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Session One                                                                                          Introducing 1 Timothy

1. 1. Timothy fact file

• “One who honours God”
• Mixed parenthood (2 Tim 1.5 and 3.15)
• Converted through Paul’s ministry in Acts 16, he joins the team in Acts 17
• A member of Paul’s inner circle
• He was:

◦    young when he began his ministry,

◦    suffered poor health

◦   and was timid in character.

• He was:

◦   Committed and Consistent    ( 1 Cor 4.17)

◦   Concerned and compassionate   (Phil.3.30

◦   Chosen (1.8)

1. 2. Note

1. Paul had recently been released from a long imprisonment and had toured the churches
2. He left Timothy at Ephesus to sort out a constellation of problems that had emerged

◦   False teachings

◦   Order in worship

◦   Materialism

1. It was not an easy assignment given that the Church was well established and ministering in one of the hardest places in the empire

Paul writes to Timothy to encourage, advise and MOTIVATE him. He writes to keep Timothy motivated and focused for the long race ahead.

1. 3. Motivation

• Motivation  can be a problem for most of us in much of life
• Motivation can come through the carrot and stick, from within or from outside ourselves

What motivates us to do … nice things? Unpleasant things?

Here are a few things many Christians may find it hard to feel motivated in…

• Bible reading
• Giving
• Attending prayer meetings
• Taking a regular part in the churches ministry
• Prayer

◦   What motivates us to keep going and keep focused

In 1 Timothy Paul writes to Timothy to refresh his motivation. He has a hard job and things are wearing him down. Now Paul writes to fire up TIMOTHY

▪   Let Gods calling, power and grace make you a person of influence

▪   Let God’s truth flow through you to change your life

▪   Dont forget what God has done for you

▪   Good examples and friends will keep you focused

▪   Prayer and connecting with God

▪   Moving from a foundation of truth

▪   How to energise your faith

▪   Serve your way to significance

▪   Relating to people and things

MOTIVATION ONE – FOCUS ON THE TRUTH                                                                                             1 Tim 1.1-3

“ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine”,

1. 1. Who?

i.    Paul   – an Apostle by command, by the will of God.

1. One sent
2. Under orders
3. By the Will and purposes of God
4. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF… For us as well as Paul

ii.    Timothy – a son in the faith

1. Synergy, we are stronger together and more effective
2. We do not have to be the same, Timothy and Paul had very diverse backgrounds, ages and experiences. God blended together an effective team

What problems and challenges do you think they and to work through in order to achieve synergy?

iii.    Church at Ephesus

1. Famous church, closely connected to Paul
2. Timothy is to stay there
3. And deal with its problems – teach pure doctrine

1. In verses 3 to 5 What does Paul command Timothy to do ?

Note

• The word charge is a military word, no playing around here0 this s serious. Lives are at stake.
• No other doctrine is a compound word meaning of a different kind

3 I asked you to stay longer in Ephesus when I went into Macedonia so you could command some people there to stop teaching false things.4 Tell them not to spend their time on stories that are not true and on long lists of names in family histories. These things only bring arguments; they do not help God’s work, which is done in faith.5 The purpose of this command is for people to have love, a love that comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a true faith.6 Some people have missed these things and turned to useless talk.7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand either what they are talking about or what they are sure about

• Stay there at Ephesus
• Command them to stop teaching heresy
• Stop them arguing
• Foster love

A note on Heresy

The original word means to choose, the idea is that we choose to believe what is right and legitimate or believe something that is false. Orthodoxy in a sense developed over time and was based on the apostles teaching and the consensus fidelium (agreement of the faithful). Within the Christian faith there is much scope for differences in belief and emphasis, the core doctrines and practices however must be maintained. Heresy is itself destructive, often short lived and has a destabilising influence

• What do you think are the origins of heresy – why do people develop wrong ideas
• What particular doctrines do you think are most often affected?
• Heresy – ancient and modern.. for exampoe
  • Denial of Christ’s humanity / deity
  • Denial of Christ’s redemptive work
  • Weird ideas about the Godhead
  • Weird ideas about the nature of Christ
  • Weird ideas about the church
  • Denial of the personhood of the Holy spirit

1. Verses 3-7 describe the nature and activity of false teachers

• False teaching
• Stories, conjecture, opinion
• Divisive
• Faithless
• Self conceited and self promotion

Conclusion

Our first motivation is that we know the REAL TRUTH, we are not believing or following a fairy story or some vague philosophy, this is God’s truth! All of this is summed up in Paul’s words at the very start of the letter:”Christ our Hope”.

Hope is perhaps the least understood and ,most neglected of the three great Christian virtues (faith hope and love). Hope speaks of confidence for the future, security for the present and forgiveness of the past. Hope refers to the resurrection of Christ and of ours in the future. Hope speaks of a connection and relationship wit God himself. In a world where hope is absent, we have a hope that is both sure and certain… be motivated!

General background introductory notes for reference

Timothy

Was one of Paul’s converts  in the town called Lystra  (Acts14:8-20). young Timothy  joined Paul’s ministry upon a later visit to Lystra (Acts 16:1-4).Paul loved young Timothy, and affectionately referred to him as a son (Philippians 2:22; 1 Timothy 1:2;2 Timothy 1:2). These men are virtually inseparable throughout the New Testament as they work closely together (Acts 18:5, 19:22), co-author books of the Bible(2 Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1;1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1), and serve God  side-by-side (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10; Romans16:21). Occasionally, however, they were separated, because Paul would send Timothy on important missions to straighten out problems that arose in various local churches (e.g. I Thessalonians 3:1-6)

Eight illnesses that sicken a church: 1. leaders who are morally unfit 2. false teachers and dangerous heretics 3. demonic doctrines 4. greedy love of money 5. gossip 6. trashy, under-dressed women 7. arrogant, chest-thumping men 8. new Christians who become leaders too quickly

Eight truths that promote vibrant church health: 1. qualified elders and deacons 2. sound doctrine from Scripture 3. devotion to Jesus 4. loving family affection 5. orderly worship 6. caring for those in need 7. church discipline 8. encouragement and training of young leaders

STUDY PLAN

Read 1 Timothy a section at a time

Ask what is Paul saying to me about how to be motivated in my Christian life. What instructions, examples and warnings does Paul present me with. Use 2 different versions to do this.

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