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Amen. Alright well we're there in Hebrews chapter number six and like we've been announcing tonight we are starting a brand new series entitled Declaring Doctrine and we're gonna spend many weeks on Sunday nights just going through a systematic study of the Word of God and we're gonna look some major doctrines in the Bible and I hope you'll you'll come I hope you'll take notes on the back of your course a week there's a place for you to write notes down and because this is gonna be very much a study you know sometimes people go to Bible College and they'll take a Bible doctrines course that'll be required and of course we don't agree with Bible College and those things but this this might feel like that tonight as we and on Sunday nights as we study this out and I want to begin with just kind of an introductory sermon entitled The Importance of Doctrine and we want to talk about why even study why we spend week after week studying major doctrines in the Bible and let me begin by just answering this question what is doctrine what is doctrine now you're there in Hebrews chapter 6 and I'd like you to look down at verse number one and the Bible says this therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ I want you to notice there's a doctrine of Christ here mentioned then of course the writer here is saying that people are leaving these principles and he says but there's a doctrine of Christ let us go into perfection not laying again the foundation I want you to notice that he's talking about the doctrine but he then he says that this is the foundation of and then he mentioned several major doctrines here the foundation of repentance from dead works and a faith toward God then in verse 2 he says of the doctrine of baptism and of the laying on of hands and of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment and this is not a comprehensive list of every doctrine of Bible but here he gives us examples of these are doctrines that we believe because we believe in from the Word of God there's a doctrine of baptism there's a doctrine of laying on of hands there's a doctrine of the resurrection there's a doctrine of eternal judgment there's a doctrine of repentance from dead works and faith toward God and of course that would fall under the doctrine of salvation and when it comes to doctrine you know when we want to begin tonight by just answering this question what is doctrine just a simple definition is this doctrine is a belief or doctrines plural is a set of beliefs that comes from the Word of God or the Bible if you look up the word doctrine in the dictionary you'll find this definition a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a group now when we're talking about Bible doctrines we would say that group is a church but there are political groups and all sorts of different types of groups that have doctrines or that have beliefs but when we say doctrine when we're talking about doctrine we're talking about a teaching that comes and for us as New Testament believers from the Word of God we're gonna be learning biblical doctrines from the Bible now we also need to answer this question I'd like you to keep your place there in Hebrews we're gonna leave it and we're gonna come back to it throughout the sermon so I'd like you to be able to get to it quickly if you would but go to the book of Matthew Matthew chapter 7 in the New Testament first book in the New Testament should be fairly easy to find Matthew chapter 7 so just by way of introduction and we're gonna look at a lot of passages tonight like I said it's very much gonna be a topical Bible study and we're gonna be looking at a lot of passages so be ready to flip in your Bible and and take notes and all of that we want to start by asking this question what is doctrine what is doctrine and it is a set of beliefs that come from the Bible then we would answer this question I'd like to answer this question for you is why should we care about doctrine you know you might be thinking Pastor Mendez why should I show up on Sunday nights and learn about all these major doctrines from the Bible that we're going to be covering over the next several weeks why care about doctrine and the answer to that is this as you study the life and ministry of Christ you'll find that in the Bible and you may have not ever noticed this and maybe you'll notice it as you read your nine chapters a day but you may have never noticed this but in the Gospels and in the ministry of Christ specifically there is an emphasis upon his teaching of doctrine Matthew chapter 7 are you there now if you if you if you've read the book of Matthew you know that chapters 5 6 & 7 are that famous Sermon on the Mount the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus taught and he ends that sermon with the application of the wise man versus the foolish man but at the end of that sermon I want you to notice what the Bible says in verse 28 Matthew 7 28 and it came to pass when Jesus had ended these things when Jesus had ended his sermon the people were astonished the word astonished means they were greatly surprised impressed amazed notice at his doctrine the people were astonished at his doctrine verse 29 for he taught them as one having authority and not as described so I want you to notice that Jesus was known in his ministry for he taught parables and we know the parables were a big part of his ministry and he's often known for that but the Bible tells us that he not only taught parables we taught doctrine he taught biblical truths from the Word of God and he did it having authority he did it with authority didn't apologize for what the Bible said he just preached and he declared doctrine you're there in Matthew go to Mark chapter number four mark chapter four just the next book over in the New Testament you have Matthew and you've got the book of Mark Mark chapter four and look at verse number one