04 The church’s mission rests on Christ

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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:

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

Churches easily drift—losing focus on Christ as the foundation.

Some give in to false teaching or become shaped more by culture than the gospel.

Others forget that Christian leadership and mission require daily training, not shortcuts.

Paul tells Timothy: stay anchored in the truth, resist deception, and train for godliness.

BIG IDEA FOR TODAY: The church’s mission rests on Christ, the mystery of godliness (v. 3:16).

To carry it forward, we must guard against deception, train ourselves in godliness, and model the truth with our lives.

WHAT IS THE PICTURE OR ILLUSTRATION FOR THIS BIG IDEA?

Imagine a pillar holding up a building in the middle of a crowded marketplace. Everyone sees the pillar. If it’s strong, the building is secure; if it cracks, the whole structure collapses.

Paul says the church is like that pillar—it holds up the truth of the gospel so the world can see Jesus clearly.

Illustration idea: A cracked foundation in a house—if ignored, the whole home shifts. The foundation matters more than the decorations.

Opening Scripture:

1 Timothy 3:15 ESV

15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

The Church is God’s Household, the Pillar of Truth

1 Timothy 3:14–16 “14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

Paul describes the church as “the household of God, the church of the living God, the pillar and buttress of the truth” (3:15).

At the center of that truth is the hymn of Christ: incarnation, resurrection, proclamation, belief, exaltation.

The foundation of our faith and mission is not systems, strategies, or leaders—it’s the real life story of Jesus’ RESURRECTION.

Guard Against Doctrines of Demons

1 Timothy 4:1–5 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”

Last days are NOW...Acts 2:17 “17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;”

Some will “depart from the faith” by listening to deceitful spirits and demons. In Timothy’s context, that meant forbidding marriage and requiring dietary rules (v. 3).

Today, DEPARTING from the faith might look like:

Prosperity distortions – teaching that God’s blessing always looks like health and wealth, instead of faithfulness and perseverance.

Hyper-individualism – defining faith only as “my personal journey,” while ignoring the church, accountability, and community.

Culture-first Christianity – equating the gospel with a political platform, national identity, or cultural agenda rather than equating the Gospel with the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Self-help spirituality – reducing discipleship to positive thinking, productivity hacks, or “manifesting,” instead of grace and transformation in Christ.

Ascetic legalism – making rules about what “real Christians” must wear, eat, or do with their free time that go beyond Scripture.

Consumer Christianity – treating faith like a product to sample or shop for, rather than a covenant relationship with the living God.

Paul reminds Timothy: God’s creation is good. Receive it with thanksgiving (4:4–5).

Application: We protect the mission when we stay rooted in the truth of the gospel, not in counterfeits.

Train Yourself for Godliness

1 Timothy 4:6–10 “6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 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. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 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.”

Timothy is to be  “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (v. 4:6, NASB).

Training in godliness is compared to physical training—valuable for this life and the life to come (4:7–8).

Paul says: “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God” (4:10).

Mission isn’t maintained by talent or charisma but by daily discipline: prayer, Scripture, thanksgiving, holy living.

Model the Truth for Others

1 Timothy 4:11–16 “11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Paul tells youthful Timothy: “Set the believers an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” (4:12).

He is to devote himself to reading, exhortation, and teaching—not neglecting the gift within him (4:13–14).

By persisting in this life of training, Paul says, “you will save both yourself and your hearers” (4:16).

The mission is passed down through faithful examples—one life modeling Christ for another.

Conclusion/Reflection:

Think of a gym membership: lots of people sign up, but only those who train consistently see results.

Paul tells Timothy the church can’t just have access to truth—it must exercise it, hold it up like a pillar, and display it in the world.

Christianity is not a spectator sport; it’s training for godliness.

The mission of God is built on the resurrected Christ—are we holding that foundation firm?

False teaching and distraction threaten every generation—what do we need to resist today?

Godliness requires training—am I exercising my faith daily or treating it like a gym membership I never use?

Who is watching my life as an example of speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity?

Timothy was told: guard the truth, train in godliness, and model Christ.

Which of these do you most need to lean into right now—guarding the truth, training in godliness, or modeling Christ—and what step will you take this week?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You are the truth, the source of godliness, and the perfect model for our lives. Strengthen us to guard Your truth in our hearts, to train daily in godliness, and to reflect Your character to the world. Show me the next step You’re calling me to take this week, and give me courage to follow. In Your name, Amen.

Talk It Over

Paul describes the church as the “pillar and foundation of the truth.” What does this image teach us about the role of the church in our world today?

What kinds of “teachings of demons” (4:1–5) (false or distracting ideas) do you see pulling people away from Jesus in our culture?

How can thanksgiving and trust in God’s good gifts protect us?

How can community groups encourage one another in this “training”?