Faithful Ministry - Part 2

Have An Exemplary Walk (12)

In Word

Put away anger, wrath and obscene talk. Colossians 3:8 “8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”

Speak to encourage and build up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Let God’s Word dwell in you. Colossians 3:16–17 “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

In Walk

Our conduct is to be an example of the love of Christ to others.

In Worship

Be an example in faith (and faithfulness) and in purity or sincerity life.

John 4:23–24 “23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.””

Exercise Your Spiritual Gift (13-16)

Prioritize Your Gift Through the Word

Timothy was reminded to prioritize the Word of God in his ministry.

Reading the Word, expounding or exhorting from the Word, and teaching the Word were central to the life of the early church.

God will reveal your gifting as you first get into the Word of God.

Progress Through Total Commitment

Timothy was later exhorted to fan the flame of his gift. We are to commit to what the Lord has called us to do wholeheartedly.

Persevere in Your Gift by Watchfulness

Maintain discipline in your walk with the Lord and the doctrine of Christ.

How has God gifted you?

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Maintain Excellence in Relationships (5:1-2)

We are called to treat one another as a family, with respect and purity.

Paul encouraged Timothy to be respectful towards older saints, and walk in purity with younger Christians.

Young people (and older) first learn to treat each other as sons and daughters of the King. When Starla and I were first dating we set boundaries in our relationship in order to honor the Lord and each other. I purposed to first see her as a daughter, not just of my father-in-law (scary enough), but also of the King of Kings!