This morning we will complete our series of studies in 1 Timothy. I trust it has been a beneficial study to you personally and to the life of our church as a whole. We do not want to lose sight of the key verse: “I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15)
A quick review is probably good to refresh our memory before we finish: We learned that …
1. We must stand against false teaching! (1:1-17)
2. We must fight the good fight of the faith! (1:120)
3. We must have men (and women) who pray! (2:8)
4. We must have women who dress modestly and receive teaching in submissiveness! (2:9-15)
5. We must have leaders who are spiritually qualified by God’s standards! (3:1-13)
6. We must hold fast to our common confession about Jesus Christ! (3:16)
7. We must remember that the latter times are going to be difficult! (4:1-7)
8. We must be disciplining ourselves unto godliness! (4:7-11; 6:3-10)
9. We must honor our widows! (5:1-16)
10. We must protect and care for our Elders! (5:17-25)
11. We must be the best employees that a boss has! (6:1-3)
12. We must be content with what we have! (6:6-11)
This morning we return to two final “charges” that Paul gives: one to Timothy, one to the rich! Both are IMPORTANT!
I. The Charge to Timothy: Vs. 13-16
Another Word about Godliness
November 10, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
Godliness has been a constant theme throughout 1 Timothy. We are told that we must “discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7), and that “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Once again Paul raises the thought of godliness in the text before us today where he discusses a False Kind of Godliness and the Correct Kind of Godliness.
A Charge to Christian Employees!
November 3, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
We now come to the final section of Paul’s letter to Timothy. Chapter 5 was focused upon giving “honor” to various groups of people: honor widows (5:3-16), honor Elders (5:17-25), in fact, for those who work hard at “preaching and teaching” were to get double-honor! But there is one more group that must be honored, namely, employers (masters) (6:1-2). They are to receive all “honor” from their employees (slaves)!
I. A word about slavery in the Roman world.
If we are going to understand what Paul writes here about slaves, we must see it in its historical perspective. Roman slavery bears little or no resemblance to America’s or England’s slavery!
• Slavery was an integral social component of the Roman world.
• Besides manual labor, slaves performed many domestic services, and might be employed at highly skilled jobs and professions such as teachers, accountants, and physicians.
• A Roman slave could hold property that, despite the fact that it belonged to their master, they were allowed to use as if it were their own.
• Skilled or educated slaves were allowed to earn their own money, which they used to buy their freedom.
• A freed slave was allowed to become a Roman citizens and as a Roman citizen enjoyed not only passive freedom from ownership, but active political freedom, including the right to vote.
A Solemn Charge
October 27, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
In our last message we looked at the Care and Protection of Elders from 1Timothy 5:17-19. This morning I pick up where we let off, and focus upon Paul's Solemn Charge that he gave to Timothy. It is interesting that the charge is given in the presence of God [the Father], Jesus Christ [the Son] and Angels! That, beloved, is a lot of witness! The things that he tells Timothy are to be maintained without bias, or partiality. What is it that he (and us) must do without the bias and partiality? Let's listen in on Paul's instruction to Timothy. He tells him three things:
On the Care and Protection of Elders
October 13, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
A prayer was heard from a saint who loved to pray for the Elders of their church, “Lord you keep them humble, we will keep them poor!” I don’t know if God heard that prayer, but I’m sure it came from a sincere, well-intending saint. I do know that God wants a church congregation to do two very specific things for their Elders — care for them, and protect them! That is God’s instruction to the church through the pen of Paul to Timothy and to Grace Chapel Indio (and any other church in the world).
Ministering to Young, Old & Widows
October 6, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
After sharing his heart directly to Timothy about being a good Pastor, Paul now turns to look at three specific groups within the church: the young, the old & widows. Every church has each of these groups within their numbers — Grace Chapel certainly does! How are they to be treated? That’s the question. Paul leaves no doubt! So, come with me this morning as we take a brief look at how we are to “conduct ourselves” as a church toward each of these groups.
The Kind of Pastor You Should Desire! (Part 2)
September 29, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
As we continue in our study of 1 Timothy, we return back to the most personal portion of this letter to Timothy. In verses 6-16 he calls Timothy (and Pastors today) to the standards of excellence relating to the ministry itself. They are -based primarily on his personal life (which is important), but on how he functions in the ministry. Last Sunday we examined verses 6-10 and gleaned these truths:
1. A good Pastor has a passion to serve Christ Jesus as his first priority. (6)
2. A good Pastor works hard at developing godliness in his life! (7-9)
3. A good Pastor constantly serves in light of eternity. (10)
This morning we continue on into verses 11-16 hoping to glean four more standards of excellence related to Pastoral ministry.
