Introduction to 1 Timothy (1 Tim. 1:1-2)

Outline: Introduction to 1 Timothy

1. Who is Paul?
2. Who is Timothy?
3. What is Their Relationship Like?
4. What Themes Can We Expect to Encounter in 1 Timothy?

Summary:  Paul, who was once a Church-ravaging, Christ-opposing pharisee became, by the sovereign grace of God, a lover of the Church and one of the most faithful and sacrificial servants of Christ and the gospel who ever lived.  Timothy, Paul's spiritual son, was a godly young man and a reliable church leader.  Timothy's priorities in life were shaped by the interests of Christ.  This sincerity of spirit was no doubt the hallmark of Timothy's character and one of the main reasons he and Paul were of such kindred spirit.  When we study 1 Timothy, we get to, as it were, "read Timothy's mail." And, as we do, we will do well to keep in mind the nature of Paul and Timothy's relationship.  May their interests shape our interests, their concerns define our concerns and their convictions form our convictions.

Main Point:  1 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to his spiritual son, Timothy; therefore, the themes encountered in 1 Timothy should be read with and informed by a constant awareness of the Christ-centered, mission-minded nature of their affectionate relationship.

Discussion Questions:

• Who is Paul? (see Acts 7:58; 8:1; 9:1-22 ; 26:12-18; Gal. 1:11–2:10; Phil. 3:1-11)
• Who is Timothy? (see 2 Tim. 3:13-15; 1:4-6; 2:1-2)
• Describe the relationship between Paul and Timothy (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 3:10-11; Phil. 2:19-24)
• How might the nature of Paul's relationship to Timothy shape the the nature of our own discipleship relationships and parent-child relationships?
• READ 1 Tim. 3:14-15. What is Paul's aim in writing 1 Timothy? 
• READ through 1 Timothy in one sitting. What themes surface as you read through the letter? 

Application Questions:

• What was one thing that was particularly helpful to me in this sermon?  
• How might Paul's relationship to Timothy inspire me in my own discipleship relationships and/or parent-child relationships?

Prayer Points:

• Thank God for giving us His word in general and 1 Timothy in particular.  
• Thank God for how profitable His word is for teaching, reproof, correction, and for training in righteousness.  
• Ask God to help us grow in godly sincerity so that spiritual relationships at FBC can me marked by the affection and sweetness that we see in Paul's relationship to Timothy. 
• Ask God to powerfully shape us by the truths we learn in 1 Timothy so that we can relate to one another beautifully as the household of God called to be a pillar and buttress of the truth. 

The Promised Priest (Psalm 110:4)

Outline: The Promised Prophet

1. The Shadow: Melchizedek
2. The Reality: Jesus Christ

Summary:  As Christians we recognize that Jesus came to us not only as the Son of God but as the promised Son of God.  Last week we considered Jesus as the promised Prophet.  This week we meditate on Jesus as the promised Priest.  And, as we meditate, we learn that Jesus is of an order that is completely different than that of the Old Testament levitical priesthood.  For Jesus is a high priest "after the order of Melchizedek."  Melchizedek, as a "priest of God Most High," was a type, a picture, a shadow of the ultimate and greatest high priest, Jesus Christ.

Main Point:  The high priesthood foreshadowed in Melchizedek is brought to reality in Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

• Review: the whole Old Testament is ultimately about ____ ? (cf. Luke 24:25-27,44)
• In Gen. 14:17-20, what can we learn about the rather mysterious person named Melchizedek?
• What does Psalm 110, especially v.4, teach us about the coming Messiah?
• Read Hebrews 5:1-10; 6:13-20; 7:1-28.  How does the writer of Hebrews seek to establish the legitimacy of Jesus' high priesthood?
• As new covenant believers, what blessings and benefits do we get to enjoy and celebrate since we have Jesus as our great high priest? (It will be helpful to read and meditate on the following passages as you answer this question: Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16; 7:25-27; 9:11-14).  

