1 Timothy 4: Be A Good Minister to Christ (Take heed to yourself and teaching) by Ho King Swee dated 29.11.15

 Be a good minister of Christ Jesus

1. Warn about danger of false teaching (v1-6a)

2. Train yourself in godliness and be good example (v6b-12)

3. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation and teaching (v13-16)

1. Warn about danger of false teaching (v1-6a)

-Forbid marriage

-Abstain from meats or certain food

-Are they Biblical?

How to know false prophets and teachers?

By their fruit you will know them – Matt 7:15

Ask and check :

Do these preachers & teachers have the qualifications stated in 1 Tim.3 (Titus 1)?

1Tim. 4:7  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Don’t waste time on the false teaching but spend time on the truth, the word of God

2. Train yourself in godliness and be good example (v6b-12)

If we are true disciples and followers of Jesus Christ,

 We should grow to be more and more like Christ, otherwise we deceive ourselves.

Are we discipline in training ourselves in godliness?

Have a goal or mission not for this earthly life only but for eternity - 1Tim. 4:8  , 1 Tim 4:12

Share your life and not just your word – 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10, James 3:1-2, Ephesian 4:29.

3. Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, exhortation and teaching (v13-16)

We can’t stop or prevent false teachings but we can and must preach and teach sound Biblical teaching

What must we do to be good minister of the Word?

3 (a) Preach and teach the Word of God at all times- 2 Timothy 4:1-3

3 (b) Preach and teach the whole counsel of God – not your favourites – Matt 28:18-20, John 14:26, John 16:13, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 3:16,

Examples:  Ezra (Neh. 8:1-12)

Examples:  Jesus (Luke 4:14-22)

3 (c) Preach and teach under the authority of God’s word- Not make use of God’s word

Isaiah 66:1-2, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 4:2,

3 (d). Preach and teach to please God and not men

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4,

3(e). Preach and teach Not for ulterior motives –e.g. dishonest gain, deceive,..

1 Thessalonians 2:3, 2:5

3(f). Preach and teach Christ as supreme to lead people to follow Him

Acts 2):29-30, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Colossian 1:28,

Application: What must we do?

      1.       Watch and pray

      2.       Train in godliness & be good example

      3.       Devote yourself to obey ALL teaching of the LORD Jesus Christ (read, listen, study, meditate, preach, teach the scripture)

1 Timothy 3 by Dr. Tiong Tung Hui date 22.11.15

Background of Ephesus prior to Timothy

The Gospel went to Ephesus through Apollo.  Paul noted that the Church teaching there was incomplete.  He brought along Timothy to guide the church there.  Timothy was young, he was born of a Greek father and a Jewish mother.  His mother and grandmother were devoted to God.  Timothy joined Paul in his second mission.  After Paul was released from prison Timothy followed him to spread the Gospel.  Later Timothy like Paul was martyred by the Romans.

What is an overseer?

One of the leader of the early church.  Used interchangeable with “elder” or “pastor”.

Overseers also means a group of leaders who watch over a congregation.

What is a Deacon?

Deacon was first mentioned in Acts.  It also means administrator.  A person who looks after the needy and perhaps the finances of the church.  In our example, can be our administration committee.  Here it is talking about the role and not the position.

1 Timothy 3:1

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.”

The role is talking about the heart.

1 Peter 5:1-4

“5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

The desire to serve is very important.  God gave us a choice whether to serve or not.

What are the standards?

Overseers

      1.       Above reproach – means blameless

      2.       Husband of one wife – monogamy

      3.       Temperate – moderate and humble

      4.       Self-controlled – sound, including judgement

      5.       Respectable – social grace, dignity

      6.       Hospital – opening their houses to visitors or strangers

      7.       Abe to teach – know the Scripture, so will know what is false teaching

The qualities from 1 to 6 are about the character, except 7 is about ability.

      8.       Not given to drunkenness

      9.       Not violent but gentle

    10.      Not quarrelsome

    11.      Not a love of money

    12.      Manages his household well

    13.      Must not be a recent convert

    14.      Must have a good reputation with outsiders

Deacons ( 1 Timothy 3:8-9, 12)

      1.       Worthy of respect

      2.       Sincere

      3.       Not indulging in much wine

      4.       Not pursuing dishonest gain

      5.       Keep hold of the deep truth of faith

      6.       Husband to one wife

      7.       Manages his household well

Women leaders ( 1 Timothy 3:11)

      1.       Worthy of respect

      2.       Manages her household well

      3.       Not malicious talkers

      4.       Temperate

      5.       Trustworthy in everything

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Purpose of this letter

Paul may be delayed so he wrote to the church regarding their conducts.  Because believers are pillars of God’s truth, we are the expression of the truth.  We have the duty to display these truth to others.

What is leadership?

The world’s definition of leadership is very different from our church’s definition.  Jesus taught if you want to be first you must be last.

Mark 9:35

“35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

A leader is a servant as far as God is concerned.  He serve from a position of weakness.

John 21:15-25 Jesus taught His disciples to take care of His sheep. 

Conclusion

Dr. Tiong shared a story of his varsity days where he was tasked to organize a church camp, at the end of it he was short of RM2,800.  After he shared with his pastor, he was reimbursed by the pastor.  He concluded that as we step out in faith God will provide.

1 Timothy 2 by Song Ting Kee dated 8.11.15

Introduction

Timothy was born of a Greek father and a Jewish woman.  His maternal grandmother was also a Jewish.  They lived in Lystra.  Timothy’s mother and grandmother had great influence in his belief in God.  When Timothy met Paul he was a teenager perhaps about 15 years old.  Paul’s life was a great influence on many including young Timothy.  Paul circumcised Timothy.  At age 21 years Timothy followed Paul to minister in various towns.

1 Timothy 2:1

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—

Paul urged the people to petitions, pray, intercede and give thanks to God.

4 key phrases:

Petitions

Prayers

Intercession

Thanksgiving

In general these 4 points refer to prayer.

Another word for petition is supplication.  People have lacks, and not sufficient of things so they needed supplications.  People needed to be prayed for.  Bro. Song shared a story of his student who attempted three unsuccessful suicides.  She caused trouble in school like cutting her follow students’ hair.  Bro. Song asked her why she was misbehaving.  She said her mother told her she wanted to strangle her dead!  Bro. Song prayed for her.  Few days later she told Bro. Song that she repented and was buying foods for those she hurt.

Prayers – in Scripture prayers also refer to God, meaning directing our prayers to God only.  In prayers we are going to God who is the source of all good things.  Go to God for our needs.

Intercession – is praying on behalf of others.  Like Moses interceded for his sister.  Samuel also interceded for the people who wanted a king. 1 Samuel 12:19.

Why do we pray?

      A.      We pray because men have needs.

      B.      We pray because God deserves glory and honour.

      C.      We pray because deep in our hearts we feel the anxiety of a lost people.

      D.      We pray with a thankful heart.

Prayer is bringing all our concerns to God.  These are settled in heaven.

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[a] she must be quiet.

Bro. Song admitted that the verse above is a controversy and he finds it difficult to share.  Nevertheless, he shared that Paul was not being unaware of the importance of the roles of women.  He knew very well that Timothy’s faith was a result of his mother’s and grandmother’s efforts. 

Bro. Song also shared that in the pagan culture in their environment the goddess Artemis had a great influence on the pagan people. 

Paul was a great man of God and he walked closely with God every day.  Therefore, when he wrote this verse it was with the love of God in his heart.