Warning and Wisdom: A Conversation About False Teachers

Paul’s Ponderings Interview | August 2025

In this interview with ChatGPT, I reflect on the challenging subject of false teachers. This comes after my recent study of Jude and pastoral experience, In this I seek to offer biblical insight, personal wisdom, and a pastoral heart to help believers navigate the dangers of false teaching—and stay grounded in truth.

ChatGPT: What first opened your eyes to the danger and presence of false teaching in the church? Was there a specific moment, experience, or passage that helped you see its seriousness?

Paul:
For me this became an issue when I started to see certain teaching bring harm to people and “shipwreck” the faith of others. For the most part, I’m a big tent guy. I understand that given 2,000 years of church teaching and doctrine, there are going to be differences in interpretation and understanding.

To me, teaching that’s lined up with the Bible is teaching that calls people to faith in Jesus and looks forward to His return to make everything right. So I’m slow to call something heresy.

That said, I do think there are teachings and teachers that are harmful. And I’ve seen the damage firsthand.

ChatGPT: In your view, what distinguishes a false teacher from someone who simply holds a different (but still orthodox) theological perspective? Where do you personally draw that line?

Paul:
The line I draw covers two areas.

First, based on Matthew 7:15–20, I look at the life of the teacher. A person can have orthodox theology, but if their lifestyle is abusive, dishonest, or unfaithful, they are still a false teacher. Why? Because their actions damage the faith of others.

Second, based on Jude 1:3, I look at their Gospel message. If a teacher misleads people about the hope of the Gospel—especially by feeding fleshly desires for health, wealth, or power—that’s a false message. It’s a misrepresentation of God and His Kingdom.

ChatGPT: As a pastor, how have you seen false teaching impact people in real life—either in your church or in the wider Christian world? What kind of spiritual damage does it cause?

Paul:
Yes, I’ve seen the damage. I’ve seen people doubt their faith because they didn’t receive what they were told God had promised them. Then they were told it was their fault—because of sin or a lack of faith.

That breaks my heart. Instead of seeing God as a source of help, they began to see Him as someone who withholds help because their faith wasn’t the right type of faith or they had unbelief in their hearts. In my book this is spiritual abuse.

I’ve also heard stories of people misled by prophets and teachers into bad marriages, terrible financial decisions, or worse. People who lost family members because they trusted someone claiming to speak for God.

It’s heartbreaking because they put their trust in someone they believed was godly—and ended up wounded and disillusioned.

ChatGPT: What are some biblical markers or habits that help protect people from falling for false teaching? How can everyday Christians grow in discernment?

Paul:
The first thing I’d say is: get good study tools.

The Bible is written for us, but not to us. That means we have to put effort into understanding it in its original context. Even with great translations, things get lost because we live in a different time and culture.

I recommend two key resources:

• A good Study Bible
• A solid One-Volume Commentary on the entire Bible

These will help the average Christian understand the text much better.

Second, double-check what a teacher says. Acts 17 praises the Bereans for doing this. We should always go back to Scripture to test what we’re being taught.

Third, take accusations of abuse or dishonesty seriously. Don’t just defend a leader because they “preach truth.” Jesus had harsh words for religious leaders whose behavior hurt people. When there are victims, don’t brush it under the rug—listen, investigate, and remember that Jesus sides with the oppressed.

When in doubt, side with the victims.

ChatGPT: How has your preaching changed (or been shaped) by your awareness of false teaching? Are there things you intentionally do now to guard or guide your congregation as you preach?

Paul:
First, I’ve learned that it’s not my job to name and call out specific false teachers. I’m grateful for those in the Church who do that—it’s needed—but I’ve felt God calling me to just preach and teach the Bible faithfully.

Second, I try to emphasize doctrine more. One reason false teaching thrives is because people lack a clear understanding of basic Christian doctrine. It’s not enough to “use Bible verses”—false teachers do that too. People need to know what the Bible actually teaches.

Third, I encourage people to double-check me. I want them to know it’s okay to ask questions and search the Scriptures themselves. I often say (borrowing from Dallas Willard):

“Only 80% of what I know is correct—but you have to figure out which 20% is off. If I knew, I’d fix it.”

That keeps me humble and helps equip the congregation to grow in biblical discernment.


ChatGPT: What final word would you give to someone who has been hurt or confused by false teaching? How can they begin to heal and rebuild trust in Jesus and His Church?

