Wage the Good Warfare (1 Tim. 1:18-20)

Outline: Wage the Good Warfare (1 Tim. 1:18-20)

1. The call to wage the good warfare
2. The means meant to help us wage the good warfare
3. The result of failing to wage the good warfare
4. Application

Summary:   As Timothy's "commanding officer," Paul gave this charge: stay in Ephesus and confront the false teachers (vv.3-7).  This was an urgent order entrusted to a reliable soldier.  However, carrying out this order would be no easy task, which is why Paul uses military language (wage the good warfare!) to describe the serious effort that Timothy must exert.  This effort is a form of internal warfare, a fight to keep one's faith sincere and conscience clear.  The failure to wage this warfare is disastrous (v.20) but the reward for doing so is glorious (2 Tim. 4:7-8).  We must remind ourselves that every order in the service of our Lord is to be carried out in love (1:5).  But this love is a hard fought love. Underneath this love is a battle that must be fought and won in our hearts (faith and a good conscience).  Every time the flag of love is raised, witnesses may know that a battle has been won in the heart.

Main Point:  We must wage the good warfare, a type of warfare that begins in the heart!

Discussion Questions:

• What is the charge being entrusted to Timothy? (cf. vv.3-7)
• Why do you think Paul uses military language (charge/order, warfare)?
• What means or provisions must Timothy utilize in order to wage the good warfare?
• What does it mean to hold the "faith"? To maintain a "good conscience"?  What is the relationship between faith and a good conscience? (v.19)
• How might a culture of discipleship help believers maintain a good conscience?
• Ponder this statement: "Every time the flag of love is raised, a battle has been won in the heart."
• How does one make shipwreck of his or her faith (v.19)?
• What can we learn about church discipline from from v.20?

Application Questions:

• Do I see my Christian life as a call to wage the good warfare? Explain. 
• Is there anything I am currently doing that my conscience is uneasy about?
• How is the death of Jesus good news when I have a troubled conscience?

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for waging the good warfare on our behalf and empowering us to do likewise 
• Confess anything you are currently doing that is troubling your conscience
• Ask God to help you and your church family to maintain clear consciences and to come to him honestly and quickly when our consciences are troubled
• Ask the Holy Spirit to make unbelievers in your spheres of influence aware of their sin and to empower you to tell them the good news about Jesus and the power of his blood to cover shame and guilt and to purify consciences