Discernment: Locking the Security Gate
4 For a discussion of spiritual gifts, see John F. MacArthur, Jr., The Charismatic Chaos (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992).
Chapter 12 Witnessing: Unlocking the Nursery 1 Gene A. Getz, Sharpening the Focus of the Church (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974), p. 41. 2 For additional discussion on this and other issues related to evangelism, see John F. MacArthur, Nothing but the Truth (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1999), especially pp. 147-169.
Chapter 13 Discernment: Locking the Security Gate 1 For a thorough study of the subject of discernment, see John F. MacArthur, Reckless Faith (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1994).
Scripture Index
Genesis
34:33-35 33 40:34, 35 34
2:5 63 3:8 30 3:12 47, 92 3:15 69 3:24 30 6:2 68 6:3 64 6:5 67 6:6 67 6:7 68 6:8 64 6:14 62 6:15 63 6:17 63 6:18 64 6:19-21 64 6:22 66, 73 7:11 63 9:21 64 41:40 28 41:42 27
Leviticus
17:11 62
Numbers
12:3 31
Joshua
1:8, 9 144 7 46 7:19 47
1 Samuel
4:5 47 4:21 36 5:1-4 47 5:6 48 5:12 48 6:5 48 15:22 22 15:29 67 16:7 67, 173
Exodus
4:10 31 4:11, 12 31 13:21 30 14:17 42 32 31, 44 32:26, 44 34:27 44 32:28 44 33:13 32 33:14 32 33:18 32 33:19 32 33:20-23 32 33, 34 31 34:5-7 32 34:8 33 34:29 33, 43 34:30 33 34:30-35 27
2 Samuel
11 89 12:26-31 51
1 Kings
8:10, 11 35 11:4 36
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
9:4 35 9:6 35
Proverbs
Ezra
9:13 93
Nehemiah
Isaiah
6:3 26, 30 28:13 147 43:20 30, 42 48:11 27 59:2 154 61:3 84
Job
Jeremiah
1 145 1:1, 2 145 16:5, 6 52 16:6, 7 52 16:8 25 16:9 26 19:1 30, 42 24:7-10 27 32:3, 4 90 43:5 128 50:23 50 51 89, 93, 94, 95 51:1 93 51:2 93 51:3 94 51:4 91 51:5 94 51:6 94 51:7 94 51:8 95 51:12 57, 104 51:13 95 51:17 96 51:18 96 58:3 94 69:9 45 71:14 129 73:25, 26 58 75:1, 9 86 100:3 41 103:8, 11, 17 93 103:12 91 119:9 20 119:9, 11 143
15:16 19, 142 31:34 101
Ezekiel
8:10 36 8:16 36 9:3 36 10:18 36 10:19 36 11:23 36 33:11 30
Daniel
3:17 49 3:18 49
Hosea
14:9 178
Amos
5:23, 24 84
Micah
7:18 95
Habakkuk
1:13 36 3:18 57
Scripture Index <
Matthew
7:24 174 8:29 73 8:31 62, 102, 130 8:50 43 9:25 161 10:14 153 11:40 27 12:27, 28 44 12:35, 36, 46 97 13:3-5 115 13:8 100 13:9 100 13:10 100 13:34, 35 115 14:13 52 14:13, 14 123 14:21 72 14:31 73 15:5 153 15:8 49 15:11 58 15:18-25 137 15:26 105 16:6 81 16:8 165 16:20 85 17 120 17:6 71, 130 17:22-24 137 17:24 27 18:36, 37 153 21:2-17 108 21:18, 19 51, 110 21:19 111 21:20-22 111
5:16 28 6:1-4 43 6:2 43 6:2, 5, 16 67 7:1 173 7:15 60, 173 7:21-23 15, 72 8:23-27 135 8:27 136 9:37, 38 169 13:24-30, 36-43 60 17:20 103 22:36 107 22:37-40 107 23:2, 3 164 24:30 37 24:37 69 28:19, 20 161, 168
Mark
7:21-23 144 8:38 133
Luke
1:15 78 2:14 42 6:11 81 6:46 60 8:11 18 9:28-36 37 11:5-8 121 12:2, 3 91 17:11-19 85 18:1 120 22:32 131 22:40 131 22:42 44 24 20
Acts
1:8 161 2:11 50 2:13 78 2:15-18 78 4:31 81 5:3 81 7:2 26 9:3-6 30 13:48 54 13:52 58 16:14 165 18:24 21 20:29 59, 173 20:30 172 20:32 143 26:18 97
John
1:12 153 1:12, 13 155 1:14 27, 37 3:3, 6 155 3:7 142 3:16 142 4:24 32 6:38 73 6:39 157 6:63 19 6:68 21
Romans
