I Timothy Chapter 5

I Timothy Chapter 5

vs. 1-2 Family

- Paul is giving Timothy some basic advice on keeping a church family together. As a young pastor, Timothy probably was in need of some advice in dealing with a lot of different kinds of people. As Christians, this is good advice for all of us in maintaining relationships with one another.

- “Never speak harshly to an older man... Treat older women as you would your mother” Those who are older than you, as a general rule, have more life wisdom than you do. Even if you are older than they in the faith, you are still to respect your elders just as you would your parents. With their age, they have earned the right to your respect.

- “Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers... treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.” Those your own age or about your own age or younger than you should be treated as siblings.

- We as churches can avoid many improper attitudes toward each other in our churches by seeing each other as our fellow members in God's family.

- Your family members are the closest people to you. They live with you, they know you intimately, and you all have to learn to live with each other in harmony... otherwise... it's just not a fun place to be... and the same can go for the church.

- A lot of the above has to do with thinking before you speak. What are some ways that you can “train” your brain to think first?

- Some days are just plain bad days... even on those days, we need to be aware of how our words and actions effect those around us. If you're having a bad day, go find someone you love and tell them how much they mean to you.

- Leviticus 19:32

- Titus 2:1-15

- Proverbs 23:22, 24-25

- Ephesians 6:1-4

- Hebrews 13:1-3

- I Peter 1:22, 3:8-12

vs. 3-16 Widows

- Take care of widows if they have no one else to care for them. Paul says if they have children or grandchildren, that their first responsibility should be to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them.

- Both of my great-grandmothers ended up in nursing homes before they died. One because she had a severe stroke, and the other because her Alzheimer's kept getting worse. In going to visit them periodically, we met a lot of different people... and sadly... there were a lot of residents who just seemed to be kind of dropped off... there were a few whose families never came back to visit... They were there on their own...

- When Paul is talking about taking care of the widows... these are the people I think about in today's society. Those who can't care for themselves anymore or who have been forgotten... there's no one in their lives who are willing to care for them.

- And also for those who are caring for an elderly parent or grandparent... it's hard to take on the responsibility of taking care of someone else... and it's even harder to have to care for the person who raised you... sometimes as if they were a child (depending on mental state). Those people sometimes need to be given relief... a break... help of some kind to relieve some pressure...

- So even those who have someone looking after them... sometimes still need a little extra help and attention.

- It is good for children to take care of their own parents. Sometimes that means getting a full time nurse to stay with them, or putting them in a home or assisted living where they can have around the clock professional care.

- Matthew 15:3-9

- Towards the end of both of my great-grandmothers' lives... it was hard for me to go see them. They weren't themselves. The one with Alzheimer's couldn't remember us... didn't know who we were... and there were times when I wondered why we even went... until she'd light up when she was talking... she didn't have a clue who we were... but it brought joy to her to be able to tell stories and talk about things...

- footnote- “Because there were no pensions, no social security, no life insurance, and few honorable jobs for women, widows were usually unable to support themselves. The responsibility for caring for the helpless naturally falls first on their families—the people whose lives are most closely linked with theirs. Paul stresses the importance of each family caring for the needs of its widows and not leaving it for the church. The church can then care for those widows who have no families. A widow who had no other family members to support her was doomed to poverty. From the beginning, the church took care of its widows, who in turn gave valuable service to the church.”

- Paul gives a few examples of different kinds of widows: the true widow, the widow who seeks pleasure, and the young widow.

- The true widow is a woman who is truly alone in this world. Someone without a spouse or children to help her. But despite being alone, she has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day asking God for His help. She seeks His will for her life. She is a woman of God. These are the widows that Paul told Timothy to give aid to.

- Paul said that they were to be of at least 60 years of age. They were to have been faithful to their husbands. They must be well respected by everyone because of her good life—“Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?”

- Acts 9:36-43

- The widow who seeks pleasure is one who lives only for pleasure. She is spiritually dead. She doesn't care for the things of God. She is concerned only with herself and things that pertain to her life. These people who are of the world, Paul tells Timothy not to give any aid to.

- The young widow, Paul urges to remarry. A young widow who is still of an age to be able to marry and have children to help her in her old age has no need of church assistance. She still had the means to support herself through marriage.

- Paul says that the younger widows shouldn't be on the list because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry... Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. (Which was to serve the church faithfully. The church would provide basic needs in return for service .) Paul also included the idea that if young widows were on the list, that they would learn to be lazy and instead of spending their time productively, they would end up spending their time going from house to house gossiping and meddling in things they shouldn't. Young widows needed to remarry basically to keep themselves busy and industrious so the enemy couldn't have anything to say against them.

- I Corinthians 1:8-9

- II Thessalonians 3:6-15

- I Thessalonians 5:12-22

- Paul was afraid that some had already started to stray away back to the world.

- This seems a little cold perhaps... however Paul had good reason to supply Timothy with this advice.

