Lessons From I Timothy
1 Timothy 1:4-5 (10/16/15)
October 16, 2015 • Benham Brothers
1 Timothy is written by Paul to Timothy about the church and his involvement in leading. vs 1:4 - The church was to rebuke any teacher who led to speculations. Speculation vs Stewardship: A relationship with Christ is something we “steward.” vs 1:5 - The end goal for teaching is love, which springs from a: 1) Pure heart - no bad motives. 2) Good conscience - no secret sin. 3) Sincere faith - you want Jesus for Him and not just His stuff.
I Timothy 1:5 (10/26/13)
October 26, 2013 • Benham Brothers
Jesus left the earth and gave us the Holy Spirit. He commissioned Paul to explain the mysteries of the gospel, which people did not understand without his teaching. Paul wrote first to cities, then to individuals. He wrote his longest letters to Timothy. Here is some of his encouragement: God "is" love. The ACT of love springs from something, like a river has a source - love does too Pure Heart - you're not in love with two gods (ex: Tori is the only one for me!) Clean Conscience - blameless, not sinless - cleansed from sin Sincere Faith - "Chutzpah" - they "hold on" relentlessly like Jacob did when he wrestled God
1 Timothy 1:15 (10/11/18)
October 11, 2018 • Benham Brothers
A humanist begins with two basic presuppositions: 1) Man is ultimately good. 2) Man is the center of all things. A Biblical Christian begins with two basic presuppositions: 1) Man is ultimately bad. 2) God is the center of all things. In this verse Paul reveals that's he's not a humanist. Many Christians in the church today are humanist and they don't even know it. They believe God exists to bless them - it's all about them. But we exist to bless God.
1 Timothy 1:18-19 (10/13/16)
October 13, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Paul trained his young protege to fight well - he prepared him for battle. • In verses 9-11 Paul talked about sound doctrine where he called out rebels (among them were the sexually immoral). • Paul spoke boldly against anything that was contrary to God’s best, even if it wasn’t popular. • Timothy took this to heart - just notice how he died: • Wikipedia - “The apocryphal Acts of Timothy states that in the year 97, the 80-year-old bishop tried to halt a procession in honor of the goddess Diana by preaching the gospel. The angry pagans beat him, dragged him through the streets, and stoned him to death.” • Timothy tried to stop a parade because it was dishonoring God and it cost him his life. • This flies in the face of those who say, “we want to be known for what we’re for not what we’re against.”
1 Timothy 1:20 (10/12/17)
October 12, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Shepherds typically did not own the sheep they cared for. * The principle of stewardship is the context of shepherds throughout Scripture. * The flock belongs to someone else and shepherds are accountable to how they take care of the sheep. * If the shepherd seeks his own well-being and prosperity over that of his sheep he will be disqualified by the owner of the sheep. * This is what happened is Jeremiah’s day and is the same thing happening today. * I call it “blasphemy leading to idolatry.” * 1 Timothy 1:20 - Blasphemy definition: “to ruin the reputation of.” * If a spiritual shepherd refuses to confront a blasphemous theology because he wants to protect his own reputation, what sin is he in danger of committing? * Idolatry - concerning himself above God.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (10/18/18)
October 18, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* When Paul tells Timothy to pray for all people, he specifically mentions governing leaders. * He tells us to be mentally and spiritually engaged in upholding political leaders in prayer. * Why? * So that we can all live quiet and peaceful lives. * Governing leaders are in the business of creating and sustaining the environment in which we exist as a society. * They create laws, and those laws should be based upon God’s laws. * If they are then we get freedom. If not then we get bondage. * Think “America vs North Korea.” * When we pray our heart will gravitate toward who and what we pray about. * We’ll be rightly concerned about the course of our nations. * This is also why pastors should be authorities on the “issues of the day.” * So they can equip their people on how to live faithfully in the midst of their particular culture.
1 Timothy 2:7-8 (10/10/19)
October 10, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* Paul addresses prayer, and the first people he mentions are political officials. * We should pray for those who control our environment - we should want them to make “peaceable” decisions. * Paul then gave us three essentials for effective prayer: * 1) Holy hands - being holy is being set apart and devoted. * Purity bring power. * Salvation by allegiance alone. * 2) Without wrath - we need to have the right spirit. * We’re not to pray in anger. * 3) No dissension - we must be on good terms with others. * The word really means “disputing.” * 4) No doubt - Paul always told us to have faith in God (this is a bonus)
1 Timothy 3:1-7 (10/15/20)
October 15, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* What does it take to be a good leader? * Paul shares with Timothy the qualifications of a person who could run a church. * The same qualifications needed to run a non-profit are what are needed to run a for-profit. * Vs 1-7 - Paul splits his advice into what the leaders SHOULD BE and what they SHOULDN’T BE. * Here’s what they need to be (vs 2, 4, 5, 7): * 1) Above reproach (vs 2) - he’s blameless, without having anything in his life that could bring shame to the church. (Like a businessman meeting a woman for biz lunch alone) * 2) Faithful to his wife (vs 2) - literal translation, “a one-woman man.” His marriage shows you the kind of person he is. * 3) Temperate (vs 2) - he’s even-keeled. He doesn’t get out of sorts when poop hits the fan. Keeps a cool head (like the gazelle running from a cheetah - it’s brain stays cooler than the cheetah, so he can outrun it). * 4) Self-controlled (vs 2) - he’s in charge of his Emotions and Appetites. He manages what he feels and controls what he wants. * 5) Disciplined (vs 2) - the NIV says “respectable,” but the Passion Version says “living a disciplined life.” Discipline leads to delight. * 6) Hospitable (vs 2) - he likes people and is willing to share what he has with others. Hospital people allow others full access to themselves. They consider their thing your thing. * 7) Able to Teach (vs 2) - he is able to divulge what he digests. A teacher does the mental heavy lifting for you to process more easily (like Tori pureeing food for our kids). * 8) Manage his family well (vs 4-5) - your ability as a parent shows more about you than anything else. Your kids obey from the heart, not out of being controlled. * 9) Worthy of respect (vs 7) - needs a good reputation. He needs to live a life that others admire, even if they don’t agree with him. They respect his stand. * Here’s what he can’t be (vs 3, 6): * 1) Given to drunkenness (vs 3) - he’s gotta be able to control his appetite, especially for things that can intoxicate. * 2) Violent (vs 3) - he’s got to be gentle, not easily riled-up and explosive with his words and deeds. Prov 16:32 - One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty… (Samson) * 3) Quarrelsome (vs 3) - he can’t be easily agitated, always ready to fight. He must operate out of a position of confidence, not insecurity. * 4) A lover of money (vs 3) - money can’t have a grip on him. He’s got to be able to see people as people, not dollar signs. He finds his security in God. * 5) Not a recent convert (vs 6) - he can’t be someone who wants too much influence too fast. He’s gotta be patient to grow slow.