Paul:
I’m so sorry that happened to you. That teaching—or that teacher—was not from God.

Please give faith in Jesus another chance.

One of the best ways to begin healing is to be in a healthy Christian community. You need people who encourage you as you follow Jesus, and a teacher who will listen to your questions without pretending to know it all.

That kind of community matters deeply. It’s one of the ways God rebuilds trust, restores hearts, and leads us back to truth.

Final Thought:
False teachers are real—and they’re dangerous not just because they twist doctrine, but because they harm people. But the good news is that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, continues to lead His people into truth, love, and life.

If we commit to studying the Word, walking in community, and keeping our eyes on King Jesus, we’ll be far less likely to fall—and far more ready to stand.

Preaching to Make Disciples: A Conversation on the Purpose of Preaching

Paul’s Ponderings Interview | July 2025

In this post (which is a ChatGPT interview) I reflect on how preaching fits into the mission of making disciples. It made me ponder what makes preaching effective—not just as a Sunday event, but as a formative part of lifelong discipleship.

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ChatGPT: When did you first begin to understand that preaching wasn’t just about teaching or inspiring, but about making disciples? What shifted in your thinking?

Paul:
I always connected preaching to discipleship—honestly, I thought it was the main part of discipleship in the local church. But a shift began when I read a quote from Dallas Willard:

“If the steady, longtime faithful devotees to our ministries are not transformed in the substance of their lives to the full range of Christlikeness, they are being failed by what we are teaching them.” (The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 18)

That quote hit me hard. It helped me see two things. First, preaching and teaching alone aren’t enough for true spiritual formation. People also need help applying the message—and that’s where spiritual disciplines come in.

Second, my preaching needed to include action steps. That’s why I started clearly stating the “big idea” and offering a “challenge” people could apply each week. Ultimately, I had to let go of the idea that just giving people the right information was enough. Discipleship requires helping them live it out.

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ChatGPT: What role does preaching uniquely play in the discipleship process—compared to things like small groups, Bible studies, or one-on-one mentoring?

Paul:
I believe the unique role of preaching is to give people a weekly opportunity to make a decision.

Yes, I know that most people forget the sermon by Tuesday. In fact, I forget most of the sermons I’ve heard! But there’s a cumulative effect to sitting under good preaching. It becomes a spiritual discipline that shapes us over time.

Every week, I want to create a space where people can respond to what God is saying. That’s why I include a time of Prayer Response after the sermon—with an invitation to see me to ask questions, to make a commitment to follow Jesus, and to pray silently using prayer prompts.

Preaching isn’t mainly about giving new information (that’s the role of teaching). It’s about calling people to make a decision in their discipleship journey.

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ChatGPT: What have you learned over the years about preaching in a way that actually leads to transformation—not just agreement? What makes the difference between a message that’s merely heard and one that shapes someone’s life?

Paul:
Honestly, a lot depends on the individual preacher. When I was younger, I tried to mimic the styles of preachers I admired. But I had to learn to be true to who God created me to be.

That said, two things really make a difference: passion and preparation.

I need to feel passionate about what I’m preaching—that’s why I prepare the sermon the week I preach it. I just can’t do it weeks in advance. I have to be in the text and in the moment to preach it from the heart.

But passion without preparation isn’t enough. We have to handle Scripture well. That means spending time reading, meditating, praying, and using solid study tools. I want to understand what the original audience would have heard so I can faithfully apply it today.

When a preacher is clearly invested—heart and mind—the congregation notices. That’s when preaching starts to move from noise to transformation.

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ChatGPT: How does your approach to sermon planning and series design reflect your desire to make disciples? What factors do you consider when deciding what to preach next?

Paul:
For me, preaching is about opening the Scriptures for people. I take 2 Timothy 3:16–17 seriously. Scripture is what God gave us to equip and train His people. So even when I do topical series, each sermon is grounded in a single text.

Right now, I’m committed to preaching through books of the Bible. I believe that in doing so, we naturally encounter the full range of human experience and the central themes of the Christian faith.

For example, preaching through Jude allowed me to focus on faith and the message of the Gospel. Preaching through Nahum opened the door to talk about God’s justice, covenant, and the tension between His goodness and judgment.


So when I plan a series, I think about:

• What Scripture passages can help shape us?

• What themes or doctrines does the congregation need to engage with?

• How does this help form disciples?

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ChatGPT: What do you most hope your congregation experiences through your preaching—not just in the moment, but over the long haul of their discipleship?