Mark chapter four in verse one the Bible says this and he began to get to teach by the seaside and there was gathered unto him a great multitude so that he entered into his ship and sat in the sea and the whole multitude by the sea on the land notice verse two and he taught them many things by parables I notice he's teaching parables and said unto them because the parables were really just a way or a tool to be able to teach what he was trying to get which was noticed and said unto them in his doctrine so we see that Jesus in Matthew 7 he taught doctrine the people were astonished at his doctrine because he taught it having authority then we see here in Mark 4 that even as he taught parables he told stories that were entertaining he was teaching them doctrine go to Mark chapter 11 you're there in Mark 4 just flip a few pages over Mark chapter 11 look at verse number 18 Mark 11 18 and the scribes and the chief priests heard it and saw how they might destroy him I want you to notice these are the enemies of Jesus and they want to kill him they want to put him to death they're trying to figure out how they might destroy them destroy him for they feared him because all the people was astonished right was that mean surprised impressed amazed notice at his doctrine did you realize the Bible teaches that one of the reasons that the scribes and the Pharisees even crucified the Lord Jesus Christ was because they did not like his doctrine they did not like what he was teaching so you might think yourself well doctrine is not that big of a deal doctrine seems kind of boring this kind of seems like a boring Sunday night series I don't know if I want to come back for this well listen doctrine is what we believe truths that we believe teaching from the Word of God and you say well why should I care about doctrines well number one because it mattered to Christ it should matter to us but do you realize that it was so important to Christ he preached doctrine that was not popular doctrine that was not accepted that it even got him crucified and you know today even today Verity Baptist Church has had persecution we've had individuals and and people that have attacked us and attacked our church and they don't and you say oh they don't like you're preaching about homosexuality they don't like the fact that you don't allow a bunch of pedophiles and a bunch of sodomites and about all these people into church they don't like that but you know that that preaching stems from a doctrine found in the Word of God that we believe called the doctrine of being a reprobate so so you'll notice that it is doctrine see it is doctrine the set of beliefs the things that we believe from the Word of God that make us who we are and they sometimes even make our enemies that they might destroy him the Bible says for they feared him because all the people was astonished at his doctrine go to Luke chapter 4 you're there in Mark just flip one book over Luke chapter 4 Luke verse 31 Luke chapter 4 verse 31 and you may have never noticed the emphasis on doctrine in the ministry of Christ but Jesus taught a lot of doctrine Luke chapter 4 in verse 31 the Bible says this and he came down to Capernaum a city of Galilee and taught them on the Sabbath days and they were notice astonished at his doctrine for his word was with power the same idea there that we saw in Matthew 7 that he taught them as one having authority and the point is this you say why should I care about doctrine well you should care about doctrine because Jesus cared about doctrine and if it mattered to Jesus it should matter to us and when we talk about doctrine maybe you say I don't even know what doctrine is doctrine is the truth the beliefs that we believe about from the Bible and in this series and again we have there's so many doctrines I don't know that will cover every little doctrine that the Bible mentions I don't know that we can do that we're definitely going to hit the major doctors but we're gonna talk about things like the doctrine of the Word of God we're gonna definitely talk about things like the doctrine of salvation and eternal security we'll talk about things like the doctrines of the end times we'll talk about things like the doctrines of Church of the local New Testament Church and of laying on of hands and of eternal judgment we're gonna look at the major doctrines throughout the Bible systematically spend several weeks going through and learning doctrine but tonight I want to teach you about doctrine and the importance of doctrine and kind of just help you understand what we're talking about as we go into this series so here's what I like to do I want to give you three thoughts in regards to doctrine the first thought is this I want you to understand the types of doctrine because understanding the types of doctrine helps you understand why we must spend time learning doctrine now there are two types of doctrines as far as I can tell in Scripture and this is a basic thing but I want you to see it the first one is there is what the Bible calls sound doctrine we would call that biblical doctrine good doctrine the right type of doctrine are you there you're there in Luke go to John if you would John chapter number seven you're in Luke's you're gonna just flip one book over Matthew Mark Luke John John chapter 7 and look at verse number 16 John chapter 7 in verse 16 the Bible says this Jesus answered them answered them and said again notice the emphasis that Jesus has in his ministry with doctrine notice what he says he says my doctrine is not mine but his that sent me referring to God the Father if any man will do his will he shall know the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself and I want you to notice that Jesus said look the doctrine that I teach it's not mine it's not a doctrines that I made up or things that I made up he said my doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and right doctrine and good doctrine and