Wolves in the Woods

Claire Black: Welcome to True Girl, a podcast for girls and their moms. I’m Claire Black. Together we’ll explore God’s truth for us one drive at a time.

Song:

I am a true girl.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am, I am, I am a true girl!

You’re about to learn something that could help you follow Jesus wisely for the rest of your life.

It’s Season 24 of the True Girl podcast, and we’re going to learn how to listen for the Shepherd’s voice. The Bible says we’re like sheep—and that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. But there are dangers we have to watch out for . . . like wolves!

That might sound a little scary, but don’t worry. Jesus didn’t warn us to make us afraid. He warned us so we could become wise—testing everything we hear by comparing it to the words in our Bibles.

Our key verse for this season comes from 1 John 4:1: 

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.

In this season, Dannah is joined by one of her best friends and True Girl lead teacher, Suzy Weibel. Suzy is bringing her giant Bernese Mountain Dogs over to walk with Dannah’s dog Moosie, but someone else is ahead of them in the trail!

This season is called “Testing the Teaching,” and we’re ready for episode one, “Wolves in the Woods.”

Here’s Dannah.

(Dogs barking)

Dannah Gresh: Whoa! Suzy, you warned me . . . but I still wasn’t prepared for this.

Suzy Weibel: Prepared for what? 

Dannah: For the thunderstorm of dogs that just exploded out of your car . . . thank you very much!

Suzy: Oh! Yeah! Sometimes, I’m not even ready. (laughter)

Hey Moosie, meet Sherman, Zuzu, Selah, and Sookie!

Dannah: Wow!

Suzy: They’re just excited! 

Dannah: Excited? Suzy, Sherman just galloped across the driveway like a small horse.

Suzy: Well, he does weigh 110 pounds! 

Dannah: His head is the size of Moosie’s whole body!

Suzy: Okay, that might be a little exaggerated.

Alrighty then. Leashes are on. We’re almost ready . . .

Dannah: Suzy, they really are magnificent. What do I need to know about this kind of dog?

Suzy: Here’s my best announcer voice: 

The Bernese Mountain Dog hails from Switzerland where he served as an all-purpose farm and watch dog. His job is to bark to let the farmer know that strangers are on the grounds. He can pull up to two times his weight, so you’ll often see a Berner (that’s their official nickname) hooked up to and pulling a small cart. And even the Swiss farmers knew that these gentle giants are people-oriented. The Berner is not to be left out in the barn at night, but is going to want to curl up and be a couch potato wherever his family is.

Dannah: Well, if we ever don’t have a position here for you at True Girl, you definitely can have a career as an announcer.

Suzy: Awesome!

Dannah: Well, let’s get on the walking trail. 

Suzy: Alright.

Dannah: A few years ago, Farmer Bob cut the brush back and made me a two-mile walk through the forest. 

So . . . oops! Wait. Sorry. I forgot.

Carl Epley’s out in the yard.

Suzy: Your sheep?

Dannah: The one and only.

Suzy: laughter)

Dannah: Now, where did that fluffer nutter get to?

Suzy: Umm . . . Dannah?

Dannah: Yeah?

(Rustling in the brush)

Suzy: Is that him?

Dannah: Carl Epley!! Come back here sir!!

Oh, that’s just great! He’s running into the woods.

(Bleating in the distance and barking)

Dannah: And there he goes. Oh, frazzle snazzle! Well, we better get going after him. 

(Footsteps and dog paws with dogs panting and pulling)

I sometimes take him on a walk on this trail with Moosie and me. So, let’s hope we can catch up to him and he wants to walk back with us . . . before it gets too dark.

Suzy: Carl Epley, wait for us!

(Walking in the brush)

Dannah: Hey, Suzy, ya know, I was thinking about the conversation you and I had the other day in my office at True Girl.

Suzy: The one about which Jelly Belly flavor I’d pick if I could only have one for the rest of my life? Dannah! I distinctly recall winning that debate hands down. Buttered Popcorn is clearly the fan favorite flavor!

Dannah: No, not that conversation. (And Buttered Popcorn is clearly the most controversial of flavors. I’m pretty sure the clear winner would be Juicy Pear!)

Suzy: Verdict is still out.

Dannah: But I meant the conversation we had about being discerning. 

Suzy: Oh, that one!

Yes, I actually have a passion for Christians to be able to tell the difference between what is true and what is not. There are a lot of false teachings saying untrue things about Jesus, the Bible, the Church. Don’t get me fired up again.

Dannah: Well, I kind of want to, because what you told me got me fired up. 

Since you told me about your concern, I’ve seen it everywhere . . . so many false teachers.

I was watching a video online, and a woman was talking about God. At first it sounded really nice. She spoke kindly. She smiled a lot, and she said things that sounded encouraging.

But then she said something that made me pause. She said, “God just wants you to follow your heart. Whatever feels right to you is the right path.”

Suzy: Ugh!

Dannah: Yeah!

I mean, she sounded so good at first. But when I heard that, I thought, Wait a minute . . .

Suzy: Because the Bible actually tells us something very different.

Dannah: It sure does.

In Jeremiah 17:9, the Bible says the human heart can actually be deceitful. That means it lies to us. Our hearts won’t always lead us the right way. So instead of following our hearts, the Bible teaches us to follow Jesus and obey God’s Word.

