October 19, 2021
FOCUSING ON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD Paul told the young pastor Timothy to avoid focusing on silly distractions and people who might despise his leadership. Instead, he was to give his attention to the ministry of the Word–– its public reading, its “exhortation” (“preaching”) and its teaching. The pastor in today’s church faces
October 17, 2021
WHAT GOD WANTS God desires that all humanity would be saved. Yet, we know from the Scriptures that only those who believe will receive God’s salvation. The tension between what God “wants” and what we choose is difficult to ease. We tend to overstate one side or the other, either making too little or too
October 19, 2020
A PASTOR’S MAIN FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD Paul told the young pastor Timothy to avoid focusing on silly distractions and people who might despise his leadership. Instead, he was to “give attention” to the ministry of the Word–– its reading, its exhortation (preaching) and its doctrine (teaching). Today’s pastor
October 17, 2020
WHAT GOD DESIRES God desires that all humanity would be saved. Yet, we know from the Scriptures that only those who believe will receive God’s salvation. The tension between what God “desires” for us and what humanity desires for itself is difficult to ease. We tend to overstate one side or the other, either making
October 21, 2019
THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE SHOULDN’T LOVE Money is a means of exchange, a morally neutral thing that is useful when rightly used. Yet, the love of money is idolatry. It puts money in the place of God. Rather than saying “in God we trust,” it puts its trust in money. The one who loves
October 20, 2019
LEADERSHIP ADVICE FROM PAUL TO TIMOTHY Good leadership advice. Before elevating someone to leadership, put them through a time of testing. See if they are F.A.T. (Faithful, Available, Teachable), then set them apart and give them some authority. Better to be short on leaders for a little while than to rush to raise up those
October 19, 2019
THE VALUE OF SPIRITUAL TRAINING We are born with a body, yet physical training is necessary to build it up. Similarly, when we are born again, we are made alive spiritually, yet we are called to “work out” what God is “working in” us (see Phil. 2:12-13). Both the physical life and this new spiritual
October 16, 2019
THE LAW IS GOOD WHEN USED CORRECTLY Paul taught Timothy the importance of guarding the gospel against those who would misuse the law, claiming its necessity for salvation. Human effort at law-keeping does not save, only believing the gospel saves. Those that teach law-keeping as a means of salvation are not using the law “correctly.”
October 21, 2018
THE PURPOSE OF MONEY
Money is not to be trusted. There is a reason our forefathers put “In God We Trust” on our money. We don’t put our faith in money, we put it in God. Money is to be used. If God has made some rich, and everyone in the U.S. is rich by the world’s standards, then He gave it to us to do good in the world.
Hoarding money will impoverish the soul. Using money for good makes one truly rich. Money can be used to make us truly rich in three ways:
1) Rich in good works.
2) Rich in generosity.
3) Rich in sharing with others.
The purpose of money is that it be used to do good.
October 16, 2018
PAUL’S PURPOSE FOR INSTRUCTING BELIEVERS
Paul’s teaching did not have a goal of increased knowledge, but of increased love. Knowledge is good, but without love, it is nothing (1 Cor. 13:2). The believers in Ephesus loved knowledge so much that their discussions often dissolved into meaningless and endless debates over disputable matters. Paul encouraged Timothy not to scratch their itch for such things, but to focus on instruction that affected the heart, the conscience and built up a genuine faith. In this way, love would be the ultimate outcome.
We can learn from Paul’s purpose for instruction. Our preaching and teaching must have as its aim that believers examine their hearts, repent of sin to clear their conscience and grow in their faith, so that it is proven genuine. This kind of instruction leads to believers who are filled with love.
We preach unto repentance and life change, not only increased knowledge, but increased love.