Title: Caution! False Teachers Ahead
Theme: Jesus warned of false leaders who would try to deceive us. Proper 28/Ordinary 33 25th Sunday after Pentecost Year B
Object: Signs - "Beware of the Dog", "Danger High Voltage" and "The End Is Near"
SCRIPTURE: Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. Mark 13:5-6 (NIV)
We see them every day -- signs that warn us to beware of danger. If you are walking down the street and you pass by a house that has a sign on the gate that says, "Beware of the Dog," what do you do? Do you open the gate and go in to see if there really is a dangerous dog in there? I don't think so. I think you would stay out of that yard!
Suppose you saw a sign that said, "Danger, High Voltage" do you think that would be a good place to fly your kite? No, that would be a good place to stay away from, wouldn't it?
If you are walking through the cafeteria at school and see a sign that says "Caution Wet Floor," what should you do? If you are wise, you will slow down and walk very carefully so that you don't fall and hurt yourself.
It is good that we have signs that warn us of danger. They are there to keep us safe and we would be very foolish to ignore them.
One day Jesus gave his disciples a warning. He warned them to be careful not to let false teachers deceive them. "Don't let anyone mislead you," he said. "Many will come claiming to be the Messiah and some will follow them."
Imagine that you saw a man standing on the street corner holding up a sign that said "Warning! The End Is Near." He was preaching to the people passing by. He claimed to know the day and time that the world would come to an end. He spoke of wars, earthquakes, and famines and claimed that these things are signs that are telling us that the world will soon end. Jesus warned us about those people too. "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, keep your head and don't panic. Yes, those things will happen, but it doesn't mean that the end is here."
When you see and hear people claiming to know about things that only God knows, remember the warning of Jesus. When someone claims to be the Messiah, don't be deceived. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and don't panic. Stand firm on God's Holy Word.
Dear Father, help us to study your Word and keep it in our hearts so that we will not be deceived by those who try to lead us astray. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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