Suzy: High-five, girlfriend!

That’s an example of testing the teaching. Which is something every Christian is supposed to do with everything they hear and no matter who they hear it from!

Dannah: Exactly.

Suzy: First John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God.”

I’m so glad we don’t have to rely on our own feelings or experiences or authority for this. We have a trustworthy guide, and that’s God’s Word. Testing the words of teachers is often this simple—does it come from and agree with God’s Word. If there is a conflict, (ding, ding, ding) we have a false teaching. 

Dannah: Do you think there are more false teachers today than there used to be?

Suzy: Well, Jesus does give us a warning. He says the number of false teachers will increase as we get closer and closer to the time that He returns to earth. 

And the apostle Paul said that as a result some people would actually abandon the faith!

Dannah: I feel like we’re seeing that happen.

Suzy: It may be that because of things like YouTube and social media. False teachers just have more ways to spread their false teaching! But one thing is sure, today we are one day closer to the return of Jesus than we were yesterday!

(Coyotes howling; dogs barking)

Dannah & Suzy: Coyotes!

Dannah: We have had a problem with them around here the past few years.

Suzy: Yikes! Well, I guess it’s good we have the Berners along for the walk. They’re so big n coyote is going to mess with them. .

(Coyotes howling)

Dannah: Oh wow, this is crazy! I wish Carl Epley hadn’t wandered off!

Suzy: Oh no, that’s right! We’ve got to find him and get him here where he’ll be safe.

(Bleating fearfully in distance; dogs barking)

Dannah: Carl Epley! There you are! Come here buddy!

Suzy: He’s just peeking out of that bush like . . .

Dannah: He’s afraid of the horse-sized barking dogs! Trust me, buddy, they’re not barking at you. They’re protecting you.

Suzy: Shhhh! Sherman. Zuzu, Saymo, Sookie . . . SIT!

(quiet)

Dannah: Impressive obedience!

Okay, Carl Epley, come here, please. These guys are your friends. They’re actually going to protect you from those big, bad coyotes. These guys are bigger.

Suzy: But a whole lot nicer!

(Bleating in the distance)

Come here, buddy. I brought your lead.

Suzy: Well, he’s taken a few steps toward us. That’s progress! Hey, wait. This is amazing. Do you know what he’s doing?

Dannah: Testing my patience!?

Suzy: No. He’s testing the spirits . . . of my Bernese Mountain Dogs. He’s 

moving carefully to be sure they are safe.

Brilliant! These dogs are much larger than coyotes . . . and there are four of them. But he is testing and trusting slowly.

(Close up bleating)

Dannah: Come on buddy . . . yes! Well, I guess he’s cured of his fear of Bernese Mountain Dogs!

(Snapping the lead line on. Bleating.)

Dannah: Okay, you’re safe now Carl Epley.

Suzy: Those wolves won’t come near this pack!

It’s almost like God ordered an object lesson for us?

Dannah: Meaning?

Suzy: Well, the false teachers I was telling you about? The Bible calls them . . .

Dannah and Suzy: Wolves!

Suzy: Yes! And when I first heard those coyotes, I thought maybe they were wolves.

Jesus said “Beware of false prophets (or teachers) who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.”

False teachers are like wolves, and they don’t look like my Bernese Mountain Dogs. They try to look like one of the sheep. 

Dannah: Uh, Carl Epply, is that really you? (bleating)

Suzy: (giggle) Jesus was warning us about something important. Some people may look like they belong with God’s people—His sheep. And wolves in sheep's clothing may even say they’re teaching about Him—but what they say isn’t actually true.

How about we head back!

Dannah: Good idea.

Suzy: Ya know, one more thing.

Dannah: What?

Suzy: You’re still wrong about the best Jelly Belly flavor. It’s Buttered Popcorn.

Dannah: I do not believe you to be correct, ma’am. If not Juicy Pear, I’m sure it's Watermelon.

Suzy: Any chance you’d agree to black licorice?

Dannah: Blahh!

Claire: Come on, Dannah and Suzy. Everyone knows the best flavor is Very Cherry. It’s the longstanding #1! 

But we should be even more discerning about Bible teachers than our favorite jelly bean. That's what really matters.

I think it’s important to say this: good teachers are a good thing. We all need trustworthy teachers to help us understand our Bibles. Dannah and Suzy, for example, are good teachers. But you should still test what they say. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:1 to test everything we hear to see if it comes from God. 

But what if those wolves look like sheep? How can you recognize them? Find out next time on the True Girl podcast.

In the meantime, you can catch Dannah or Suzy as lead teachers on the True Girl Crazy Hair Tour in certain cities across the nation. They’re joined by worship leaders Yancy or Cami Crites, who will invite you to stand strong in your faith and live boldly for Jesus! Your mom can get tickets at MyTrueGirl.com.

That’s also where you’ll find other resources for you to enjoy together, including the True Girl subscription box. You can get mom-daughter discipleship tools right at your door every sixty days! Again, find out more at MyTrueGirl.com.

Well, see you next time!

Song:

Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am a true girl.
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
I am, I am, I am a true girl!

The True Girl podcast is a production of Revive Our Hearts, calling women of all ages to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

*Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season.