(1 Tim 3:14-16)
Notes
Transcript
Announcement (RT)
Announcement (RT)
Call to Worship (RT)
Call to Worship (RT)
Hymn (RT)
Hymn (RT)
Prayer of Praise and Confession (RT)
Prayer of Praise and Confession (RT)
Offering (RT)
Offering (RT)
Doxology (RT)
Doxology (RT)
Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Civil Realm:
Civil Realm:
The Lost of the World/Mission of the church:
The Lost of the World/Mission of the church:
The Sanctification of the Church
The Sanctification of the Church
The Sick and Afflicted
The Sick and Afflicted
Sermon Text Introduction
Sermon Text Introduction
Open you bibles to 1 Timothy 3 with me. This evening we continue our series in 1 Timothy and working through the churches calling. This week we get a picture of the purpose of Paul writing to Timothy and his church in Ephesus. We learned about the urgency of maintaining true religion by expelling false teaching. We learned about the importance of correct prayer and worship. We learned about the importance of faithful and pious leadership. These three matters are of great urgency to the body of Christ and promote good health to the body. To the apostle Paul, doctrine and practice must be at all times addressed with urgency in the body of Christ.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Here ends the Epistle lesson and this is the word of God.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
Some matters in our lives require an immediate and urgent response. One of my mentors once told me a story concerning the birth of his firstborn. His dear wife went into labor at the end of the semester. And my dear mentor had a lot of work to do as a TA with grading papers and asked if she could wait until he was done grading some exams and essays before going into the hospital. Apparently they wait so long that the babies first experience in this life was in an elevator to the delivery room. Some matters and events in our lives require and immediate response and I am sure this mentor is still reminded of this fateful day till this day.
There is a great and urgent instruction that every church and every member in the body of christ must do in order to grow in holiness in the household of God. That what Paul does with the few verse before us this evening. The apostle writes with purpose and resolve in order that Timothy and the body of Christ might behave in the household of God. They must not delay in regards to implementing a doctrine and practice that declares the glory of Christ in this world.
Proposition: Never delay in growing closer to God.
Christian sense an urgency to grow in Christ (14-15a)
Christian sense an urgency to grow in Christ (14-15a)
English Standard Version Chapter 3
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,
15 if I delay,
The desire of physical presence
The desire of physical presence
We see quickly the desire of Paul in the passage. He eagerly wants to visit Timothy and the church of Ephesus. He has a message for his people there concerning doctrine and Christian living. This is often no different than Paul’s other epistles. Paul often begins in a discourse about doctrine and belief in the church of Christ and then concludes with how that doctrine and belief leads to the fruit of practical obedience. Paul had hopes to deliver this message to the Ephesians in person, but he was delayed for an unknowable reason. And like any good professor, he makes sure that in his absence, his students still have much to learn and study. At Reformed Seminary, when a professor cancelled his class, they would send an email with an academic article and expected us to evaluate and critic it before the next class to make up for the lost time. So that when the professor came back in the following week, we would not be behind. For we needed to move forward in our study of doctrine and truth, and we must not waste time, but use the time we have to grow in understanding.
The delay and the urgency to grow.
The delay and the urgency to grow.
So, Paul sends this supplemental letter for the church of Ephesus to digest in his absence. You might wonder, why doesn’t Paul just postpone and teach this theology when he can finally make it. It is because there is an urgency for the Christians of this church to not delay in their walk with Christ. Paul deeply desires the church to not remain in theological darkness and error. In other words, grave errors in the church of Christ ought to be dealt with swiftly with urgency. For every day that Timothy and his elders fail to uphold the truth of Christ on this earth, the more ineffective is their witness to Christ to those who are apart from Christ. For theological error, in Paul’s mind, lead to practical lawlessness. For the apostle understands that the way people live flows from the way they think and understand. Paul is writing to let timothy and the church know the proper conduct for God’s household with the understanding that this knowledge will lead to correct conduct
My wife in her great wisdom once told me this about those I counsel. It is easy to think people are crazy for the things they do. For the way they reason. But in their own mind it makes perfect sense or is the only thing they think they can do. In order to change habits, lifestyles, and action, entire thought process must change.
This why Paul cannot delay, the longer people remain in their false understanding, the deeper the roots of ungodliness grow and the harder to overturn thoughts. This is common proverbial knowledge. As we age, we get set in our ways. Im much more set in my ways than my childhood, and i expect my understanding will dry like concrete. This is of Urgent importance. Doctrine in the Lord Jesus Christ is vital to Pauls teaching and so he sends a letter! and we receive this letter this lords day evening. We are challenged to grow in godliness by setting our eyes on the truth of God.
Proposition: Never delay in growing closer to God
Christians honor the Privilege of belonging to God (15b)
Christians honor the Privilege of belonging to God (15b)
English Standard Version Chapter 3
you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
We see in this section three ways Paul describes the Church. 1) she is the household of God. 2)she is the church of the living God. 3) She is the pillar and buttress of truth
They are members in God’s Household
They are members in God’s Household
We get a metaphor that we are members of God’s household. This is language for a family. So the church is a family where God is the father, we are the children, Jesus is our brothers. We are all brothers and sisters here. Even as we gather today, we are one family in the Lord Jesus Christ. On this side of eternity, it often seems dysfunctional. We are often toddlers fighting over toys. We bicker and slander. We are bitter and gossip. But what would your parents say to you if you were caught in this actions with a sibling? They would call you to reconcile and make things rights.
Our heavenly father has forgiven us much, and we ought to have this understanding with those who are now in Christ’s family. Who do you hate among us? Or who frustrates you most among us. Make things rights. repent and confess your sin to that brother or sisters. For you will be with them for eternity.
They are only church of the living God
They are only church of the living God
God dwells within us and we are is family. Thus when we gather together, we are the church of the true and living God. It is not the brick and morter that make us the church, but the presence of God within our corporate nature that make us the church. This is the great glory of assembling together on the Lord’s Day. We gather together to worship the only living God in his body. No other institution on this earth has such a privilege as this. This is truly unique. This is the one and only. This is the place where God has chosen to dwell on this earth. The idols are dead, now make way for the living God.
Martin Luther said, “at home in my own house there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through.
Nothing on this earth can replace the importance of gathering together on the Lord’s Day to worship the triune God. Nothing can replace this special institution. This is quite literally the most important element of your life. Nothing is more important than corporately worshiping the triune God. Nothing! You were made to Worship and according to the Scripture, this is the manner by which you worship. Come. Gather, and worship God with us.
They are the pillar and foundation of Truth
They are the pillar and foundation of Truth
The last picture for the church we are given is architectural.
In other words, we will conduct our lives appropriately if we remember that we are the home built and owned by God and indwelt by him and also remember to uphold his truths within their bounds.
Christian conduct is a fruit of Christian confession (16)
Christian conduct is a fruit of Christian confession (16)
English Standard Version Chapter 3
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Confessing the coming of Christ
Confessing the coming of Christ
Confessing the witness of Christ
Confessing the witness of Christ
Confessing the reception of Christ
Confessing the reception of Christ