The Corrupted Ground of Church History

✝️ The Corrupted Ground of Church History

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:17

🌱 Introduction

  • Church history is like a field—the ground—where seeds are sown.

  • The true church is called to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

  • But corruption entered when God’s words were corrupted, producing a tree of error and fruit of destruction (Isa. 57:4–5).

Theme: Corrupt thoughts → corrupt hearts → corrupt words → corrupt church traditions.

I. 🌾 The Seed of Corruption Sown

  • The root began in corrupt thoughts of men who thought they knew more than God.

    • 2 Cor. 10:5 – “Imaginations… against the knowledge of God.”

    • John 16:2 – “They think they do God service.”

  • Modern “corrupt Bibles” are the result of this false thinking, replacing God’s truth with man’s wisdom.

  • Illustration: A seed of weed looks harmless but spreads to choke the field.

II. 🪨 The Ground Becomes Corrupt

  • The church is meant to be “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).

  • When ground is corrupted, truth is no longer upheld—error is elevated instead.

    • Rev. 2:12–15 – Pergamos: the church married to the world.

    • Modern parallels: worldly worship and “elevated” churches.

  • The danger: ground once meant for truth becomes ground of compromise.

III. 🌳 The Growth of Corrupt Tradition

  • From corrupted ground come corrupted trees and traditions.

    • Mt. 15:2–3 – Man’s traditions vs. God’s commandments.

    • Mark 7:3–13 – “Making the word of God of none effect.”

    • Col. 2:8 – “Philosophy and vain deceit.”

    • 1 Cor. 2:4–5, 13 – True preaching is Spirit, not man’s wisdom.

  • Illustration: Wheat and tares (Mt. 13:25–27) – hard to tell apart until harvest.

IV. ⚔️ The Battle for the Ground of the Heart

  • The ground is not just history—it’s your heart and mind.

  • Corruption spreads when:

    • Gal. 5:1 – We become entangled again.

    • 2 Pet. 2:20 – Escaped, but ensnared again.

    • 2 Tim. 2:4 – Entangled in worldly affairs.

  • The heart is the true battlefield (Gal. 5:17).

  • Examples of listening to wrong voices:

    • Eve to the serpent (Gen. 3:1–4).

    • Moses to Jethro.

    • Amnon to Jonadab.

    • Samson to Delilah.

🌟 Conclusion

  • Corrupt ground leads to corrupt fruit.

  • Guard the ground of your heart and the ground of the church.

  • The church must remain the pillar and ground of truth—not error.

Challenge: What voices are you listening to? Is your ground tilled by God’s Word, or corrupted by man’s traditions?

Jeffrey smith