Introduction:
A. There are many “do’s and don’ts” in life.
1. When we buy a new product it often comes with important labels that give us do’s and don’ts.
2. Here are a few:
a. Do Use Like Regular Soap – I wonder how a person uses irregular soap?
b. Do Not Eat Toner – When was the last time you thought about eating toner?
c. Do Not Use While Sleeping – Have you ever been so tired that you fell asleep blow-drying your hair? Don’t take it to bed with you like a heating blanket.
d. Do Remove Child Before Folding – Do you really need to be told that? Everybody knows it just doesn't fold as compactly if the child is still in it.
e. Do Not Use a Lit Match or Open Flame to Check Fuel Level – Can you imagine someone thinking it’s dark down in that gas tank, I think I will light a match and see what the gas level is?
B. Just like there are many do’s and don’ts in life, there are also many do’s and don’ts in ministry.
1. But the warning labels for ministry are not out where we can easily spot them, but they are found in God’s word.
C. And here’s something important to think about: Excellence in ministry requires more than merely avoiding the wrong; it demands that we also embrace the right.
1. And this actually applies to any worthwhile endeavor.
2. The boxer in training must do more than avoid smoking, drinking and eating donuts.
a. He must also run, skip rope, and log many bruising hours in the sparring ring.
3. Or what about the successful business person?
a. They don’t just minimize bad decisions; they make lots of good ones.
b. They think ahead, research the market, and take calculated risks.
4. So, what is true in business and athletics is also true in ministry.
a. There are practices any minister needs to steer clear of while at the same time he also must pursue the right things with enthusiasm and tenacity.
D. Today, as we look at what Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4, we see that Paul was pointing out to Timothy some of the “do’s and don’ts” of ministry.
1. I believe that these things apply not only to ministers, but to every Christian.
2. Let’s explore these important aspects of life and ministry, and see how to apply them to our lives.
3. One interesting thing I want us to notice is that as Paul presented these do’s and don’t, he alternated between the negative and positive exhortations.
E. But before we get to those do’s and don’ts of ministry that start in verse 6, let’s see how Paul sets the stage for them in verses 1-5.
1. Paul wrote: 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. 3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer. (1 Tim. 4:1-5)
2. Chapter 3 ended with a glorious passage about what the church is and who Christ is.
3. We might wish that we could remain in the sunlight on the spiritual mountain top of those glorious truths, and we must keep those truths at the forefront of our minds and hearts.
a. But life is lived out in the real world of spiritual darkness where people depart from the faith and fall for the teaching of demons that comes through hypocritical liars.
4. Paul said that the Spirit warned that this would happen in “later times”but any time beyond Paul’s time qualifies as a “later time.”
a. And even though Paul was concerned about the future, he was also concern about the false teachers who were already present in Ephesus and had told Timothy to correct them.
5. In verses 3-5, Paul described something of the perversions being peddled by the false teachers.
a. Paul mentioned two false teachings in order to illustrate his point and they had to do with marriage and food.
b. At first glance, these topics may seem relatively unimportant, but they relate to the basic appetites of the human body which God has created and are good.
c. Both false doctrines seem to tie in with the mistaken belief that the material world was evil, which was a central belief of the growing Gnostic movement.
6. The false teachers were forbidding marriage.
a. While there is nothing wrong with remaining single, like Paul was, it is wrong to forbid marriage.
b. We must never promote what God has forbidden nor forbid what God has authorized.
c. This verse has often been applied to the Catholic doctrine of mandatory celibacy for priests and nuns, and it certainly does apply to that false doctrine that was taught as early as the 300s.
d. But the belief that the unmarried state was holier than the married state was part of the Gnostic philosophy already emerging in Paul’s time.
6. The false teachers were also forbidding the eating of certain foods.
a. There is nothing wrong with abstaining from certain foods for health reasons, personal preference, or spiritual commitment, but it is wrong to require all Christians to remove certain foods from their diets for salvation or to be a true Christian.
7. The truth about marriage and food is that both are created by God to be received with thanksgiving and partaken of in God’s holy and ordained way.
8. So, with that introduction about the dark and hard times that Timothy faced in ministry, Paul proceeded to give Timothy some ministry do’s and don’ts.
I. FIRST, DO TEACH GOD’S WORD (Vs. 6)
A. Paul wrote: If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the good teaching that you have followed. (1 Tim. 4:6)
1. Two verses earlier, Paul had told Timothy that everything created by God is good and is sanctified by God’s word and prayer.
2. So, Timothy’s job was to point that out to the brothers and sisters, and if he did that, then he was being a good servant of Christ Jesus.
3. Paul told Timothy to receive the Word of God and allow it to nourish him, and then pass it on to others.
4. But doing this wasn’t just an important thing for Timothy or other ministers to do, rather it’s important for all Christians is to receive God’s Word, allow it to nourish and change us, and then pass it on and point it out to others.