1:30 156 2:14 165 3:1, 2 86, 142 3:11-15 132 3:13-15 91 4:5 133 6:12 77 6:12-20 55 6:17 154 6:18 55, 92 6:19 79 6:20 55 10:13 131 10:15 174 10:31 39, 43 10:31-33 163 12:7 158 12:7-11 158 12:11 159 12:13 79, 153 12:20-25 159 12:29, 30 159 13:12 138 13:13 107, 127 14:33 57 15 138 15:34 105 15:42 138 15:44 138 15:57 86
1:5 39 1:19, 20 69 2:16 173 3:23-26 101 3:24 155 3:26 101, 155 3:28 155 4:20 48 5:6 156 5:6-10 14 5:9 155 6:4 155 6:14 105 6:17 86 6:20 29 7:15-25 19 8:1 156 8:9 79 8:13 105 8:15 157 8:16 142 8:17 156 8:24 128 8:28 52 8:29 137, 157 8:30 157 8:32-39 97, 103 8:33 106 8:33, 34 157 10:17 18 10:31 29 11:36 42 12:2 15, 19 13:7 163 12:9 175 12:21 178 13:11-14 97 14:16 77 14:17 58 14:21 77 14:23 77 15:4 128 15:5 56 15:6 56 15:7 57 15:13 129 15:14 159 16:19 177
2 Corinthians
1:4 146 2:14 86 3:13 34 3:18 15, 20, 27, 83 4:4, 6 97 4:6 39 4:7 39 4:15 54 5:10 132 5:17 14, 155 5:21 157 7:1 15 11 52 11:13-15 172 12:5 52 12:7-10 15 13:5 103, 135
1 Corinthians
Galatians
Philippians
1:9 178 1:11 50 1:17 46 1:18 46 1:20 29 2:8 73 2:9-11 40, 43 2:16 17 3:13, 14 21 3:14 15 3:20, 21 138 4:6 86, 120 4:11, 12 51 4:19 49
Ephesians
1:3 117, 157 1:4 117 1:5 157 1:7 99 1:12 55 1:12, 14 55 1:14 117 2:1 155 2:3 156 2:4, 5 156 2:5 117 2:6 15 2:7 117 2:8, 9 102 2:10 117 2:11, 12 154 2:11-16 154 2:12 127 2:13 117 2:13-16 154 2:14 154 2:16 117 2:18 117 2:21 117 2:21, 22 39 2:22 117 3:10 55 3:20 117, 156 4:1 158 4:13-15 vii 4:17 117 4:23 19 4:26 105 4:32 159 5 76 5:2 117 5:8 117 5:8-14 97 5:18 76, 77, 78, 82 5:19 83 5:20 84 5:21 159 5:27 134 6 20, 143 6:12 124 6:17 143 6:18 119, 121, 125 6:19, 20 125
Colossians
1:5 129 1:10 50 1:16 30 1:18 153 1:22 134 1:27 39 2:6, 7 143 2:7 15 2:8 173 2:10 14, 157 2:13 96 2:22 172 3:4 38 3:13 159 3:15 84, 85 3:16 82, 159 3:16-23 82 4:2 120 4:6 163
1 Thessalonians
3:13 134 4:9, 10 112 4:11-12 163 4:17 58 4:18 159 5:8 129 5:11 159 5:17 118, 120 5:20 174 5:21 173, 175 5:21, 22 172, 173 5:22 177
2 Thessalonians
11:7 61, 62, 66
2:14 139 2:16 128 2:16, 17 139 3:1 53
James
1 20 1:18 18 1:21 146 1:23, 24 20 2:1 114 2:8 113 2:14-26 60 5:16 159
1 Timothy
1:4 172 1:17 29 3:3, 8 77 4:1 172 4:3, 4 86 4:6 19, 145 4:7 173 6:3-5 175 6:11 15 6:16 29 6:20 173, 176
1 Peter
1:3 129, 142 1:3, 23 155 1:13 134 1:14 134 1:15, 16 135 1:18, 19 98 1:22 112, 160 1:23 17, 18 1:24 17 2:1 146 2:2 19, 142, 146 2:9 50 2:12 163 2:13-15 164 2:15 165 2:18 163 3:15 146, 163, 167 3:16 165 3:18 31 4:7 121-122 4:9 159 4:14, 16 51
2 Timothy
1:13, 14 176 2:2 146, 168 2:15 21 2:23 172 3:13 59, 173 4:2 177 4:3, 4 177 4:4 172 4:6-8 132 4:7 131 4:8 132
Titus
1:19 178 1:14 172 1:16 72 2:10 28 2:11, 12 105 2:13 130
2 Peter
1:3 14, 21, 157 2:1 172 3:10, 11 136 3:18 vii, 13, 157
Hebrews
1 John
2:7 42 3:13 159 3:13, 14 176 4:12 17, 18 4:16 133 5:13, 14 19 5:14 178 6:17, 18 130 10:14 99 10:23-25 176
1:1, 3 161 1:4 104 1:5—2:2 97 1:7 93, 97, 99, 101 1:8, 10 102 1:9 48, 91, 100, 101 2:1 104 2:1, 2 105
Jude
2:3 69 2:5 112 2:6 72 2:8-11 97 2:12 96 2:14 143 2:24 130 2:27 130 2:27—3:3 130 2:28 130, 131, 133 2:29 134 3:1 135, 142 3:2 137, 138 3:3 138 3:14, 15 112 3:16 113 3:17 113 3:18 115 3:21, 22 133 4:7, 11 160 5:1 102 5:5 102 5:10 49
14, 15 69 21 130 25 29
Revelation