Application Questions:

• Have I been confidently drawing near to the throne of grace to find mercy and help (cf. Heb. 4:16)? Why or why not?
• What blessing of having Jesus as my high priest is particularly impactful right now? Explain.

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for His perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice that made it possible for us to enter confidently into God's holy presence
• Praise Jesus for being a faithful and sympathetic high priest who speaks to God on our behalf
• Confess ways you have been slow to draw near to the throne of grace to find mercy and help when your sympathetic high priest sits there so able and willing to help you
• Ask God to grow your understanding of what it means for Jesus to be our great high priest and for a stronger confidence to more readily draw near to Him for mercy and grace. 

The Promised Prophet (Deut. 18:15-19)

Outline: The Promised Prophet

1. Promise 
2. Fulfillment 

Summary:  As Christians we recognize that Jesus came to us not only as the Son of God but as the promised Son of God.  We believe that Jesus' arrival came after hundreds of years of anticipation.  Therefore, Jesus' arrival is a breathtaking testimony of God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promises He made.  Among those promises was the promise to send a prophet like Moses.  God fulfilled this promise when He sent One final prophet, One who is greater than Moses, One whose words all people are called to heed, One who would lead His people into the Promised Land.  Jesus Christ is the Prophet we've been waiting for.

Main Point:  Jesus is the promised Prophet spoken of long ago.

Discussion Questions:

• What do we learn about how we should read the Old Testament from Luke 24:25-27,44?
• Define what a prophet is from Deut. 18:18-19.
• What do we learn about the promised Prophet from Deut. 18:15-19 & Deut. 34:9-12? 
• Read John 1:20.  What were people even in Jesus' day expecting?
• What do Acts 3:22-26 & Acts 7:27, 51-52 teach us about the identity of the promised Prophet?
• What does Heb. 1:1-2 teach us about how Jesus relates to the prophets who came before Him?
• How does Matt. 17:1-13, Jesus' transfiguration, show Jesus' superiority over all other prophets?
• "Jesus is greater than Moses."  While statements like this were fighting words to many Jews in Jesus' day, they are good news to all Christians today.  Why?

Application Questions:

• How aware am I that Jesus is the fulfillment of hundreds of years of God's promises?  How should the fact that Jesus came make me think about and feel toward God?
• How should I respond to Jesus knowing that He is the promised Prophet?

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for all the ways He is greater than Moses 
• Praise Jesus for being the one who can change our hearts and lead us into the Promised Land
• Confess ways you have not been heeding the words of Jesus, God's promised Prophet
• Ask God to help you listen more carefully and wholeheartedly to His Son, the promised Prophet

The Letter to the Church in Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)

Outline: The Letter to the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)

1. Rebuke (vv.14-17)
2. Correction (vv.18-20)
3. Promise (vv.21-22)

Summary:  We now focus our study on Jesus' final letter, His letter to the church in Laodicea.  Laodicea, of all the churches, was perhaps the most unhealthy.  They were so self-deceived and so self-reliant that they failed realize just how disgusting their spiritual condition had become.  In a word: Laodicea was lukewarm and Jesus was sickened when he "tasted" the stagnant waters of their halfhearted devotion. Jesus counsels them to come to Him as the true source of all value, security and vision.  Jesus then lovingly urges them to repent in earnest, so that they can again enjoy Him in genuine fellowship.            

Main Point:  All churches and Christians are called to conquer their lukewarmness by earnestly repenting of it and by coming to Jesus as the source of all value, security, and vision.

Discussion Questions:

• How does Laodicea's witness compare to Jesus' track record as the "faithful witness"? 
• What is it about Laodicea that Jesus finds so repulsive? (vv.15-16)
• How do lukewarmness (v.16), self-sufficiency and self-deceit (v.17) relate to one another?  
• What is Jesus counseling the Laodiceans to do in v.18?
• Reread 3:14-22.  Do Jesus words strike you as loving? Explain (cf. v.19; Heb. 12:5-11).  
• What does the picture of Jesus knocking at the door teach us about what Jesus is like? (v.20)
• What promise does Jesus motivate the church with in v.21?

