Know, Live, Share

Recap

Welcome to Living Hope Church!

Last week we went through Chapter 1 of 1st Timothy, looking at the importance of good doctrine.

This week I want to keep one foot in Chapter 1, and another foot in the first half of Chapter two.

The format I want to work through we call

KNOW - LIVE - SHARE

The good doctrine points we studied last week are integral to this.

Know What You Believe

1 Timothy 1:3 NKJV

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

The world looks at Christians and expects that you know what you believe.

The hard part of this, is there are many who are in so many different places here.

GYM analogy - There are lots of people at the gym and some have been there for many years and others this is their first time.

The world does not expect new gym attendees to know what they’re doing, but it is not that way with Christians, and it should be.

There are many different thoughts on how to exercise and lift weights. And in the same way, there are different views on “good doctrine”.

Rather than seeing it as a destination, we need to see it as a journey - a relationship

Relationship Analogy - [Have Adriana come up]

I did not know everything about Adriana the moment we met or started dating.

In fact, 6 yrs before the light-bulb moment

This was a process over time and I am still learning and studying and growing with this amazing woman!

Our relationship with God as Christians, is something that develops over time.

There are things we teach need to be done, or abstained from, because it will benefit - or hurt you.

This is the first “Big Brother, Big Sister” program.

Live What You Believe

Using the Gym membership example:

The gym is not where you live - The gym is an enhancement to your life

The Church is not where you live - It is where you grow in your relationship with God and His people

You can’t stay in the KNOW!

Your walk with God is not just cognitive - in your mind. It must be lived out

James 1:22 NKJV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

3. It must all be done through prayer. Let’s keep going through 1 Timothy

As we go into the passage, let’s read together 1 Timothy 2: 1-4

1 Timothy 2:1–4 NKJV

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Pray About Everything!

We must pray for everyone, the ones we like and dislike

This is hard to do.

Do you pray for those who hurt you?

Do you pray for those who are competing against you?

Why pray?

Prayer is the builder of our relationship and our faith.

Share What You Believe

Look at verse 3 and 4 1 Timothy 2:3-4

1 Timothy 2:3–4 NKJV

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth

Romans 10:14–17 NKJV

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We want REAL FAITH, and REAL GOSPEL, and CHANGED LIVES, but we must remember

I must be Transformed before we will see Abilene Transformed!

I cannot expect the God of wonders and the Transforming God to do something in my community and not allow Him to first do it in me.

They must see God in You! They must see God in me!

So Know what you believe - We do that here on Sundays and in Midweek Biblestudy

Live what you believe - you do that in church and mostly outside the church

Share what you believe - Speak up about what God has done in you and in those around you.

Prayer

I want to give an opportunity for prayer - either here at the altar or where you are.

You may say, Lord I don’t know - Send me someone who will teach me

You may say, Lord I know, but I have not lived - Forgive me

You may say, Lord I have known and I have lived - Help me to Share You with those I connect with

Let the Holy Spirit speak to you.

There may be things in your life you need to give up and stop doing.

There may be things in your life you need to start doing