real doctrine comes from God and comes from the Word of God go to Titus chapter number two now if you kept your place in Hebrews I asked you to keep your place in Hebrews if you kept your place in Hebrews continue to keep your place in Hebrews but go with me from there if you just head backwards to the book of Titus so if you go backwards from Hebrews you've got Philemon and then you have the book of Titus keep your place in Hebrews we're gonna come back to it but from Hebrews you can go backwards Philemon and Titus let me just show you some examples of what the Bible refers to as sound doctrine sound doctrine now the word sound means competent it means reliable it means something you can trust if it's sound it's something you can put your faith in you put your trust in Titus chapter number two and look at verse number one notice what the Bible says but speak thou the things which become sound doctrine notice verse 7 same chapter Titus 2 and verse 7 and all things showing thyself a pattern of good works now this is Paul telling Titus this is how I want you to live your life I want you to have a pattern of good works I want people to be able to see your life and take a pattern from it and then he says specifically here's how I want you to do it in doctrine and doctrine showing uncorruptness so he tells Paul is telling Titus he says when you teach doctrine when you preach doctrine I want you to make sure that it's not corrupted the word corrupt means dishonest lacking integrity not being true not being sound he says look make sure your doctrine Titus is uncorruptness gravity sincerity go to 2nd Timothy chapter 4 2nd Timothy you're there in Titus just flip one backwards into the book of 2nd Timothy 2nd Timothy is right before Titus 2nd Timothy chapter 4 look at verse number 3 2nd Timothy chapter 4 and verse 3 notice what the Bible says for the time will come and this of course speaking of the end times and I believe this is the time that you and I live in today for the time will come when they will not endure notice these words sound doctrine but after their own loss they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables so notice what's a doctrine a doctrine is a truth that comes from the Word of God that comes from God will come from his word that is sound doctrine so when we're talking about the types of doctrines number one you have to realize that there is sound doctrine there is doctrine that is reliable doctrine that comes from the Word of God but just the fact that the Bible mentions that there is a such thing as sound doctrine should give you the idea that there is another type of doctrine that is not sound and this is mentioned in Scripture as well you're there in 2nd Timothy flip back to 1st Timothy chapter 4 just right before 2nd Timothy you have 1st Timothy 1st Timothy chapter 4 and look at verse 1 so we're talking about the types of doctrine all right and maybe you're taking notes on this there will be a test at the end of the semester I'm just kidding but we do need your tuition I'm not just joking the types of doctrine if you're taking notes the types of doctrines you've got number one sound doctrine then you've got number two what you could refer to as satanic doctrine or what the Bible refers to as strange doctrine are you there in 1st Timothy 4 look verse 1 now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits don't miss it and doctrines of devils so there's sound doctrine that comes from God the Father that comes from the Word of God but then there is satanic doctrine the doctrines of devils because here's what you need to understand Satan and the devil he is a he is a religious being sometimes we're thinking like oh the devil's against religion the the devil is more religious than you can imagine the Bible says that he is transformed into a minister of light that he is an angel of light and he's got his religions out there he's got his churches out there with their false doctrine with their satanic doctrine with their strange doctrine go to Hebrews chapter 13 if you kept your place in Hebrews go back to Hebrews 13 Hebrews chapter number 13 Hebrews chapter number 13 and look at verse number 8 Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 8 the Bible says this Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever and here's what I think is interesting the verse I actually want you to look at is verse 9 but I read verse 8 because I want you understand that verse 9 is put in the context of verse 8 verse 9 talks about doctrine but verse 8 tells us look Jesus Christ does not change he is the same yesterday and today and forever and so is his doctrine so there was a time there was a time when every church stood up and preached against homosexuality and nobody batted it right now things have changed now you get up and say the things that we say and the beliefs and I'm not preaching about that tonight but I'm just using as an example now people say I can't believe that you would say that but look Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever he hasn't changed his mind on what he believes it doesn't change his mind on what he thinks the Bible hasn't changed God hasn't changed notice verse 9 be not carried about with divers what does that mean different types with divers and strange doctrines so notice the Bible teaches that there are two types of doctrines there's sound doctrine there's strange doctrine there's a doctrine that comes from the Father and there's a doctrine that comes from the devil there's a doctrine that comes from the Word of God and there's a doctrine that comes from false religion and what I think is interesting is that sometimes we get wound up with this idea about being able to refute false religion and I'm sure there's a place for that and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that I preach the whole sermon a whole sermon series early in our ministry when we are still in the house I preach a series called