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Generally speaking, in order for me to recommend a teacher, speaker, or author, he or she has to meet three criteria:
a) A female teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly preach to or teach men in violation of 1 Timothy 2:12. A male teacher or pastor cannot allow women to carry out this violation of Scripture in his ministry. The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be living in any other sin (for example, cohabiting with her boyfriend or living as a homosexual).
b) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be partnering with or frequently appearing with false teachers. This is a violation of Scripture.
c) The pastor or teacher cannot currently and unrepentantly be teaching false doctrine.
I recommend against any teacher or ministry who violates one or more of these biblical tenets.
I am not very familiar with most of the teachers I’m asked about (there are so many out there!) and have not had the opportunity to examine their writings or hear them speak, so most of the “quick checking” I do involves items a and b (although in order to partner with false teachers (b) it is reasonable to assume their doctrine is acceptable to the false teacher and that they are not teaching anything that would conflict with the false teacher’s doctrine). Partnering with false teachers and women preaching to men are each sufficient biblical reasons not to follow a pastor, teacher, or author, or use his/her materials.
Just to be clear, “not recommended” is a spectrum. On one end of this spectrum are people like Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth and Kay Arthur. These are people I would not label as false teachers because their doctrine is generally sound, but because of some red flags I’m seeing with them, you won’t find me proactively endorsing them or suggesting them as a good resource, either. There are better people you could be listening to. On the other end of the spectrum are people like Joyce Meyer and Rachel Held Evans- complete heretics whose teachings, if believed, might lead you to an eternity in Hell. Most of the teachers I review fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum (leaning toward the latter).
If you’d like to check out some pastors and teachers I heartily recommend, click the Recommended Bible Teachers tab at the top of this page.
John and Lisa Bevere
Not Recommended
Primary issues with the Beveres: Word of Faith (prosperity gospel) and New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) heresy, they yoke with numerous false teachers, Lisa preaches to men
New Apostolic Reformation
New Apostolic Reformation articles
The Mailbag: What is the New Apostolic Reformation?
The Mailbag: Should Christians listen to “Reckless Love”? (Contains videos and discussion of blasphemous NAR music, practices, and beliefs)
Theological Issues
NAR false teaching: John and Lisa’s false teaching can be observed in the many videos linked under “Yoking in Ministry with Other False Teachers”. They teach a lot about so-called prophecy and extra-biblical revelation.
Preaching to men: Lisa can be observed preaching to men in most of the videos linked under “Yoking in Ministry with Other False Teachers”. Her speaking engagement calendar boasts a number of dates when she is preaching the Sunday services at various churches.
Lisa also advocates for women preaching/pastoring in her book Without Rival.
In her article, Women: The Great Commission is Your Permission, you can watch Lisa mercilessly twist Acts 4 and the Great Commission (from The Message, no less) in an attempt to make Scripture endorse women preaching. She even goes so far as to compare Christians who rightly understand that Scripture prohibits women from preaching to the council of Pharisees and Sadducees who imprisoned and “threatened” the apostles (and in the very next chapter, beat them) for preaching the gospel:
For more than two millennia religious leaders have limited and at times prohibited thousands of the church’s daughters from preaching and teaching in the sacred spaces under its governance. Read Acts 4:18 again:
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
As I pondered this verse, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Far too many of the daughters I called and gifted by my Spirit for ministry have been held back and denied their call by the church.”
You might have heard religious leaders say, “Women can teach other women but not men.” Or, “Women can share, but there is to be no preaching.” And: “Women can lead, as long as it is outside the church.” These veiled threats appear to be more reasonable, but the result is the same: the gospel is contained…Yet the question before us is the same one raised by Peter and John. Is it right in the sight of God to listen to men rather than to obey God?
“Missions”: John and Lisa have a missions organization called Messenger International, through which they spread their heresy all over the world. Notice the word “resources” in the image below. It doesn’t mean “trustworthy translations of the Bible”. It means their own books.:
The Passion “Translation” (TPT):
The Passion “Translation” is not a translation at all, but more like an NAR fanfic of the Bible, or the NAR’s dangerous and twisted re-write of the Bible. The Beveres not only frequently quote and teach from TPT (and The Message – also not a translation of the Bible, but an error-laden paraphrase from another false teacher), they wrote a hearty endorsement on the TPT website (right alongside some of the worst of the worst NAR heretics alive today: Bill Johnson, Bobbie Houston, Lou Engle, James Goll, Patricia King, Heidi Baker, Banning Liebscher, Che Ahn, Chuck Pierce, Lana Vawser, and Bianca Olthoff.)
John also wrote a devotion for the TPT blog, and Lisa wrote two. And John and Lisa have both gushed over TPT on social media.
Yoking in Ministry with Other False Teachers
John and Lisa associate and partner in ministry almost exclusively with some of the worst of the worst false teachers. Here are just a handful of hundreds of examples:
Benny Hinn (NAR, faith healer):
Early in his ministry, John served in various pastoral capacities under his pastor, Benny Hinn. Because this was in the 1980’s-90’s (pre-Internet), and because John has attempted to distance himself from this fact, there appears not to be any hard online proof (links, pictures, screenshots, etc.) readily available, but it is common knowledge and can be researched offline.
Credit: A Cry for Justice
John served on Joyce Meyer Ministry’s board of directors.
