1 Timothy 4:11-16
“The Resolutions of the Church”
Rev. Matthew C. McCraw
First Baptist Church Henderson, KY (July 31, 2011)
(all Scripture is NKJV unless otherwise noted)
Introductory Comments
Bro. Todd is with his family on their last family getaway before Matthew leaves for college to Union University in Jackson, TN.
Bro. Rich and the Boston team were delayed and rerouted to Atlanta. With Bro. Todd and Bro. Rich unavailable, you’re stuck with me. If anyone wants to leave now, you may.
We’re going through a series together as a church from the gospel of Luke called, “Certainty in Uncertain Times.” This morning we’ll take a break from Luke’s gospel to study a passage from 1 Timothy. This passage has to to deal with looking at what the people in a church should aim to accomplish.
Let’s read the passage and then dive in a little deeper.
Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word. You can find it in the pew Bible on page 799.
(1 Timothy 4:11-16) These things command and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Let’s pray.
General Remarks
First of all, some of you may remember a sermon by Bro. Todd on this passage from about three years ago. The sermon was from the series, “Reality Check: Keeping it Real at FBC.” This passage is certainly worth studying again and examining how we as individuals in this church are lining up with the Word of God.
Many of you know that 1 Timothy is a letter from Paul to Timothy. Timothy was a young pastor at the church in the city of Ephesus. After planting the church on a missionary journey, Paul left Timothy in charge.
Since the church is relatively new, and pastors are relatively new at this point, Paul writes this letter with some instructions on how Timothy is to lead the church.
Parts of this letter shares qualifications for Timothy, qualifications for other church leaders, warnings against false teaching, and encouragement for Timothy.
Our passage this morning deals with encouragement for Timothy and a charge to hold onto certain things.
Just to be clear, this letter was written specifically for a pastor on how to lead an early Christian church. However, the Holy Spirit of God inspired the writing of this letter not only for the benefit of Timothy and the church at Ephesus, but also for our benefit as we study it many years later. These teachings that were true for Timothy are true for us as well. So we will look at four resolutions this morning that we as believers should be committed to.
- I. We should be resolved to live a godly life (vv. 11-12)
First, Paul begins by saying, “These things, command and teach.” What things? The things that Paul is referring to are the teachings that he has laid out to Timothy in this letter.
Next, Paul tells Timothy to not be discouraged because some think that he is too young to lead. This is a reality that Timothy would have had to face as a man in his late twenties to mid thirties. Many people in Ephesus would have considered him too young to lead.
Let me just say on a personal note, that I know what it’s like to not be thought of as old enough to lead. When I went to Thailand last year, I had originally planned on preaching in the general seminars at the conference. However, I later found out that I was too young to preach to the pastors that would be present. Timothy was probably a shade older than I am, but I can imagine the pressure of knowing that others are watching him as he is charged with leading the church in Ephesus.
Rather than Paul allowing Timothy to use his age as an excuse not to lead, he charges him to lead and to lead well. In doing so, Timothy is not to demand leadership in an authoritarian manner, but he is to lead by example.
So then, Paul tells Timothy to not be shaken by what others think about his age, but to be determined to overcome his age with his godly lifestyle.
Paul lays out six areas of Timothy’s life in which he is to set an example:
Look again at the passage:
(1 Timothy 4:12) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- Word
Let’s be very honest about this. This is where most of the problems that are present in a church come from; what people say.
There’s a reason James says to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Because we so often say things that are hurtful, untrue, or just unnecessary.
Paul tells Timothy to set an example for other believers in the speech that he uses.
You need to ask yourself, “Do the words I say exalt Christ and build up the church?”
- Conduct
Some translations translate this word as “life.” The idea here is the way that we live our life, or the things that we do.
The point is that the believers in Ephesus should be able to model Timothy’s actions and as a result portray a godly lifestyle.
If someone lived his or her life the way that you do, would they live a life that brings glory to God?
- Love
Most of us know that love is the supreme Christian virtue.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13: 13,
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)
Jesus said in John 13:35,
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Do you love the way that Jesus commanded us to? Would others know that you are follower of Jesus by the way that you love others?
- Spirit
You may not notice the word “spirit” in your translation if you are using something other than the NKJV or the KJV. Some of the early manuscripts omitted this one. However, this does not present a problem for us.
This probably refers to being led by the Holy Spirit. Simply living a spirit filled life.
All of us should seek to live a life that shows evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in us. After all, we need the Holy Spirit in all of these areas that Paul lists. We need Him to guide us, direct us, and strengthen us as we live our lives daily for the glory of God. That’s the reason Jesus told us that He was sending the Holy Spirit, so He could help us. He is THE Helper!
- Faith
Paul tells Timothy that he’s gotta have faith. Faith is one of the marks of a true follower of Jesus. Not only is faith necessary for salvation, but it’s necessary to continue to follow Jesus.
Does your life show any evidence of faith in God? Faith in the power of God. The sovereignty of God. The promises of God. Is your faith in God an example to other Christians?
- Purity
Finally, Paul exhorts Timothy to live a pure lifestyle. Just a few paragraphs earlier Paul tells Timothy that if a man wants to lead in the church, that they must life a lifestyle “above reproach.” The idea being here that Timothy is on his guard to not allow any temptation to overtake him that will cause him to commit a sin that would damage his ministry.