Paul:
Two things: truth and hope.

I want them to experience the truthfulness of Scripture—not as a dusty old book, but as the living, revealing Word of God. I want them to see that it speaks into their lives and helps them live faithfully in this world.

And I want them to experience the hope of the resurrection. That’s the core of Christianity. Because Jesus rose, we can live with confidence, knowing King Jesus will return and make all things right.

This hope gives us strength to keep going when life is hard. It helps us remain faithful when the path of discipleship is steep. Long-term discipleship needs that kind of hope—and I want my preaching to cultivate it.

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ChatGPT: If you could give one piece of advice to pastors who want their preaching to make disciples—not just attenders—what would it be?

Paul:
Here’s my advice: “Remember that the core mission of the Church is to make disciples.”

We’re not called to give inspirational speeches or life tips. We’re called to preach to make disciples.

That means, first and foremost, preaching Scripture. Open the Bible. Help people understand it. Give them the truth the Holy Spirit can use to transform their lives.

And second—prepare well. Know the text. Do the work. If we want to feed the flock, we need to know the food we’re giving them.


Final Thought:

Preaching isn’t about being impressive. It’s about being faithful. If we commit to opening God’s Word with clarity, passion, and purpose, we give people what they need to grow—not just in knowledge, but in Christlikeness.

Practicing to Become Like Jesus: A Conversation on Spiritual Disciplines

Paul’s Ponderings Interview | July 2025

In this edition of Paul’s Ponderings, pastor and writer Paul Steele reflects on a topic foundational to discipleship but often misunderstood: spiritual disciplines. In this interview-style post, Paul shares his journey, practical wisdom, and pastoral insights on how the spiritual disciplines form us into people who truly reflect Jesus.


Q: What first drew you to the practice of spiritual disciplines, and how has your understanding of them changed over time?

Paul:

Even though I grew up in a Christian family, was heavily involved in church, and went to Bible college to become a pastor, I don’t recall hearing much about spiritual disciplines and their importance. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t encouraged to read the Bible and pray, but those activities weren’t framed as intentional practices of transformation.

Looking back, I think a lot of it had to do with the belief that the Holy Spirit would just transform your heart and you’d magically desire the right things. I heard stories of people “getting saved” and suddenly wanting to read the Bible and pray—but that wasn’t my experience. For me, those things were hard.

Everything shifted when I read The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg. The subtitle, Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People, really captured the heart of it. What struck me was the idea that transformation takes intention. That book introduced me to Dallas Willard and his books Renovation of the Heart and The Spirit of the Disciplines.

One quote from Willard really stuck with me:

“A successful performance at a moment of crisis rests largely and essentially upon the depths of a self wisely and rigorously prepared in the totality of its being—mind and body.”

Willard helped me see that if I wanted to live like Jesus, I had to train to become like Jesus. Spiritual disciplines became, for me, like athletic drills—practices that shape who I’m becoming. I’ve gone from barely thinking about them to seeing them as essential to life with Christ.

Q: What are a few spiritual disciplines that have been especially meaningful to you in this season of life, and why?

Paul: 

One practice that’s been incredibly grounding for me started after watching an old video of Dallas Willard. He was being interviewed and asked, “What does a typical day look like for Dallas Willard?” He smiled and said, “There are no typical days.” But then he described how, no matter what, he began each morning slowly praying through the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23.

That gave me permission to have one simple, consistent rhythm—even if everything else falls through. My daily rhythm includes five elements:

• The One Minute Pause app to quiet my mind.
• Reciting the Jesus Creed (“Hear, O Israel… Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor”).
• Praying Colossians 1:9 for myself, my family, and our church.
• Praying the Lord’s Prayer.
• Pledging my allegiance to King Jesus.

It takes about ten minutes. But if I do nothing else that day—no journaling, no extended Bible reading—I’ve still intentionally connected with God and surrendered to Him. That consistency has been life-changing.

Another helpful discipline is what John Eldredge calls benevolent detachment—the practice of releasing things to God rather than carrying worry and stress. Bible reading is also foundational because it reminds me to go to God for wisdom, not the world.

Q: Some people see spiritual disciplines as dry, legalistic, or burdensome. How would you respond to someone who’s skeptical or discouraged about them?

Paul:

I get that. Honestly, I’ve felt that way too—especially with how spiritual disciplines are sometimes presented. When they’re treated like a checklist or proof of your faith, they can feel judgmental and oppressive. That’s not what Jesus intended.

