Sermon Tone Analysis

*The Life of the Church*

*Pastorals Topical          April 21, 2002*

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*Introduction*

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The Pastoral Epistles, or letters, are so called because they are instructions by the apostle Paul to Timothy whom he has left in care of the church at Ephesus and to Titus whom he has left in care of the church at Crete.

These trusted representatives that Paul has groomed for the care of the church were facing elements of dire concern in their churches.

Timothy faced the destructive and divisive elements of a growing Gnostic type of heresy, a resurgent form of wayward Judaism, and a false type of asceticism in an established church.

Titus faced the challenges of establishing leadership and refuting false teaching in a new church plant in the midst of moral decay.

Since Paul was not able to be there in person, he writes to these men as pastors that he has left in the care of these churches.

Although these letters are addressed to these men individually, Paul must also have intended to have their contents addressed to the church at large since the salutations are in the plural.

At any rate, they are pastoral in nature and deal generally with the various elements that both establish and maintain the viable life of the church such as spiritual discipline, behavior, leadership and administration, doctrine, and the spiritual life of the pastor himself.

As such, they have continuing value to all churches in all ages regarding the sustenance of spiritual life for the church itself in all its elements.

There is a strong emphasis on both right behavior and correct doctrine as can be seen from a word frequency study.

For instance, eusebia [piety, godliness, religion] occurs 10 times (8 of those times in 1Tim., 1 time in 2Tim.

and 1 time in Titus), didascalia [doctrine, teaching, instruction] occurs 15 times (8 of those times in 1Tim., 3 times in 2Tim.

and 4 times in Titus).

Part of the message of these letters is that correct doctrine affects right behavior and that behavior reflects belief.

This connection between faith and practice in the pastoral letters is established both by being explicitly taught and by being set over against the falseness of the opponents teaching, and specifically over against their conduct.

Paul's concern for explicit teaching is observed by the exclusive use of the phrase pisto" o logo" [faithful the word] used only in the Pastoral Epistles.

We find it used 3 times in 1Tim.

and once each in 2Tim.

and Titus.

It is used as a kind of confirmation formula by Paul to introduce a saying as supporting evidence for his argument.

But the saying can come either before or after the introductory formula.

So it appears that Paul is giving his pastors solid doctrinal truth and tradition to hold on to for themselves and for their churches in the face of difficult times.

Again, the lives of the churches are at risk and Paul intends these letters either to reform (as in 1Tim.) or form (as in Titus) their progress.

Hence the title, "The Life of the Church."

*The Life of the Church                                                                                            *

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*Preserved Through Proper Relationship Toward Difficult People         *

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*Preserved Through Proper Leadership and Administration                   *

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*Preserved Through Proper Doctrine                                                          *

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*Preserved Through Proper Worship                                                          *

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*Preserved Through the Spiritual Life and Purpose of the Pastor            *

 

 

*The Life of the Church*

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*Preserved Through Proper Relationship Toward Difficult People*

 

Right relationships are essential for the life of the church.

Since the church is founded on a right relationship to God in Christ, it must flow through its people in Christ-like relationships to each other.

But even when the church is threatened by difficult people within it, there is also a right relationship in discipline that must take place toward those whose actions or teachings would threaten its sanctity, purity and progress.

/How can the life of the church be maintained in dealing with difficult people?/

 

*1.

We Must Remember Love - 1Tim.

1:3-7*

 

Paul's instruction to Timothy begins with confronting false teachers.

He is to be quite serious about it since Paul gives him the authority to "command."

But the intent of the command is to bring them to truth since they "don't know what they are talking about or so confidently affirm."

They have strayed into error and even though "commanded" they must be loved back to a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Love is to be the bottom line of any authority that Timothy takes.

Like Christ, we should lose none of those whom the Lord gives us, if possible.

We are to love, and command if necessary, which also is in love, since the life of the church is to be protected from false teaching.

And the false teachers are to be protected from themselves if they will see it.

If they are truly a part of the redeemed church they will see it and repent.

And so love prevails in relationship even toward those who must be disciplined in order to save both them and their hearers.

*2.

We Must Find the Good - 1Tim.

1:8-11*

 

In confronting difficult people with a view toward loving them and saving them we must affirm whatever we find that is good.

