Doctrine Matters
Life as the church - Book of 1 Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:11:02
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Conduct
Conduct
One of the major purposes for the book of 1 Timothy is how are we to conduct ourselves as the church. So, as we start our study of the book beyond the introduction last week may we learn and apply.
Purpose of book: To be a guide of conduct as the church, as the house of God (1Tim3:14-15)
14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
Look how Paul views the church “the pillar and support of the truth.” (expand briefly)
Teaching one- Conduct matters given to Timothy so to protect the church (1Tim1:3-7)
Two kinds of teaching are shown
One that causes disputes
One that produces godly edification
3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Paul in writing to his young protege Timothy in Ephesus in the midst of a very pagan culture with lots of pressure reminds him of the calling placed on his life.
You can see by looking at this passage there are some who are not teaching sound doctrine.
Aim of our time today is to look at our conduct as the church personally are we contributing to what can cause division or are we developing that which brings bout godly edification. It is for all who preach and teach, but also for every disciple of Jesus Christ.
So this morning we are going to look at two kinds of teaching, that which causes division and teaching that produces godly edification.
Teaching that causes disputes
Teaching that causes disputes
I think as we consider these things that which will stick out to you is compromise. When we compromise, check this out and you can draw your conclusion.
(insert: Teaching that causes disputes PowerPoint here)
Driven by desire for the next new thing (novelty)
I am sure you can agree with me many these days try to attack people in many ways to come to church through programs, music, entertainment, etc.
(insert illustration) purpose driven church
Months spent with mailers, door knocking to see what the people wanted, or what they claimed they needed to go to church
Not being content with the gospel (Gal1:8-9)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
The gospel is not the music, the coffee, the donuts, the meals. It is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus, it is the Good News of Jesus and the church, it is the means of forgiveness of sins.
Swaying to the world
Some proclaim new revelation
And we know as bible students that is contrary to what the bible says (ref: Heb1:1-2)
Making other things the main thing and the main things (the gospel) loses is place, and the preeminence of Christ is diminished.
(Illustration) - Christmas eve 2020 at church in Lubbock (concert, etc.)
Ignoring the charge given (1Tim1:3)
3 On my way to the province of Macedonia, I advised you to stay in Ephesus. Well, I haven’t changed my mind. Stay right there on top of things so that the teaching stays on track.
(insert: Teaching that causes disputes PowerPoint here, again)
The charge is to teach no other doctrine for the preachers and teachers, and to allow no other doctrine to be preached or taught for the congregation.
When the talk is not in line with the walk
Don’t get caught up in intellectual arguments, for actions speak louder than words.
In other words apply what you know and know what you apply.
When we do not apply the teaching, the study is but idle talk (1Tim1:6; Tit1:10, 3:9; Jm1:22-27)
6 Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion.
Paul warned Titus of rebellious men, empty talkers, deceivers (ref: Tit1:10)
I cannot think of a better application passage than what James says
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Keep yourself unstained by the world by application!
When pride supersedes humility (1Tim1:7; Jm3:13-18; 1Cor8:1-2)
Disputes can easily be caused by those who desire to be teachers of the Law (1Tim1:7) not having understanding, knowledge of what they are saying.
Those who seek to impress with their knowledge, but it can be contrary to true spiritual wisdom that comes from above.
Look at the contrast that James paints from Jm3.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Knowledge is good, but it can be bad too when it is to build up, puff up ourselves, so in other words filled with pride vs. a serious desire to serve the Lord. You can consider this passage too.
1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
How about when someone displays rigidity, entrenchment, intolerance all without true knowledge (1Tim1:7)
Have you ever taken a stand over something that you really did not know or have understanding about? - oftentimes those who are the most dogmatic are the most misinformed.
7 They set themselves up as experts on religious issues, but haven’t the remotest idea of what they’re holding forth with such imposing eloquence.
Yes we need to stand in the truth, to be ready to defend the truth, but sometimes a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. So, be sure you know and understand what you are saying, or are going to say before you say it.
(Transition) Maybe you get the idea regard things, teachings that can bring about divisions. Now it is time to move on to another type of teaching.
Teaching that brings about godly edification
Teaching that brings about godly edification
If there is teaching that brings about division, there must be teaching that brings about unity, you know, godly edification for the body.
(insert- Godly edification teaching PowerPoint inserted Here)
Teaching that is based on faith (1Tim1:4; Rom10:17)
teaching that gives no mind to myths and endless genealogies.
Teaching that brings faith by the hearing of God’s word.
Teaching that seeks to produce love (1Tim1:5; 1Jn4:20-21; 2Tim2:24-26)
Instruction from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. So from your heart to theirs (ref: 1Tim1:5)
Love that loves his brother that he sees, keeping the commandment we have from Him to love God and love his brother also (ref:1Jn4:20-21).
Now as bond-servant of Christ, well, better yet let me give you the scripture on this.
24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
(take your time on developing this a little more, we have plenty of time- Focus on the love aspect)
Teaching that is loving, caring, patient, even when wronged.
Loving, caring, correcting so that others may come to repentance, or as the scripture says “come to their senses.”
Teaching that seeks to create a pure heart (1Tim1:5)
In (v.5) as mentioned it is teaching that comes from a pure heart, a sincere heart and faith. we must be careful how we do this.
Not to try to show how smart or clever we are, but how awesome and great God is.
Not to demean, discount others and their thoughts and opinions, but to encourage to look, seek the truth and come to know the truth to lead others to God or closer to God.
Not to win an argument but to win a soul or restore one.
Teaching that seeks to develop a good conscience (1Tim1:5-6; Ezr7:10; Ref: 1Tim1:19-20)
Develop a good conscience (1Tim1:5)
That comes from knowing and applying God’s word to your life first, then teaching others.
Love the example we find in Ezra.
10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
(expand on this above- set your heart, set your mind, set into actions!)
Don’t allow anything that can shipwreck your faith like the examples of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim1:19-20)
(Transition) now one more point to grab, sub-point really.
Sincere faith that begets sincere faith (1Tim1:5; Gal5:6)
Practice what you preach and don’t preach it unless you are putting into practice yourself! Remember that was part of the problem with the Jews
Here is a bonus scripture not on your outline
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.
We need to know what we believe, believe what we believe and then share what we believe from a sincere heart and a good conscience
This is a living and breathing faith that produces a work of love to the glory of God.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
(transition) So now how about some things to ponder, consider, pray about as we prepare to leave tonight and for the days to come?
What kind of teacher, student am I?
I am one who gets easily entangled in useless disputes or making a big thing out of a little thing?
Do I keep the big thing the big thing and have grace and mercy on other things?
What is my teaching and my listening creating within me and others?
Is my teaching and my listening, being a disciple listening to apply producing
Love, coming from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith?
Am I committed to what I believe?
Am I taking the doctrine (teaching) and applying it into my life and teaching it to others so that they too can apply to their life?
We need to be disciples who make disciples all for the glory of God.
(Invitation- Are you a disciple?) (Song) (Exit)