- footnote- “Paul wanted Christian families to be as self-supporting as possible. He insisted that children and grandchildren take care of the widows in their families; he suggested that younger widows remarry and start new families; he ordered the church not to support lazy members who refused to work (II Thessalonians 3:10). Nevertheless, when necessary, the believers pooled their resources; they gave generously to help disaster-ridden churches (I Corinthians 16:1-4); they took care of a large number of widows (Acts 6:1-6). The church has always had limited resources and has always had to balance financial responsibility with generosity. It only makes sense for members to work as hard as they can and to be as independent as possible, so they can adequately care for themselves and for less fortunate members. When church members are both responsible and generous, everyone's needs will be met.”

- Paul asked that women who were believers who had relatives who were widows, that they would take care of them instead of laying the burden on the shoulders of the church. So perhaps aunts, or cousins who didn't have any family to care for them or who didn't have believers in their family who were willing to care for them. In this way, it was still a family member caring for the widow.

- Is there an elderly person in your church who needs some help? Who maybe needs some maintenance done on their house? Or would like to have help with cooking sometime? Or who maybe just needs some company?

- Is there a nursing home in your area where you can “adopt” a “grandparent”?

- Would your youth group or bible study group be interested in taking a day a month or so to go spend some time at a nursing home?

- Is there a way that you can help out those who are caring for their parents or grandparents in your church?

- Galatians 6:8-10

- Isaiah 1:17

- James 1:22-27

vs. 17-18 Elders' job description

- If you do a job, you expect payment for the work that you've done. If you do really well, you may even be able to expect a raise or a bonus. Your production should determine your wages.

- Paul is saying that the same concept applies to elders. If they do their work well, they should be rewarded with the respect of those around them. In the Greek, the next part says that they “should be worthy of double honor.”

- Paul quotes a couple things from other places to say basically, that just because they're working for God and just because this may be their calling, doesn't mean that they shouldn't receive some kind of payment in return... even if it's simply the love and respect of their congregations.

- “Especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.” Aren't those the same thing? Not really...

- footnote- “Preaching and teaching are closely related. Preaching is proclaiming the Word of God and confronting listeners with the truth of Scripture. Teaching is explaining the truth in Scripture, helping learners understand difficult passages, and helping them apply God's Word to daily life. Paul says that these elders are worthy of double honor. Unfortunately, however, we often take them for granted by not providing adequately for their needs or by subjecting them to heavy criticism. Think of how you can honor your leaders who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

- If you look at the above for a second with me, there's a lot to be drawn here...

- Preaching is shouting out the Gospel. “Jesus came! He died for us! He rose again! And He is GOD! There is hope for our eternal salvation!” And it is also getting down in other's faces and saying “you're wrong, and this is what is really true, and here's why.” Brings a whole new meaning to “stepping on your toes.”

- Preaching is great. But by itself, it can get really legalistic and really annoying... if someone is constantly telling you where you're wrong and how you're wrong and that you need to change something in your life to be on track with God... you're going to eventually just tune them out.

- But coupled with teaching... oh boy...

- Teaching is explaining, understanding, and application. Teaching sits down and tears scripture apart to help you understand it. Our pastor calls it “unpacking”. Taking out each detail and looking it over... just as you would if you were dissecting something for science. Everything is important and everything has meaning... it's just knowing how to look at it and what to take from it.

- Then after you have gained knowledge and understanding about the scripture, teaching shows you how to apply it to your daily life. Without this application aspect... what good is it to know scripture? Head knowledge is great... but James 2:14, 17-19 says “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?... So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

- It's like being on a battlefield, having a gun, knowing how it works, but never firing it at the enemy... even when they're closing in. What good does it do you to have it, to understand how it works... but never knowing how to use it?

- Paul says that elders should be respected... especially those who work hard at BOTH preaching and teaching.

- It's easy to tell someone they're wrong... not always so easy to explain how better to go about it.

- Consider yet again a soldier analogy. Consider a preacher/teacher to be a drill sergeant... He teaches you how to go to battle. Gives you all the knowledge and understanding about putting something into application. Maybe even walks you through battlefield training in scenarios as close to real battle situations as is possible. (I texted soldier friend of mine... terms for this could be: Field training exercises, situational training exercises, or practical applications... the last one I think fits my train of thought better...) He helps you overcome your fear. He helps you learn to think clearly in confusing situations... but he also tells you when you're wrong and how to fix it. It might mean a lot of work on your part, but he's always right there beside you with your best interest at heart whether you appreciate his methods at the moment or not. He knows that in the long run, your life and the lives of your comrades could depend on how well you've been trained—to understand and to apply.

- This is not to say that preacher/teachers should constantly be yelling at their students/congregations... but a pastor or an elder who is teaching or preaching, should be trying to combine the aspects of the two jobs in order to be more effective in their discipling.

- What are some ways that you can get ready to teach? How can you apply simple teaching strategies to your daily life?

- In order to be a good witness, you have to be ready to explain your faith, so how should your study time reflect that thought?

vs. 19-21 Elders continued

- “Do not listen to accusations against an elder unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses.”

- Elders or pastors are not sin-free. They're still human and they still mess up occasionally just like the rest of us... however, if there is something major in their lives that requires correction... then it needs to be faced just like anybody else in the congregation who needs correction. However, if it is an elder or a pastor... Paul says to not even listen to the accusations unless it is confirmed by more than one witness.

