Train Yourself for Godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-10)
We’ve been thinking about putting God’s word in front of God’s people, and the effect that sort of ministry will have on us as we are trained up in the word as a byproduct of our work. Today we’ll continue Paul’s train of thought and consider something to avoid and something to seek after aggressively. […]
Being Trained in the Words (1 Timothy 4:6b)
You think a lot about what effect your ministry has on your people. Let’s ask a different question: What effect is your ministry having on you?
Be a Good Servant of Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 4:6a)
How do you know if you’re doing a good job as a pastor? By measuring church growth? Altar calls? Sermon complements? Building projects? Pastor appreciation gifts? It’s hard to know, isn’t it? This is why pastors like mowing. You do the work and, behold, a mowed yard. Ministry just isn’t like this. You study, teach, […]
The Mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)
Never stop growing in theological depth. Keep improving in your preaching, teaching, and discipleship. May your church grow in sound doctrine—and thereby grow in godliness.
How One Ought to Behave (1 Timothy 3:14-15)
There is no other institution upholding the truths of the gospel. This is an incredibly high calling and we cannot rise to it while behaving improperly.
Not a Recent Convert (1 Timothy 3:6)
Paul did not want Timothy to install recent converts into the office of overseer. We must be careful here too.
He Must Manage His Own Household Well (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
Good management of one’s own household demonstrates the potential for good care of God’s church.
Above Reproach: Not a Lover of Money (1 Timothy 3:3)
Because the task is noble, the overseer must be above reproach in all the ways that the false teachers in Ephesus were not—including in regard to money.