Staying True

Staying True

I Timothy

Introduction

In the book of I Timothy, Paul, the aged and experienced apostle writes to the young Pastor, Timothy, who is facing a heavy burden of responsibility in the church at Ephesus.

Ephesus was a city famous for its Temple and worship of the Goddess Diana. Its Temple employed prostitute priestess and priests who offered sacrifice for money. In I Timothy Paul urges Timothy to stay true in the midst of all this paganism.

Paul makes several "charges" (instructions) to young Timothy in this epistle.

I. The First Charge Is Found In Chap. 1:1-3

STAY TRUE TO THE FAITH

Christians today need "staying power" - especially in our increasingly pagan society.

Illustration - My father spent his entire life on the same job, married to the same woman, living on the same farm. A generation ago a man might spend his entire life as my father did - not today though. Staying power is lost on jobs - in marriages - in relationships.

II. The Second Charge Is Found In Chap. 1:18,19

STAY TRUE TO THE FIGHT

1. War a good warfare

2. Don’t shipwreck your faith.

After the initial euphoria of conversion, many Christians sooner or later are confronted with the old desires of the old life. What do you do when that happens.

a.) Remember what God has done for you.

b.) Remember the examples of those who have shipwrecked their faith.

III. The Third Charge Is Found in Chap. 3:14-16

STAY TRUE TO YOUR PURPOSE

1. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with public worship. How we are to behave in church.

2. Vs. 16 - Our ultimate purpose is to exalt Jesus in all that we do.

Public worship and Private worship

Stay true in your worship

IV. The Forth Charge Is Found In Chap. 5:21-25

STAY TRUE IN YOUR CALLING

1. Don’t be a "Pew Potato" - A Sunday morning Christian

2. Note the "laying on of hands"

The laying on of hands has great significance as a religious rite in the Bible. This rite is associated with the bestowal of divine blessings upon a person.

3. Every believer is called of God.

VI. The Fifth Charge Is Found In Chap. 6:20-21

STAY TRUE TO THE FACTS

1. Don’t be distracted by strange doctrines and beliefs

We live in a day filled with "strange doctrines". We have "political correctness" without "biblical correctness"

2. Stay True To Jesus