The key is understanding the “why” behind the disciplines. They’re not about proving your worth; they’re about partnering with God for transformation. The goal isn’t performance—it’s becoming more like Jesus.

That’s why I love the analogy of practice. Whether you’re an athlete or musician, you don’t perform well without training. You don’t magically show up ready for the big game or concert. In the same way, we can’t expect to respond with Christlike love, wisdom, or patience in real life if we haven’t practiced those virtues through the disciplines.

And yes, some days will feel dry. Some seasons will feel like a grind. But just like exercise or any other training, those days still shape you. In fact, they might be the most important days to stay with it.

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting out with spiritual disciplines? How should they begin without getting overwhelmed or discouraged?

Paul:

I would suggest three things. 

First, realize you’re probably already doing more than you think. Acts 2:42 describes how the early church devoted themselves to four core practices: studying Scripture, being in community, taking the Lord’s Supper, and praying. Most people who follow Jesus are already doing one or more of those in some way—they just don’t recognize it as a discipline.

Second, establish a minimum. Not the ideal day, but the minimum you can commit to every day. For most people, this will involve Scripture, prayer, or stillness. Ask yourself: “What four- or five-minute practice could I do every day to stay grounded in God?” That one daily rhythm can be a game-changer.

Third, give yourself permission to experiment. Just because a discipline doesn’t click right away doesn’t mean you’re failing. Don’t copy someone else’s exact formula—find what connects you to Jesus. That freedom actually makes the disciplines more fruitful.

Q: How do you see spiritual disciplines shaping the future of the Church? Why do they matter now more than ever?

Paul:

With the renewed emphasis on discipleship and making disciples, the natural question becomes: How do we actually do that? One answer—and one I haven’t seen emphasized enough—is to teach people practices that shape them into disciples of Jesus.

Spiritual disciplines are crucial today because we live in an age of constant digital distraction. With the internet, social media, and 24/7 news cycles, most Christians in America are being discipled more by politics, influencers, and algorithms than by Jesus. And they don’t even realize it.

Without regular, intentional spiritual practices, we leave ourselves wide open to spiritual drift. We can’t expect transformation if we’re not creating space for the Holy Spirit to work. Spiritual disciplines are one of the most effective tools we have to resist cultural formation and instead be conformed to the image of Christ.

Final Thought:
If we want to live like Jesus, we have to train like Jesus. Spiritual disciplines are not about earning anything—they’re about becoming someone. And that someone is a citizen of the Kingdom, shaped by love, grounded in truth, and empowered by the Spirit.

Pledge Your Allegiance to King Jesus: A Conversation on the American Church, Patriotism, and Politics

The following is an experiment I ran with ChatGPT. I asked it: “Could you help me do an interview style blog post? You can ask me questions and I write my response. When it is all done you can put it into a single document. I would like to have a conversation about the American Church, patriotism, and politics.” 

This is the result.

Paul’s Ponderings Interview | July 2025

In this special edition of Paul’s Ponderings, we sat down with pastor and blogger Paul Steele to discuss a topic that’s as timely as it is complicated: how the American Church navigates patriotism, politics, and allegiance to Jesus. What follows is a candid and thoughtful conversation about discipleship, division, and what it really means to belong to God’s Kingdom.

Q: When you look at the American Church today, what gives you hope? And what concerns you the most?

Paul:

What gives me hope is a renewed emphasis on discipleship and a clearer call to allegiance to King Jesus. After decades of “church growth” focused primarily on Sunday morning worship services, more and more people are talking about the importance of actual disciples as the true metric of church health.

Along with that shift are scholars like N.T. Wright, Scot McKnight, and Matthew Bates, who help reframe the Gospel as the story of Jesus and how He became King. Therefore, the only appropriate response to that reality is allegiance to the King.

My concern, when it comes to the American Church, is politics—and this is both a right and a left issue. Conservative Christians and Progressive Christians alike want to use politics and the U.S. government to do the work of the Kingdom. This has caused deep divisions. Especially on the conservative side, there’s been an unhealthy merging of Republican politics with the Church itself.

Q: You mentioned allegiance to King Jesus. How does that allegiance shape the way Christians should relate to their nation—especially when patriotic values seem to conflict with Kingdom values?