- Matthew 18:15-20

- Those in leadership positions constantly run the risk of having their name slandered because of ill feelings. Somebody who holds a grudge against them for saying something or for doing something... that may have been in the process of teaching or correcting... could come up with a way to retaliate through slandering that leader.

- If the accusation can be confirmed by more than one person... then action should be taken and they should be reprimanded in front of the whole church... ouch... public humiliation much? But it will serve as a strong warning to others.

- Casting Crowns had a song called “Stained Glass Masquerade.” It talks about sitting in church and feeling like you're the only one feeling so small... because everybody around you seems so strong and so much better at this than you. So... “Are we happy plastic people, under shiny steeples, with walls around our weakness, and smiles that hide our pain, but if the invitation's open, to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.”

- Just because we're saved and we're Christians... doesn't mean that life becomes easy... or that we have no sin in our lives... James 5:16 says “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

- To humble yourself and be able to go to someone else... who may seem stronger or better than you... and bare your weaknesses in front of them... is hard... but without doing so... how can they know that when they are struggling (because all of us struggle... maybe not at the same time... but we all struggle...) that they can have a place to come to bare THEIR weaknesses.

- One of my friends and I have had some fun with this one... It seems like every time we sit down with a struggle that we've been having to talk to the other about... the other has either just been through almost the exact same situation, or are going through it right at the same time. And it's the same with our happy times... sometimes we even get the same scriptures or are studying in the same place at about the same time... or our pastors will preach almost the same message back to back. And we usually only get to talk about once a month anymore... and it's still the same... : )

- And it's not just her... there are other friends that that's happened with periodically... but she and I are almost ALWAYS on the same page... which I think is rare...

- But how would we have ever known that without first baring our hearts to one another? When you are struggling with something what do you do? Do you hide it all underneath a plastic exterior and hope that no one sees how weak you really are? Do you cry alone wondering why you're alone in your pain? What's holding you back from reaching out to someone? Fear of rejection? Fear of being seen as small or weak or faithless?

- If we are all one family... all in unity together... one's weakness is all of our weakness... Just as we should seek to build ourselves up in Christ, so should we seek to build EACH OTHER up in Christ. We are all working towards one goal and one purpose... the furthering of the Kingdom... If a soldier is wounded in battle... as a unit... you don't expect them to do surgery on themselves, or remove bullets from themselves... there's a medic team in place, or you as a unit try to do your best for the injury...

- As a church, this should be our response. We shouldn't look at the injured one and say “well what'd you get shot for! Don't you know you're supposed to dodge bullets!”... We can't always dodge the bullets... so be kind in your reprimands and graceful in your building back up of the injured one...

- If a leader falls, sometimes there's more condemnation than forgiveness because we expect more from them... And while it is true that “with great power comes great responsibility”, (thank you Spiderman...) we need to remember that they're not supermen. They are still human. They still mess up and they still need help in this faith just like the rest of us.

- “I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the holy angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone.”

- How should you respond to someone who has fallen?

- Do you know someone who needs encouragement in the faith? Do you know someone who is struggling?

- Are you struggling with something right now? Who in your life can you go to, to bare your heart and seek support?

vs. 22, 24-25 Leadership and Sin

- “Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader.”

- When my pastor died last year, we were suddenly without that leadership position. We are a Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, so our methods of pastoral appointment may be different than yours, but I am speaking from my own experience.

- About a month after Doug's death, our district superintendent started the pastoral search process. He got a list of interviewed candidates together for our elder board to interview. If the elders approved of the candidate, then he came to speak before the church so he could meet us and get a feel for the community and so we could see if he would fit us as well.

- This process took 10 months and a whole lot of prayer before we finally had a guy come who we felt God had in mind for us and us for him. About 7 or 8 months into this process, I started to get a little anxious about it. I felt like a boat without a captain. Yeah we had interim pastors speaking and the elders were still in place... but there was no constant pastor...

- As I was working on the bible study, I stumbled across this scripture... and the more I thought about it the more it just made sense. A church is a family... and this pastoral process, was like trying to find a spouse... and at that point in time... it still felt (to me anyways) like we were trying to find a spouse for the sake of the children... Like a widower trying to find a wife to help him take care of his kids... And that's not the way it was to be...

- This pastor needed to fall in love with this church and its people in order to be accepted and useful. If we had just picked the first guy that came along and he had just decided that, yep, this seemed like an okay place... God could have used it... but it may not have gone as well as it COULD go.

- Because we prayed, and waited... God brought a man who I think is shaping up to be a great addition to this church and who I think will be a great leader for us as a whole. It truly feels like a God-appointed marriage between he and us.

- Also- footnote- “Paul says that a church should never be in a hurry about choosing its leaders, especially the pastor, because major problems or sins might be overlooked. It is a serious responsibility to choose church leaders. They must have strong faith and be morally upright, having the qualities described in 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Not everyone who wants to be a church leader is eligible. Be certain of an applicant's qualifications before asking him or her to take a leadership position.”

