1. God is Faithful God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 to be trusted, reliable” “Faithful” “to be trusted, reliable”

2. God is Faithful Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children Ephesians 5:1 “Imitator” “ a mimic, an actor”

3. Faithfulness Brethren talk much about “faithfulness” and much of the talk reflects inaccurate, incomplete understanding. Need to re-examine.

4. How Not To Determine Faithfulness brotherhood papers, preachers, gossip, arbitrary and subjective questions and statements (i.e., creeds)

5. How To Determine Faithfulness Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God 1 Timothy 1:9-10

6. How To Determine Faithfulness If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 1 Timothy 6:3

7. How To Determine Faithfulness Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13

8. How To Determine Faithfulness Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9

9. How To Determine Faithfulness sound teaching, the glorious gospel 1 Timothy 1:10 sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Timothy 6:3 the standard of sound words 2 Timothy 1:13 the faithful word Titus 1:9

10. How To Determine Faithful Christians A legitimate concern? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22 Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, Colossians 4:9 Silvanus, our faithful brother 1 Peter 5:12

11. How To Determine Faithful Christians How do we often determine a “faithful Christian”? Local church attendance

12. How To Determine Faithful Christians Acts 11:23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord Acts 16:15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

13. How To Determine Faithful Christians What about… Work Eph. 2:10; John 15 Example 1 Jo. 1:5b-6; Phil. 1:27 Talents Matt. 25:14 Many things Eph. 4-6

14. How To Determine Faithful Churches A legitimate concern? Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea Rev. 2:1-2,12-13,18-19

15. How To Determine Faithful Churches How do we often determine a “faithful church”? Institutionalism? MDR? Romans 14?

16. How To Determine Faithful Churches What about… Peace 1 Cor. 1:10-11; Gal. 5:15 Work Rev. 3:1-2,15-16 Example 1 Thess. 1:7 Preaching Phil. 4:15-16

17. How To Determine Faithful Preachers A legitimate concern? The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

18. How To Determine Faithful Preachers How do we often determine a “faithful preacher”? Doctrine? 1 Timothy 4:15-16

19. How To Determine Faithful Preachers What about character… Meekness 2 Timothy 2:24-25 Slander Romans 3:8; Proverbs 6:16-19; 17:9; 18:7,13; 1 Corinthians 13:7 Sober 2 Tim. 4:5a

20. WARNING Matthew 23:23-24 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

21. WARNING Luke 18:9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.