The Family of God: Guarding the Truth and Growing in Godliness

¡Buenos días FCC Español! Mi nombre es Ethan Callison y les sirvo como su Pastor de Discipulado. Estoy emocionado esta mañana de estar con ustedes y abrir las Escrituras en 1 Timoteo 3 y 4.

Story of first time using a translator.

1. We uphold the truth of the Gospel. vv. 14-16

Paul says “I hopes to come to you soon...” v. 14

Do you know what it’s like to want to see someone? You want to tell them some things, long to see them face to face?

Paul and Timothy didn’t have Facetime, Whatsapp, or FB Messenger to connect and stay up to day. Paul instead writes this letter to Timothy to tell the people of God to remember and uphold the TRUTH.

The Church, you and I who are followers of Jesus are to uphold and protect the truth of the Gospel.

Paul reminds the Church of WHO they are and WHAT they do.

“Proclaimed among the nations” v. 16

The Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction and Commentary d. The Character of the Church (3:14–16)

“

2. We recognize and reject false teaching. vv. 1-5

What happens when you blend multiple belief sets?

Lady who cut my hair “Can you be a Christian and Buddhist at the same time?”

For Ephesus there was a blending of faith and prior belief systems

Teaching that Christian’s are to not get married and not eat certain foods.

Syncretism-New Ageism: Manifest, speak it into action, mindset.

It might sound good, but is devoid of the truth.

How has Satan always twisted the truth?

Genesis 3 “Did God actually say...”

Jesus in the Wilderness, Luke 4:1-13 Satan twists and makes us doubt.

“consciences are seared” v. 2

The people have no sense of the wrongness of their actions

We don’t start off as murders and adulterers, our hearts slowly become hardened.

Where have you grown seared to the truth of Godly living?

3. We train for growth in godliness. vv. 6-10

Paul gives a comparison of physical training to spiritual training.

Do you view your life as preparing or training to become like Jesus?

Spiritual disciplines: Read the Word, Pray the Word, Worship, Evangelism, Serving, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, being a student of the word through other books (Institute).

“The goal of practicing a given Disipline, or course, is not about doing as much as it is about being, that is, being like Jesus.” Donald Whitney

Do you have a plan? Are you intentional and deliberate about your spiritual growth in the Truth?

To discern what is false, is easiest when you know what is truth.

What do you need to do today to begin to train and growth in Christlikeness?

4. We exemplify Christian beliefs. vv. 11-16

5-Fold Inventory to Timothy to live in 1 Tim 4:11-12 (Authority in community is contingent on character, not age)

1-2: Speech and Conduct (both to public life)

3-5: Love, Faith, Purity (All three are inner qualities that have public expressions)

1 Tim 4:15 “Practice these things...” or “Be diligent...” or “To Ponder...”

Reflect constantly on the Truth of the Gospel.

Many want a new revelation about God, but it’s more so a “Renewing” making what is already known, known again.

“Right living without right thinking is impossible. If we want to live godly lives, we must first know what godliness is.” R.C. Sproul