1:3 147 1:5 98 5:13 29 6:15-17 133 7:9, 10 38 12:11 51 19:16 38 20 91 21:10, 11, 23 38 21:23 27 22:4 138 22:12 131
2 John
9-11 174
General Index
Aaron, 31, 33 Abba, 157 Abel, 61 Abraham, 48 Achan, 46, 47 Adam and Eve, 30, 31, 47, 69, 92,
Cruden's Complete Concordance of
the Old and New Testaments, 149
Daniel's three friends, 49 David, 25, 26, 45, 50, 52, 89, 90,
91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 104, 106 David's throne, 38 Death, 71, 86, 93, 113
94 Agapao, agape, 109, 136 Alford's Greek Testament, 70 Ananias, 81 Apollos, 21 Ark of the covenant, the, 47, 48 Armor of God, the, 143 Atonement, 62, 98, 154 spiritual death, 156 Death of Christ, the, 31, 37, 71, 73,
93, 94, 96, 98, 129, 134, 154 Demara, Ferdinand Waldo, Jr., 59,
73 Discernment, 171 (Chapter 13 pas sim) Discipleship, 13 Dreadnought, the, 63
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible,
149 Baptism of the Holy Spirit, 153 Bathsheba, 89, 92 Bema, the see Judgment seat of
Enoch, 61, 69 Evangelism, witness, 39, 57, 69, 81,
146, 160, 161 (Chapter 12 pas sim) corporate, 162 personal, 162, 163, 167 Evangelism Explosion, 167 Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Christ Bible, the see Word of God Bible reading, Bible reading plans,
147, 148 Bible study, 141 (Chapter 10 pas sim) Boldness, 81, 131
(McDowell), 167 Ezekiel, 36
Christlikeness, 73, 86 Confession of sin, 46, 47, 48, 57, 89
Faith, 21, 48, 60, 61, 62, 66, 102,
103, 155 Fellowship in the church, 153
(Chapter 6 passim), 119, 146, 159 Counseling, 13 Creation, 29, 30, 42 Creation scientists, 63
(Chapter 11 passim) Fellowship with God, 97, 98, 103,
Filling of the Spirit, the, 75 (Chapter
Judgment, 31, 42, 62, 66, 67, 68,
69, 72, 90, 91, 93, 174 Judgment seat of Christ, the, 132,
5 passim), 159 Flood, the, 63, 64, 67 Forgiveness, 48, 91, 95, 96, 99, 100,
133, 134
101, 102, 106, 117, 156, 157, 159 Franklin, Benjamin, 85 Fruit, fruitfulness, 49, 50
Law of God, the, 71 Law of Moses, the, 70, 73 Lazarus, 27 Life's Most Important Question,
Garden of Eden, 30, 31, 35, 37 Getz, Gene, 162 Glorifying God, 25 (Chapter 2 pas
167 Love, 107 (Chapter 7 passim), 135,
136, 137, 156, 159, 163, 178 sim), 41 (Chapter 3 passim), 78, 124 Glory of God, the, 25 (Chapter 2
MacArthur Topical Bible, 148 McDowell, Josh, 167 Martha, 27 Martyn, Henry, 40 Mercy of God, 68, 90, 93, 95, 101, passim), 41 (Chapter 3 passim), 124 Good works, 50, 60, 155 Grace, 13, 35, 64, 69, 71, 99, 105,
129, 156 Metzger, Will, 167 Michelangelo, 137 Moody, D. L., 43 Moses, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37,
106, 117, 131 Grace Community Church, 113 Great Impostor, the see Demara Great White Throne Judgment, the,
43, 44, 107 Mutiny on the Bounty, 106
Habakkuk, 57, 85 Henry, Philip, 20 Hope, 127 (Chapter 9 passim) Hopelessness, 128, 154 Humility, 73, 163, 169
Nave's Topical Bible, 148 Nehemiah, 23 Nephilim, the, 68 New American Standard Exhaustive
Concordance of the Bible, 149 NIV Exhaustive Concordance, 149 Noah, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,
Immorality, 55 International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, 149 Isaiah, 51
67, 68, 69, 72, 73
