We begin Paul’s two pastoral letters to Timothy. Paul instructs Timothy on how we are to manage things within the church.
1 Timothy 1: Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning Against False Teachers
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion,
7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.
18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
1 Timothy 2: Pray for All People
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour,
4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling;
9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness---with good works.
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing---if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Things to think about…
1. Paul after initial greetings to Timothy gets into the body of his letter by starting with the importance of right doctrine, 1Tim1:3. The main issue of the day was from those who wanted to make sure these new believers kept the law of Moses. Some went further and wanted the laws of the Pharisees to be kept as well. In these first few decades of Christianity new believers needed to distinguish between what should be believed among the religious leaders at the time and what they shouldn’t believe. The new Christians very quickly started to separate themselves from the Jewish faith as more Gentiles came to accept Jesus as Lord and saviour. Traditions within the church can be helpful if they are based in right theology, but can of course be a snare to the gospel if they are not.
2. Paul’s purpose is to instruct with love, 1Tim1:5 and notes that the law is good for instructing people regarding immoral behaviour. This is why Christ came, because none of us can keep the law perfectly. Paul says sound doctrine involves speaking on these things…in accordance with the gospel, 1 Tim1:11. This is the good news. Jesus pays for our sin and as such keeps the Lord’s requirements of the law for us.
3. The Apostle Paul is totally open and honest about his past. He says he is the foremost sinner. Some versions say ‘chief of sinners’, 1Tim1:15. This is why Paul is so passionate about the gospel, vs 17. It is also why he charges Timothy to wage the good warfare (fight), vs 18. Paul says some have shipwrecked their faith because they don’t keep fighting against sin – of whom are Alexander and Hymenaeus, vs 20. Satan does a work on our flesh if we don’t listen to the Spirit of Christ, hence Paul hands these men over to Satan. Never a comfortable place, but sometimes necessary if we don’t listen to and obey God’s word.
4. Look at who Paul is asking Timothy to pray for when he says to ‘pray for all people’, 1Tim2:1,2 – for kings. The king at the time was Nero, a man who would grow more and more cruel in his reign as he continually grew more and more mad and insecure. Paul says the reason being that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”, 1Tim2:4. Hallelujah. As such we should pray for all our government leaders and for all people as the Lord allows to see this desire fulfilled.
5. God has an order in creation and also within the church. As hard as it is for our modern ears to hear, Paul says that men are called to lead within the church and he uses God’s order in creation and the fall in Gen 3 to make his point 1Tim 2:8-15. Pray that as men we lead with love, grace and truth. The desire for any godly woman is to know that she is loved and secure within the home and the church. By the same token men should be given the opportunity to lead, as such women should encourage the men in the home and the church to do what God has called them to.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on Holiday break
Prayer Points
1. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours 😉
2. Pray for those on holidays and travelling.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
5. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
Praise Points.
1. New cell groups.
2. Praise and worship – thanks Josh, Ben, Rin, Tim, Dan and Doug. great job.
Announcements
1. Cell groups and other ministries on break over the holidays.
2. PlayPatch starting up next term for toddlers at church. See Maddison for details.
3. Men’s brekky TBA. But will be down at Colleges Crossing within the next month or so on a Saturday morning.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