1 Timothy 3:10 (10/19/22)
October 19, 2022 • Benham Brothers • 1 Timothy 3:10
* Every year the NFL holds a combine where they test players’ skills and abilities. * They want players in whom they can build a winning team. * Paul is giving advice to Timothy on who to bring on the leadership team in the church. * 1 Timothy 3 gives all sorts of qualifications (we did a study on it - Leadership 101). * Vs 10 - “They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.” * Put them in the combine before you put them on the team. * Do you know the best way to test someone? * Give them a menial task and tell them to do it consistently - see how they respond. * Faithful in the little = Faithful in the big. * Two applications: * Building your team / friendships. * Living your life - are you being faithful in the little?
1 Timothy 4 / 2 Timothy 2 (10/22/15)
October 22, 2015 • Benham Brothers
• 1 Tim 4:12-16 Two ages - physical age & spiritual age. • Timothy was to set an example in these five areas: • 1) Speech - what’s in your heart comes out of your mouth. • 2) Conduct - how you see yourself determines how you conduct yourself. • 3) Love - if you love God you’ll love people - two greatest commandments and commitments. • 4) Faith - operate out of faith in God not fear of man. • 5) Purity - the pure in heart see God - spiritual power and sensual pleasure go hand-in-hand. • 2 Tim 2:3-6 - three types of people we’re to be like: • 1) Soldier - know you’re in a battle, protect the weak, doesn’t want a fight but won’t back down from one, willing to suffer, doesn’t meddle in needless fights. • 2) Athlete - play by the rules (God’s Word) and plays to win. • 3) Farmer - he’s faithful in little even when nobody is watching, he concerns himself with his duty and trusts God for the results. • In 2 Tim 4:7 Paul says he’s fought the good fight (soldier), finished the race (athlete), kept the faith (farmer).
1 Timothy 4:4-5 (10/19/17)
October 19, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Paul is talking about food, that receiving it with gratitude to God makes it good. * Many scholars interpret this to show the importance of giving thanks before we eat. * The principle, however, is that “everything” God made is good - it’s all sacred. * Everything is sanctified by God by means of the Word of God and prayer. * Two key components to growing your relationship with God. * Example - music - all music is good. * God created melody and rhythm and words. * These things can draw us closer to God and others. * But it can also be used to pull us away from Him and others. * The same is true with sex, food, emotion, television, etc. * The question is - are you using those things to draw you close to God and others, or further away? * The same way we use the Word of God and prayer to draw us closer to Him and others.
1 Timothy 4:12-16 (10/20/16)
October 20, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Paul’s letters to Timothy are a guide-book for young people to grow strong in their faith. • He taught him there are two ages for everyone - your physical age and spiritual age. • Five things need to be in order to be effective for Christ: • 1) Speech - able to hold adult conversations and speak only that which builds up. • 2) Conduct - how you see yourself determines how you conduct yourself - be like Christ. • 3) Love - loving others is how we love God. • 4) Faith - holding on and never letting go. • 5) Purity - you can’t be nourishment for others if you’re polluted. • vs 16 - if Timothy did these things he not only saved himself but his hearers as well.
I Timothy 4:12-16 (10/26/13)
October 26, 2013 • Benham Brothers
Two ages - physical age & spiritual age Timothy was to be an example in these 5 areas: 1) Speech - what's in your heart comes out your mouth 2) Conduct - how you see yourself determines how you conduct yourself 3) Love - if you love God you'll love people 4) Faith - tenacious holding on 5) Purity - the pure in heart see God!
1 Timothy 4:15 (10/18/18)
October 18, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Biblical meditation is about emptying your mind of worldly concerns and hyper-focusing on God and His truth. * It’s being thankful and accountable to God and allowing your mind to be bathed in His Word. * What you think about in your mind directly affects the health of your physical body. * Dr. Caroline Leaf has proven the value of worship on our brains - it literally remaps our brains so they are physically changed for the better to bring health and life to our bodies. * ex: my blood test about my cortisol levels.