exposing false religions and we went through and I did a sermon on Catholics and on Mormons and on Jehovah's Witnesses and on Seventh Day Venice or whatever and maybe we'll do that again someday I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that but you know instead of getting all caught up and you say I have to go soul winning I don't know what if I meet some you know snake handling Pentecostal am I gonna know every little thing about them here's the thing you don't need to know every little thing about false doctrine you know what you need to know is sound doctrine if you understand good doctrine if you understand right doctrine if you understand what the Bible actually teaches in regards to truth then when you hear false doctrine you'll be able to know that that's strange that's different that's diverse that is not what the Bible teaches go to 1st John chapter 4 1st John chapter 4 towards the end of the New Testament there you have the book of Revelation then you've got Jude right before it then you've got 3rd 2nd and 1st John 1st John chapter 4 notice verse number 1 and this is really what this series is about 1st John chapter 4 in verse 1 the Bible says this beloved 1st John 4 1 beloved believe not every spirit like everybody that comes to your door with a Bible does not mean that they're a good person does not mean that they're teaching good doctrine they're teaching the truth every TV preacher every radio preacher every guy with a camera on YouTube and look we're on YouTube and we've been on TV and we you know we'll go on the radio they'll let me or whatever there's no you know I'm not saying that everybody out there is bad but please realize that just because they come to you with a Bible doesn't mean it's good beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God you need to try the spirits you need to check them up against the Word of God why because many false prophets are gone out into the world you say well how do I know if there's a false problem listen to this guy on the radio I'm watching this guy on YouTube I'm watching this guy on TV how do I know if he's a bad guy well if you know doctrine do you understand if you know the doctrine of salvation that salvation is by grace through faith it's not of works it's not you don't earn it if you know that and you hear somebody say well you gotta live a good life and you got to be willing to repent you got to do this that then you know based on their doctrine that they're a false prophet if you know the doctrine of eternal security that we are secure in Christ that we are sealed until the day of redemption that we can't lose our salvation if somebody says well you can walk away from it you know you're dealing with a false prophet you say well how do I know based on their doctrine and the problem is the problem is that today there's many Christians that don't even know what they believe so we're gonna help you with that and try to teach you go systematically to the Word of God and teach you and reinforce you on doctrine and here's the promise I make to you we're gonna prove it to you from the Word of God because that's the only way that you can know what sound doctrine is so what types of doctrines are there there is sound doctrine and there is strange doctrine there is right doctrine and there is demonic doctrine but then let's talk about this go to John chapter 18 if you would towards the beginning of the New Testament you have Matthew Mark Luke John John chapter 18 like I said this is gonna be very much a study and teaching we'll try to make it applicable here at the end but this is more about teaching you and helping you understand who we are what we believe so we began with this idea and if you're taking notes the types of doctrine what are they number one there is sound doctrine number two there is strange doctrine secondly let's talk about this the importance of doctrine why is doctrine important why do we even need doctor why we need to know doctrine why would it should we as a church even understand what doctrine is well number one because doctrine unites us it is doctrine that brings us together John 18 look verse 19 John chapter 18 and verse 19 the Bible says this the high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples I remember Jesus was known for his doctrine right in fact it was his doctrine that even led and helped in getting him destroyed and crucified and here he's been arrested and the high priest then asked Jesus notice they asked him of his disciples and of his doctrine now the reason that those are connected is because this what makes you a disciple is your doctrine you if you are a New Testament believer and follower of Jesus Christ then you have to get your doctrine from the Bible from the New Testament from the Word of God if you say well I'm I'm a disciple of the Mormon Church well then you get your doctrines from the Book of Mormon if you're a disciple of Muhammad then you get it from the Quran and here he was taught and he was asked about his disciples and of his doctrine why because discipleship is connected to doctrine in fact if you take our disciples of course you'll find that we just take you through a bunch of doctrines just fundamental doctrines that we think a new believer should know and understand why because that's what makes you a disciple they asked him of his disciples and of his doctrine look verse 20 Jesus answered him I speak openly to the world I ever taught in the synagogues and in the temple whether Jews always resort and in secret have I said nothing why ask us thou me ask them which heard me what I have said unto them behold they know what I said I just want you to notice that Jesus did not hide what he's believed and by the way neither do we we're not ashamed of you because aren't you embarrassed you know some of you will disagree with look I'm not I'm not ashamed of the Bible I'm ashamed of this world I'm not ashamed of the Bible if people think the