Archive for the ‘1 Timothy’ Category

Spiritual Training 06 November 2013

Posted: November 6, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command 

1st Timothy: Timothy is a prime example of one who was influenced by godly relatives.  His mother, Enice, and grandmother, Lois, were Jewish believers who helped shape his life and promote his spiritual growth (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15)

MEGATHEMES

Sound Doctrine

 EXPLANATION: Paul instructed Timothy to preserve the Christian faith by teaching sound doctrine and modeling right living. Timothy had to oppose false teachers, who were leading church members away from belief in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

IMPORTANCE: We must know the truth in order to defend it. We must cling to the belief that Christ came to save us. We should stay away from those who twist the words of the Bible for their own purposes.

Public Worship

EXPLANATION: Prayer in public worship must be done with a proper attitude toward God and fellow believers.

IMPORTANCE: Christian character must be evident in every aspect of worship. We must rid ourselves of any anger, resentment, or offensive behavior that might disrupt worship or damage church unity.

Personal Discipline

EXPLANATION: It takes discipline to be a leader in the church. Timothy, like all pastors, had to guard his motives, minister faithfully, and live above reproach. Any pastor must keep morally and spiritually fit.

IMPORTANCE: To stay in good spiritual shape, you must discipline yourself to study God’s Word and to obey it. Put your spiritual abilities to work!

Caring Church

EXPLANATION: The church has a responsibility to care for the needs of all its members, especially the sick, the poor, and the widowed. Caring must go beyond good intentions.

IMPORTANCE: Caring for the family of believers demonstrates our Christ like attitude and exhibits genuine love to nonbelievers.

 

Spiritual Training 05 November 2013

Posted: November 4, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:20-21 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care.  Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith.  Grace be with you.      

The book of 1st Timothy provides guiding principles for local churches, including rules for public worship and qualifications for overseer (elders, pastors), deacons, and special church workers (widows).  Paul tells the church leaders to correct incorrect doctrine and to deal lovingly and fairly with all people in the church.  The church is not organized simply for the sake of organization, but so that Christ can be honored and glorified.

 Lets Bring it Home:  While studying these guidelines, don’t lose sight of what is most important in the life of the church-knowing God, working together in loving harmony, and taking God’s good News to the world.

Spiritual Training 04 November 2013

Posted: November 4, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:17-19  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.   Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.     

Ephesus was a wealthy city, and the Ephesian church probably had many wealthy members.  Paul advised Timothy to deal with any potential problems by teaching that having riches carries great responsibility.  If you have been blessed with wealth, then thank the Lord.  Don’t be proud and don’t trust in your money.  Use your money to do good.  Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.

Lets Bring it Home:  No matter how much money you have, your life should demonstrate that God controls the wealth that he has placed under your care.

Spiritual Training 01 November 2013

Posted: November 1, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:11-12 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.   

Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life: flee, pursue, fight, take hold.  Some think Christianity is a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act.  But we must have an active faith, training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what we know is right.  Is it time for action on your part?  Christian service, like athletics, requires, training and sacrifice. Our discipline and obedience largely define whether or not we will be contributors or merely spectators

Lets Bring it Home:  How would other believers rank your contributing role on Christ Team?

Spiritual Training 31 October 2013

Posted: November 1, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment.  We should honor God and center our desires on him (“godliness,” see Matthew 6:33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives (Philippians 4:11-13).

  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. 

 Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness.  Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction.  How can you keep away from the love of money? Paul gives us some guidelines:

(1)   realize that one day riches will all be gone

(2)   be content  with what you have

(3)   monitor what you are willing to do to get money

(4)   love people more than money

(5)   freely share what you have with others (6:18)

Lets Bring it Home: It is often helpful to distinguish between needs and wants.  We may have all we need to live but let ourselves become anxious and discontented over what we merely want.  Like Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want.  The only alternative is to be a slave to our desires.

