01 A Charge to Sons and Daughters

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

August 10th - ice cream social at LOW at 6pm

August 23rd - Music Fest - Christian Band Sat. AM

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

Series - DEVELOPING MISSIONARIES: THE PAUL & TIMOTHY WAY

WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS MESSAGE IS BEING SHARED / WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THIS MESSAGE IS ANSWERING?…

BIG IDEA FOR TODAY: The mission of God begins with spiritual family, not systems.

WHAT IS THE PICTURE OR ILLUSTRATION FOR THIS BIG IDEA?

The Family Table vs. the Assembly Line Imagine two images: one is a family around a table—laughing, sharing stories, passing wisdom through conversation and relationship. The other is an assembly line—efficient, standardized, disconnected.

Paul didn’t disciple Timothy through an impersonal process. He welcomed him to the table of spiritual family. The mission of God doesn’t advance like a factory—it multiplies like a family.

“You can program efficiency, but you can’t program legacy. Legacy is relational.”

Opening Scripture:

1 Timothy 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is more than a letter: this is an apostle of Jesus Christ writing to a missionary-disciple.

FOUR LESSONS FROM 1 TIMOTHY 1 ABOUT The mission of God begins with spiritual family, not systems:

1. The Mission Begins with a Person

1 Timothy 1:1–2 “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is deeply personal (v.2).

Paul doesn’t start with structure—he starts with Timothy.

Mission is passed down through spiritual relationships.

“My true son in the faith”—intimacy before instruction.

Reflection: Who sees you as a spiritual parent? Who do you call your son or daughter in the faith?

LESSONS FROM 1 TIMOTHY 1 ABOUT The mission of God begins with spiritual family, not systems:

2. Guard the Mission from Counterfeits

1 Timothy 1:3–7 “3 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, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.”

False teaching is not just a doctrinal issue—it’s a relational one.

It distracts from “the stewardship from God that is by faith” (v.4).

Love is the goal, flowing from pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith.

Point: Paul cares for the church not as an institution but as a household being misled.

LESSONS FROM 1 TIMOTHY 1 ABOUT The mission of God begins with spiritual family, not systems:

3. Mercy & Grace Make You a Missionary

1 Timothy 1:12–17 “12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 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. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul recalls his own story:

“I was a blasphemer... but I received mercy.”

MERCY is God withholding what is deserved (Judgment - cf. Saul persecuting church), GRACE is God giving us what cannot be earned.

Your past doesn’t disqualify you; God can use it to reach others.

Jesus displays His perfect patience through us (v.16).

Key Phrase: The gospel doesn’t just save you, it sends you.

LESSONS FROM 1 TIMOTHY 1 ABOUT The mission of God begins with spiritual family, not systems:

4. The charge to “wage the good warfare”

1 Timothy 1:18–20 “18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

The mission is a battle, but it’s not just external.

HOW WE FIGHT: You need faith (what you believe) and a good conscience (how you live).

Paul warns of shipwrecked faith, relationship/discipleship protects from drift.

Discipleship Principle: The fight is personal, but we fight it best when we’re not alone.

Conclusion/Reflection:

Paul didn’t just disciple a crowd—he discipled Timothy. He didn’t create a system, he raised a missionary-disciple.

We are not building programs, we are building relationships

Application: Who are you encouraging? Who are you walking with personally and spiritually?

Tools to BUILD realtionships:

Multi-Generational Bible Curriculum (fosters relationships through discussion) - Sept. 7th begins w/ Kids (Bible Engagement Project - QR)

Ex. Session 4 “God Judges Sin” (Ge. 6, 7)

Teens Moving to Sunday morning twice per month (Want to join Teen Team - let me know!)

Team Member Training Sessions (spiritual investment) - Sept. 9th)

Talk It Over

According to 1 Timothy 1:3–7, what does Paul say is the goal of teaching and correction? What happens when people miss that goal?

Who are the spiritual “fathers or mothers” in your life—those who invested in your faith? How did their relationship impact your spiritual growth?

What practical steps can you take this week to walk more closely with someone, like Paul did with Timothy?

Which “tool” (Team Training, Multi-Generational Curriculum, etc.) could help you engage with or build relationship with someone in our church family?