A Charge to the Rich (1 Tim. 6:17-19)

Outline: A Charge to the Rich (1 Tim. 6:17-19): 

1. The dangers that come with being rich (v.17a)
2. The responsibilities that come with being rich (vv.17b-18)
3. The eternal perspective that defines what it means to be truly rich (v.19)

Summary:  We have learned about how contentment is cultivated when we humbly agree with God about what our real needs actually are, about the temporary and fleeting nature of money and possessions, and about the genuine gain that comes from living a godly life protected and purified by contentment (6:6-8).  But one thing is painfully obvious (especially in on our intensely materialistic culture): contentment will not be attained without a fight.  Therefore, Christians must engage in a life-long fight for contentment, a fight which calls for both offensive and defensive strategies (6:11-12).  And where shall we find such strategies? We find them in the very next passage, that is, in the charge to the rich in 6:17-19.  Here we are given an eternal perspective defining what it means to be truly rich.  This perspective warns us of the dangers and inspires us with the responsibilities that come with being rich. When the dangers are heeded and the responsibilities embraced, we are those who find real gain and a firm grip on what is truly life.

Main Point: Rich Christians must set their hope on God by imitating God's generosity.

Discussion Questions:

• What is the relationship between contentment (6:6-8), the fight of faith (6:11-12) and the charge to the rich (6:17-19)?
• What dangers come with being rich (v.17)? Why must we be on guard against such dangers?
• God is described as one "who richly provides us everything to enjoy."  What does this say about God?  How should this fact about God shape how we use our wealth?  
• Practically speaking, what might it look like to be ready to share?
• If rich Christians are not imitating God's generosity, what does that say about their hope?
• How does v.19 give us an eternal perspective on what it means to be truly rich? How should that perspective shape how we heed the dangers and embrace the responsibilities that come with being wealthy Christians?

Application Questions:

• How am I practically imitating God's generosity in the use of my wealth?
• What practical steps can I take to be more ready to share generously with others?

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for the greatest display of His generosity--the gift of His own dear Son
• Praise Jesus for making an eternal investment by shedding His blood for us
• Ask God to help us flee the dangers of pride and false security that come with being rich 
• Ask God to help us imitate His generosity by being rich in good works and ready to share our wealth for the good of others

Heart Check on Christian Contentment:

Diagnostic questions designed to help detect a love of money in my heart*: 

• Do I think more about how much money I make or the quality of my service?
• Am I ungrateful for the basic necessities of life and feel entitled to more than the basics?
• Am I generally dissatisfied with what I do have and find myself craving what don’t have?  
• Do I desire to get more money so that I can buy things in order to flaunt them? 
• Do I let an eternal perspective shape the way I view my money?
• Do I resent giving money?
• Am I willing to sin to get money? 
• In what current circumstances am I most temped to be discontent?
• What do I do when I sense discontentment in my heart?
• Have I redefined what is entailed in God's goodness?
• Am I believing that God is not being generous to me?
• How aware am I that God's provisions are meant to fuel God's mission (His glory, His kingdom, His will)?
• What are things that I seem to be trying to find security in above and beyond basic necessities mentioned in 1 Tim. 6:8?

Truths about God to help me fight for contentment: 

• Remember that God promised to give you all you need to honor His name, advance His kingdom, and do His will (Matt. 6:9-11)
• Remember that God knows best and is keenly aware of your real needs (Matt. 6:8; 32)
• Remember that God is an attentive and generous Father (Matt. 7:7-11)
• Remember that God will supply all your needs as you live on mission (Phil. 4:19)
• Remember that God did not spare his own Son (Rom. 8:32)
• Remember that God will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5)
• Remember that you have the Spirit of the content one inside you  (2 Tim. 1:7)

*Note: A few of the these questions were adapted from John McArthur's questions mentioned in his sermon on this text.

Showing Proper Care in God's Family, Part 2 (1 Tim. 5:17-6:2)

Outline: Showing Proper Care in God’s Family, Part 2 (1 Tim. 5:17-6:2): 

1. Case Study #2: How should we show proper care for elders?
2. Case study #3: How should we show proper care for employers?

Summary:  After describing four marks of a good servant in vv.6-16, Paul tells Timothy that a good servant will intentionally adjust the way he relates to others within God's family in order to show proper care and respect for each person (5:1-2).  Paul then practically applies this basic principle for relationships to three different groups within the church (three "case studies"): widows (vv.3-16), elders (vv.17-25), and masters/employers (6:1-2). In this sermon we review the principle and consider how it is applied in Paul's examples of showing proper care for elders and employers.

Main Point: Christians should adjust the way they relate to others within God's family in order to show proper care and respect for each person.  This principle must shape how the church cares for elders and how individual Christians serve their employers.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: What is the basic principle for relationships in the church set forth in vv.1-2?
• How might honoring this principle serve the church's call to display the beauty of the gospel?
• How should Christians think about providing financial support for elders who lead well and labor hard in preaching and teaching? (vv.17-18)
• How should Christians think about church discipline in general and the discipline of an elder in particular? (vv.19-21)
• Why is it so important to not be too hasty in appointing elders in the church? (vv.22-25)
• How should Christians understand and apply passages speaking about slavery? (cf. Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-25; 1 Pet. 2:18-25).   
• Who might showing proper respect for an employer serve to display the gospel?

Application Questions:

• What practical ways can I honor God by showing honor and care for the elders of my church? 
• What practical ways can I honor God by showing proper respect to my employer?

