1 Timothy 3

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Feast of Purim

Activity – What would you do?

Supplies:

Paper; pens

Instructions

Prepare slips of paper and number them in pairs: two slips marked 1, two slips marked 2, and so on. On one of these two slips write, “What would you do if…” and on the other, “I would…”

Distribute one slip of paper and a pen to each person. Teens whose slips say “What would you do if…” should complete the sentence by describing a situation. Those whose slips say “I would…” should write what they would do in a situation (unrelated to what anyone else is writing).

Then ask a player holding slip number 1 saying, “What would you do if…” to read the question, and then ask another player holding slip number 1 to read the answer.

Since the two people have worked independently, the question and answer are usually not related. For example, the question might be, “What would you do if your Aunt Matilda got seasick?” and the answer, “I would teach the puppy to have better manners.”

Game Twist

Write on one piece of paper “Why…” and on the other “Because…”

Lesson (A) Elders

Elders

1 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Main Points

There are specific qualifications to being an elder (overseer, or pastor) in the church.

Those are all the same term. See how elder, shepherd (pastor) and overseer (oversight) are used interchangeably in 1 Peter 5:1-5. Humility is required as well (1 Peter 5:6-11). Acts 20:17; 28 and Titus 1:5-7 show the same interchangeable terms.

Paul focuses on a man’s character rather than external characteristics. His marriage and family leadership reveal his character. If he can’t lead at home, he shouldn’t be able to lead in the church.

Have the students list the qualifications on one side of the whiteboard. Ask which ones they think are the most important.

Lesson (B) Deacons

Deacons

1 Timothy 3:8–13 ESV

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Main Points

There are specific qualifications to being a deacon (servant) in the church.

Women can be deacons.

Have the students list the qualifications on the other side of the whiteboard. Ask which ones they think are the most important.

Similarities and Differences

Draw a line between the similarities. Circle the differences.

Help students identify that the main difference is hierarchy in leadership and the ability to teach.

Mentor Qualities

I know I’ve said this before, but it’s worth saying again. There are four things that the church has historically found important in discipleship and spiritual formation

Scripture Reading

Scripture Meditation

Prayer

Imitation

The one that we often forget is imitation.

A recent gallup poll found that in 2001 64% of congregants found that their pastors and ministry leaders had a high level of honesty and ethics. This year, that number is down to 27%. There is a genuine distrust among pastors, deacons, and leaders in the church.

A good mentor will ask you to find a church that has all of these qualities in its pastors and servants respectively. An even better mentor will also model these characteristics whether they are a pastor or not.

When you are looking at Christians who are ahead of you in life, you can’t constantly cast stones at them for every flaw they have. It’s better to ask if they are a repentant person when they sin. We are all sinners, even people with the qualities Paul listed. The responsibility lies in imitating the good and rejecting the bad.

Lesson (C) The Mystery of Godliness

A Hymn

1 Timothy 3:14–16 ESV

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.

Main Points

This is the actual description of Paul’s reason for writing to Timothy.

This is how people should be conducted in the household of God.

The church belongs to God.

God is the foundation of all truth.

Paul isn’t with Timothy!

He doesn’t need to be physically present for Timothy to understand and obey.

He also loves Timothy, even if from a distance.

Mentor Qualities

There are times when you get older that you’ll get frustrated with God for not being as close as you remember Him to be. As a child grows, a parent doesn’t need to be as involved in their growth. They begin to be more self-sufficient.

There is a balance to the Christian life. Sometimes when your mentors aren’t as present, or don’t feel as present, it is because God wants you to depend on Him. That means living the example He has set for you apart from an immediate example. Remembering is a lost quality for us. We need to remember the examples we’ve been given for our growth.

God is the ultimate mentor. He provides people in your life so you will trust Him more, not the leaders alone. They should always point back to Christ, not hold you to themselves.