- Titus 1:6-16

- I Peter 5:1-11

- The last half of this verse says to not share in the sins of others but to keep yourself pure.

- Even if a sin is committed by your church leader... we are not to share in the sins of others... our walk and our relationship with Christ depends on us... not on everybody around us.

- I know when Jimmy Swaggart, a famous TV evangelist, was caught soliciting prostitutes... There were and still are a lot of people who look at that and say... well if they can fall, what hope is there for me? Or why should I try?

- Yeah Jimmy Swaggart and others have failed in very public ways... it doesn't mean that they didn't have a walk with God. You look at David, or Samson. Men who walked with God, but who failed and later repented... God still cared about them and He still honored them. He called David a man after His own heart... after murder, and adultery, and lying...

- We all fail... in much the same ways most of the time... just some are more publicized than others... more well known...

- Even if a leader is very well known... his/her sin is no excuse for us to condone our own sin...

- We are to keep ourselves pure. It's on our shoulders. Our responsibility.

- Ephesians 5:1-20

- However, we should also remember that we are to forgive just as Christ has forgiven us. When someone falls, it's not our job to judge them... but it is our job to lovingly correct them and help them back to Christ. We need to keep in mind that God said he chastises those He loves. If He didn't love us when we fall into temptations and sin, He would allow us to keep our sins hidden and maybe never repented of and then we would be judged for those sins. But because He loves us so much, He will allow us opportunity to repent and if we don't He will bring our sins out in the open so we can repent.

- Matthew 18:21-35

- Paul says that the sins of some are obvious and some that will only be revealed later.

- If we look at Jimmy Swaggart or David in their sins... and then look at the man who commits adultery... but no one ever knows... or the closet porn addict who stays up all hours of the night surfing the internet for a fix... there is no difference... it is a sexual sin born of lust... and all sin is equal in the eyes of God. Jesus in Matthew said that if you LOOK at a woman with lust then you have committed adultery with her in your heart...

- They will all be judged. Some may be judged now, on earth, by others, or by God with very obvious consequences... others, may not be judged until the Day of Judgment before the throne of God.

- Judgment still comes.

- Hebrews 12:1-13

- Proverbs 13:1

- In the same way that sin is apparent, so good deeds are also obvious. Good deeds done in secret... like secret deliveries of money or food... they will also be revealed on the Day of Judgment. And yet again we have the verse in James... show me your faith with your works... even your secret ones.

- I John 3:1-10, 14-24

- Revelation 14:13-20, 20:11-15

vs. 23- A LittleWine

- Okay this verse is highly controversial... so I read through a bunch of commentaries...

- The general thought seems to be this: To not drink ONLY water, but to add a little wine. A common Eastern medicinal practice was to mix a little wine with water for constitution sake. So if you had an upset stomach, or you couldn't sleep, or you were feeling a little under the weather, you were to drink this mixture. Even in the 1700's or so, common Western practice for a bedtime tonic was to heat up a little wine/water mixture to help you sleep if you were sick... kind of like Nyquil, a cough medicine. (It was also used to calm “hysterical” women... but that's a whole other story...)

- We don't know why Timothy was sick, or what caused his sickness, but it is supposed that it could have been caused by bad water in the area, or the job of pastoring itself was causing something akin to stomach ulcers or really bad indigestion.

- Paul was simply giving Timothy some fatherly advice. Timothy was obviously a temperate man. He apparently wasn't drinking any wine for Paul to have to tell him to drink a little...

- Paul didn't tell him to drink wine when he felt like it or drink it to be social... it was for his stomach's sake. For his health... not for his social life.

- And the little that they're talking about is a medically proven fact. Just like vinegar or yogurt, a few ounces of wine a day helps your digestive system. But it's like 4 oz. Not a half a bottle or anything. A few Tablespoons of vinegar has the same result when mixed with water... although the wine probably tastes a little better... : ) (However tests with other alcoholic drinks did not have the same effect... the sugar and caloric content in beer had no benefits for the body... it actually has enough empty calories to promote the body to store up fat cells galore... so even if you don't gain weight right that second... when you do start gaining weight... it really kicks in... producing the phenomenon of the beer gut... Whiskey had some benefit similar to that of wine, but the wine was much healthier in the long run.)

- Everything in moderation. I do not hold that wine in and of itself is a problem or is evil. However, the misuse of wine or any alcoholic drink leads to sin... like drunkenness, angry outbursts, murder, or most definitely injury to our Christian witness.

- Just as food is good and even necessary for the body... but an overindulgence leads to the sin of gluttony...

- Proverbs 23:19-21, 29-35

- Romans 14:20-23

- I Corinthians 5:9-13, 6:9-20

I Timothy Chapter 4

I Timothy Chapter 4

vs. 1-2- False teachings

- This is the third or fourth time that one of these books have hit really hard on false teachings. There is a very apparent theme here.

- Beware of false teachers and their teachings. Be careful to avoid falling into their deception. Do not turn away from Truth to follow a teaching that doesn't line up with the Word of God.

- I have a friend who has started on this path... He is a very intelligent man. And he was a very near friend whom I love dearly.

