The word used for “sound teaching” means healthy or wholesome. It's the Greek word from which we get the word “hygiene”. Sound doctrine is not just about truth. Sound doctrine grows healthy followers of Jesus. Sound doctrine benefits those who listen. Sound doctrine transforms people. Truth leads to transformation. As Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) Sound teaching is motivated by love, advances God’s work, and leads to transformation (head, heart, and hands).
The Goal of Sound Teaching
1 Timothy 1:3-7
January 14, 2024 • Andrew Cullen • 1 Timothy 1:3–7
More from
1 Timothy
Slaves and Masters
May 5, 2024 • Andrew Cullen • 1 Timothy 6:1–2
Slavery was a divisive relationship and a polarizing issue. Paul is speaking to slaves who associate the yoke of slavery with pain. Most Christians were in the lower class, which means that many early followers of Jesus were slaves themselves. The chief concern for Paul was the glory of God and the salvation of people, not freedom of the slaves or an increase in privilege for the owners. This doesn’t mean that Paul doesn’t want slaves to be free. He encourages slaves to be free if given the opportunity. This doesn’t mean that Paul is endorsing slavery. Paul “aimed to destroy slavery without waging a war to do so!” The relationship between slaves and masters should be symbiotic because all followers of Jesus are witnesses to the world of the saving, transforming power of the gospel of Jesus.
Be Generous with Honor and Grace
April 28, 2024 • Andrew Cullen • 1 Timothy 5:17–25
Those who lead, serve, and teach well should receive double honor. There are two levels of honor. (1) Honor in the sense that one who leads well is respected and appreciated, and (2) Honor in the sense that one who leads well is provided for financially. At the same time, leaders must be given grace. Grace is unnecessary favor poured out on the undeserving. Leaders will fail. Leaders will fall. As followers of Jesus, we should be generous with honor when they deserve it and we should be generous with grace when they don’t.