Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 3:8-13

Helpful thoughts:

• The word, “Deacon” means, service.  The office began its function in the local church in Acts 6.
• The qualifications for deacons are very similar to that of the pastor/elder, hence the opening words of verse 8, “Deacons, likewise…”
  • Deacons do not need to be able to teach, but they are still to be mature in their faith.
• Deacons are not hybrid-pastors, mini-pastors nor are they necessarily elders-in-training.  They are mature men who serve the needs of the church under the leadership of the elders, maintaining unity in the whole congregation (Acts 6:1-7).
• The beginning of verse 11 has been interpreted as “Their wives” (Meaning, the wives of the deacons), or simply as women (Meaning, women who serve as deaconesses).
  • It is interesting to note there is no qualification for a pastor’s wife mentioned.
  • Many consider Phoebe, from Romans 16:1, to have been a deaconess. (Remember the word, “deacon” or in the Greek feminine form “deaconess” literally means “servant.”)
  • Keeping 1 Timothy 2:12 in mind, in churches where the deacons serve like an executive board, it wouldn’t be right for women to serve in that capacity due to the authority they would be exercising over the men.
    • Note: Our church has women whom we call, “Deaconesses” who serve in the area of preparing the Lord’s Supper and assisting in preparations for baptism, serving on the membership committee, etc.

Questions to consider:

1. How can you see these qualifications being important for anyone serving in the role of a deacon (And/or the deacon’s wife or the deaconesses)?  Why would there be these unique qualifications for the women that are not mentioned for the men specifically?
2. Even though the roles of elders/pastors and deacons are unique and different, why are both so necessary and useful to the church?  Why should deacons never be considered second-class servants?
3. If people were to aspire to these offices without aspiring to service (Either of physical or spiritual needs) what would go wrong?  What must be the true nature of the desire to serve in either office in the church in order to it to be a blessing to the people?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Today’s passage gives the qualification for an “Overseer.”
  • This office is also referred in other passages and in other translations with words like, “bishop”, “elder”, “shepherd/pastor”.
  • The word for, “overseer” means to lead, to guard, to supervise.
•   “The husband of one wife” could be literally translated as, “A one-woman man.”  Meaning, the man will be singularly devoted to his wife and sexually pure.
  • Divorce in the past is not necessarily an automatic disqualification, though it does call for some questions regarding the qualifications from verses 4-5.
    • With sexual purity in mind, I do think it would be wrong to disqualify a man who is single.  I do not think this passage excludes single men from serving as a pastor.
  • Again, when read along with 2:12, God has reserved the office of the pastor/elder/overseer to men.
• Other than the qualification of being able to teach (The speaking aspect, not the knowledge aspect), there really isn’t anything in this list of qualifications that all of us shouldn’t be striving to grow in and be faithful in.

Questions to consider:

1. If you read verse 1 again, what becomes one of the first qualifications for being a pastor/elder/overseer?  Should anyone lead as an elder without the desire to do so?
2. As you read through all these qualifications, why do they make sense?  How do these qualifications help a man to lead the church?  How would most of these qualification be important for any and all of us?
3. Knowing that we as Christians have been promised that the world will be at odds with what we believe (John 15:18-19), what do you think is meant by the qualification to have a good reputation with people outside the church?  How can a pastor have a good reputation in the community even though people would disagree with the truths of the gospel?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 2:8-15

Helpful thoughts:

• In these verses, Paul continues to give instruction for the ministry of the gathered church.
• Men and women are made in the image of God and equal in worth.  God has given them complementary roles in their marriages and in the church.
  • Women ought to be learners, never forbidden from pursuing great knowledge and growth, and they can be gifted to teach and ought to teach in different ministries in the church (e.g. Titus 2:3-4)
  • When men and women are gathered together, God has called on men to teach and lead.
    • Remember, Paul was writing this letter to the church at Ephesus, so there very likely was a woman or women who were desiring to teach or preach, to lead in some way, and Paul spoke to the issue directly.
• Verse 13 reminds us that the roles of men and women were not started after the fall.  To allow women to lead and to preach is not going back to pre-fall conditions.  The battle for leadership is in fact a consequence of the fall.  Hatred of submission and chauvinistic leadership, or even men being prone to abandon the responsibility and weight of loving leadership are consequences of the fall.
  • Women are not “saved” (Eternal salvation) through child-bearing, but rather “saved” (Preserved and doing great work) through child-bearing.
    • Mothers have the amazing task and responsibility to pour into the lives of children!  The role of the mother in the home and in the spiritual life of the next generation is invaluable and is to be celebrated.  It is not second-class work.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it important that we pray for the lost without anger and quarreling?  If the lost cause us to be angry, what might we be forgetting about our own salvation?  If we are quarreling as a church, what might we have forgotten about our purpose?
2. What seems to be the heart of Paul’s command for women in verses 9-10?  Is jewelry intrinsically evil?  If there are women in the church who are poor and women in the church who are rich, how might the rich women need to consider how to best love the others without flaunting their worldly possessions?  How does our humility and unity in Christ help us to think about ways we can be sensitive towards others in a way that keeps us focused on what’s most important?
3. Why do passage like this cause people to grit their teeth and look for explanations out of what it is obviously saying?  How does the fall and the curse make it this way (Genesis 3:16)?  For the Christian man and woman, why should the words, “leadership” and “submission” be beautiful things that we strive for in faith and love?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul has just exhorted Timothy to pastor this church at Ephesus well, keeping the gospel message front and center and avoiding pointless controversies.  Now he’s going to help Timothy know how to do it.
  • Step one: PRAY!
• Paul tells Timothy to pray for people inside the church and outside the church (Including governing authorities).  But the purpose of prayer for the government is the benefit of the church.  The church comes first.
  • The good of the church is the good of all.  The healthier the church, the greater evangelistic zeal and the more “salt and light” it is able to be to the world around it.
• There can be a distinction between God’s eternal sovereign will (God’s decree – Ephesians 1:3-5) and God’s desire.  God does not delight in the sin of man and we are to preach the Gospel to all.  The invitation to come to Christ must be preached to everyone, without distinction.