- About two years ago, we sat down to lunch and I was very impressed upon to ask him what he believed. Which I thought was an odd thing to really feel to ask because he went to my church off and on and he came to my house for youth nights... everything that we'd talked about up to that point all lined up with what I believed... so I thought it very strange... but I asked anyway...

- And he said that he had come to college hoping that for four years he could get away with no one ever asking him that question... uh oh... so then I started digging... curiosity killed the cat right? *sigh*

- This man had stumbled upon this belief that Christianity in and of itself is an impure religion. The Roman church had corrupted the faith in the beginning and therefore, Christianity as we know it today was not a true faith.

- No matter that this faith is all about relationship. Or no matter that Christ died for us anyway and it's a personal faith... not one that is dependent on someone else's actions or beliefs.

- The more we talked, the more I sat in wonder... This new faith that he has discovered believes that not ONLY do you have to believe that Christ is God come in the flesh, but you also have to go back to follow all of the Jewish laws dictated in the Old Testament.

- No matter that the temple is not in place, there's no priesthood in place to make sacrifices, and the general idea behind the laws and sacrifices completely does away with the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ which was the ultimate sacrifice to end animal sacrifices...

- This to me was a faith based solely in works. It was the Pharisees all over again. And trying to believe that Christ came to save us... AND believing that we had to follow all the laws to gain our salvation... just didn't line up with me. It completely did away with the concept of GRACE. And also the majority of New Testament teaching.

- And yet this man, who is very intelligent, who I would trust with my life, who I respected... here he sits telling me that I'm going to hell because I'm not following the intricacies of Jewish law...

- I've heard many versions of faith and many versions of belief in God... but this had to be the one that was the most off the wall that came from the lips of a personal friend.

- But this faith, has elements of truth... And for someone who is searching for truth and searching for something to believe in that makes sense... in a lot of ways I can understand why it seems right or real.

- For us to fully grasp the concept of Grace, is asking us to understand the mind of God Himself. To fully understand that God loves us enough to die for us and expects us to do nothing for Him in return but to love Him and trust Him with our lives? It doesn't add up. There has to be a catch somewhere... so we turn to works... We'll work our way to heaven. We'll earn God's love and affection. (Which is exactly what the Judaizers were doing in the New Testament church with some of the Old Testament laws like circumcision, that were forcing the Gentiles to try to follow the Old laws AND Christ.)

- This was the ultimate “works faith”. But in following the law... they put the sacrifice of Christ at the lowest possible priority. It was just an addition. Extra fire insurance... just in case they messed up a law somewhere...

- A lot of what was taught in my friend's new faith though... made sense. And it lined up with what sounded like Truth.

- For instance... “every word that God spoke was true and every word God spoke is to be followed.” or “faith without works is dead”. All that is in there... but it was all taken out of context.

- I don't know how many conversations my friend and I had over the course of a year in which he would take half a scripture, or a section of scripture and leave out portions that just didn't fit with what he wanted to be true. Or needed to be true.

- He would say that I couldn't use the writings of Paul to prove a point because Paul was not a direct disciple of Christ, and then he would turn around and use something out of Corinthians or Romans to prove HIS point.

- False teachings run rampant. Sometimes they're subtle. Sometimes they're obvious. Regardless, we must test everything against the Word of God. If it doesn't line up, it's not from God.

- My friend has since cut contact with what appears to be just about everybody... He is living away from his family and with people who believe like he does. His roommate from college can't even contact him... and they were basically permanently joined at the hip for four years...

- Romans 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

- II Corinthians 2:14-17, 3:1-18

- Galatians 1:11-24, 2:1-21, 3:1-29, 4:1-31, 5:1-26

- Ephesians 2, 3, 4

- Colossians 1:15-23, 2:6-23, 3:1-17

- Hebrews- basically the entire book...

- Jeremiah 30, 31

- Luke 22:20-30

- Paul in the first few verses is warning his readers not to turn away from the true faith.

- footnote- “False teachers were and still are a threat to the church. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warned against them (I.e. Mark 13:21-23, Acts 20:28-31:2, II Thessalonians 2:1-12, II Peter 3:3-7). It is not enough that a teacher appears to know what he is talking about, is disciplined and moral, or says that he is speaking for God. If his words contradict the Bible, his teaching is false. Like Timothy, we must guard against any teaching that causes believers to dilute or reject any aspect of their faith. Such false teaching can be very direct or extremely subtle. Believers ought to respond quickly when they sense false teaching being promoted. The truth does not mind honest questions. Sometimes the source may prove to be ignorant of the error and appreciate the correction. But a first warning may at least keep potential victims from the disastrous results of apostasy that Paul described.”

- Isaiah 44:6-28

- So how do we spot false teaching in order to prevent against it?

- Well first of all, line it up with the Word. Go back to the Bible. Study it, live in it, know what it says.

- Secondly, watch for inconsistencies. Not once could I sit down and ask my friend to explain in depth what he believed without catching him in a contradiction of himself about halfway through.

- Thirdly, is it a selfish belief, or one that teaches about what YOU'RE going to get out of this faith...

- Fourthly, does it promote the wellbeing or the finances of the teacher.