The Kind of Pastor You Should Desire! (Part 1)
September 22, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
We now enter into the most personal part of Paul’s letter to Timothy. He loves Timothy so much that he wants to make sure that he knows how he can be an excellent Pastor. It’s amazing these days to see how people evaluate a Pastor’s ministry as to what makes him a good Pastor. The
criteria of a good Pastor in the eyes of many evangelical Americans are: the size of the church he pastors, number of books he’s written, educational background, TV or radio exposure, popularity, charisma, etc.. But, honestly, these are not a biblical criteria of an excellent Pastor! The Puritan writer, John Owen wrote, “A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees before God Almighty, that he is and no more!” Great words, and true!! In the text before us we find the BIBLICAL criteria for a good Pastor.
A Warning about the Last Days!
September 15, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
Paul’s heart for the Ephesian church, where Timothy was pastoring, was that they would be a “support of the truth”, i.e., hold fast to the sound doctrines found in God’s Word (1 Timothy 3:15) with a major focus upon the Person of Jesus Christ (3:16). Even though some teachers start strong and dedicated, not all will continue to support the truth they once held. In fact, some “will fall away from the faith” and become entangled with false doctrine. They will apostatize! It’s a horrible thought, but it is true and God’s people need to be warned about what is coming. That’s Paul’s focus in the early verses of chapter 4:1-5. Let’s unpack these verses by asking a series of questions:
Embracing a Common Confession
September 8, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
I. Introductory Comment — What is a common confession?
A Common Confession is a “code of faith . . . to assistance you in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness.” (author unknown)
“When men use the very words of the Bible to promote heresy, when the Word of truth is perverted to serve error, nothing less than a confession of Faith will serve publicly to draw the lines between truth and error...” (author unknown)
C. H. Spurgeon said a common confession “gives credence to no teaching but that which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit. Cleave fast to the Word of God which is here mapped out for you.” (referring to the London Baptist Confession of Faith)
But there is one given to us in the Word of God that we do well to consider
Growing a Church God's Way
August 11, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
I. Introductory Comments — Jesus’ Plan for the Church
A. Jesus said, “... I will build My church and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!” Matthew 16:18
B. Jesus is building His church in two ways: from the INSIDE and the OUTSIDE!
C. Jesus is building His church in a specific way! Paul made it known to us in Ephesians 4:7-16.
A Word to Men & Women (Part 3 - More Instruction to Women)
August 4, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
Last week we looked at the adornment of women according to the Word of God. Such a message smacks against our hedonistic driven culture in which Christian women live today. God’s call is for glamour with modesty, our culture calls for glamour with sensuality. The same is true when it comes to authority. God calls women to submission and respect of male leadership, our culture calls for equality in every respect. So, as a Pastor who wants to be truthful with God’s Word, yet not offend our postmodern generation, he faces a difficult task! Yet, let it be known that a Pastor “worth his salt” is more desirous to honor God’s Word than to appease a modern culture. I want to be “worth my salt!” Therefore …
A Word to Men & Women (Part 2 - Instruction to Women)
July 28, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
We are in a portion of 1 Timothy were Paul is addressing both the male and female members of the church in Ephesus. Even though this was written nearly 2000 years ago, it is still timely for Grace Chapel in Indio today. Last week I talked about the male gender, men in relationship to taking the lead in prayer. This morning I move to Paul’s instructions to the women. He touches on three areas: Adornment, Authority, and Fulfillment. This morn-ing I will deal with the first — Adornment.
A Word to Men & Women (Part 1)
July 21, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
We want to keep in mind the reason Paul wrote 1 Timothy — “... so you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” A church body is made up of both men and women, male and female. So, the question before us this morning is, “How are men and women to conduct themselves in the church?” Good question, glad you asked! Paul addresses that issue in the text before us this morning. First he addresses the men, and then the women, so we will take it in that order. Time will not allow me to discuss both genders this morning, so let’s deal with men first, seeing that’s the order God gave it.
Pray Hard! Why?
July 7, 2013 • Pastor Ron Finch
In the midst of President Woodrow Wilson’s difficulties in international negotiations he, too, felt the need of divine guidance. When President Wilson arrived at a cabinet meeting his face wore a solemn look. It was evident that serious affairs of the nation were on his mind. He said to the cabinet members: “I don’t know whether you men believe in prayer or not. I do. Let us pray and ask the help of God.” The President of the United States fell upon his knees with the members of the cabinet, and offered a prayer to the Almighty for help.
