1. Don McClain 1 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

2. dis·cern - verb Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French discerner, from Latin discernere to separate, distinguish between, from dis- apart + cernere to sift — 14th century 1 a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision Don McClain 2 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

3. dis·cern - verb 2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate 3 : to come to know or recognize mentally intransitive verb: to see or understand the difference Don McClain 3 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

4. Discern - Verb - Original Word: διακρ ί νω, diakrinō signifies "to separate, discriminate;" then, "to learn by discriminating, to determine, decide.“... Vines Expository Dictionary Don McClain 4 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

5.  Truth & Error –  Righteousness & Sin -  Right & Wrong –  Good & Bad –  Wise & Unwise -  Appropriate & Inappropriate - Don McClain 5 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

6.  We live in an age where discernment is ridiculed.  False teachers abound – wrong ways are abundant.  Indifference among those who claim to follow Christ.  Laziness. Don McClain 6 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

7. Matthew 16:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, ' It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in the morning, ' It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed. Don McClain 7 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

8. 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted--you may well put up with it! Don McClain 8 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

9. Colossians 1:9-12 (NKJV) 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Don McClain 9 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

10. Philippians 1:8-11 (NKJV) 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Don McClain 10 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

11. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NKJV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Don McClain 11 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

12. Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV) 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Don McClain 12 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

13.  The right standard – Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; Isa. 5:19-21; John 17:17; Rom 3:4; Heb 4:12  Knowledge – Hos. 4:6; John 8:32; Heb 5:12-14; Phili 1:8-11  Correct application – 2 Tim 2:15; 2 Pt 3:16-18; Heb 5:13,14  Right attitude – James 1:21; John 7:17; Ps 119:97-104; Prov. 2:1-9 Don McClain 13 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

14.  Respect – Prov. 1:7  Desire – John 7:17; Prov 2:1-9  Faith – Heb 11:6; Rom. 4:20,21  Love – Ps 119:97-104  Diligence – 2 Tim 2:15  Courage – Josh. 1:7; 1 Cor. 16:13  Caution – Acts 17:11; Eph 5:15-17 Don McClain 14 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

15.  Does It Corrupt My Heart?  Does It Harm My Body?  Does It Hinder My Spiritual Growth?  Does It Damage My Influence?  Does It Endanger Others?  Can I Establish Authority For It? Don McClain 15 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

16.  We live in an age where discernment is ridiculed.  False teachers abound – wrong ways are abundant.  Indifference among those who claim to follow Christ.  Laziness. Don McClain 16 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

17. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NKJV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Don McClain 17 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009

18. Don McClain 18 W. 65th St church of Christ / June 7, 2009