- Fifthly, are they only using those parts of scripture that can be twisted to mean what they want them to. Are they cutting portions of the Word out to prove a point.

- Sixthly, are they teaching that Christ is not the ONLY way to salvation. Are they teaching that there are multiple ways to get to heaven/God.

- Seventh, does the faith control every aspect of a believers life through the constrictions placed on you by the leader or the elders... not by God.

- Eighth, do they draw major conclusions about the foundations of their faith from somewhere other than the Bible or God Himself.

- Ninth, did the belief begin with a modern-day prophet or angel appearing to the leader to announce a “new”, “changing”, or “altered” way of believing the same faith.

- Matthew 24:4-51, 25:1-46 (Mark 13:5-37)

- II Corinthians 10:1-18, 11:1-33

- Titus 1:9-16

- II Peter 1:12-21, 2:1-22

- I John 4:1-21

- Jude 1:5-23

- Revelation 16:13-16, 19:19-21, 20:7-10

- Paul says that false teachers will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. Galatians 1:8 says to “let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” And II Corinthians 11:13-15 says that “these people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness...”

- Remember the Garden of Eden? Who came to Eve? Who used the Word of God to confuse her mind?

- “Did God really say you must not eat of the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

- Of course we can eat the fruit! Just not from one tree in particular... cause we'll die. (God providing for their wellbeing... a warning for their benefit.)

- “You won't die!... God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” (God doesn't really love you... He's just using you... keeping good things from coming your way... He's selfish... He wants you to remain as you are and only knowing what He wants you to know...)

- See how Satan twisted the Word of God by creating doubt? So simple...

- It talks about angels coming to preach a new kind of Gospel... We have these religions in our culture believe it or not.

- Mormonism was started by the appearance of an angel to Joseph Smith by the name of Moroni. Who supposedly had golden tablets with all the religious theology written on them, so Smith translated everything on the plates and oh look! We have a new religion... with rules and laws and history founded much like the giving of the ten commandments to Moses...

- The Jehovah's Witnesses were founded by Bible scholars whose teachings change periodically to fit the culture or the time that they are living in. I remember a guy in our church telling a story about a couple JW's who came around to their door to talk to him and when he brought up some questions that they couldn't answer, they left. And a few days later came back with an answer that hadn't been there before, but was now very clearly dictated in their literature. Their main publication “The Watchtower” is looked to more than their bible is for many doctrinal answers. Each month, study issues of “The Watchtower” are distributed to congregations that help them answer JW doctrinal questions with more scriptural references so as to better support their arguments for their faith.

- Now... both of these religions use our Christian Bible. Both include aspects of Christianity. Mainly focused on concepts of being a good person or a moral person or doing good works for others. (which is a good thing... and those are all looked at by world religions in general as being things that are necessary to the idea of a “godly” person regardless of religion.) They both refer to Christ as a great prophet. (As does Islam, in which the present form was founded on a deity like being- the angel Gabriel (does that name sound familiar?)- appearing to a man- Muhammad- to form a new or better mode of that religion.)

- But the thing with these religions is that they do away with the idea of hell. JW's believe that when you die, you just go into a state of non-existence. Mormons believe that there is a many layered heaven... nobody goes to hell, but your placement in this hierarchical heaven depends on how good a Mormon you are. So we as Christians would be somewhere in the basement... The highest level of heaven is where God himself lives... and only if you are a very good Mormon will you get to go there.

- In Islam, there are only three sins will condemn you to hell. Disbelief, Dishonesty, and “Riba” which has to do with your personal economics- an increase in capital without any services provided (taking money with no reason, or stealing, or something of that sort.) or in capital exchanges of unequal qualities (cheating in trade.) (the two thoughts depend on which version of Islam you believe).

- Wow... If only it were that easy... I mean... if there is no hell, or I can just be bluntly honest about everything and go to heaven... I mean... there is no right or wrong anymore. Anything goes. I mean if I just have to watch my money... I can murder... and be honest about doing it... and STILL go to heaven!

- A faith that promotes a selfish desire... I can do anything I want... and still go to heaven... or at least not have to bear any consequences because I'm just going to die and turn to dust.

- In Paul's time, there were the Judaizers who set the bar so high that people were discouraged from following the faith. In our day, we constantly try to make things easier, more simple... just our kitchen appliances scream the idea of ease and comfort... So now we have these religions that are making it easy to get to heaven. They are teaching a way of life that justifies sin in a way that says there are no consequences... so live life the way you want to... with no guilt to follow you around.

- In verse 2, Paul says that “these people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.” In the KJV, it says that their consciences have been seared with a hot iron. Each of us were created with a conscience in place. We intrinsically know what is right and what is wrong. However, if a child is born into a culture that teaches that there is no right or wrong and they are brought up to believe that they can do whatever they want without consequences... that child quickly sears the conscience.

- The picture of searing with a hot iron is one of a wound being burnt to close over with a scar. In battlefield medicine, wounds were often seared with hot metal to stop the bleeding as a quick fix-all. If a limb is cut off, the end is burnt so that infection doesn't start and so the bleeding will stop. However, searing a wound makes a horrible hardened scar.

