Lindsay Lane West
Paul’s Threefold Plan for Dealing with Baptist Pests
I. Identify the Church Pests
A. Church pests always reveal themselves.
Philippians 1:15a (NKJV): “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife…”
John Trapp observed:
“The devil loves to fish in troubled waters. He loves to exploit and magnify conflict among believers.”
B. Church pests display sinful traits.
1. They are envious.
Philippians 1:15a (NKJV): “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy…”
2. They are argumentative.
Philippians 1:15 (NKJV): “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife…”
3. They are selfish.
Philippians 1:16a (NKJV): “The former preach Christ from selfish ambition…”
4. They are insincere and malicious.
Philippians 1:16b (NKJV): “The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely…”
II. Endorse the Truth-Makers
Philippians 1:15 (NKJV): “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill.”
III. Reveal the True Message
Philippians 1:18 (NKJV): “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”