While He Was Preaching...
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
While He Was Preaching
While He Was Preaching
What makes sharing our faith so fulfilling?
What makes sharing our faith so fulfilling?
Many believers may never understand the joy of sharing their faith.
In this message we will
++Look at what takes place when faith is shared effectively.
++Identify the vital pieces of Paul’s declaration to Timothy.
++Asked God to help in our personal effectiveness in our witness.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Opening Greeting
The Opening Greeting
What information is revealed in the greeting?
Paul identifies
++The Author
++The Recipient
++The Purpose
The Author
The Author
Why was it necessary for Paul to state his credentials?
Paul declares that
++His is and Apostle of Jesus Christ
++His office is by the commandment of God
++His Hope is in Christ
The word of the Lord
++Was not limited
++Was focused on a larger community
The Recipient
The Recipient
What is significance about sonship?
Paul describes Timothy as His Son in the Faith
Paul describes Timothy as His Son in the Faith
Sonship was used to denote a bond a connection beyond mere friendship or familiarity
It was used to describe a close relationship of responsibility.
Paul represented a mature generation with an understanding of the word and how to respond to it.
Timothy represented the next generation with energy and zeal. One that caries a prophetic mantle, yet still immature in how to handle it.
Paul felt a parental obligation to help Timothy mature and develop in his ministry.
The Purpose
The Purpose
What are the three themes that are committed to Timothy?
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul opens this letter to Timothy with three key references.
Paul opens this letter to Timothy with three key references.
They are
++Grace
++Mercy
++Peace
All of these things can be both given and received.
All of these things can be both given and received.
There is a human component
++Grace period
++The Mercy of the Court
++World Peace
What makes Pauls references different?
He speaks of that which comes from God.
He speaks of that which comes from God.
Why was this distinction made?
Was there a grace, a mercy or a peace that had another source?
When God is the Source
++Grace is more gracious
++Mercy is more merciful
++Peace surpasses all understanding
When God is the Source
When God is the Source
When God is the source these things empower faith and makes the word effective in our life.
The Generational Connection
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
Eli was the Priest
Eli was the Priest
The word of the Lord
++Was valuable
++Was scares
True Value
++Can be intrinsic
++Can be connected to availability
The word of the Lord has always been valuable
The word of the Lord has always been valuable
When it is limited it’s value
++Is heightened
++Is wanted
Eli was the close to God yet could not hear from Him
Eli was the close to God yet could not hear from Him
How do you minister in behalf of God without a word from God?
Without a word we rely upon
++Religion
++Tradition
++Situations
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book The Armchair Theologian he noted when attending the premier seminary in New York.
Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians Berlin Again, and New York
“there is no theology here.… They talk a blue streak without the slightest substantive foundation.”
Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians Berlin Again, and New York
The seminarians, he wrote, are “completely clueless” about dogmatics and “intoxicated with liberal and humanistic phrases,” while in the churches the sermon has been “reduced to parenthetical church remarks about newspaper events.”
Sound familiar
The Church must be absolutely clear in where hope is.
The Church must be absolutely clear in where hope is.
We will never find hope
++In Politics
++In Culture
++Counter culture
Being different from the world is not our Goal, just being His.
Being different from the world is not our Goal, just being His.
You can be different
++Without God
++Without Christ
++Without the Church
++Without the Word
++With a choice
To belong to God
++Changes us from within
++Makes us a new creation
++Gives us a new heart
++Gives us a new Spirit
Samuel was raised in the church
Samuel was raised in the church
He was instructed on what it means
++To go before God
++To minister unto God
++To have religion
Then something amazing happened
God spoke to Samuel
God spoke to Samuel
Samuel is like that generation that
++Long for spirituality
++Needed something more than religion
++Wants to hear from God
Samuel did not understand what to do with the voice
Samuel did not understand what to do with the voice
He could
++Hear the voice
++Recognized it as one familiar to him
++He was not afraid
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The spirit of truth
The spirit of truth
The world
++Cannot receive Him
++Cannot see Him
++Cannot know Him
What is keeping the world from a relationship with the Spirit of Truth?
What is keeping the world from a relationship with the Spirit of Truth?
It was their relationship with Jesus that made the Spirit of Truth
++ Receivable
++Visible
++Knowable
Samuel’s relationship with Eli (man of God) that made the voice of God familiar.
Samuel heard the voice but it took Eli to tell him how to respond to it.
Never discount the anointing of transitioning leaders.
Never discount the anointing of transitioning leaders.
Eli had moved from a place of
++Ministering to observing
++Modeling to mentoring
And so it is in a father/son relationship
A good father prepares his son for more than life but a legacy
We must pass it on.