Guided toward Godliness
Reflections on 1 Timothy 4-5
11 May 2006
We meet Lies here on earth
4.1 The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. 2 These liars have lied so well and for so long that they’ve lost their capacity for truth. 3 They will tell you not to get married. They’ll tell you not to eat this or that food--perfectly good food God created to be eaten heartily and with thanksgiving by Christians!
We meet Holy come on earth
4.4 Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing is to be sneered at and thrown out. 5 God’s Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.
We worship to make a transition from Brokenness to Wholeness
4.7b Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please! 8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.
Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race.
Guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don’t want to run this race in vain!
Transition Task - Remember History
4.6 You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. 7Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion.
5.1 Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. 2 Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.
Clear our past, save us from its snare.
Clear our past, save us from its snare.
Clear our past, save us from its snare.
Our transition tasks heal and energize!
Transition Task - Determine Vision
4.8 Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. 9 You can count on this. Take it to heart.
Raise our eyes, keep our hope alive.
Raise our eyes, keep our hope alive.
Raise our eyes, keep our hope alive.
Our transition tasks heal and energize!
Transition Task - Develop Leaders
4.10 This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.
4.11 Get the word out. Teach all these things. 12 And don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.
5.9 Sign some widows up for the special ministry of offering assistance. They will in turn receive support from the church.
5.17 Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox,” and, “A worker deserves his pay.”
5.19 Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses.
5.20 If anyone falls into sin, call that person on the carpet. Those who are inclined that way will know right off they can’t get by with it.
5.22 Don’t appoint people to church leadership positions too hastily. If a person is involved in some serious sins, you don’t want to become an unwitting accomplice.
Call us out, use our many gifts.
Call us out, use our many gifts.
Call us out, use our many gifts.
Our transition tasks heal and energize!
Transition Task - Renew Heritage
5.13 Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. 14 And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed--keep that dusted off and in use.
TIMS revive circuit riding life.
TIMS revive circuit riding life.
TIMS revive circuit riding life.
Our transition tasks heal and energize!
Transition Task - Prepare Pastoral Space
5.21 God and Jesus and angels all back me up in these instructions. Carry them out without favoritism, without taking sides.
5.23 And don’t worry too much about what the critics will say. Go ahead and drink a little wine, for instance; it’s good for your digestion, good medicine for what ails you.
Keep us humble; eyes upon the prize.
Keep us humble; eyes upon the prize.
Keep us humble; eyes upon the prize.
Our transition tasks heal and energize!
Transition Task - Experiencing Health
4.15 Cultivate these things.1 Immerse yourself in them.2 The people will all see you mature right before their eyes!3 16 Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching.4 Don’t be diverted. Just keep at it.5 Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation/health/wholeness.6
Guide our feet while we run this race.
Guide our feet while we run this race.
Guide our feet while we run this race,
for we don’t want to run this race in vain!
1History 2Vision 3Leadership 4Heritage 5Prepare 6Health
Scripture from The Message, by Eugene H. Peterson |