- scars have no nerve endings. You can't feel anything in scar tissue. It is a hardened spot of skin with no feeling.

- A seared conscience means that they have continually seared the wound made by the conscience when it allows guilt to cause pain... in essence, they have dulled their conscience into scar tissue so that there is no pain or discomfort when sin is committed.

- Easy much?

- Has your conscience been seared? Do you try to avoid feeling guilty when you commit sin? Do you try to find a way to justify your actions so that you can live life the way you want?

vs. 3-5- Paul's examples of false teaching.

- Paul starts on all the things that false teachers may say. Keep in mind that some of these false teachings were from the Judaizers.

- It is wrong to be married. Why would it be wrong? Well, it could interfere with your relationship with God... so we'd end up with a religion completely founded on people like the monks and nuns in Catholicism. (Which doesn't do a whole lot for procreation...)

- It is wrong to eat certain foods. This goes back to the Jewish food laws. However, “God created food to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.” In Mark 7:18-23 Jesus said “Don't you understand either?... can't you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer... it is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

- I Corinthians 10:14-33, 11:1

- Romans 14:1-23

- I don't really think God's too worried about what we eat... If I'm starving and the only thing available is pork meat... I think I'd eat the pork... I don't think God's going to condemn me to hell for eating food to survive on...

- “Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer (and this is why we say grace before we eat... “bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies”... etc.)

- footnote- “In opposition to the false teacher, Paul affirmed that everything God created is good. We should ask for God's blessing on His created gifts that give us pleasure and thank Him for them. This doesn't mean that we should abuse what God has made (for example, gluttony abuses God's gift of good food, lust abuses God's gift of love, and murder abuses God's gift of life). Instead of abusing, we should enjoy these gifts by using them to serve and honor God. Have you thanked God for the good gifts He has given? Are you using the gifts in ways pleasing to you and to God?”

vs. 6-12- In Shape?

- Looking at all of the above in how to work our way to our salvation... how then do we gain our salvation? How can we be worthy in God's eyes?

- Well first of all, there is no working our way to salvation. We are worthy because we are God's creation, His workmanship, His masterpiece, His children...

- But Paul also tells Timothy this... “If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed.”

- II Timothy 3:10-17

- We are found worthy because of our faith. Because we are working as a missionary to the world around us. Because we are spreading the gospel where it needs to go. Because we do not waver in our faith, but rather, we keep pressing forward to the prize. We are determined in our faith and in our walk with God.

- However, we are not to waste time arguing over godless ideas and wives' tales.

- When I was maintaining a running conversation with my friend from above about religion... I was told to stop after a while. I had come to the end of myself. I had no idea what else to tell him or what other scriptures I could find to use. I felt like I had completely exhausted the entire supply of reasons against his opinions.

- So I was praying about what to say next. Where to go next. I was working on one of the bible studies and in looking up scriptures for one of the cross references, I came across Titus 3:9-11. “Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.”

- I thought that was a pretty clear indication of my next step... lol

- It's great to talk about religion. It's great to discuss aspects of the faith so to further ground yourself and your fellow believers... but when you start arguing for the sake of arguing? Or arguing points just because you want to be right about something? There comes a time when you need to stop.

- I've seen churches split over the color of the carpet. Literally. I've seen churches split over baptism and the rapture and end times in general...

- When it gets down to those kinds of things... You gotta learn to let it go.

- II Timothy 2:15-26

- There is no set protocol set about in scripture for baptism. It's not laid out step by step. I don't think God's going to annul the act just because you didn't say something right... it's meant to be an outward action that is symbolic of the action that is taking place in your heart and in your soul... And in the end... the heart's condition is what matters above all...

- Revelation and end times? Good grief... nobody knows what's going to happen or what the end result will be except God. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said that “no one knows that day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”

- And if the angels and Jesus Himself doesn't know when He's coming back or in what order things will take place... why should we worry about it when we don't even know if we'll be alive tomorrow?

- It is pointless to argue points that have no really solid answer. There are some things that we just have to take with faith... There is a massive element of Trust to this relationship with God. There are some things you just have to take on faith... and if it's going to hurt your relationship with fellow believers by arguing over it... don't do it...

- Instead of talking and arguing... go into training. Training? For what? A race? Well... sort of...

- Physical training and discipline is great... but to train for godliness is much better. So train yourselves, not to be able to fast for 40 days, or to be able to withstand any and all kinds of lust... but rather, train yourselves to seek God and to live a godly life. This is a whole lot less restrictive.

- Yes there may be a time when you are told to fast for 40 days... doesn't mean you have to prepare for the day so you can withstand the physical aspects of it. Yes you have to withstand lust and have to prevent against it... Doesn't mean you have to join a monastery and forever remove the opposite sex from view...

- With God living in you and working through you, whatever you are asked to do, you will be given the tools to complete the work. So train yourself to seek God in all things. Train yourself to maintain communication with Him. Train yourself to be in a relationship. In this way you WILL be able to withstand temptation. You WILL be able to complete a 40 day fast if so called upon to do it.