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for adopting us into His family and for the blessing of being part of a local church
• Praise Jesus for how He as shown His care for each of us by rescuing us from our sin and for sustaining us on this trial-filled journey to the Promised Land
• Ask God to help us give faithfully and joyfully to the local church knowing that part of our giving is God's means of caring for those who lead well and labor hard in preaching of the gospel and the teaching of sound doctrine to strengthen the witness of the church 
• Ask God to help us guard the name of Jesus by being willing to both give and receive correction for the good of our souls and the witness of this church
• Ask God to help us to be very deliberate about showing proper respect for our employers and doubly so if our employer is a fellow believer

Christian Simplicity: Part 2 (Matt. 6:19-24)

Outline: Matthew 6:19-24

1. Two treasures (v.19-21)
2. Treasures visions (vv.22-23)
3. Treasure masters (v.24)

Summary: 
In Matt. 6:19-24, Jesus calls his followers to a life of single-minded devotion to God.  In order to make His point, Jesus utilizes three couplets: two treasures, two visions, two masters.  In this sermon we considered all three couplets but focused primarily on the two visions and the two masters.  Jesus wants us to see that where we put our heart dramatically effects our spiritual lives. To put it negatively, if we accumulate money and possessions in this short life, that is, if our spiritual eye is fixed on material treasures, then we will lose spiritual vision and find ourselves serving money, not God.  But, more positively, if we seek to be rich toward God in this life by piling up good works done out of pure motives, then we will enjoy clear spiritual vision and find ourselves serving God, not money.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: what are material treasures and spiritual treasures?
• How do Jesus' commands in vv.19-20 show his care and love toward us?
• What is the relationship/connection between the two treasures and the two visions?
• What does it mean that they eye is the lamp of the body in physical terms?
• What does it mean that they eye is the lamp of the body in spiritual terms? (cf. 5:29;7:3)
• Reflect on this statement: "obedience clarifies, sin clouds."
• How does having dim vision effect our relationship with God?
• How does having dim vision effect our witness in the world? (cf.Luke 11:33-36)
• What is the meaning of the term "master"? Why is it impossible to serve two masters?
• Reflect on this statement: "Duel devotion is a mirage"
• Reflect on this statement: “we will either use money to serve God or use God to serve money."
• If spiritual vision is cloudy, what does that say about our treasure and our loyalty? 
• What has personally challenged you most in the past two sermons on Christian simplicity?

Application Questions:

• Am I currently enjoying clear spiritual vision (i.e. Do i have purpose, drive, holy ambition, passion to love God and others, etc.)? If not, what might this say about what I'm treasuring and where my loyalty actually is?
• What changes is God calling me to make in order to live a life of single-minded devotion?

Prayer Points:

• Confess ways your heart has been in the wrong place leading to dim vision and disloyalty.
• Praise Jesus for living a life of perfect loyalty to the Father and for dying on a cross so that you might become a His loyal and faithful servant!
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to put and keep your heart in the right place, to maintain clear spiritual vision, and to lean more fully what it means to serve Christ as Master.  

Christian Simplicity: Part 1 (Matt. 6:19-21)

Outline: Matthew 6:19-21

Two treasures:

1. Treasures on earth (v.19)
2. Treasures in heaven (v.20)
3. Treasure principle (v.21)

Summary: 

We have seen that Jesus came to bring about radical obedience in His followers (Matt. 5:1-48, esp. vv.19-20, 48), an obedience that is to be fueled by pure motives (Matt. 6:1-18, esp. vv.1,3-4, 6, 9-10, 17-18).  Now in Matt. 6:19-24, Jesus fuses radical obedience and pure motives together in order to call His followers to a life of simplicity, that is, a life of single-minded devotion to God.  In order to make His point, Jesus utilizes three couplets: two treasures, two visions, two masters.  In this sermon we considered the two treasures, where Jesus teaches us not to store up material treasures on earth but rather to store up spiritual treasures in heaven because He wants to ensure that our hearts are in a safe place.  

Discussion Questions:

• What are earthly treasures and why does Jesus command us not to store them up?
• What is Jesus not prohibiting in v.19?
• How does Jesus' parable in Luke 12:16-21 illustrate this command?
• What are spiritual treasures and why does Jesus command us to store them up?
• Describe the treasure principle of v.21 in your own words.
• How is this a call to a life of simplicity, a life of single-minded devotion to God?
• Are these commands loving or unloving?  Explain.
• Reflect on this statement: "Jesus is the best financial advisor in the universe."
• How might a material treasure become a means of storing up spiritual treasure?
• What are some practical ways we might learn to be rich toward God?

Application Questions:

• Honestly, am I being rich toward myself or rich toward God?
• What material things am I most prone to hoard? What changes is God calling me to make?
• How might I cultivate both short and long-term generosity?
• How might I cultivate simplicity (learn contentment, detach from stuff, cap expenses, and grow in the ability to discern how to best use God's money)?
• How can I simultaneously attack debt and cultivate generosity?
• Think trajectory: how can I grow in generosity each year as I get closer and closer to seeing my Lord Jesus face-to-face?

Prayer Points:

• Confess ways you have been rich toward yourself and stingy toward God
• Praise Jesus for becoming poor and dying on a cross so that you might become rich toward God and inherit eternity!
• Ask God to help you to, by the power of the Holy Spirit, break any sinful habits of hoarding material possessions and to help you learn to store up spiritual treasures in heaven.