Growth Group: 1 Tim 6:3-5

INTRO:

You ever been in High School and seen a fight?

What happens?

There’s a build up to it.

Then it’s announced.

Then everyone crowds around to watch.

Somehow we have a fascination with conflict.

OR what about the WWF?...World Wrestling Federation was competing with World Championship Wrestling in the 90’s for being the top dog in the Pro Wrestling world.

They both had a big show on Monday nights, Monday night RAW and WCW Nitro.

Ultimately Vince McMahon’s WWF was able to buy out all the competition.

But how did he win?

By rebranding. WWF would become more sexualized and more violent to win the Monday Night War.

But the people bought it.

Again this shows People, unforunately, are very interested in things they shouldn’t be.

False Teachers are also interested in things they shouldn’t be.

READ: 1 Timothy 6:3–5 “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.”

PRAY

REVIEW:

What is BAD TEACHING? Bad teaching is “Different Doctrine”.

1 Timothy 1:3–4 “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.”

Teachings that Salvation is NOT by faith in Jesus Christ. That’s definitely bad teaching.

But also, DEVOTION/AGREEMENT to distracting teachings that are not rooted and consistent with the sure, solid rock of Jesus for Salvation are useless.

NOT CHRIST CENTERED.

Myths of Greek Gods which are falsehoods (Faithlife SB)

Some of the extra-biblical teachings from the Jewish writings (Faithlife SB)

Lists of descendants used to exclude people from ministry (Faithlife SB)

Even things in the Bible that are not properly put in their place.

What I mean by that is one time while my dad was on his death bed, I said maybe I should tell my dad he will get a new body so he might believe. And Jay said something like you need to focus on Christ. He didn’t even hesitate.

1 Timothy 1:9 “understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,”

Teachings that Salvation can be earned by works of the law.

The law functions to show us our wrongs, not provide Salvation.

What is GOOD TEACHING?

1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

The Gospel - the Good News. CHRIST CENTERED TEACHING. The Gospel is all about Jesus.

This News of Salvation and the Salvation itself comes from outside of us, not from within us.

And this News that we have been told…is TRUSTWORTHY. YOU CAN AND SHOULD BET YOUR LIFE ON IT.

1 Timothy 3:1 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”

The leaders of the church must be qualified.

As Ray is teaching us, it’s about their character, but they also MUST teach rightly THAT GOOD NEWS. “Able to teach”.

1 Timothy 4:7–10 “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

We all should live obediently, pursuing godliness BECAUSE of hope in God who did the saving, not because we can earn Salvation.

This will benefit us in eternity!

Untrue myths will not do anything for us.

LESSON: Let’s examine tonight’s passage with this in mind: that the Ephesian false teachers were NOT CHRIST CENTERED.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.”

THE TEACHING: QUESTION: What does teaching a “different doctrine” imply here in verse 3?

It’s not just a little difference.

These teachers are teaching things that DO NOT AGREE, THEY ARE OPPOSED to Jesus.

THE TEACHER: QUESTION: What does teaching a different doctrine show about the teacher?

Uncontrolled pride - he feels so self important that he won’t budge from this teaching. No accountability.

And he actually lacks the true understanding of the Good News of Jesus.

It’s almost like his pride is making him an brainless.

He either thinks he can be Godly on his own by works...

OR he has a wrong idea of what godliness even is.

Craving for controversy

They also have a sick infatuation with controversy

And they don’t care what it does to the hearers

They don’t care that it can cause unhealthy worries

QUESTION: Why would someone have cause to worry if salvation is works based and they are distracted from Jesus Christ work?

Quarrels about words

They might also be overly critical about words in the Scripture probably to make things seem “controversial” to hearers to peak interest

QUESTION: Who caused the first controversy in Genesis anyway? Who had a quarrel about words?

The Serpent

He said what? Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?””

He caused a controversy in Eve’s life with respect to God’s word, and that’s what these false teachers do.

They are actually teaching directly against God’s teachings but claiming to be Christians!

THE HEARERS

Level 1: Envy - the false teacher can somehow cause envy in hearers

We talked about works based salvation earlier.

If the teacher is talking about a salvation based on some works instead of Jesus, then of course others will be envious of those who do those works.

QUESTION: Examples?

Circumcision: Acts 15:1

Envy of a physical appearance or even ethnicity!

Signs/Wonders: teachers depending on signs and wonders (miracles) for the substance of their teaching

Envy of those with the “power”

But they should be seeking after knowing Christ more, not after doing the works themselves

Christ came into the world to save all who believe in Him.

God wants to people to know Him.

There’s no controversy there. No conflict. He saves His believers.

The salvation that is available for you is available for me. It’s in the open. No secret knowledge.

Level 2: Dissension - the false teacher can play off the disparities between people, rather than uniting them in Christ

There will be infighting, maybe because of the envy

Also, instead of focused teaching with Jesus as the center, the teaching will be all over the place.

This may breed different cliques.

Level 3: Slander - then because people don’t agree, they will speak out against one another to harm each others reputation

Level 4: Evil Suspicions - the people now will constantly suspect others, not trusting them.

Level 5: Constant Friction - no one will be able to get along because of the emphasis on the differences between the people.

All because they lack the real truth of Christ.

The hearers are all stuck in conflict or confusion even.

The hearers and the teachers are all seeking after what they want, not Christ.

The hearers want their ears tickled. They want to be told what they want to hear.

And the teachers get what out of this? Money Money Money

The primary motivation for false teachers wrong teachings is their monetary gain for themselves by appearing to be Christian.

APPLICATION:

So how can we see the fruit of the false teacher? God says we will know them by their fruit.

So the main fruit of this type of false teacher in 1 Tim is going to be DIVISION.

There will likely not be one cohesive knowledge in their church about what the gospel is.

And you will be able to see DISCONTENT in the teacher.

They won’t be content with teaching Christ.

“Hey, don’t you think we need something more in the service?”

More? More than Christ???

QUESTION: What do people think is more than Christ???

And you will also be able to see GREED in the teacher.

Because if more people like the service then possible of more dollars.

The service will play off of what people want to see.

Like the church that brought the Super Bowl into the service and kicked a Bible off stage.

Luckily, we don’t have preachers and elders like this.

However, what if someone you know does?

What do you do?

How will you back up your argument against their false teacher?

Especially, if they like their service!

YOU gotta know the word and know how to handle it right.

And you have to pray.

I’ve talked to a few people now that have said they don’t like certain services because it’s too preachy.

What I always think is…so you’re saying to me that the preacher is preaching too much?

One lady told me she want to go to church but she doesn’t like when she’s told Jesus is the only way.

Well gee golly wizard I’m sorry but that is literally what the Bible says. John

But that’s where it will always start with anyone you encounter who has different view right? It will always be the gospel that is the solution.

Do you know how Jesus is and what he did for you…and DO YOU LOVE HIM because of it. If the answer is no, then there’s the big problem.

But if they do love him, well then shouldn’t we want to know what the truth really is? And He is the truth.

Ignorance is bliss until the Day of the Lord.