5. So, first of all, Do Teach God’s Word.
II. SECOND, DONT GIVE ATTENTION TO WORLDLY FABLES (Vs. 7a)
A. Paul’s wrote: But have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. (1 Tim. 4:7a)
1. The phrase “pointless and silly myths” can also be translated: “godless myths and old wives’ tales” (NIV) or “irreverent, silly myths” (ESV).
2. What are these pointless and silly myths? They are, no doubt, false teachings and earthly fables.
3. These are the kind of teachings that some people do discuss and focus on, but people who are dedicated to the Word of God do not and will not focus on them.
4. These may have included the false doctrines just named in verses 2 and 3.
5. They may have included stories and beliefs manufactured to promote and defend immoral lifestyles.
6. Paul also warned Titus about “Jewish fables” (Titus 1:14), and he repeated the warning to Timothy in his second letter (2 Tim 4:4).
7. So, these things were a real problem for Christians and even ministers in Timothy’s day.
B. Modern-day examples of these kinds of things include New Age thinking about crystals and energy, or the wave of “angelmania” that washed over America culture in the last two decades of the 20th century, or a focus on conspiracy theories.
1. Unfortunately, these kinds of things, become a spiritual substitute for people.
2. It diverts their attention from the real God and prevents them from dealing with crucial spiritual issues.
3. So did the godless myths and old wives’ tales Paul was warning Timothy about.
4. Both he and we must stay far from them.
III. THIRD, DO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF IN GODLINESS (Vs. 7b-10)
A. In contrast to lending a lazy ear to fables, Paul told Timothy, “Rather, train yourself in godliness.”
1. The Greek word translated “train” is the word from which we get our word gymnasium.
a. Paul’s use of athletic imagery reminds us that spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident.
b. It takes sweat, determination, perseverance, and total submission to the Trainer.
2. So, Timothy was to be training, but in and for what? Godliness.
a. Godliness, or being godly, seems to be Paul’s concise definition of “genuine Christianity.”
b. The goal of godliness brings together our knowledge of God and our faith in God into an observable lifestyle.
3. Do you consider yourself to be someone who is in training to be godly?
4. How much time and effort are you putting into your training regiment?
B. Paul then made a wonderful contrast that points out the greater value of godliness training.
1. Paul wrote: 8 For the training of the body has limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1 Tim. 4:8-10)
2. All of us living here in America have been exposed to the deluge of fitness propaganda.
3. We Americans spend billions of dollars every year on food supplements, health club memberships, exercise equipment, and sports leagues.
4. Why do we do it? Because sports are fun and being healthy is good. Right?
5. Right! There is nothing wrong with physical exercise and Paul was not telling us to forget about the physical completely.
6. What Paul was doing was making a comparison between the temporal benefits of physical training and the eternal benefits of spiritual training.
7. You all know me, and you know how much I enjoy sports and that staying in shape is important to me, but those things cannot and will not be more important to me that spiritual things.
8. It may be a challenge for many of us to keep those things in correct order.
9. And we know that our culture does not encourage us to keep those things in order.
10. For many, many years here in the United States, Sundays were for church going, and many businesses were closed on Sundays, and children’s sports were not scheduled on Sundays.
a. But all that has changed.
b. I’m not saying that we need to ban or boycott stuff and return to the good old days.
c. But we must realize that there are always going to be other possible things that will draw us away from godliness training, but we spiritual people must make the hard and best choices.
d. The golf course is open, the lake is there for fishing and boating, the malls are running their sales, the sports teams are playing, but spiritual people must be concentrating on the spiritual every day and especially on Sundays.
11. Spiritual training is far too important for eternity to allow it to be squeezed out.
a. We encouraged our children to be involved in fun things like band, chorus, and sports, but we also tried to made it clear that the spiritual was going to order our lives.
b. Spiritual things need to always receive the priority.
12. Paul told Timothy that godliness training had value for all things, both in this life and the life to come.
a. We all need to train hard in spiritual things, and to be sure our children are doing the same.
IV. FOURTH, DON’T FEEL INFERIOR BECAUSE OF YOUR YOUTH (Vs. 11-12a)
A. Paul wrote: 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth…
1. Now why would Paul need to say that? Could it be that Timothy, realizing that he was much younger than many of the people to whom he ministered, felt that his age was a handicap?
2. The word that Paul used for “young” was a Greek word that described anyone of military age, which was up to age 40. (I guess I am beyond the “young” category!)
3. But we must not make the mistake of thinking that Timothy is a teenager at this point.
4. After all, it has been about 15 years since he became Paul’s helper, so he is probably somewhere in his 30s.
5. But being 30 something can be intimidating when you are ministering to people in their 50s, 60s and 70s.
6. Throughout my first 20 years of ministry, I was younger than many of the people to whom I was trying to minister.
7. But I tried not to think about my age, and hopefully you didn’t have to think about my age.
8. So, how do you overcome being young in ministry?
9. Paul’s advice to Timothy was that spiritual maturity, not physical maturity, was the key to effective ministry.
10. And that leads us to the next contrasting point.
V. FIFTH, DO LIVE AN EXEMPLARY LIFE (Vs. 12b)
A. Paul told Timothy: …but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. (1 Tim. 4:12b)
1. There was nothing that Timothy could do about his age.
a. He could not make himself 55, when in reality he was only 35.