Application Questions:

• Do I consider Jesus words in 3:14-22 to be loving? Why or why not?
• Is there any evidence of self-sufficiency or lukewarmness in my life? Explain.
• Am I looking to Jesus as the source of value, security, and vision in my life? Explain.
• How does Jesus want me to respond if I have been lukewarm?
• According to v.20, how willing is Jesus to fellowship with me after I have sinned?

Prayer Points:

• Confess any self-sufficiency or lukewarmness God has exposed in your life
• Praise Jesus for loving us enough to say hard things to us and to call us to repentance
• Praise Jesus for loving us enough to pursue fellowship with us after we have dishonored Him 
• Acknowledge Jesus as the true source of value, security, and vision
• Ask God to help you conquer lukewarmness and to be faithful in our devotion to Him

The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)

Outline: The Letter to the Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)

1. Affirmation (v.8)
2. Earth-bound promises (vv.9-10)
3. Exhortation (v.11)
4. Heaven-bound Promise (vv.12-13)

Summary:  We now focus our study on Jesus' letter to the church in Philadelphia.  Philadelphia, like Smyrna, was a healthy church.  Therefore, Jesus did not speak words of rebuke, correction, and warning but words of affirmation followed by promises that were designed to encouraged and inspire them to stay their faithful course.  Jesus promised to help them triumph and endure the sufferings of this life and to lavish blessing on them in the next life if they conquer, that is, if they continue in patient endurance to the end.         

Main Point:  All churches and Christians are called to conquer, that is, to patiently endure suffering and trials though faith-filled obedience to Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

• Is v.7b an accurate, one-sentence summary of John's vision of Jesus in 1:12-20? Explain. 
• What is the church of Philadelphia affirmed for in v.8?
• What is the relationship between keeping Jesus' word and not denying Jesus' name?
• How is it possible that Philadelphia had "little power" yet was considered a healthy church?
• What earth-bound promises did Jesus give (vv.9-10)? What effect are they meant to have?
• Jesus exhorted Philadelphia (v.11)? Why do even healthy churches/Christians need such exhortations?
• What heaven-bound promises did Jesus give (vv.12-13)? What effect are they meant to have?
• What promise is particularly meaningful to you right now and how might you use it as motivation to patiently endure in the midst of your present circumstances?
• What form does conquering take in the first five churches? How about for Philadelphia?

Application Questions:

• What am I clinging to in order to make it through? What does this reveal about my heart?
• How am I obeying God's word in the midsts of my circumstances? 
• What is it going to take for me to patiently endure to the end?
• How is my weakness an opportunity for God to show His power? (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9-10)
• What brother or sister is currently in special need of endurance? What can I do to encourage them? 

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for using His loving authority to open and keep open the door of salvation to us
• Praise Jesus for His power and acknowledge His ability help us endure in the midst of trials
• Ask God to help us not be disheartened by our weakness but to trust all the more in His power 

The Letter to the Church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6)

Outline: The Letter to the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)

1. Rebuke (vv.1-2)
2. Correction (vv.2a, 3a)
3. Warning (v.3b)
4. Promise (vv.4-5)

Summary:  We now focus our study on Jesus' letter to the church in Sardis.  From man's perspective, the church in Sardis was a success, but, for God's perspective, they were spiritually sluggish and therefore in great need of a wake up call.  In fact, Jesus said that they were spiritually "dead" and that their works fell shamefully short of what God expects His redeemed people.  And, while there were some happy exceptions who had not "soiled their garments" with sluggish devotion (v.4), Jesus clearly desires every Christian and every church to conquer their spiritual sloth, to be fully alive and genuinely awake in the eyes of God.