Obedience, 19, 22, 23, 39, 59
James, 58, 71 Jeremiah, 51 Joab, 50 John, 51, 71, 111 John the Baptist, 78 Joseph, 27, 28, 55 Joshua, 47, 144, 145 Joy, rejoicing, 57, 58, 76, 77, 78,
(Chapter 4 passim), 111, 112, 134, 135 gracious obedience, 70, 71, 72 legal obedience, 70, 71, 72
Parable of the prodigal son, the, 137 Paul, 46, 51, 52, 54, 58, 59, 84,
126, 145, 146, 173, 175, 176, 177, 178
81, 83, 84, 85, 104
General Index < 191
Peanuts, 112 Persecution see Suffering for Christ Peter, 51, 58, 71, 78, 100, 108, 109,
Temple, the, 35, 36, 37 the church a temple, 39, 117 Theognis, 127 Therapy, 13 Timothy, 59, 132, 145, 173, 175,
110, 111, 131 Phileo, 109 Praising God, 50, 84 Prayer, 52, 53, 86, 96, 117 (Chapter
176, 177 Titus, 178 Transfiguration, the, 37 Treasury of Scripture Knowledge,
8 passim), 146, 156, 159 in Jesus' name, 123 Prosperity, 15 Purity, 55, 96, 138, 143
The, 150 Truth, 15
Queen of Sheba, 35
Unity of believers, 56, 57, 125, 158,
Rapture, the, 38 Real Purpose of Life, The, 167 Reason to Believe (Sproul), 167 Resurrection of Christ, the, 128, 129
Varus, 111
Walking in the light, 97, 98, 99, 117 Watson, Thomas, 19 Weaker brothers, 77 Westminster Shorter Catechism, 25 Who Do You Think I Am?, 167 Witness see Evangelism Word of Christ, the, 82 Word of God, the, the Bible, see post-Resurrection appearances,
138 Return of Christ, future, His appear
ing, 130, 132
Samuel, 22 Saul, 22 Shekinah, the 33, 34, 35, 37 Shem, Ham, and Japheth, 62 Solomon, 35, 36 Spiritual gifts, 124, 125, 158, 159 Spiritual maturity, 13, 14, 15, 20, esp. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 53, 54, 62, 66, 70, 82, 128, 139, 141 (Chapter 10 passim), 156, 175, 178 Word, the (Jesus Christ), 37 Worship, 61
21, 26, 41, 87, 94, 105, 143, 172, 178 Sproul, R. C., 167 Spurgeon, Charles, 66 Stephen, 51 Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of
Young's Analytical Concordance to
the Holy Bible, 149
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia the Bible, 149 Suffering for Christ, 51, 58, 139, of the Bible, 149
Tabernacle, the, 34, 35, 37 Tell the Truth (Metzger), 167
"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18) hroughout God's Word it is clear that He longs for us to have a relationship with Him. Sometimes, however, we can get so locked into learning about Him that we neglect to know God Himself. We forget we can go past the written words to the One who authored them—opening our hearts to a richer, more personal knowledge of Him.
John MacArthur guides you through Scripture, showing you the doors to continued growth in grace and faith. Here you'll find the keys of discipleship, including chapters on how to study Scripture, how to function in the body of
Christ, and how to witness.
Spiritual maturity is more than our obligation; it's our privilege. With these keys you can unlock the treasures
God has for you in Jesus Christ.
John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun
Valley, California, and serves as president of the Master's College and Seminary.
Heard daily on the national radio program Grace to You, he is the best-selling author of several books and The MacArthur Study Bible.