Category: 1 Timothy

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

What should you pray for your elders? This list is of the characteristics an elder should have. Use this list to pray for your elders and the other list for members of your Committee of Management.

SJA Notes

* Dear Father in Heaven – You are God, we are Your people. Please teach us from Your word today.

“… But I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.”

Why does Paul give such clear and detailed words on the oversight and governance of our churches?

Because we need to know how to _behave_ in the household of God!

Paul isn’t just putting out some crazy ideas that may or may not work within the social order of humanity at a certain time in history.

These are importance foundational aspects to our responsibility within God’s church (ours and all who have gone before, and all who will go after) – How we are able to be a part of keeping it as a pillar and buttress of the truth.

So whether its Elders and Deacons or Husbands and Wives, or anything else he raises – These words are meant for us to know how to behave. How to operate as God’s people with each other and in the world.

Let’s remember this when buffeted by worldly wisdom that pressures us into compromising the good news of Jesus.

* Father God,

Thank You that You are always building Your church.

Thank You that You teach us in Your word how we are to behave in your household.

Please mark Your church in this time as a pillar and buttress of the truth.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Why would Paul single out these concerns for both men and women – prayer without anger or fighting for men; and modesty with behaviour appropriate to their profession of faith for women?

SJA Notes

* Lord God, Your word can be hard to for us to understand. Please mark us as a people that trusts You are wiser than we are, and that You will teach us what You have for us to know.

“… That we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

There are hard words to read in this passage.

We know that God’s word is the always-truth-mirror for our hearts. And so even when they are hard, we must wrestle with His words to us, and submit under His will.

Which from this passage is that we lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way.

How can we live this like, in a way that is pleasing to God?

Paul opens this up with calling on men to pray without anger or quarrelling, and women to dress themselves in good works rather than the vanity of the world.

Are these two calls the end of wisdom? No, of course not.

But it is here for us to read and dwell on, to ask God for his wisdom in how we go about pleasing Him.

* Father God,

Please help us be wise in Your wisdom. As we read Your word, please write it on our hearts, that we might not sin against You.

And as we come to passages that might prick our hearts, please Lord may we work to be humble and contrite, knowing that You are the God who loves us, who sent His Son to die for us. That You are working all things for our good.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Paul writes to strengthen and encourage the young Timothy. What areas did Timothy need to be strengthened and encouraged in? Why has God shown you mercy? (v.16)

SJA Notes

* Holy God, You are holy and we are Your people, thank You for Jesus – You the son that makes it possible for us to approach the HOLY GOD.

“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

What should our conversation be like as God’s people?

It is important to note from this passage that people who desire to be teachers but have wandered into vain discussions – They make confident assertions!

Confidence in our conversation is not to be the be-all and end-all, it is not to be a mark of truth in and of itself. In fact, there’s a warning here.

Do not swerve from the aim of our charge!

Love. Love that comes from three things.

One. A pure heart.

Two. A good conscience.

Three. A sincere faith.

But those three things can’t be achieved on our own.

As with all of God’s word, this passage points us to Jesus. Our hearts must be remade, our consciences cleanses, our faith renewed and refined each day.

How good is our God that this is possible in Him!

That He is powerful to be able to do this AND that this is His intention (His will).

Hallelujah, what a Saviour we have!

* Father God,

Thank You for Your grace – Giving to us what we do not deserve.

And thank You for Your mercy – Not giving us what we do deserve.

Please help us to hold fast to the aim of the charge You lay on us – To show Your love to those around us.

Amen.