t-c

Q2. (Titus 2:2-3) What seem to be the predominant sins of the older men and women in the churches of Crete? What specific behaviors does Paul urge in place of these sins? It seems as if Paul was telling Timothy that the older men need to grow up spiritually. The things that he mentions are issues that a newer Christian might be dealing with. These men were to be examples for younger men to follow. The sins these men exhibited are excessive wine consumption, lacking wisdom, credibility, faith, love and perseverance. The women on the other hand were dealing with irreverent behavior, gossip, excessive wine consumption and lack of sound teaching. For the men, Paul, suggest that they should be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. For the women Paul suggests for them to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslave to much wine, teaching what is good.

Q1. (Titus 1:9) Why do pastors and elders hesitate to correct false doctrine today? What is the result of laxity? What is the result of gentle but firm discipline with regard to doctrine? It seems they are possibly concerned with offending people of their church and fear that would leave and go to another church. Losing not only their fellowship, service, but their monetary support as well. So many false doctrines are tied to what are now societal norms, which puts pressure on the church to “loosen up a bit.” Many people, myself included, have been enjoying the series, The Chosen. It is even discussed or mentioned in Sunday School class. But our Sunday School teacher doesn’t rely on The Chosen episodes to teach his class, but uses the Bible. If our Pastor denounced The Chosen from the pulpit for being doctrinally inaccurate he would offend many people and possibly lose some. A generation ago, it was the Left Behind series that caused such a stir in the Christian community and elsewhere. Of course these books differed from The Chosen because they portrayed a doctrine that was disputable. But like The Chosen, they created quite a stir amongst Christians around the world. At the church I attended, our Pastor took the time to explain the different interpretations of the end times and how that might play out. Noting that the Left Behind series only focuses on one. He told the congregation the church’s interpretation for end times and encouraged us all to read our Bibles and seek God’s wisdom and understanding. I would say that his handling of the Left Behind situation was appropriate and even if it stepped on some folk’s toe, it led them back to God’s Word, searching for the truth.

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:20-21) How can we guard the faith without becoming narrow, backward-looking people who oppose all change, and complain about "what things are coming to"? How can guards be at the same time positive, loving, and pleasant to be around? I think Paul said it well when he told Timothy to guard what has been I entrusted to you. Timothy was equipped with the Sword of the Spirit, (the Word of God) the truth. Paul was telling him to revere, to trust in, rely upon and cling to Jesus, the word made flesh. To keep repeating the words of truth trusting that they will accomplish their goal and not return void. And on the flip side, not engaging with those whose arguments are foolish at best, knowing that if you do engage with them, you join them in their foolishness. I think that guards can be positive, loving and pleasant to be around because they love the Lord God and love their neighbors as there selves. They carry God’s precious words of salvation and eternal life. They have the good news of abundant life in Jesus Christ. It won’t fail them. Grace be with you.

Q4. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) What kinds of actions are the best antidote for the love of money? How can we cultivate generosity so that it remains healthy, rather than let it go overboard and hurt our families? For us not to be prideful and put our hope in money but on God instead. Rather than being rich monetarily, be rich in good works. Being generous and willing to share. In our family we have taken an attitude similar to the farmers in Israel who were told to leave the edges of their fields unharvested. So the poor and needy could harvest, (gleen) crops/food from their fields. We have set up our budget so that we would have a margin to share when that a need arose. That has worked very well over the years.

Q3. (1 Timothy 6:7-10) How does love for money grow? How does it become a trap? How do you escape this deceptive trap? Because with love for money, there is never enough of it. The more you have the more you want. Your life revolves around the accumulation of money. Everything else takes a backseat to the accumulation of money: your faith, your family and your friends. Jesus told a rich young man who wanted to follow him to sell everything he had, give it to the poor and follow Him. You can’t love both God and money. So you would have to find a different way of life that would no longer serve money. One way would be to go to work for God. Or to give to the Lord 90% of your salary, you keep the 10%.

Q2. (1 Timothy 6:6) Why should we seek contentment? Doesn't contentment keep us from trying to get ahead so our families can have what they need? What's the balance between contentment and the quest for improvement? Because in doing so we are saying Amen to God for the circumstances in which He has placed us. We want to follow Paul’s example and learn to be at peace with the life we have been given. And as we find contentment we also have a heart to praise God and thank Him for all He’s done for us. No contentment keeps our hearts at peace. Once again praising God for everything. God knows our heart’s desires and there is nothing wrong with desiring what our family needs. We need to make all these requests known to God, trusting Him for the outcome. I guess that the balance would be that neither contentment or quest for improvement would interfere with our growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Q1. (1 Timothy 6:5) Why do you think people are so susceptible to distorted Bible teaching concerning financial gain? Admitting that there is some truth in popular teachings in our time, what are the distortions that you may have heard? How do they differ from the truth? It seems like Paul may be referring to men in verse 5 that are using their position in the church to make money. Much the same as televangelists of the past and present tend to do today in the United States. These men use and pervert the gospel to trick people into giving them money. Praying for them and promising that God would bless them financially for their support of the ministry. Or that God wants believers to all be financially well off. And by following Jesus faithfully that will be the case. I think that we are susceptible to this teaching because it sounds good. It appeals to our desire for financial security and our **** for money. The question for us to ask ourselves is why would God saddle us with the one thing that competes with our relationship with Him. We cannot love both God and money. That God wants us to be rich and it’s our lack of faith in this area that keeps us from it. Or that being one who preaches or teaches means you should be wealthy depending on what is given as an offering week after week. God’s word doesn’t really speak to being either rich or poor. Except to say that we should find joy and praise God in our poverty or our abundance. He also warns that riches can get in the way of our relationship with Him.

