In a world filled with endless voices, podcasts, sermons, and spiritual advice, it can be hard to know who is really speaking truth. Sometimes, something just feels off. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning a preacher or teacher you’ve been listening to, this post will give you a few essential things to look for—straight from Scripture.
1. What Do They Say About Jesus?
This is the most important question you can ask.
Do they affirm that Jesus is God—the second Person of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do they teach that He lived a perfect, sinless life, died on the cross for your salvation, and rose again?
Or do they simply reduce Him to a good moral teacher? Someone who loved people and did good things?
If all they offer is a version of Jesus who’s just an inspiring figure, they’re missing the truth—and so are their listeners. You can admire Jesus as a moral leader and still miss salvation entirely. Even atheists acknowledge the historical Jesus. But if He is not Lord to you, then you are not saved.
2. Do They Preach the Full Gospel or Just Feel-Good Vibes?
A lot of people love to say, “Jesus loves you. Jesus saved you. In Him, you have joy and hope.” And all of that is true. But if that’s all they say, they’re leaving out the most crucial part.
The Gospel doesn’t begin with love. It begins with sin.
We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. We are broken, failed, and in desperate need of saving. And yet, even in our failure, Jesus laid down His life so that we could be saved.
Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” That is the full Gospel.
If a teacher skips the part about sin, they are leaving out the very reason we need Jesus in the first place.
3. Is Scripture Their Authority—or Their Own Experience?
Too many sermons today are filled with personal stories and emotional moments but have little to no Scripture. That’s a problem.
The authority for all teaching must begin with the Word of God. Not stories. Not opinions. Not culture.
Yes, personal testimony can be powerful. It helps us relate and connect. But testimony is not authority. The Bible is.
A true teacher builds their message from Scripture, not the other way around. They don’t find a point and then go searching for verses to support it. They start with God’s Word and let it speak for itself.
4. Is There Lasting Fruit or Just Flashy Content?
It’s easy to build a following. It’s harder to make disciples.
Ask yourself: Are their followers growing in Christ? Are people being discipled and sent out to disciple others? Or is it just surface-level content designed to go viral for sixty seconds?
True teaching should result in real transformation. Not just high engagement, but hearts changed and lives surrendered.
Are they glorifying God—or just building a brand? At the end of the day, God is always the hero, not us. In the story of David and Goliath, we like to think we’re David, but the truth is we’re the Israelites hiding in fear. God is the rescuer.
5. Is It Jesus—Or Jesus and Something Else?
If someone tells you, “All you have to do to be saved is believe on Jesus,” and then adds “and…”, walk away.
It’s not Jesus and. It’s Jesus.
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8 is clear: “It is by grace you have been saved, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We are saved because of Jesus, not because of anything we do. Works follow salvation—they are a result, not a requirement.
Any teaching that adds to Jesus is false doctrine.
6. Are They Producing Fruit—or Just Noise?
Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” That’s not just about being a little wrong. That’s an eternal issue.
False prophets don’t just deceive. They destroy.
Look at the fruit of their teaching. Galatians 5:22 lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
But just before that, in verses 19–21, Paul lists the works of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, jealousy, anger, envy, drunkenness, and more.
Ask yourself: Which is more present in their life? And in yours?
This isn’t just about judging others. It’s also about personal reflection. Are we growing in love, patience, kindness—or drifting toward anger, envy, and idolatry?
The more time we spend in God’s presence, the more we’ll see the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. The more we’re influenced by the world, the more we’ll drift toward the works of the flesh.
Conclusion
Spotting a false teacher isn’t always about one red flag. But when the red flags start to add up, it’s time to find someone else to listen to.
Look at what they say about Jesus. Are they preaching the full gospel? Do they start with Scripture? Is there lasting fruit? Do they glorify Jesus—or themselves?
And as you listen, also look inward. Are you bearing fruit that reflects Jesus—or the world?
Every day, we choose which direction we’re leaning. Let’s lean into the truth, into grace, and into the Word of God.
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