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HTML Website BuilderIn this introductory sermon for a series on 1 Timothy, we explore the relationship between Paul and Timothy and the reason that Paul wrote him this letter. Paul wanted to remind him of the way people should conduct themselves in God's household.
After Paul's customary, brief introduction, he moved right into the challenges facing Timothy in his ministry in Ephesus. We can distill Paul's advice to Timothy down into four directives.
The good news of the Gospel is that sinners can be saved. The apostle Paul held himself up as the example of the worst of sinners who had been saved by the grace of God. If he could be saved, then anyone can be saved!
At the end of chapter 1, Paul returned to addressing the task at hand for Timothy. He must fight the good fight, for many had abandoned faith and a good conscience and had shipwrecked their faith.
Paul began chapter 2 with a command to all people to make prayer a priority and to do so by praying for everyone with all kinds of prayer. Then in verse 8, he gave a specific command to the men to lead the congregation by lifting up holy hands in prayer.
Men and women are created in God's image and have equal value and access to spiritual benefits, but are designed for and given different roles in the church and the home. 1 Timothy 2, Paul gave instructions for women and the explanation of the reasons for those instructions.
By God's design the church is supposed to be lead by elders who are older, spiritually mature men who meet important qualifications. In this sermon, we examine the qualifications for elders from 1 Timothy 3.
All disciples of Jesus are supposed to be servants, but some disciples will be qualified for special service as deacons. In this sermon, we learn about the qualifications of deacons and why they are important, and we all are challenged to be faithful servants.
The last three verses of 1 Timothy 3 are power-packed with incentive to conduct ourselves in a proper manner. Why should we behave? We should behave because of what the church is and who Christ is.
Just like there are many do's and don'ts in life, there are also many do's and don'ts in ministry. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul pointed out to Timothy a number of do's and don'ts of ministry.
In 1 Timothy 5, Paul focused Timothy's attention on specific groups in the church and how to minister to them. In today's section, Paul shared with Timothy how to rebuke specific individuals, how to honor elders, and how to deal with elders who sin.
Widows have a special place in God's heart. When Paul was giving Timothy instructions about ministering to different groups in the church, he gave a lot of instructions about caring for widows.
Having instructed Timothy on relationships with widows and elders, now Paul addressed relationships between slaves and masters. Paul emphasized the importance of submission and obedience so that God's Word will be held in high esteem.
The love of money can lead to discontentment and many dangers. Paul gave Timothy instructions about how to keep money in the right perspective and how to use it for good.
In this concluding section of Paul's letter to Timothy, Paul gives Timothy a series of final commands to guide Timothy through the turbulent waters of ministry that lay ahead of him.
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