world the world thinks the Bible is crazy well guess what the Bible thinks the world's crazy go to Acts chapter 2 you're there in John just flip over one book to Acts chapter 2 you say why is doctrine important well first of all because of the fact that it is doctrine that unites us it is doctrine yeah I'm talking about Verdi Baptist Church I'm going but this local assembly of believers right here you know what unites us you know what unites us doctrine that's why we come together right I mean I love our church the Verdi Baptist Church is the most diverse Church I've ever been to I mean red and yellow black and white they're here and they're precious in his sight and you know we have people at this church from all walks of life from all sorts of social economic parts you know and places and all sorts of different careers and different backgrounds and different parts of the city and even different parts of the state and they all come together these people people have you ever thought about the fact that there are people in this church that your friends would think you would never be friends with you would never even know them you would never even get along with somebody like that if it wasn't for the doctrine that we believe the doctrine that unites us the doctrine that brings us together you there an axe to look at verse 42 acts 242 we look at this verse a lot I like it acts chapter 2 and verse 42 notice what the Bible says about the New Testament Church when it first began there in Jerusalem acts 242 and they continued I like that I love that word they continued I hope I hope that'll be one of your I hope that word is in your winning statement for the Christian life I just continued and they continued steadfastly notice in the Apostles what doctrine now oftentimes we come here and we emphasize and fellowship and there's nothing wrong with that good good on fellowship but you know what before you get to the fellowship you need the doctor is a doctrine that unites us it is what believe that what we believe that brings us together so therefore doctrine is important go to Ephesians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4 you're there in the book of Acts you're gonna go Romans 1st 2nd Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Ephesians chapter 4 I get an email probably every other week from the pastoral association in Sacramento inviting me to come to their prayer breakfast and inviting me to come in whatever I don't think they know who I am because I think if they showed up you know they changed the name they changed the location locked the doors you know I get these invited and it's all these you know neo evangelical community Church Church of Christ Lutherans Catholics they all just all these Pat the pastoral associations I come on all these people come to they go to different churches they'll go to Capitol Christian Center they go to the Catholic Church or whatever they'll meet once a month and they'll pray and they'll have breakfast and they'll do this and they'll do that you say pastor do you show up to those things no you know what I don't show up to those things you say why because of the doctrine because I'm just I'm just not gonna sit there in fellowship with a baby sprinkler it's just a dark it's just a difference in doctrine they believe that you got to get baptized to be safe I don't believe that and here's the point the point is this it is a doctrine that unites us it is the doctrine that brings us together you say well what is the purpose what is the importance of doctrine the importance of doctrine is that that's what unites us as a church Ephesians chapter 4 like verse 13 Ephesians 4 13 the Bible says this till we all come notice these words in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God see this doctrine mouse us but growing grace and in the knowledge it is the doctrine what we believe the truth that we get from the Word of God that unite us go to Philippians chapter number one Philippians one keep your place right there in Ephesians we're gonna come right back to it so please make sure you keep your finger right there but go to Philippians chapter number one now let me go ahead and say this and just give this disclaimer I'm not saying that every person that you know you hang out with has to be doctrinally with you a hundred percent we understand that even and even here we're not all a hundred percent just believe every little thing but look it is doctrine it is the major doctrines of the Word of God that brings us together it unites us especially in a local church setting this is why we don't allow we do not allow people to come into this church now they can visit they can come and partake and be part if somebody comes in here says I don't know what I believe about the King James Bible hey no problem but you want to become a member of this church you better figure out what you believe about the King James Bible because we believe the King James Bible is the inspired preserved infallible Word of God you understand that it is it is doctrine that you know I don't know what I believe I turn security well you can come and visit and and and take part and we'll try to get you saved and help you understand it but you want to be a part of Verity Baptist Church you better believe eternal security because it is the doctrine that brings us together are you there in Philippians 1 look at verse 27 Philippians 1 27 only let your conversation be as it become it's the gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you or else be absent notice what he says Philippians 1 27 I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast notice in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel you say how do we come together as a church we come together we unite over doctrine so what is it what's the importance of doctrine well doctrine first of all unites us but I want you to notice secondly and if you kept your place in Ephesians I'd like