Lisa on Joyce’s podcast, The Big Questions For Women with Lisa Bevere | Joyce Meyer’s Talk It Out Podcast | Episode 117
Lisa on Joyce’s program, Defying a Culture of Rejection – Pt 1 | Enjoying Everyday Life | Joyce Meyer
Lisa spoke at Joyce’s 2023 women’s conference: LIVE with Lisa Bevere | Love Life Women’s Conference Session #5 (“Joyce has been a mother to so many of us…”)
Hillsong (and Brian & Bobbie Houston)
Lisa has her own page at the Hillsong website.
Lisa has preached the Sunday sermon at Hillsong: Hillsong Church – How Gritty Are You? and here.
John and Lisa spoke at the Excel Conference with Brian Houston.
“Love and respect our friends” John and Lisa Bevere, Bobbie Houston says in this Instagram post promoting John’s new book.
Lisa wrote an endorsement for Bobbie’s book, The Sisterhood.
Lisa has spoken at Colour Conference multiple times: Rise and Build: Marriage Shouldn’t Shrink Your Life [FULL SERMON] — Lisa Bevere | Colour Conference
John has preached at Hillsong multiple times: “What a great night at @hillsong Church. I’m always amazed at the health of this church. @brianchouston and @bobbiehouston what an amazing job you’ve done in leading this global church. Lisa and I are honored to be your friends.”
Lisa interviewed by Christine (and Laurie Crouch): Lisa Bevere: THIS Is What God Created Women For! | Fight for Female | Women of Faith on TBN
Lisa spoke at Christine’s Propel Women’s Conference.
Christine calls Lisa her “beloved friend“.
Lisa wrote the foreword for Kris’ book Destined to Win
Kris calls Lisa a “great prophet/teacher” in this Instagram post.
John spoke at the Modern Prophetic Symposium with Kris and other NAR heretics, including Shawn Bolz, Cindy Jacobs, and Lance Wallnau.
John and Lisa each have their own pages on Bethel’s website.
Lisa spoke at the Jesus Culture Encounter Conference: Lisa Bevere | Jesus Culture Encounter Conference 2018
Lisa has been a featured speaker several times at Bethel’s Wonder Conference.
Lisa has spoken at Bethel’s Prophetic Conference (twice): The Rock | Lisa Bevere | Prophetic Conference 2019
The Killing Kryptonite Tour featured John and Bethel Music: ANNOUNCING KILLING KRYPTONITE TOUR WITH JOHN BEVERE
The Awe of God Tour featured John and Bethel worship leader Kim Walker-Smith: John Bevere — The Awe of God Tour with Kim Walker-Smith
John spoke at Bethel’s Open Heavens conference: John Bevere | Open Heavens 2017 | Bethel Church
Joel & Victoria Osteen (Lakewood)
John and Lisa spoke at the Spark Marriage Conference: Spark Marriage Conference 2021 | Lakewood Church
Lisa spoke at the Love Your Life Conference: Lakewood Church Love Your Life (2017)
Joel gushed over “my friend, John Bevere,” and promoted his new book.
Lisa was interviewed by Joel and Victoria on Joel’s radio show.
Assorted Other False Teachers and Heretics:
John and Lisa appeared on Paula White’s podcast.
Lisa preached chapel at Oral Roberts University: ORU Chapel 2024: “The Fight for Female” by Lisa Bevere | Sept. 11th, 2024
Lisa preaching at Robert Morris’ Gateway “Church”: Sheer Joy | Lisa Bevere | First Conference | Gateway Church
John and Lisa, both individually and together have appeared numerous times (too many videos for individual links) on Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural.
Lisa preached the Sunday sermon at T.D. Jakes’ The Potter’s House (North Dallas campus “pastored” by Sheryl Brady)
Joni Lamb calls Lisa a “long time friend” in this Instagram post.
John honored Morris Cerullo.
Lisa spoke at the Divine Conference with Jentezen Franklin.
Mike Bickle promoted John’s The Awe of God Tour.
John appeared on Shawn Bolz’s podcast.
A who’s who of false teachers and heretics have written endorsements for Lisa’s books. Just one example: Without Rival carries written endorsements from: “Pastor” Holly Wagner, Chris Hodges, Sheila Walsh, “Pastor” Caroline Barnett, “Pastor” Charlotte Gambill, “Pastors” Steven and Holly Furtick, “Pastor” Victoria Osteen, Kris Vallotton, James Robison, Jenn Johnson, Sarah Bessey, Lisa Harper, “Pastors” Brian and Bobbie Houston, Jentezen Franklin, Christine Caine, and Mark Batterson.
Additional Resources:
Uncovering the Beveres’ False Teachings at Famine in the Land (YouTube) – This is a really good, general overview of the Beveres’ false teaching.
Exposing John and Lisa Bevere in Deliverance Ministry, Repentance, and Sanctification with Dave Jenkins and Michelle Lesley
Beware of the Unbiblical Beveres with Doreen Virtue and Dave Jenkins
Confronting John and Lisa Bevere at The Messed Up Church
John and Lisa Bevere at Fighting for the Faith (podcast archives)
John and Lisa Bevere at Fighting For the Faith (YouTube)
John Bevere at NAR Connections
John and Lisa Bevere at Famine in the Land (YouTube)
Killing Kryptonite: The Bait of John Bevere at Famine in the Land (blog)
Unequally Yoked: When Christians Platform False Teachers at A Word Fitly Spoken