Main Point: All churches and Christians are called to conquer their tendency to spiritual sloth by actively remembering and obeying God's word.  

Discussion Questions:

• Is it possible for a Christian and/or church to not have much by way of outward or obvious sins and yet still be in a seriously unhealthy spiritual state? Explain.
• Why does Jesus rebuke the church in Sardis? (vv.1-2)
• What is the differences between sins of omission and sins of commission? (For extra study on on sins of omission see James 4:17; Rom. 7:14-20; Lk. 10:30-37; Matt. 25:31-46).
• What steps does Jesus give to correct and conquer the tendency to spiritual sloth? (v.2a, v.3a)
• What can people expect from Jesus if they do not conquer their spiritual sloth? (v.3b)
• What promises are made to those who do conquer their spiritual sloth? (vv.4-5)

Application Questions:

• Am I spiritually awake or spiritually sleepy? Explain.
• What are things that I know God would have me doing that I am failing to do?  
• How important is it to God that I live an active and obedient life marked by good works as opposed to merely avoiding doing bad things? 
• What changes should I make or what strategies should I employ in order to conquer my tendency to be spiritually lazy?
• How can we believers help one another stay spiritually awake on our journey to heaven?

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for securing our acceptance before God by His active obedience to the Father
• Praise Jesus for this merciful wake up call
• Ask God to help you say no to temptation AND live a life of Christ-like, active obedience

The Letter to the Church in Thyatira

Outline: The Letter to the Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)

1. Affirmation (v.19)
2. Rebuke (vv.20-21)
3. Warning (v.22-23, 29)
4. Promise (vv.24-28)

Summary:  We now focus our study on Jesus' letter to the church in Thyatira.  While affirmed for their continued growth in love and faith and service and endurace, Thyatira was rebuked for tolerating a false teacher, "Jezebel," whose seductive teachings have lead some church members into great moral compromise.  Therefore, Jesus warned them (and all churches) that He searches minds and hearts and will exercise His authority to repay every person according to what they actually deserve (vv.18,23).  On a brighter note, Jesus acknowledges that, in spite of "Jezebel's" influence, there were some in the church in Thyatira that did not embrace her teaching nor practice her works (just as there were seven thousand in Elijah's day that resisted her influence by refusing to bow the knee to Baal).  It is those who hold fast to Jesus' teachings and embrace His works to the end who will receive the promise.    

Main Point: All churches and christians are called to conquer by resisting false teachings and deceitful influences that cause one to stray from faithfully following Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

• What effect should the words "I know" have on the church in Thyatira? (v.18)
• What is Thyatira affirmed for? (v.19) How does this compare with Ephesus? (2:4) 
• What is Thyatira rebuked for (vv.20-21)? 
• Why did Jesus call the false teacher(s) in Thyatira "Jezebel"? What dots were they to connect?
• Background study: Read 1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 9:21-37.  Who is Jezebel? What does she do?What effect does her influence have on Israel?  How do things turn out for her in the end?
• How does the character, actions, influence, and demise of the Jezebel of the Old Testament   serve as a warning to all churches? 
• What will Jesus do to those who embrace Jezebel's teaching and practice her works? (vv.22-23)
• What does Jesus promise those who embrace His teachings and practice His works? (vv.24-28) 

Application Questions:

• What past or present teachings or influences have pulled or currently pull me away from God? 
• What would it look like for me to resist those influences in order to stay faithful to Jesus?
• Take time to dream about the honor it will be to reign with Christ. 
• Is there a brother or sister in my life who is wandering from the truth? If so, what actions should I take to help bring them back?

Prayer Points:

• Praise Jesus for proving who He is so that I can know with confidence I follow the real God
• Praise Jesus for his long-suffering, His patience willingness to receive those who repent
• Ask God to help you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to resist any teachings or influences that would draw your heart away from Him
• Ask God for wisdom as to how to lovingly help bring others back from their wanderings