you to go back there not only does doctrine unite us but doctrine matures us it is doctrine that helps us grow or maybe I should say this way it is the doctrine we believe we understand that shows our growth are there any Ephesians 4 look verse 13 notice what the Bible says we already saw this part till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God notice unto a perfect man the word perfect means mature complete fully grown he says look till we all come in the unit of faith and a knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ nurses 14 that we henceforth be no more children you know look we want to come become a perfect man a mature man a complete man we want to grow in the Lord unto the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ we don't want to be any more children that we henceforth be no more children how do you know who's a child notice toss to and fro and carried about with every wind don't miss it of doctrine is that what shows your maturity what shows your maturity is that you're not just you know just going here and going well I heard this guy on the radio he said that he doesn't he's not sure about eternal security I don't know why don't you figure it out why don't you quit listening to people and just read the Bible and figure out what the Bible says figure out what the Word of God says see it is doctrine not only unites us but it is doctrine that matures us and when you learn doctrine and when you understand doctrine and when you have the knowledge of Christ then we are henceforth no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every different way of doctrine and see we we become to the best of our ability like the Lord Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and forever and that's the goal look the goal is not for you to change what you believe about major doctrines ten years from now the goal is not for you to say oh well you know I used to believe that about the Trinity and now I'm not sure what I believe the goal is not for you well I don't know what I think about the reference I used to think this now I think that we don't want to be carried about with every wind of doctrine you don't want to be carried about with every influence well now they're saying this now she's saying that now he's saying this look why don't you figure out what you believe and just stand there I just figure out well here's what the Bible says here's what the Word of God says if it's good enough for the Bible it's good enough for me see it is doctrine that unites us and it is a doctrine that matures us and let me say this it is doctrine that protects us go to mark chapter 12 mark chapter 12 in the beginning you have Matthew mark mark chapter 12 mark chapter 12 look at verse 38 mark chapter 12 and verse 38 mark 12 38 you see it's not enough for you to know what you believe one of the purposes of this series is that you not only know what you believe that you know why you believe it that's what I want you to bring bring to take notes on Sunday nights I want you to take notes all the time but definitely take notes on Sunday nights are going through this in fact maybe spend invest on 99 cents and get you a notebook and and shut with a notebook and a pen on Sunday nights if you don't have a baby sitting on your lap we understand that and and jot some notes down because look it's not enough for you to say well you know what do you believe about you know somebody asked you at work or some friend or some co-worker some neighbor sometimes what do you believe about XY is here you're like you know this is the wrong answer well pastor says wrong answer are you a follower a pastor or you follow the Word of God how about this the Word of God says well the Bible why do you believe that about the the homosexuals let me show you what the Bible says well I saw on the all late times that your pastor forget about my pastor let me show you what the Bible says you know why I'm united to my pastor because we believe the same doctrine it comes from the Word of God that comes with Bible so what does a mature Christian say what does a mature Christian believe here's what a mature Christian believe they bring pressure to you to change and you say well here's the thing I know what I believe based on what the Bible says I made a decision on what I believe based on what the Bible says and I'm not gonna be carried about with every wind of doctrine so doctrine unites us doctrine matures us but doctrine protects us mark 1238 and he said unto them in his doctrine so notice in his doctrine he taught this beware of the scribes which love to go and long clothing and love salutations in the marketplace and he goes on and describes them and preaches about them but notice in his doctrine he told them hey beware the scribes beware of the scribes why because doctrine protects us doctrine will protect us and doctrine will protect this church go to Romans chapter 16 we've seen this recently but I'd like you to see it again you there and mark Luke John Acts Romans Romans chapter 16 Romans 16 and verse number 17 Romans 16 and verse 17 Romans chapter 16 and verse 17 the Bible says this now I beseech you brethren mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the don't miss it doctrine which you have learned and avoid them you know the Bible there's a passage in the Bible on church discipline about marking and avoiding identifying and throwing out people who come into this church and try to cause divisions based on the doctrine that we believe see why would God do that here's why because doctrine is important why because it unites us because it matures us because it protects us go to 1st Timothy chapter 4 I'm not sure if I asked you to keep your place in 1st Timothy I meant to but if you can find all the t-books they're all clustered together 1st 2nd Timothy excuse me 1st 2nd Thessalonians 1st 2nd Timothy and Titus they're all clustered together the rest of the passage we're gonna