Q5. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) In what ways has the Gospel sown the seeds that will eventually destroy slavery? Why does Paul seem to condone slavery in this passage? What is Paul's motive? A few verses come to mind: In Matt 7:12, Jesus said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” And later on He asks a man, what is the greatest commandment: He replied, love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. These truths are incompatible with slavery, even though it was mainstream at that time and for centuries to come. Without God/Chtistianity where we would be. It’s frightening to think about. Praise God! He’s not condoning it, he just realizes that slavery is a fact and widespread in first century Asia Minor. And has been for thousands of years. There were slaves as well as slave owner who followed Christ, within the church. I think that Paul here was to keep the focus on God and not let the name of Christianity be spoken against. To encourage slave believers as well as slave owner believers to focus on the fact that they are brothers in Christ and to realize in their behavior they are serving God and not mere men. It’s the beginning of slavery’s undoing.

Q4. (1 Timothy 5:22-25) Why does Paul say, "Don't be hasty in the laying on of hands"? What are the dangers in doing so? How can these dangers be lessened? I think that Paul is saying to really get a good look and observe them closely in all types of situations. Watch how they act when they are under pressure. See if their “walk” lines up with their “talk,” before considering them for a leadership position in the church or welcoming a repenting backslider back into fellowship. You, Timothy, share responsibility for their sins. And the wrong people in leadership roles. By taking your time as you observe those considered for leadership. Get to know them as well as enlisting others to help with this task. And above all else, pray for God’s will for these important decisions.

Q3. (1 Timothy 5:19-21) Why was it necessary to make formal accusations and "try" the false teachers? Why were the temptations to compromise and not go through with it so great? Why is it so difficult to exercise church discipline today? So that the others would be fearful of failing into sin, knowing that it would be a shameful experience to be rebuked before the church for their actions. Well, it speaks of not showing any partiality or bias in verse 21. Which indicates that it is difficult thing to bring accusations against a fellow member of the church. Two or three witnesses were needed and this person would be well known by everyone and possibly, generally well received. Church discipline is tough today because of the same reasons it was tough back then. Fear is one reason; of how the rest of the congregation would react to this person’s discipline. Money; losing the tithes of those who leave in support of them. And it’s a tough thing to do, a tough decision and it probably doesn’t feel good. Unless it is really blatant. And of course partiality and bias comes into play also.

Q2. (1 Timothy 5:17-18) In what circumstances should elders be compensated financially? What is the Scriptural support for such a practice? “The elder who rules well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.” Deuteronomy 25:4: “You shall not muzzle the Ox while he is threshing.” And the laborer is worth his wages.

Q1. (1 Timothy 5:1-16) What responsibilities do we have to help aging family members? According to Paul, in what way is this our Christian responsibility? In what way is this a "repayment" of a debt? To what does Paul compare those who refuse this responsibility? God says that they have a responsibility to help out aging family members; widows in particular. Repaying the care they gave us as our parent. In verse 4 it reads, “they must learn to practice piety in regard to their own family” Which means, the proper honor and respect towards parents. Returning to them a portion of what they have done for us. As children and family members, we are grateful and loving to our parents, returning to them a portion of the loving support they showed us as kids. As one who has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Q4. (1 Timothy 4:12b) Rigid, unsmiling orthodoxy can teach right doctrine, but cannot produce godliness. Why not? Why is a strong example of godliness in church leaders essential to a healthy church? Godliness is rooted in the gratitude and appreciation for all that has been done for me. It’s from a believer’s heart to God’s heart. Also it shows a brokenness for the things that breaks God’s heart. Not in the strict adherence to rules and right doctrine. Because it attracts healthy Christians to the church. And it also attracts seekers to the truth of Gods word. “It’s the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance.”

Q3. (1 Timothy 4:7-8) How would you define "godliness"? What produces godliness in a person? How is godliness different from embracing a strict morality? Christlikeness, holiness, perfect love. Gratitude, a deep appreciation for everything that has been done for me by a loving Father who accepts me, a loving Son who died for me and a Holy Spirit who indwells and intercedes for me. A sincere love for God and a desire to honor Him in all areas of my life. Godliness is once again rooted in a deep appreciation and gratitude for what has been done for me. A sense of being. Adhering to strict set of rules is works based and once again focuses on the external. (look at what I’m doing) Yet my heart may be very far away. From the external to the internal. From works to the heart.

Q2. (1 Timothy 4:3-5) Why is performance of legalistic requirements so attractive to people? What fruit does it produce in a person's life? In what ways is this emphasis so different from the true gospel? Because it is external and can be seen by everyone, giving the illusion that a person is something they’re not. It seems to produce the fruit of pride; look at all I’ve done and how righteous I am to have followed all these rules. As Jesus said, “It is finished.” The veil of the temple leading to the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. We now have access to God through a relationship with Jesus Christ and no longer through a priest. We know that we belong to God through circumcision of our hearts and no longer our flesh. Our faith is displayed by who we are, how we love God and our neighbors. It’s not about following endless rules with a heart that far away from God. It’s about Jesus, our Lord and Savior, who gave His life for the sins of the world and how we now desire to serve Him and not ourselves. It’s not about us looking good anymore, it’s about pointing others to God because He is worthy of all the glory, honor and praise. It’s all about Him, not us.