Guardrails - Beltway Park Church

False Teachers

March 17, 2024 • Geoffrey Turner • Matthew 7:15–20

Jesus gives us a clear guardrail on the narrow road that leads to abundant life: beware of false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus gives this warning because He knows how susceptible we are to the teachings and influence of false teachers. When we embrace false teachers and their ideas, we begin to make small, subtle decisions that eventually lead us significantly away from the life God has for us. The good news is that truth – namely, Jesus – silences false teachers and their philosophies (John 14:6). We recognize and illuminate what is false by knowing what is authentic and real, by knowing Him. As we seek to know Jesus, He leads us to greater understanding and acceptance of His Word and the core pillars of our Christian faith. It is Scripture and these core tenets of our faith that help us identify and resist false teachers.

Distractions

March 10, 2024 • Geoffrey Turner

Carefully examining our lives and minimizing distractions protects us and acts as a guardrail on the narrow road that leads to abundant life (Ephesians 5:15-21). One of the primary tools the enemy uses against us is distractions, which often lead us to choosing what is good over what is best. We know with confidence that we are prioritizing what is best and eliminating distractions when we are seeking Jesus first and His kingdom. Seeking Jesus first and His kingdom means we are spending time in His presence, engaging His Word and actively praying. It means we are purposefully and regularly investing into Biblical community and participating in the services and ministries of the church. It also means we are looking for ways to serve and bless others.

Yeast of...

March 3, 2024 • David McQueen • Mark 8:14–21

Growing in both grace and truth acts as a guardrail on the narrow road of following Jesus (Mark 8:14-21). Jesus warns His followers to watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod (Mark 8:15). Jesus is saying that there are small, subtle yet sinful ideas and beliefs that can carry significant influence in our hearts and run us off the narrow road that leads to life. The yeast of Herod represents the idea that we get to decide what is true for us. It minimizes or even rejects God’s truth. It dismisses temptation and sin, and anyone who calls out sin is being judgmental. The yeast of the Pharisees emphasizes external rules and behaviors. It looks down on others in pride, which ultimately leads to hypocrisy. Walking in both grace and truth guard against either of these extremes. Those growing in grace and truth know God as holy and forgiving, hate sin immensely and love people radically, and want to be like Jesus and know it can only happen by God’s power at work in them.

Fear of Man

February 25, 2024 • David McQueen • Matthew 10:17–30

The fear of the Lord is a guardrail keeping us on the narrow road (Matthew 10:17-30). Though we are created for relationship with God and with others, sin has drastically affected our God-given desire for acceptance. If we are not careful, we will want human praise more than praise from God. Without guardrails, we will seek the approval of others by obsessively trying to please them, by performing in such a way as to garner their attention. Having a healthy fear of God – where we are utterly in awe of who He is – keeps us from perpetual people-pleasing and positions us to receive the abundant life He has to offer us (Matthew 10:28-30; John 10:10). We grow in our fear of God by intentionally spending time getting to know Him better, by focusing on who He is and who He is revealed to be in Scripture.