In this passage, Paul affirms that the law that the false teachers want to be able to teach has its good points, if used properly.

And properly used, the law is placed in subjection to the gospel in the sense of judging whatever is contrary to the gospel.

*3.

We Must Maintain Humility - 1Tim.

1:12-17*

 

Whenever we are called upon to command correct behavior, we must not lose sight of where we ourselves have come from, taking a humble view of ourselves lest we destroy our objective of saving our opposers by being arrogant.

Paul remembers his own humble beginnings as a believer and implies that grace and mercy should also be shown to those who endanger the life of the church.

Ultimately, this is so they might themselves add to the life of the church rather than take away from it.

They, like Paul, have acted in ignorance.

Here we see the first of the "trustworthy sayings" that Paul gives to his pastors to hang on to: that Christ came to save sinners – not destroy them – and that I am the worst (but of course now redeemed).

We were shown mercy so that we might show mercy.

In fact, the longer we live as believers, the more merciful we should become since we grow in the knowledge of how sin works and how sinful our sin really is.

The desired result is eternal life, even to those who oppose us, to the glory of God.

 

*4.

We Must Remember Our Calling - 1Tim.

1:18-20*

 

Also, if we are to command others to right behavior, we must be in command of ourselves.

Paul instructs Timothy about his own spiritual beginnings that he might remain faithful to them and be courageous in confronting evil in the church as well as in himself.

We are to be reminded lest our own behavior falter, and Paul reminds Timothy of Hymenaeus and Alexander whom he had put out of the church.

Ultimately, this is what will and must happen to false teachers who refuse instruction as well to pastors who disqualify themselves.

*5.

We Must Affirm Our Purpose - 1Tim.

4:11-16*

 

Paul affirms Timothy's pastoral authority to command and teach.

In this, considering his age, there may be some who look down on him as having no right to command or teach them.

Paul's advice to counter this is for Timothy to persevere in exemplary conduct, proving himself worthy to command and teach, in order to silence his detractors and preserve the life of the church.

Difficult people can be won over in time by the power of Scripture, preaching and teaching, and carrying out his pastoral gifts.

As he grows, so will others.

With his perseverance in excellence he will save both himself and his detractors.

*6.

We Must Remember Our Context - 1Tim.

5:1-2*

 

We must remain respectful of human value, social sensitivities and morality in any discipline we are compelled to give in the church.

Paul is quite practical here in how each class of people is to be treated.

In essence, the truth in love must prevail in the church as we treat each other as members of a family should be treated.

*7.

We Must Consider Caution - 1Tim.

5:19-20, 22*

 

Many times, only one person is all it takes to create potential trouble.

Here, Paul cautions Timothy to not act hastily on some accusation against a church leader unless there is corroborating evidence from more than one witness.

But he is also cautioned to act decisively if sin is proven so that trouble may be put to rest.

Better, be cautious in whom you choose as leaders and whom you associate with.

*8.

We Must Be Unhindered By Favoritism - 1Tim.

5:21, 6:1-2*

 

Paul is well aware that it may be difficult for Timothy to deal with difficult people on an equitable basis.

Position and status must not come into play in protecting the spiritual life of the church.

Whether it is an elder (1Tim.

5:19-20) or a slave (1Tim.

6:1-2), divisiveness and sin are to be dealt with.

There are more categories of difficult people than just false teachers.

Even those who have no power, such as slaves, can be difficult.

The church contained all classes of people and slavery was a social convention of the time.

Timothy is to teach slaves not to be difficult for their masters primarily because the life of the church in name and in teaching is at stake.

We must obey those we are subject to because we are believers and even more so if they are believers.

Troublemakers may exist even among the downtrodden, oppressed, and disadvantaged.

*9.

We Must Expose Deception - 1Tim.

6:3-5*

 

Paul cuts sharply into the motives of the false teachers who are cutting into the life of the church by exposing their greed for money falling prey to their own deceptions in denial of Christ that divides the church.

In robbing the church of its spiritual life they themselves have been robbed of the truth.

Difficult people must be exposed for what they truly are so we ourselves are not deceived.

Indeed, in v. 6ff Timothy is challenged not to fall into it himself since the desire for money leads to grief instead of contentment.