This area is one of particular challenge to many people, because it often plays out in our private worlds. What do your eyes see? Your ears hear? Your mind think about? If someone modeled your private life, would it be a life of purity?
- II. We should be resolved to teach and learn the Word of God (v. 13)
(1 Timothy 4:13) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
This is one of the primary distinctions of a biblical, evangelical, Christian church. It’s sad that I have to put that many adjectives before the word “church,” but the fact is, the word “church” doesn’t mean much today.
Many churches have skipped right over Paul’s admonition to Timothy. Yet, Paul says to do this “till I come.” His point is that, since Paul is gone, the church in Ephesus is depending on Timothy to read the word, exhort the people to godly living, and to teach the proper doctrine.
Without the proper teaching of the word of God, the church will be led astray, and it can happen quickly. Paul warns Timothy elsewhere about being on his guard against false teaching. One cannot recognize false teaching without knowing the truth.
I recently talked to a young man who was just pages away from finishing the newest pop-heresy book, Love Wins by Rob Bell. Most of you have heard Bro. Todd mention it. I asked this young man what he thought of it and he said that he loved it. In conversations with him later I could tell that he did not have a thorough knowledge of the word of God. If one truly loves and knows the word of God, heresy will not creep in packaged as some new understanding of something Jesus said. Followers of God and students of the word will see heresy for what it really is, a lie from Satan to deceive the Church.
Growing up in Florida, I loved to spend a lot of times in the woods. My cousin and I would often pretend we were soldiers while running around in the woods on my grandfather’s property. We would frequently encounter snakes along the way. There are many snakes that are harmless and no threat to anyone. However, there are others that are deadly dangerous. The key to knowing which snake you can handle, and which will send you to the hospital is to study snakes. One pattern of red, yellow, and black is something fun to play with. A different combination of red, yellow, and black can call for funeral preparations.
In like manner, without a discerning theological mind, we can easily be deceived into believing dangerous teachings that would lead us astray from the truth of God.
- III. We should be resolved to serve the church (v. 14)
(1 Timothy 4:14) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
Paul now moves to instructing Timothy to use the gift that was given to him by God to serve the church. He mentions that Timothy’s gift was prophesied and affirmed by the elders, or the leaders of the church.
We’re not sure exactly what his gift was. One can presume that it was preaching. However, the point is that he is to use his gift and not neglect it.
Let this be an encouragement to all of us to use the gift or gifts that the Holy Spirit empowered us with to serve the church and glorify God.
If you don’t know what your spiritual gift is, one tool that may be able to help you is a spiritual gifts inventory. We have one that you can take on our church website. Just go to fbchenderson.org and click on “Discover your Spiritual Gifts Click Here”
The bottom line is, Paul wanted Timothy to make sure that he used his gift for the benefit of the church. In the same way, we all have gifts that were given to us for the benefit of the church. There are numerous opportunities for you to serve in our church. If you’re not serving in our church, I encourage you to do so. If you’re waiting on an invitation, here’s your invitation. All of us have a gift given to us by God the Holy Spirit. We should be resolved to use it to serve the church and reach the world.
- IV. We should be resolved to practice personal spiritual growth (vv. 15-16)
(1 Timothy 4:15-16) Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Finally, Paul moves to focus on Timothy’s personal growth in the things he’s mentioned. Paul recognizes the importance of the church and the importance of the personal holiness of those that make up the church body.
I’m not sure exactly why you come to church. Perhaps you come to church because that’s what you’ve always done since you were a child. Perhaps you come to church because your parents or spouse make you come. Perhaps you come because you think that if you do, God will allow you into heaven. Perhaps you come to church because that’s what good people do.
My hope is that you will see that God is serious about His church, and he wants you to be an active part of the church. He wants you to pursue holiness with all that you have. To be active in thinking about and doing the things that a faithful follower of God would do. To do the things that a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ would do.
Paul tells Timothy to meditate on these things and give himself entirely to them. This doesn’t sound like wishy washy involvement, but an all-out commitment to spiritual growth and church engagement.
Paul also tells Timothy to take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. What Paul is telling Timothy is to be careful that he lives a holy life that glorifies God, and to teach the true Word of God. This is repetitious, but for a reason. Paul believes so strongly in the personal holiness of Timothy and the faithful teaching of the Word, that he stresses it again in this same paragraph.
Paul ends this passage by telling Timothy that if he does these things, he will save himself and those who hear him. I think the idea here is perseverance and sanctification. In other words, if you do these things, you will grow closer to God and endure to the end as one of those who was truly committed to following Christ.
Conclusion
Good Practical Stuff (GPS)
1. Look at your lifestyle and ask yourself, “Does my life glorify God?”
2. Learn and teach what the Bible says.
3. Find a place to serve in our church.
4. Be committed to our church and to personal holiness.
Perhaps some of you here have never experienced the power of the Church. I recently heard a testimony from a man whose marriage was on the brink of disaster. However, his family was changed because of the power of the Church. I spoke to a man on the phone last night whose life will probably end in a few weeks or months from cancer, but he has hope because of the power of the Church.
This is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words to a young pastor many years ago. Paul was communicating to Timothy that God has a plan for His church. The Church is God’s instrument to reach and bless the world. God loves His Church and He’s serious about His Church. The power of the Church is the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you’ve never experienced the love of Jesus, you can today. If you’ve never seen the power of the Church, come taste and see what God can do.
Let’s bow our heads and close in prayer.
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