Paul:

This has been something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. In the United States, it’s been possible for a long time to hold dual allegiance—to the country and to Jesus. This is rooted in the belief that the U.S. is a Christian nation. While there’s no doubt that Christian values influenced the founders, that influence is often overstated.

Because of that, patriotism can feel like an extension of our faith. That’s why it’s so important to emphasize that our first allegiance is to King Jesus and His Kingdom. With that as our foundation, we can live out Jeremiah’s call to the exiles—to seek the good of the community. As citizens of Heaven, we work for the good of our communities, and since we have a voice through voting and activism, we should use it.

But we also need to remain humble. We might have strong preferences for how government should work, but we don’t always know the unintended consequences of policies. So we should be grateful for the freedoms we enjoy and seek to influence society—remembering that God’s Kingdom is ultimately about His people demonstrating His character, not about enforcing human laws.

Q: In your experience as a pastor, how have you seen politics impact the life and unity of the church—both positively and negatively?

Paul:

To be honest, I don’t have a lot to say about politics having a positive impact on church unity. From my experience, it’s mostly been negative. And I have to admit—I’ve contributed to that. Between 2014 and 2017, I went through what I call my “obnoxious libertarian” phase. I used Facebook (and even the pulpit) to challenge conservative political assumptions. In 2017, a church member called me out on it, and that really made me reflect on how my own political ideology was shaping how I interpreted the Bible—just like I had criticized others for doing.

We’ve had people leave the church from both sides—left-leaning folks who felt out of place among outspoken conservatives, and others who left during COVID because they felt we didn’t open fast enough. Politics can unify, but only temporarily—and usually only if everyone thinks the same way. The downside is that it creates an environment where anyone who doesn’t share those values doesn’t feel like they belong.

It’s also become harder to preach on biblical themes like justice, the role of women, or loving enemies without being accused of “going woke.” Too many Christians let politics shape how they read the Bible, instead of letting the Bible shape their politics.

Q: How do you personally navigate the tension between being politically aware and engaged, while resisting the pull to place your hope in politics?

Paul:

It starts by remembering that I’m first and foremost a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. One of the disciplines that helps me is to daily pledge my allegiance to King Jesus and declare that I am a loyal citizen of His Kingdom. Without that intentional reminder, it’s easy to get pulled into the political drama of the day.

Once I’ve grounded myself in that identity, I can think about my responsibility as a Kingdom representative. That includes prayer—1 Timothy 2:1–4 teaches us to pray for leaders so we can live peaceful, quiet lives. It also includes being a good steward of our freedom through voting and activism.

But I always try to hold my preferences with humility. I’m not wise enough to see all the consequences of the policies I support. And above all, I want to love my neighbor well. The Kingdom isn’t going to come through elections and laws—it’s going to come through love and living out God’s character in the world.

Q: What does it look like for you, as a pastor, to disciple people who are deeply shaped by political ideologies? How do you lead them toward deeper allegiance to Jesus without alienating them?

Paul:

That’s the million-dollar question. A lot of pastors are trying to navigate these dangerous waters of politics and faith. And as I’ve said, this is not something I’ve always handled well.

More than anything, I think we need to create an atmosphere where we let the Bible speak. I often remind people: “The Bible is written for us, but not to us.” We need to read Scripture through the lens of the original audience, not through modern political categories. Once we understand the original message, we can apply it to our context today.

The goal is to avoid unnecessary labels like “woke” or “bigot” and instead ask: “What would the original hearers have understood this to mean?”

I also want people to see that from a Kingdom perspective, our greatest tools for political impact are prayer and disciple-making. Changing hearts will change communities. So my job is to teach the Bible clearly and trust the Holy Spirit to convict people where needed. Whenever we challenge someone’s political views, we risk defensiveness. So we lead with Scripture, with love, and with trust in God’s timing.

Q: If you could offer one message to the American Church in this cultural and political moment, what would it be?

Paul:

It would simply be: “Pledge your allegiance to King Jesus.”

In Matthew 6:24, Jesus teaches that we cannot serve two masters. It’s hard to help people see that politics and patriotism can compete with allegiance to Jesus—but that’s often what’s happening. So I want to encourage the Church to obey the truth of Scripture and place our faith, trust, and loyalty in Jesus above all else.

Final Thoughts:

This conversation reminds us that while politics has a place, it should never take the throne. True transformation doesn’t come through elections or policies—it comes through prayer, discipleship, humility, and radical allegiance to King Jesus.