- footnote- “Are you in shape both physically and spiritually? In our society, much emphasis is placed on physical fitness, but spiritual health is even more important. Our physical health is susceptible to disease and injury, but faith can sustain us through any tragedy. To train ourselves to be godly, we must develop our faith by using our God-given abilities in the service of the church. Are you developing your spiritual muscles?”

- Our hope is not in ourselves. Where does our hope lie? With Jesus Christ. We are continuing in this faith, not because we have a hope that WE can save ourselves with our actions or with our ability to complete assignments... but rather because we believe that Christ has saved us and through faith in Him we have hope of salvation and eternal life with Him.

- “Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.”

- Timothy was a young man to be placed in a position as pastor. But nonetheless, he had sat under the teachings of Paul and he was a man of faith... so when Paul left, he put Timothy in charge of the church. He knew he could handle it and he knew that Timothy was founded in his beliefs.

- Especially in this culture... wisdom was assumed to come with age... and a lot of it does... but when you're talking about walking with Christ, it's a question of personal relationship... you can be 80 and just starting your walk with God, or 30 and been at it for 15 years... And even if you go to church every Sunday, you may or may not have the kind of relationship with God that is ready to teach others.

- A lady in my church tells her story often... she was about 50 when she got saved... but she'd been going to church since she was a kid. She was a Sunday School teacher... and didn't have a personal relationship with God. It finally hit her one day that she didn't have a clue what this faith was about... She was just going through the motions. She was technically not in a position to be a teacher... she wasn't saved, she didn't KNOW God... but she'd been in church for basically all her life and knew ABOUT Him... so she should be a teacher right? Not really...

- Age doesn't matter to God. Hearts and their conditions matter... It's all about relationship.

- Titus 2:1-15

- So the way we live should reflect this. “Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.”

- If we live our lives as if we are in training for God... our lives should reflect that. We're not going to be going out every night to drunken parties, or sleeping around on our spouses, or constantly giving in to our angry outbursts, or living a selfish life surrounded by all the things that make us comfortable regardless of what it costs our families or ourselves.

- So what in your life reflects God? Is God's working in your life evident? Do those around you who aren't saved see something that they want? If you were following your own example, what kind of person would you be?

vs. 13-16- Entrusted

- Paul gives Timothy some instructions as a church leader until Paul can get to Timothy to help him or give him anymore advice.

- Focus on reading the scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

- As a pastor or leader in a church, these are things that need to be stressed in their ministry.

- Reading the scriptures to the church- At this point in time, churches were lucky to have one copy of the Old Testament (which is what scriptures refer to) let alone the circulating letters that were going from church to church from Paul or Peter or whomever. It was important to keep God's Word in focus.

- If we read the Word, it's like reading a letter from God. Instruction, Love, Concern for us... all of it's there... We need to better understand the mind of God. What better way than to read His letters to us?

- In a pastor's perspective, pastors should always go back to the Word and should edify the body with that Word. They should glean their knowledge from it and then teach it to the body they are shepherding.

- Encourage the believers. As a pastor, this means constantly being in a place that you can encourage the flock. As a believer, it means encouraging one another in Christ as often as possible.

- Teaching the Word. As a pastor, this is his main job... as a believer, this means teaching and discussing the Word of God to and with those around us.

- footnote- “Apparently Timothy needed some encouragement. Most likely, so do many people around you. Each day we have many opportunities to support and inspire family members, fellow workers, and even total strangers. People need help and affirmation all along the way. Paul modeled six important principles to help us encourage others:

1. Begin with encouragement. People who know we will encourage them will be happy to work with us.

2. Expect of others only what you expect of yourself. People will resist being held to unfair standards.

3. Develop expectations of others with consideration for their skills, maturity, and experience. People will reject or fail to meet expectations that do not fit them. Be patient with distracted or slow learners.

4. Monitor your expectations of others. Changing circumstances sometimes require revised or reduced expectations.

5. Clarify your expectations with others. People are not likely to hit a target that no one has identified.

6. End with encouragement. People love to be thanked for a job well done.”

- “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.”

- Timothy was given a job. He was given a talent if you will... Remember the parable of the talents? In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus told a story of three servants who had been entrusted with their master's money... Two of them were good stewards and invested the money and gained more. The third, hid the money and didn't do anything with it.

- When the master got home, he rewarded the two who were faithful in their handling of the money. But the third, was called a wicked and lazy servant and he took the money from the servant and gave it to the servant who had the 10 talents.

- “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”- vs. 29

- As Timothy had been entrusted to be a pastor of this church and because this is what he has been entrusted with, he has also been given the duty of expanding on the money (saved souls and souls living for God) so to speak. He is charged to bring forth the increase... or at least provide for the possibility of increase.

- He is to give his complete attention to these matters... to throw himself into his tasks so that everyone will see his progress. To keep a close watch on how he lives and on his teachings. To stay true to what is right for the sake of his own salvation and for the salvation of those who hear him.

- If we apply those same ideas to our own lives and our own relationship with God, we too will see an increase in our walk and in the walks affected by our lives.

- So what kind of servant will you be? Will God have to call you wicked and lazy? Or will He call you faithful?

- Matthew 12:25-37