The Conduct of the Pastor- 1 Timothy 4:1-16

The Conduct of the Pastor- 1 Timothy 4:1-15

I have had the privilege of serving on staff as a minister or pastor in three churches. I have looked at many churches needing pastors as our family sought the Lord’s will for us.

Without exception, every church had a job description. A list of items that the church expected the pastor to do. Most of the items are found on each list: prepare and preach messages, oversee worship services, marry and bury, serve as moderator and as an ex-officio member on committees.

Thankfully, our job description at this church uses the Word of God for the pastor’s job description. What we have in a this fourth chapter of the letter to Timothy is a more detailed explanation of what pastors are to do.

The Conduct of the Pastor, that which he is called to do by the Lord Himself. That is, God expects pastors and elders to do these things.

What we will find, though, is that God also desires all of His children, the members of His Church, are to do these things. In fact, a church that grows will be a church where both pastors and people do these things.

I. The Pastor (and people) Must Avoid Asceticism- 4:1-5

We begin by what the pastor and people are to avoid, in a word, asceticism. Now, Paul offers us a deep dive into false doctrines, their origins, and their harm in this warning. All of us, me as a pastor and you as people, must avoid asceticism. Let’s look at Paul’s reasons for this.

A. Why is asceticism is evil—it comes from the devil and his followers- 4:1-2

Perhaps you find yourself asking, “What is wrong with asceticism?” It seems good, because someone is disciplining their bodies (I mean Paul says that in a few verses, doesn’t he?). There is nothing wrong with discipline (self-denial for godliness). What is wrong is telling other people they cannot partake of something or engage in marriage as godliness. These are demonic doctrines and promulgated by the devil’s followers.

Paul does not pain these people or their teachings in a favorable light. Perhaps the immediate example of monks whipping themselves, or eating little to no food to “discipline themselves.” The Roman Catholic Church comes to my mind. They forbid their priests to marry and instruct Catholics on what days they can and cannot eat meat or other foods. Paul says this is demonic.

B. What asceticism is—abstinence from God’s good creation- 4:3a

Paul defines asceticism here. We cannot tell people that they cannot eat certain foods or drink certain things. This is unbiblical. You cannot tell people they cannot marry. Foods, drinks, and marriage are created by God and were declared by Him to be good (see Genesis chapters 1-2). God provides the boundaries for the enjoyment of these things: do not overeat, do not get drunk, and enjoy a monogamous relationship with one member of the opposite sex. Anything else is sinful. It is really simple.

The problem is these demons and their followers are attempting to earn something that Christ has already purchased and provided: salvation. A more modern example of this comes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where we read: “The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation.” (CCC 2035)

What should we do instead?

C. What is the opposite of asceticism—following the Bible and prayerful thanksgiving- 4:3b-5

I mentioned that we can enjoy the good things God created for His glory if we follow His Word and employ prayerful thanksgiving. The Word of God informs our lives, including what we eat, what we drink, and whom we marry. If we receive these things in this manner, we can enjoy the goodness of God in creation, glorify Him, and be built up in the faith.

The pastor (and people) must avoid asceticism. But what should pastors (and people) do?

II. The Pastor (and people) Must Exercise- 4:6-10

Paul uses the language of an athlete to describe how both pastors and people should live. We will break it down into more manageable sizes and see how we should exercise today.

A. Instruct about Godly Living- 4:6a

This ties into our previous point of enjoying God’s creation within God’s boundaries. It is my privilege and duty to remind you of these things, and when I do, I am being a good servant of Jesus Christ. When I begin teaching anything contrary to this, it is your duty to lovingly confront me and challenge me on the basis of God’s Word.

B. Balance Life and Doctrine- 4:6b

Paul gives further instruction on our spiritual fitness, though, by balancing life and doctrine. Too many Christians choose a godly life or godly doctrine. The two are not mutually exclusive, as we have seen already in this letter. Just as athletes must balance out skill and strength, the Christian, if he or she is to be healthy, must balance out their lives with doctrine. You cannot live a godly life without godly doctrine, nor can you hold to godly doctrine without a godly life.

There are all sorts of displays of this in natural life. You cannot sleep all the time nor can you stay away all the time is a perfect example. You need both sleep and activity to be healthy. The way to do this, to balance, is to develop a consistent exercise program.

C. Develop a Consistent Exercise Program- 4:7-9

Again, Paul uses athletic training to develop spiritually mature disciples of Christ. He continues this line of thought by encourage us to develop a consistent exercise program. Now, this is such an important point that we will spend the remainder of our time this morning on it.

You may have wondered why we don’t find specifics in the Bible about spending time in prayer, how many church services to hold, or how much time we should spend in reading the Bible. It is ambiguous, and sweetly so. Let me explain by way of illustration.

People in South Carolina live differently than people in Ontario, Canada. There are a variety of reasons for this, most evidently the weather. Our outdoor activities look quite different, especially at different times of the year. We expect life to look differently in Canada than in South Carolina.