2. But one thing he could do was set an example of spiritual maturity well beyond his physical years.
3. If a man or woman is behaving like God behaves, then it doesn’t matter how young or old they are, they are going to make an impact on others.
4. So, let’s all heed the challenge of Paul and strive to be examples in the way we talk, live, love, and believe.
5. Then, regardless of our age, old or young, we will be an instrument in the hand of God to save the lost and build the body of Christ.
6. Children and teens, I issue you a special challenge: Get started young! You’ll never regret it!
VI. SIXTH, DON’T NEGLECT YOUR GIFT (Vs 13-14)
A. Paul wrote: 13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. (1 Tim. 4:13-14)
1. As we have seen throughout the letter, once again Paul reminds Timothy of the Word’s primary place in ministry.
2. Timothy was encouraged to practice the public reading of Scripture in his congregation, which is a practice that began in OT times (Ex 24:7; Dt 31:11)
3. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read aloud from daybreak to noon, and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
a. It would be good for us to spend more time together listening to God’s Word being read.
4. But in addition to reading Scripture, Timothy was to do teaching and preaching.
a. The teaching of Scripture has to do more with educating and training, while the preaching has to do more with exhortation; that is urging, warning and advising.
B. For Timothy to deliver God’s Word powerfully and effectively, it meant using the “spiritual gift” given to him when he was set apart for ministry.
1. The text here says that the body of elders laid their hands on him.
2. In Paul’s second letter he reminded Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, which was in him through the laying on of Paul’s hands.
3. So, it appears that Paul and the elders laid their hands on Timothy and he received the gift necessary to carry out his ministry.
4. We have all been gifted as God has seen fit, and we must use those gifts to the glory of God and for the good of the body.
5. What a waste it is when we fail to use the gifts God has given us!
a. What a waste it would be if Jacques or JoeAnn Starling did not use their gifts of serving!
b. What a waste it would be if Alan and Christy didn’t use their gift of hospitality!
c. What a waste it would be if Mark and Ed, or Jean and Diana didn’t use their gifts of teaching!
d. Those are just a few examples and I wish I had time to mention everyone in the congregation.
6. God will not be pleased if we fail to use the gifts He has entrusted to us.
5. Then, in contrast to “don’t neglect your gift”, Paul said…
VII. SEVENTH, DO PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELF AND YOUR DOCTRINE (Vs 15-16)
1. Paul wrote: 15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Tim. 4:15-16)
2. Paul closed this section with a final positive exhortation.
a. Notice the words he used to encourage Timothy to spiritual excellence: “Be committed” and “pay close attention.”
b. These are words of deliberate action and intense concentration.
3. Notice the two things that Timothy must be very careful about: his life and his doctrine.
4. It goes without saying that a good minister must watch his doctrine - he must be careful about his teaching.
5. But it is equally important that the minister apply the Word of God to his own life.
a. A servant of God must not be so busy ministering to others that he neglects himself and his own spiritual walk.
b. An American evangelist from the 1800’s used to preach a sermon from this text titled, “Preacher, save thyself.’
c. Unfortunately, many a minister has had to leave the ministry because of moral collapse.
d. It is critical that the minister of God be certain to apply God’s word first to himself and then to others.
6. Here’s the reality: God must work in us before He can work through us.
a. If a minister’s example or a disciple’s example contradicts their teaching, then what they say with their tongues is canceled by their lives.
b. That is also true for every parent: Actions speak louder than words.
7. If a minister doesn’t watch his life and doctrine closely, then he may find himself and his followers far away from God.
Conclusion:
A. So, what general lessons can we apply from today’s text?
B. First, we learn that the best goal for every disciple is the goal of spiritual training toward godliness. 1. Let’s be sure that is one of our highest priorities.
C. Second, We learn that the best formula for growing a church and reaching the lost is for the church to have its ministers and members growing spiritually.
1. God cannot use us unless we make ourselves available and useful.
2. And we cannot give people what we do not have or take them where we have not gone.
D. Third, we learn that there are some basic do’s and don’ts of ministry - let’s review the list of do’s and don’ts we have looked at today.
1. Do teach God’s Word.
2. Don’t give attention to worldly fables.
3. Do discipline yourself for godliness.
4. Don’t feel inferior because of your youth.
5. Do live an exemplary life.
6. Don’t neglect your gift.
7. Do pay attention to yourself and your doctrine.
E. So, which of these do’s and don’ts do you need to focus on today?
1. Are there things that God is calling you to stop doing?
2. Are there things that God is calling you to start doing?
3. I pray that all of us will take these things to heart and will carefully practice the do’s and don’ts of ministry.
Resources:
• 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, Commentary by David Roper, Truth For Today Commentary
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Ministry, Sermon by David Owens
