Establishing Doctrine

Pastor Phil Scott's April 19th message is a direct challenge to every believer: establishing sound doctrine is not optional. Whatever you've built your life on — you're living it out right now. The question is whether it's built on the Word of God or something else.

Scripture Is Your Foundation

Doctrine isn't academic — it's the body of truth you stand on when life gets hard. Pastor Phil grounded everything here:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:16–17

Watch Out for Itching Ears

The temptation is to find a version of Christianity that feels comfortable. Paul warned us about exactly that:

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine... they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

2 Timothy 4:3–4

"Don't look for a teacher who tells you what you want to hear. Look for a Word that tells you what you need to know."

Move from Milk to Meat

Doctrine is built over time — through consistent engagement with Scripture, regular application, and letting the Word correct you.

"Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

Hebrews 5:14

Stay Rooted — Don't Be Carried Away

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him... See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy."

Colossians 2:6–8

Renew Your Mind

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Romans 12:2

Transformation starts in the mind. Established doctrine gives you a framework — so you're not figuring out God's will from scratch every time life hits.

3 Marks of a Doctrinally Grounded Believer

Stable under pressure — rooted in unchanging truth, not tossed by every cultural shift or emotional storm.

Equipped to discern — able to recognize false teaching because they know the real thing.

Ready for every good work — thoroughly equipped not just to survive the Christian life, but to build others up.

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

1 Timothy 4:16