The same is true of us individually. I do not eat the same amount as Jarrod Nelson, he is a good foot and half taller than me! We have the same needs but different schedules and responsibilities, so it is not surprising that our individual fulfillment of these needs will look different. What are our basic needs:

Scripture (reading, memorizing, and meditating, 1 Tim. 4:13)

Prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-7)

Church (fellowship & service, Heb. 10:24, NT epistles)

Worship (John 4:24, Psalm 95:6; Heb. 10:19-26)

Growth in Christ (i.e., sanctification, see Eph. 4:22-24)

These are the basic needs of every child of God (like food, shelter, clothing, rest, and air are for every human being). The question is, how will I meet these needs to be like Jesus, build up His church, and glorify God?

That is where you come into play. You must develop an exercise program for your spiritual fitness. It is not optional, your very health depends upon it. So let me end our time this morning with some helpful suggestions for your to develop a specific plan to grow in holiness.

Determine the amount of time you can devote to your spiritual fitness.

Now, we have to be careful here, because you can say “I just don’t have time for....” That is not true, nor will it be legitimate. You may not have hours a day to read and study the Bible, but you do have some time. Determine how much time you have, and it may require some schedule rearrangement. But figure out how much time you will need for each one.

Develop a specific, clear, and attainable plan to accomplish your spiritual fitness goals.

I say specific, and I mean say, “I am going to spend 20 minutes a day reading the Bible.” That is specific. It is clear, too. You do not say, “I am going to read my Bible today.” That is not specific nor is it clear. But it also needs to be attainable. If you are not reading the Bible and you want to, I would not recommend you start out with 30 minutes a day, or, one hour a day. Start with 10 minutes a day.

Be specific on where you will perform these exercises, too. “I will read the Bible 20 minutes a day in my living room on my rocking chair.” “I will spend 10 minutes praying everyday for our church members and for the leaders of our country, outside on my porch when the weather is nice.”

Recruit accountability and determine to follow through for 60 days.

This is the beauty of the church. In gyms, you pay to have someone coach you on your fitness. In the church, God has blessed us with pastors and church members to help us grow. I cited Hebrews 10:19-25. If you go back and read that passage, you will see the word “us” used many times.

If you are starting out, or getting back into the routine, or simply beefing up your fitness, get some help! Ask someone to call you every day, or once a week, to see how you are doing.

END SERMON

D. Endure because of God- 4:10

BRIEF RECAP OF LAST WEEK’S SERMON

Now we can resume looking at THE PASTOR (AND PEOPLE) MUST EXERCISE, finishing our thought with the truth that in our exercise we endure because of God. Notice how Paul describes the situation: for this end (the life in the present and to come) we “toil and strive.” These are not couch potato terms, they are intense terms.

We picture not the owner sitting comfortably in his climate controlled box overlooking the stadium, but the athlete on the field dripping with sweet, heart pounding from the intense efforts he has given on the field.

But notice the why, which is vital for endurance: we do this because of God. Our God lives, He is not dead. And He is not just living, He is saving!

What Paul is teaching is that, both for ourselves and for others, we continue to discipline ourselves for godliness because the living God is saving people. What Paul says is interesting, and it can interpreted a variety of ways. To me, when we consider the whole of Scripture, we can conclude that God “saves people” in a general sense, meaning that all people do not fall under the quick and immediate (and just, I might add) judgment of God. But He is the particular savior of those who believer.

There are none outside of God’s ability (He is, after all, the living God, the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God.” (1 Tim. 1:17) In light of this truth, we discipline ourselves for godliness. We endure, we do not give up.

We now come to our final point and the last section of this chapter:

III. The Pastor (and people) Be Devoted- 4:11-16

Paul wraps up his treatment on the conduct of the pastor by saying: be devoted. Devotion is a term we typically think of in worship or relationships. When a husband of 40 years passes away people comment, “He was so devoted to his wife.”

Or members of organizations will say, “Billy Joel devoted himself to our organization.”

The pastor (and people) are to be devoted. Paul says, “command and teach these things.” He then elaborates what these things are (in connection to what he has written before).

A. Devoted to Preaching and Teaching- 4:11

Preaching and teaching are the main task of the pastor. Ryan Davidson, a pastor friend of mine, describes the importance of the Word of God in the Church,

“It [the preaching and teaching of God’s Word] is the means through which the Spirit brings about new birth, and it is the food that feeds the people of God on their journey home.” (40-41)

We see this importance through the apostles in Acts chapter 6. There was a real and vital need that was not being met. Hellenistic Jewish widows were not receiving help like the Hebrew Jewish widows were. As important as this is, the apostles knew their main task was prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). Let me read that verse to demonstrate this point Paul is making to Timothy even more, Acts 6:4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.””

This is why I place such an enormous emphasis on the Word of God and its teaching and preaching. While I am privileged to serve as a pastor here, I will devote myself to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, both publically and privately (following Paul’s example in Acts 20:20).

Before we move on, remember that although this passage applies to the pastor’s conduct (his job description), you will do well to follow this example, to devote yourself to listening and adhering to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.