look at several passages we're gonna look at all of them in 1st 2nd Timothy and Titus so you can find the t-books are all clustered together I'm teaching you about doctrine tonight and I'm explaining to you why you should show up on Sunday nights to learn about doctrine and the reason we want to learn about doctrine is because there's two types of doctrines there's sound doctrine there's strange doctrine there's sound doctrine there's satanic doctrine and the importance of doctrine is this doctrine unites us doctrine matures us and doctrine protects us there's kind of the third section the third heading I'd like you to understand and I always try to end sermons like this and it's the application of doctrine how do we apply this to our lives what are we supposed to do with doctrine well number one we should learn doctrine 1st Timothy 4 look verse 13 1st Timothy chapter 4 verse 13 till I come give attendance the word attendance means to pay attention to to to give attention to reading now recently I preached a sermon on Bible reading and I applied this to Bible reading and that definitely is part of it but notice he also says to give attention to exhortation that's what we're doing tonight when you show up and somebody preaches to you they're exhorting you they're preaching to you and then he says this to doctrine you got to give attendance to doctrine is what the Bible says you got to learn doctrine you got to give attention to doctrine 1st Timothy 4 look at verse 16 same chapter just go down a couple of verses notice what Paul says he says take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine and then he says this continue in them for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them not hear thee he says look needs to take heed unto thyself and you take heed unto the doctrine he says you need to give attendance to doctrine you need to learn doctrine so I'm saying nice we're gonna learn doctrine we're gonna learn biblical doctrine some of it's gonna be super interesting some of it might be basic but it's good for you to just hear it and hear it and be reminded and and learn it and have verses and have cross references and know hey here's what I believe about this and here's why so we should learn doctrine but secondly we should proclaim doctrine 1st Timothy chapter 4 and verse 6 1st Timothy chapter 4 and verse 6 the Bible says this if thou put the brethren if thou put the brethren this is Paul speaking to Timothy who's a up-and-coming preacher a young man's being trained for the ministry he's a pastor he says if thou put the brethren and remembrance of these things you say I don't want to show up and listen to a sermon on eternal security well you know what the Bible says that if I'll put the brethren and remembrance on these things thou shalt be this what about says to me thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine round to thou has attained so look yeah you need you we need to hear you need to hear another sermon on the doctrine of the Word of God you need to hear another sermon on now some of it's gonna be interesting when we get into end times doctrine I'm sure that'll be super interesting to many of you who maybe haven't learned it or studied it we're gonna look at the end times and the timeline and all that stuff but look anytime you open up the Word of God it should be interesting to us because it's doctrine because it is a doctrine of the Word of God it's good for us to hear it to be reminded it's good for us to to be able to keep it in our hearts and have it ready it should be something that we proclaim 2nd Timothy 3 you're there in first Timothy flip over to 2nd Timothy chapter 3 I want you to notice that not only should we learn doctrine but then we should proclaim doctrine and look this is important to me because today churches are the opposite of this most churches you go to they try to hide their doctrine from you they don't want you to know what they believe which by the way that's why they give themselves names like you know New Life Church you know something worship center real life what does that even mean you know and then you look them up in the yellow pages and they're under Assemblies of God tongue speaking Pentecostal you know you look them up in the yellow pages or the Capitol Christian Center you know Capitol Christian Center we're just a center for Christians and it's like Assemblies of God tongue speaking Pentecostals hey that's important isn't it all right you you look them up you know crossroads and it's like not Church of the Nazarene hey here's what I'm telling you most churches today they hide for you they hide from you what they believe what because doctrine is divisive because it might offend you because you might be like no that's weird rolling around slobbering and speaking and done whatever but you know the Bible says that we should proclaim our doctrine we're not ashamed of our doctrine we put on our website we tell people about it we preach it we teach it we'll do a whole series on it why because we should proclaim our doctrine second Timothy 3 and verse 10 but thou has fully notice what Paul said but thou has fully known my doctrine thou has fully known my doctrine manner of life purpose faith long-suffering charity patients and you know by the end of by the end of this Sunday night series I hope that we'll be able to say that I'll be able to say to you and that we'll be able to say as a church to the world hey that was fully known my doctrine we didn't hide anything second Timothy 3 and verse 16 same chapter just go down a few verses there all scripture is given by inspiration of God and it's profitable for what for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction and righteousness but notice the doctrine the Word of God is good for doctrine it'll teach us it's profitable for doctrine second Timothy 4 verse 1 notice what Paul told Timothy he said hey I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead and his appearing and his kingdom first Timothy 4 to preach the word preach the Bible be instant in season out of season what does that mean he says don't be carried about with every window doctrine don't worry about whether it's popular or not you just preach the word reprove rebuke is door with all long-suffering and don't miss it doctrine we need doctrine we need to proclaim doctrine you don't have to turn there in fact I'd like you to go to first Timothy you're there in second Timothy go back to first Timothy chapter 1 but I'll read for you from Acts 5 27 and 28 the Bible says and when they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name and behold ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and tend to bring this man's blood upon us I want you to notice that the New Testament Church they weren't just preaching the gospel and I'm all for preaching the gospel I'm big into soul-winning going out in the community and knocking doors but look we don't want to just fill this community with the gospel we wanted to fill this community with our doctrine you understand that we want everyone in this community to know we want everyone in this community to know that there is a church that believes in salvation by grace through faith not of works you must call upon Jesus in faith once you have it you can't lose it but you know what we also want this church to know that there's this community to know that what we believe about the King James Bible what we believe about it we're not hiding anything we want to fill Jerusalem with we want to fill Sacramento with our doctrine because doctrine should be learned and doctrine should be proclaimed and thirdly we should defend doctrine first Timothy 1 look verse 3 as I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia first Timothy chapter 1 verse 3 that thou mightest charge some notice that they teach no other doctrine neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith so do notice he gave he said I want to charge some that they teach no the doctrine Titus chapter 1 and verse 90 there in first Timothy you go second Timothy and Titus Titus chapter 1 and verse 9 Titus chapter 1 and verse 9 the Bible says this Titus 1 9 holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught that he may be able by notice sound doctrine both to exhort the word exhort means to urge advise caution and to convince the word convinced means to persuade by argument or evidence the gainsayer what's a gains here someone who denies disputes opposes did you catch that he said there are people out there who are gainsayers who deny what we believe who oppose what we believe who dispute what we believe and we should be able by holding fast the faithful word the Word of God we should be able as we have been taught we should be able to buy sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayer why because sometimes doctrine needs to be defended earnestly contend for the faith the word faith there is a reference to our beliefs our doctrine so what's the application why learn about doctrine here's why because you need to learn doctrine and you need to proclaim doctrine and you need to defend doctrine doctrine is important it's it's why Verity Baptist Church exists here's the truth here's the truth we started Verity Baptist Church you want to know why for its doctrine you know that I could find you know when my wife and I before we went into ministry I could have found a church that was a good church that went so we weren't a good church that went soul winning and provided our needs you know what Sacramento needed it needed a church that believed these doctrines that stood for these doctrines that proved the doctrines that you and I believe the things that we hold near and dear it needed these doctrines it's what unites us it's what matures us it's what protects us so I want to encourage you over the next several weeks several many weeks and I don't know how many weeks is there so many doctrines so many important doctors but we're gonna take time we're gonna systematically go through the Bible and just learn doctrine why because doctrine is important now next week next week I'm gonna be begin this was kind of an introductory sermon but I'm gonna be in next week with the doctrine of Revelation now I want you to understand we're not talking about the book of Revelation that's a different series that's a Wednesday night Bible study alright one day we'll go through the book of Revelation verse by verse chapter by chapter we're not talking about the book of Revelation or end times we're talking about the doctrine of Revelation how God reveals himself to man and this is an important doctrine because it sets us up for the doctrine of the Word of God but it also answer a question for you because sometimes people will ask this question they'll say well what about that guy you know in the Amazon who's never heard the gospel what about that guy in Africa who's never heard the of the gospel well you know people who ask that question or confused about this question are don't know the answer that question because they don't understand the doctrine of Revelation so next week we're gonna dig in and begin just a systematic study going through the Bible just learning the doctrines the major doctrines of the Word of God I hope you'll join us let's bow your head and have a word of prayer Heavenly Father thank you Lord for your word thank you for the Bible thank you for the fact that you've given us every answer and all the answers that we need and Lord I pray that you would help us help us Lord to realize that there is importance in doctrine that doctrine unites us and it matures us and it protects us and Lord help us to rally around doctrine and help us to learn about doctrine Lord I pray that you would help our Sunday night services to be services where we will learn doctrine and mature and grow in our faith we love you in the matchless name of Christ we pray amen