urges us to “test the spirits” because many false prophets have gone out into the world, and it is easy to be deceived by teachings that sound spiritual but are not rooted in Christ. Just as a hearing test reveals if we are truly perceiving reality, we must regularly examine what we hear, filtering every teaching, idea, and claim through the truth of God’s Word. This is not just a suggestion, but a necessary safeguard for our faith, ensuring that we are not unknowingly shaped by error or half-truths. [34:18]
1 John 4:1-3 (ESV)
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
Reflection: What is one message or idea you’ve recently accepted without question—have you tested it against God’s Word today?
Day 2: Use God’s Word as the Standard
To discern truth from error, we need a reliable standard—God’s Word. The Bereans were commended for eagerly receiving Paul’s teaching but also for examining the Scriptures daily to see if what he said was true. We are called to do the same: to measure every teaching, prophecy, or spiritual claim against the Bible, holding fast to what is good and discarding what does not align with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without this anchor, we risk being swept away by philosophies, traditions, or “elemental spirits” that are not according to Christ. [43:56]
Acts 17:11 (ESV)
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Reflection: When was the last time you checked a teaching or belief against Scripture—can you make it a habit to do so this week?
Day 3: Be Careful Who You Follow
It is not only the messages we hear but also the people we follow that shape us. We are all being formed by someone or something, and John warns us not to elevate any leader, teacher, or influencer above Christ. If someone consistently points you to themselves rather than to Jesus, be wary—no human leader is meant to take the place of the Good Shepherd. True spiritual leaders will always direct your attention to Jesus, reminding you that you are ultimately a sheep in His flock, not theirs. [48:30]
1 Corinthians 3:4 (ESV)
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
Reflection: Is there a person or platform you are following more closely than Jesus—how can you realign your focus on Him today?
Day 4: Know the Voice of Jesus
Jesus said His sheep know His voice and will not follow a stranger. In a world full of competing voices, it is vital to spend enough time with Jesus—through prayer, Scripture, and worship—that you can recognize His voice above all others. The more you know Him, the easier it is to discern when a message or leader is not pointing you to Christ. This kind of spiritual discernment is cultivated by intimacy with Jesus, so that you are not easily led astray by voices that sound good but are not from God. [51:06]
John 10:4-5 (ESV)
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can spend more time listening for Jesus’ voice this week?
Day 5: Be Formed by Christ, Not the World
Every day, we are being formed by what we follow—our habits, media, relationships, and influences are shaping us into someone. The call is to be honest about what is truly forming you and to intentionally realign your life so that you are being transformed by Christ and His Word, not by the world or its algorithms. The church exists to help one another in this journey, encouraging each other to be shaped by Jesus, the only one who laid down His life and rose again for our eternal freedom. [54:35]
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Reflection: What is one influence you need to limit or remove so that you can be more fully formed by Christ?
Quotes
Jesus said one of the most famous things that he said, I am how many ways? The way and the truth and the life. And no one comes to the Father except through my favorite YouTube preacher. Except through me. The test is clear. Does it point you to Jesus Christ as the Son of God in the flesh who really came? Does it align with the Word of God? And do they point me to Jesus or to themselves? Am I more inspired to follow Jesus? Or am I more interested in following them? [00:51:46] (47 seconds)
No other thought leader, no other religious leader laid down their lives and then rose again for their followers. Only Jesus. He tells us to be baptized, to reflect that for others, so that they might see what He's done in us. [00:57:45] (18 seconds)
Here's a good test for you. If the person you're following or listening to does not regularly get out of the way and point you to following Jesus instead of them, then you need to be very wary of how closely you follow them. Because when you follow too closely behind someone, you can lose perspective and sight of where you're going. You'll wake up one day and you'll be headed down a path you never expected to go down. [00:48:43] (27 seconds)
Did you know that everyone here is a disciple? And I don't mean that like some like hyper -spiritual sense. No, you are being discipled. Every person here is being discipled. You're being formed. That's what it means. You're being formed into something. And the only question is, what are you being formed into? Because what you follow is forming you into someone or something. Whether you know it or not, you're being changed. [00:50:10] (28 seconds)
If I could boil down John's teaching, I think he's really encouraging us, you know, don't forget to test everything you hear. And don't forget to test everyone you listen to. Because not every message is the same and not every voice should be received as the truth. There is only one. [00:51:29] (17 seconds)
You cannot determine the truth of anything without something to measure it up against. A foot is a foot, and you know so because of a ruler. To know what a pound is, you need a scale. To know what is level, you need a level. They were not very clever in the naming of that tool, but you need a level. And if you want to know the truth of something, you have to have a standard. [00:43:42] (29 seconds)
If you're going to test, if you're going to have a standard, you need to have an answer key. Like how do you know who got it right and who got it wrong on the test if you don't have an answer key? And that answer key is, what does it say about Jesus? And what does it, this, God's word have to say about that? [00:45:00] (19 seconds)
We all need to grow in knowing God's Word so we know the sound of His voice. Being held accountable to that and encouraged to not be formed by anything else, but being transformed by the renewal of our mind, by the work of the Spirit in our lives. [00:54:03] (17 seconds)
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