Lessons for a Healthy Church:
Understanding Our Message
(1 Timothy 1:3-20)
Introduction (Mention the devotional insert in the bulletin):
Years ago the following ad appeared in a London Newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” Would you believe there were thousands of men who responded to this? The reason for such a turn out was the noted Artic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, placed the ad. It causes me to wonder what kind of ad Jesus would give to us today. “Men and women wanted for the task of helping to build my church. Even those working with you will often misunderstand you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come until all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your family, your friends, even your life.”
As we see in the Bible, Timothy was willing to answer the ad. He took on some tough assignments in the churches Paul founded. He came from a mixed home; his dad was Greek, and his mother Jewish. Because Timothy faced times of discouragement, Paul wrote to him to help him understand how the local church should be managed. (Above from "What am I to do with my life?" by by Dennis Selfridge, sermoncentral.com)
But how can leaders properly manage the church when the manual they follow sometimes appears to disagree with itself? One example: Jesus told the church to reach out to the world (see Matthew 28: 19), while the Apostle Paul told the church to separate itself from the world (see 2 Corinthians 6:17). How do we handle what appears to be contradictory tasks?
Proposition: There is no discrepancy here! The church has the most distinct and unique message in all the world.
1. Some things do separate us from each other (verses 3-5)
Paul immediately reminded Timothy of his reason for being in Ephesus.
He was to command that those teaching false doctrines, myths, & genealogies would stop.
As much as he valued harmony in the church (Rom 14:19; 1 Thess 5:13), Paul realized that peace & unity are not our highest priorities. Peace at the expense of truth does not advance God’s work.
In fact, where there are deviations or compromises on the truth, there is no real harmony.
We are not sure of the details, but anything that produces pointless controversies will distract God’s people from God’s truth & God’s work.
True Christian teaching produces love. This love from God neither divides nor separates. It embraces all who embrace it. Paul had a particular type of love in mind: one that flows out of a pure & cleansed heart, a good and clear conscience, and a sincere faith founded on the truth.
False doctrines only produce controversy & confusion. Paul urged Timothy (& us) to oppose them directly & decisively.
While our Fellowship and Education Center was under construction, we as a church wrote scripture verses on its floors and studs. Southeast Christian Church in Louisville did the same thing. Bob Russell told of one of the small groups that had volunteered to help clean the building one afternoon. As they were preparing to leave, Marty Rice, prayer leader of the group, said, “Why don’t we write down a Scripture reference in one of the rooms before we leave?” So they found a small room that didn’t have any Scriptures yet. Rick Nally, one of the group members, said, “How about the passage where Jesus said, ‘Where two or three of you are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of you’?” Marty asked what the reference was. “I think it’s Matthew 18:28,” Rick said. Marty stooped and wrote, “Matthew 18:28” and the group’s name on the floor in permanent marker.
Later that evening at a restaurant, Rick brought in his Bible from the car to double-check the reference. He said, “Oh no. It’s Matthew 18:20, not 18:28.” Someone asked the obvious question: “What’s verse 28 say?” Rick read, “When that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.”
Russell said, “I suppose if you are ever in our building and, while standing in certain classroom, suddenly have the urge to choke someone, you’ll know why!”
But aside from that, the building became a dramatic reminder to all of them that the church has been called to stand upon the Word of God. This is the essence of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in chapter one. We have to ask ourselves the obvious question: Are we standing upon the Word of God? Does the Word which is preached from this pulpit permeate our lives in a very real sense or are we non-distinguishable from the culture around us?
2. Some things will separate us from God (verses 6-11)
These teachers, presenting themselves as Christians, wandered from the truth. They seemed to know better. But once we start wandering from the truth, we will wander from the faith.
They wanted to become teachers of the law. Two major groups within the early church tried to change the message of Jesus:
· The Judiazers: Jewish Christians who wanted to enforce Old Testament Jewish Law on all believers, both Jew & Gentile
· The Gnostics: a worldview that regarded the spiritual world superior to the physical one, and insisted that knowledge was the way of salvation. Since it was the spiritual part of a person that was to be saved, the physical side could sin with no consequences.
Both teachings denied the core of Christianity: That while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God’s law is in place to point out our need for Him. Any other teaching will take us further away from God rather than closer to Him.
3. One thing unites the body of Christ (verses 12-20): Salvation by grace through faith!
Remember the core principle of our faith! So profound yet so simple!
God shows his grace to us "poor ornery sinners" by forgiving anyone who trusts in Jesus and His payment for our sin.
No other religion on the face of the earth comes close to the offer of Christianity!
· The basis of God’s forgiveness is God’s grace.
· God’s grace & mercy are available for all who will admit their sin and trust and obey Jesus for salvation. God’s grace extends to the very worst of sinners, but only as they trust and obey Jesus as their Lord. (Refer To Paul’s conversion: Acts 22:3-16)
Remembering that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus leads Paul to two responses:
· He looks to heaven & praises God for His mercy
· He looks to earth and encourages Timothy (& us!) to hold fast
(Refer to storm scene from the movie "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World." A grizzled, experienced sailor in the midst of a ferocious storm encouraged a young teen by showing him the 8 letters tattooed on his fingers: “hold fast”)
Christianity is both inclusive & exclusive. God invites everyone to enter into a relationship with Him. However, He demands we come on His terms, understanding that salvation is based on nothing that we do, but on everything that Jesus did! ("Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to thy cross I cling")
Conclusion: Let’s understand our message. The reason we challenge those who would deny a central aspect of Christianity is to bring them into a genuine relationship with God and His people. To be a healthy church, we must thankfully hold fast to what is right. After all, it is all about God’s amazing grace!
Invitation: Amazing Grace
