"Chin up, Church!"
God's Design for His Church • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsEmbrace confidence and hope in Christ, through God's grace, mercy and peace
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
The United States is in trouble — any way you cut it — the King’s castle is collapsing around him and he has no clothes. In other words, it is serious. What can you or I do about this problem? Jump on FB or Twitter and give speeches or offer theories on what is going on? Grab a flag and storm D.C.?
Lines have been drawn in the sand and both sides are so intense, angry, stubborn, not to mention surrounded by a dark cloud created by powerful media outlets
How can it ever get better? What can the church do about this problem?
It is urgent that we understand a few things:
God is never taken by surprise — He never panics — He is constant, righteous, compassionate, the essence of truth and love, perfectly balanced between judgment and mercy. God knows the end from the beginning. He is the only one that knows.
We may be in the final days before Jesus’ return — God knows
That being said, what can we…the Church…do about our current situation?
Can we really make a difference? Yes! But we need to get back to being the Church —
We have a written guidebook revealing God’s design for His Church — found in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus --- otherwise known as the Pastoral Epistles.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer
Today we lay a foundation — we will build on it over the next few weeks.
Paul wrote the letter of 1 Timothy to instruct young Timothy in the correct order and structure of the Lord’s Church
Paul couldn’t be there, so He sent Timothy to care for the churches of Ephesus.
Things were not going well in the church — those in leadership were failing — in fact, they were teaching false doctrine and practice
Timothy faced a big problems
Paul wrote this letter to encourage his “son in the faith” to “hang in there.”
Basically, he was saying “Chin up, son! Listen to my instructions and God will work through you!”
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
Paul provided Timothy and the Ephesian church empowering essentials regarding how they should conduct themselves as “God’s household.”
We are blessed today because these same essentials apply to you and I, “God’s household” here and now.
We can be encouraged and challenged when we remember that these letters from Paul to Timothy and Titus are not just letters…they are the inspired word of God, given to Paul, for His Church — just as were his other letters
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Paul also received knowledge of the mystery — the amazing mystery of Christ’s work
God designed His church to be a conduit - transmitter of the mystery of Christ’s redeeming work
He quotes a church hymn in chapter 3 — reminding us of the mystery of Christ
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
What do we learn from 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus about God’s design for His Church?
Paul address multiple important issues for the church, including:
The church’s role in a changing society, responsibility to the poor and disenfranchised, the Christian message in the midst of competing messages, the secularization of Christianity, church and state, Christians attitude toward wealth and materialism, our response to false teachings, spiritual lifestyle, leadership & authority, discipline in the church, the true meaning of godliness, faithfulness to the Gospel, suffering and life in the Spirit, responsibility to those in authority, the importance of our Christian witness
These letters help the church become a lighthouse in a complex world
They help believers understand what it means to live a Godly life
Here’s what we need to remember today, in preparation for the weeks to come
We can have confidence in the word of God — inspired and true
We have hope in Christ alone
No matter what we face, Paul’s letter is saying to us, “Chin up, Church!”
Confidently embrace hope in Christ, through God's grace, mercy and peace
Chin up church...
OUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST
OUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST
A confident hope
A confident hope
…an apostle…by the command of God our Savior…Jesus our hope
We have hope in Christ today and forever
I, Paul, am an apostle on special assignment for Christ, our living hope. Under God our Savior’s command,
Paul makes it very clear to Timothy and anyone that would read this letter…He spoke the words of God…inspired and confident
These were not his opinions…he wrote these words because God instructed Him to do so.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
Why is it important to know that this word came from God?
Because it revealed God’s plan for the proper ordering and conduct of the Church
If we want to be the voice and heart of God in this mad world…we need to know how to be the Church
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
God our Savior and Christ Jesus, our hope — God was commonly referred to as Savior in the OT — very common in the Jewish worship language when they would recount the many times God saved them throughout their history. He continues to save us
Paul was saying - “Listen, Timothy, these words I bring come from our Savior God, who backs up what He commands. Take heart! Be encouraged
…our hope in Christ is not reserved for a few special people
An unqualified hope
An unqualified hope
Timothy was young…he struggled with confidence
Timothy was only half-Jew…a disqualifying characteristic in Jewish tradition
Timothy was not Superman or a missionary commando — He was sickly (use a little wine for your stomach)
The sign outside God’s office door reads, “Nobodies wanted”
We are God’s church…without His strength, we are nobodies --- yet, He chose us to carry His truth to the world around us
“Timothy…remember your calling! It is not your qualifications…It is God’s plan
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Paul ended this greeting by speaking a triple blessing upon Timothy — what an encouragement
OUR HOPE IS IN GOD’S GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE
OUR HOPE IS IN GOD’S GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE
To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace
Grace
Saving Grace
Continuing Grace
Continued grace for living — for what would come
Grace means God is smiling down upon us…more than we could ever earn or deserve
It is grace upon grace
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
Mercy
Mercy
The word points to God’s special care for someone in need
Help in time of need
Help for the helpless
Timothy faced a challenge with the churches of Ephesians — with situations that would drain him at times — that is when God’s mercy kicks in and comes to our aid.
Peace
Peace
Peace with God first and foremost
Peace with God first and foremost
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Inner peace for daily living
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Paul’s blessing upon Timothy was one of personal tranquility and well-being, and for peace among the people as he challenged them to be the Church God designed them to be.
Conclusion
Paul sent Timothy to lead a church that was teetering on the edge of destruction
The leaders had drifted from the truth — their lives were sinful — people were arguing over religious concepts that had nothing to do with the message of Christ
It looked impossible — It was
But God commissioned Paul to write this letter — reminding Timothy and the Church who they were supposed to be in Christ — calling them to repentance and a fresh emphasis upon God’s awesome plan for them
We are in a similar position today…it looks impossible
What difference can we make?
We are nobodies in the big picture
God calls and uses nobodies
Let us be reminded that we, as His Church, must...
Confidently embrace hope in Christ, through God's grace, mercy and peace