B. Devoted to a Godly Life- 4:12

We have emphasized this, but the pastor (and people) must also be devoted to a godly life. Paul lists several aspects of a godly life: speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Our words and actions, which are based on love, faith, and purity, should be a demonstration of a changed and changing heart.

Paul commands Timothy to set an example. The pastors of the church should be demonstrations of a godly life. But this does not mean you, fellow believer, do not have to live like this.

C. Devoted to the Scriptures (both public and private)- 4:13

Paul encourages Timothy to devote Himself to the Scriptures. We touched on this briefly with the preaching and teaching. But that was primarily one aspect of the pastor’s work. This is another. It finds its basis in the Synagogue, where Jewish people would read through the Scriptures (OT). They would be instructed in that service as well.

We see the importance of the public reading of Scripture throughout the history of the church. Listen to this excerpt from the Directory of Public Worship for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,

“The reading of the Word of God is a distinct and essential act of public worship. In it God speaks directly to His people by a Word “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” This Word is able to build up the congregation and give them the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. It does not return to the Lord without accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent.” Directory of Public Worship for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

This is why we read the Scripture together. We hear God’s Word to us. God uses His Word to build His people up. We devote ourselves to this reading, but that is not all.

We also devote ourselves to the Scriptures’ exhortation and teaching. That is, as we read the Scriptures together, we study them and find out the commands and the doctrines it teaches. It is vital that we take the Scriptures, we read them, and then we apply them. Preaching that opens with a passage but never addresses the passage it not biblical preaching. Many of the preachers I heard while I was in Bible college used the Bible to get their point across, not the Bible’s point. You and I should never allow a preacher in this pulpit who does not preach God’s Word.

This also implies that you and I not only hear the Word of God but obey it. We cannot come, sit, listen to the Bible and preaching, and do nothing. James gives us this encouragement, and I say warning, James 1:21-22 “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

D. Devoted to Service- 4:14

Paul tells Timothy to use his gift. Now, this is an interesting phrase “which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” There are two aspects of this: God’s work and the Church’s recognition. God (prophecy) provides His children with gifts (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4-11). The other part of this is that the leaders of the church (council of elders) recognize this gift (set apart, laying on of hands).

What gifts has God given you? Are you using them? This is, by the way, one of the reasons regular church assembling is vital. God has given each of you at least one gift to be used in this body. When you do not come (and I do not mean those who are providentially hindered through physical illness or other similar issues) you are robbing your brothers and sisters of your gift, and you are failing to receive from your brothers and sisters. It is no wonder why so many in the church are anemic, starving, weak, and joyless.

E. Devoted to Practice- 4:15

This second to last idea is so vital I want to stress it. Paul says “practice these things.” It takes time to develop spiritual maturity. Do not be discouraged when you fail by sinning against God or a brother or sister. Do not be discouraged when something comes up and shakes you to the core. Continue practicing! Stay in the gym.

Paul gives us an idea of how to practice: immerse. I find it interesting that the ESV renders this word “immerse” or the KJV “give thyself wholly to them.” The word is actually a being verb, like I am tall, or whatever it may be. In other words, be so immersed in these things that you become them.

Become these things! This is not a one-day-a-week event. You nor anyone else will see progress. The reason that so many Christians are fruitless (they see no growth in holiness), or peace-less (they cannot handle the pressures of life), or joyless (they seem absolute miserable), or sin-filled (they seem completely incapable of fighting temptation), is because they do not immerse themselves in these things. They do not become them. Be devoted, pastors and people, to these things.

F. Devoted to Guard Duty- 4:16

This is the final stop on our consideration of the conduct of the pastor (and people). He must be devoted to guard duty. We need to become spiritual Tomb Guards. You know the guardians that keep watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They have an elaborate system of changing the guards, but what I want to focus on is the seriousness with which they approach their duty.

That is the approach we must take. Timothy, be on guard at all times. Notice again the two focuses: life and doctrine. He is to guard both 24/7. We must do this as well. Continual examination of our lives (how we live) and our doctrine (what we believe) will keep us focused on the Lord. The result? Salvation!

Now, we believe in the perseverance of the saints. We do not believe in salvation by works, and neither does Paul (see 1 Timothy 1:1, 13-16; 2:5-6, 15; 4:10, and here in our passage). What he does believe, and teach, is perseverance. I like how John Piper summarizes this, “This means that perseverance does not get us into Christ, but proves that we have already come to share in Christ.” (607)

I have met a few Christians over the years who doubt their salvation. Interestingly, they all have one thing in common (besides the doubts): they do nothing to devote themselves to guard duty. It is no wonder they doubt their salvation, and it is probably a good idea to be concerned about their salvation.

CONCLUSION

What do we do with this? Most people would agree with everything written on paper. The problem is not believing it, or giving mental assent to it. The problem is we simply do not practice them. We do not conduct ourselves according to the Word of God. What is the remedy? Start now.

An athlete may receive an injury or endure an illness. They do not simply give up, they pick up and begin training again. This is a call to us today.