Spiritual Training 30 October 2013

Posted: October 30, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing, He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

Paul told Timothy to stay away from those who just wanted to make money from preaching, and from those who strayed from the sound teachings of the gospel into quarrels that caused strife in the church.

Lets Bring it Home: A person’s understanding of the finer points of theology should not become the basis for lording it over others or for making money.  Stay away from people who just want to argue.

Spiritual Training 29 October 2013

Posted: October 29, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 5:22-25 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others, Keep yourself pure.  Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.  The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.  In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.    

Paul says that a church should never be in a hurry about choosing its leaders, especially the pastor, because major problems or sins might be overlooked.  It is a serious responsibility to choose church leaders.  They must have strong faith and be morally upright, having the qualities described in 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.

It is unclear why Paul gave this advice to Timothy, Perhaps contaminated water had led to Timothy’s indigestion and so he should stop drinking only water.  Whatever the reason, this statement is not an invitation to overindulgence or alcoholism. (If anyone can explain this please feel free to hit me back)

Lets Bring it Home: Not everyone who wants to be a church leader is eligible.  Be certain of an applicant’s qualifications before asking him or her to take a leadership position.

Spiritual Training 28 October 2013

Posted: October 27, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 5:19-21 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.  I charge you, in the sight of god and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 

Church leaders are not exempt from sin, faults, and mistakes.  But they are often criticized for the wrong reasons-minor imperfections; failure to meet someone’s expectations, personality clashes.  Thus Paul said that accusations should not even be heard unless two or three witness confirms them.  Sometimes church leaders should be confronted about their behavior, and sometimes they should be rebuke.  But all rebuking must be done fairly and lovingly, and for the purpose of restoration.

Church leadership is a heavy responsibility, As difficult as it might be, Timothy was not to waver on any of Paul’s instruction (and particularly the instructions about rebuking elders).  Any needed discipline or rebuke must be administered without regard to Timothy’s personal inclinations or favoritism.

Lets Bring it Home: Leadership in the church today must be handled with maturity, faithfulness, godliness, and lack of favoritism.  The health of a body of believers is far more important than playing favorites with someone who is not meeting the standards wet forth here.

Spiritual Training 24 October 2013

Posted: October 24, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 5:17-18 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and “The worker deserves his wages.” Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

Preaching and teaching are closely related. Preaching is proclaiming the Word of God and confronting listeners with the truth of Scripture. Teaching is explaining the truth in Scripture, helping learners understand difficult passages, and helping them apply God’s Word to daily life. Paul says that these elders are worthy of double honor. Unfortunately, however, we often take them for granted by not providing adequately for their needs or by subjecting them to heavy criticism.

Lets Bring it Home: Think of how you can honor your leaders who work hard at preaching and teaching. Faithful church leaders should be supported and appreciated. Too often they are targets for criticism because the congregation has unrealistic expectations. How do you treat your church leaders? Do you enjoy finding fault, or do you show your appreciation? Do they receive enough financial support to allow them to live without worry and to provide for the needs of their families? Jesus and Paul emphasized the importance of supporting those who lead and teach us (see Galatians 6:6, Luke 10:7 and 1 Corinthians 9:4–10). Our ministers deserve to know that we are giving to them cheerfully, gratefully, and generously.

Spiritual Training 22 October 2013

Posted: October 22, 2013 in 1 Timothy, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

1 Timothy 5:08 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Healthy homes remain the best possible training environment for children.  When it comes to caring for relatives and honoring parents, children take most of their cues by watching how Mom and Dad honor the grandparents.  If our children see the way we, as parents, care for our parents, they will understand the importance of such honor for us in the future.  Healthy, practical honor becomes a priceless gift that one generation gives to another.  Disrespect and lack of care provide harmful examples that will eventually turn on us.  The warning in the verse is ominous (Threatening) indeed.

Lets Bring it Home: How are we, or how did we treat our Parents? Did we, or have we set an examples for our kids to follow?  You seen the verse, worst than a unbeliever.

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