Conduct: Evident Progress
Life as the Church: Book of 1Timothy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:12:38
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Personal instructions; applicable to all
Paul gives some personal instructions that are worthy of our consideration for personal application for all.
Instructions given until Paul comes
Have you at some point in your life been given instructions on something to do until someone comes or returns?
Instructions received and applied will have evidence
(expand) (example: dishes, laundry, etc.)
Evident application will have eternal benefits
(expand) good, specific to Timothy and good and applicable for us too, more so than dishes or laundry.
Think of this:
Timothy was waiting for Paul; we are waiting for Jesus
Timothy’s progress, application would be evident to all; so would ours
Timothy’s application would be eternally worth it; so would yours!
(Transition) - May we learn from Paul’s charge to Timohty so that we may our progress maybe evident too through application.
13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
So, here is what is coming today
Give your attention
Give yourself entirely
Go forth and apply
Give your attention
Give your attention
Attention, easy definition: notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important. Timothy is given some instructions that start with giving attention. Then given instruction on giving attention to certain things.
Give attention to public reading of scripture (1Tim4:13; Lk4:16-20, 1The5:27; Col4:16)
Paul was intending to come back to Timothy in Ephesus, but the letter to Timothy is about how to conduct yourself and instruct the church in case he is delayed.
Here is our key passage from this series (not on your outline today so just note it down, again)
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.
So the first instruction here is regarding reading of scripture (v.13) but that really was the custom, the Jewish custom that even Jesus practiced
16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
Oh wait, cannot stop there
21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Scripture in context is important! (add v.21 to your notes)
To the church at Thessalonica Paul told them to share the letter (scripture) with others as well as the church at Colossi, not just share it with others, but others in other places
16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.
I think that we here at Westside do give attention to the public reading of scripture (speaking). And as listeners may we give attention to it (receiving it).
Now this could be private reading for growth (Jos1:8; Ps1:1-3; Php4:8)
8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Now Joshua is talking about the private reading for personal reflection, meditation and growth why, so it will make your way prosperous and you will have success.
David says to delight in it, and that he meditates on it, day and night and that it is fruitful to do it (Ps1:1-3 paraphrase of it)
Such things like we find in Philippians
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, proper conduct in the church including the reading, receiving, applying God’s Word, the scripture if we want to grow.
Give attention to exhortation (Rom12:8; 1The4:11; Heb10:24-25; Heb3:13)
More than likely this is to the public reading, teaching, exhorting
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
There are times, and situations where private exhortation, encouragement of one another is needed (1Th5:11)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Did you know that we can, and do exhort one another when we gather in the assembly? You can check out (Heb10:24-25) for that.
Also, we do not need to wait for the assembly, we can do it daily.
13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Exhorting one another is not only good for the person you are exhorting but good for you too!
(Transition) - - - So we have looked at giving attention to reading (public/private) and to exhortation (public/private) now we are going to move on to another item that make our progress known by giving attention to.
Give attention to doctrine (1Tim4:6, 11, 2:12, Heb5:12; Tit2:3-4)
This is personal instructions for the young evangelist - in the sound doctrine he had received and is teaching, nourishing others with.
As for us today, we can teach it is various ways, public/private in example or in word, but teach we must
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Now there maybe some limitations where we must teach, but teach still we must
12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
and one more to consider
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
(Transition) - - - teachers greatly grow because of study, preparation to teach. Want to enhance your growth? Be willing to teach. - Then this brings us to the next thing to give attention too - and this goes hand in hand with our Sunday night workshop series we are doing
Give attention to your gift (1Tim4:14; 2Tim1:6; Rom12:3-8; 1Pt4:10-11)
Spiritual gift to Timothy in passage seems to be a miraculous gift
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
Paul reminds Timothy
6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Now I have to say I’m making an assumption about the type of gift, miraculous, but not much of one since it happened at the laying on of apostolic hands, but there are gifts for us that are for the body too.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
We are many parts making up one body, each to bring their gifts for the common good of the body, Peter says to administer it
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
So, I think you can say that if you exercise your spiritual gift then your progress will be evident.
(Transition) The instructions while they were directly to Timothy are applicable today to us too, are they not? One more thing to touch on, the command:
Give yourself entirely
Give yourself entirely
Give yourself entirely, hum, how about be devoted, be diligent those maybe some other good words to use too.
Meditate on these things (1Tim4:15; Php4:8)
15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
That was from the NRSV version!
Or a familiar passage
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
So, are we taking time to read, to be encouraged, to be built up by the things found in God’s word and for God’s people?
Are we exhorting one another by using the gifts and teaching others what the gifts are and how to use them for God’s glory. Jesus parable of the talents can help us to:
Use them don’t bury them (Mt25:14-30)
Summarize
One slave given 5, talents, one two and another one.
The one with 5 and the one with 2 put them to use, and gained 5 and 2 more talents but the oe with one, well
18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
The mast returns and settled up with the slaves, and to the one with 5 and the one with 2 He says well done, but to the one with 1 who buried it He says
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
But that would not be fair to stop there would it?
28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ 29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Transition) From telling Timothy to meditate on these things, to taking heed to yourself.
16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Instructions for application
Take heed, do not neglect your spiritual development
take time to read the scripture to put it in so it can come out in word and deed.
Take heed do not neglect your own brethren
Look for ways to encourage, to edify, to exhort one another.
Take heed do not neglect your own spiritual opportunities
Opportunities to teach one another for spiritual growth.
Take heed do not neglect your own spiritual gift
You should come to know and deploy your spiritual gift(s) for the common good of the body, for every part is needed.
Take heed to the doctrine (teaching) (2Jn9-10)
We must know and be true to the word of God
Through knowledge and the testing of the spirits we will not be misled by false teachers
Be a workman who knows the truth and can rightly divide it and share it with others.
The doctrine can and will affect our fellowship with God and others, so be sure to take heed to the right doctrine.
(Transition) stay the course, persevere, endure, press on. These short exhortations given to Timothy and applicable to us are not to be soon forgotten but brought to memory often personally and as a church to and for one another
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
One more time back to some of our passage, for it is important to know that applying these things is important
16 Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation.
(Invitation slide-salvation free but not cheap) invitation (Song) (Prayer) (Exit)