Messages

In our text, Paul reinforces the idea of church family by telling Timothy to treat those in the church as fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. Paul then goes into great detail establishing the responsibility of the church in helping the widows among the people of God.

This text is challenging young believers to not let their youth be an excuse, but instead they are to be an example of what it looks like to follow Jesus. This text is also challenging those who are not young anymore to call out leadership in the young people around us.

Paul lays down an expectation for Timothy that applies to us all, we are to train ourselves to be Godly. What does training for Godliness look like? What specifically are we supposed to do?

Paul declares that lies from demons will not only be taught by hypocrites, but that people will abandon the faith and follow those deceiving spirits. Paul gives specific examples of some of the things that false teachers were teaching in the first century church in Ephesus. The question we need to ask ourselves is: what are false teachers teaching that would cause people to abandon the faith in the church today?

So far, the purpose of Paul's letter to Timothy has been to teach people how they are supposed to act in the Church. This letter is like a practical ministry class for Timothy. Yet, right here in the middle of it, Paul gives us an early Christian hymn or creed. This is a declaration of the Gospel, and the mystery of godliness flows from it.

Paul has made it clear that women are not to be the authority figures in the church. So, who is called to lead? The obvious answer is men, but can it be just any man? Absolutely not, there is a high expectation for those who would even be considered to lead the church.

In this text, we will address one of the most controversial issues in the modern church: a woman’s role in the church. Paul explicitly says they must be silent. Is that really what it means? Does this expectation still apply today?

Paul claims that we should pray for all people. He even goes so far as to command prayer for the Emperor himself. Imagine having a temple in your town for the man who is putting people like you to death, and you are told to pray FOR that person, not against them! That was Ephesus!

As the disciples are walking seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Jesus goes through their bible, from the books of Moses through the Prophets (what we would call the Old Testament) and explains to them what the scriptures said about himself. There is no doubt: this is the greatest sermon we have never heard.

In this text, Paul calls out two people who didn’t lose their faith, they flat out rejected it. Their life and story, which Timothy would have been very familiar with, is used as a warning for Timothy to hold onto faith and a good conscience.