Questions to consider:

1. When we put prayer first as a priority, what does it say about our awareness of God’s role in any matter?  When we don’t?
2. How does this instruction help us to rightly balance and nuance our understanding and priorities concerning church and the government?  What collective group of people will be the greatest force of good for any nation?  What would happen if we only desired the government to write and enforce laws without first seeking to see God’s laws written in the hearts of our neighbors?
3. God saves sinners, saved sinners proclaim the good news.  How many people will you come into contact today who need to hear the good news?  Who might you have a good opportunity to share it with?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 1:12-20

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus didn’t do a victory dance because he was so lucky to have convinced Paul to join his team…
  • Paul was a sinner, saved by grace.  He was then enabled by God.  Given the gift of faithfulness.  Inserted into the work and servitude of the ministry.
    • Paul was previously an enemy of the kingdom, then God graciously saved him and gave him a new and beneficial purpose.
• Verse 15 is a trustworthy saying.  Paul is not the only one who should say it.
  • Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I (Insert your name) am the foremost.
• Hymenaeus and Alexander were men who heard the gospel, desired to be among the church but did not believe and taught or communicated false doctrine.
  • It is possible for those who do not truly believe and who speak false doctrine to mix in among the church and continue undetected, enjoying the benefits of the grace-filled fellowship of the body of Christ.
  • These men (And the church!) were better served by being removed from the safety of the church.  The church must be doctrinally pure.  These men needed to know and submit to the truth.

Questions to consider:

1. Is living for Jesus simply a slightly better option/life than that of an unbeliever?  Is there a life-style that is neutral? (Matthew 12:30)  What should this truth stir up in us?  What was my life accomplishing before I became a follower of Christ?  What must I strive to do now that I am in Christ?
2. Why did Paul receive mercy (Verse 16)?  Why did the “King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God,” who deserves all “honor and glory forever and ever” show you mercy?  Knowing God’s forgiveness ought to give us peace of mind, but is that really the end of the purpose of God’s mercy on our lives?
3. Why is it more loving to tell a person the truth than to affirm that all is well when it isn’t?  What will the fear of man do to a church?  What does the fear of God do for a church?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 1:3-11

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul’s first charge to Timothy was to guard the doctrine and teaching of the church at Ephesus.  Doctrinal integrity and biblical teaching are incredibly important!
• There are fruits from teaching:
  • The false teaching in Ephesus resulted in pointless conversations and disputes that divided people and tore them down.
  • Biblical teaching results in building people up, which results in love, which comes out of pure hearts, good consciences, and sincere faith.
• If people truly interpret the law accurately, they learn they are sinners, they are humbled, and rejoice together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
  • Pride in the law (Self-righteousness) results in more selfishness and consumerism.
    • “I am better than other people.  What should the church do for me?”
  • Humility in the law (Righteousness by grace through faith in Christ) results in selflessness and loving service.
    • “I am a sinner saved by God’s grace.  What can I do to share Christ’s love with others?”

Questions to consider:

1. How do you decide what is a false doctrine and what is a true doctrine?  If the Bible is not authoritative and without error, than who gets to decide what is right and wrong?  Why must we base everything we believe and practice on the truth of God’s Word?
2. What are some ways the question, “What should the church do for me?” is displayed?  What do people tend to want out of a church?  What personal opinions can be held as essential that are not in the Bible?  Would it be possible for a church to be all things to/for all people?  If it were, what would that church STOP being?
3. According to this passage, what core doctrinal truth(s) keep(s) a church alive, and even thriving?  When our personal preferences and desires are set aside and nothing is more important to our church than the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fruit that it bears to the glory of God, what happens in the church?

Today’s passage: 1 Timothy 1:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

• Timothy was from Lystra and came to Christ during Paul’s ministry there (Acts 16:1-3).  Paul considered Timothy his son in the faith.
• Timothy had accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys and Paul left Timothy behind to minister to the church at Ephesus.  Timothy was serving pastorally in that church when he received this letter from Paul (Around A.D. 62-64).
• Paul became an apostle because God had graciously and sovereignly commanded it.  Remember, Paul did not find Christianity to be very appealing in his own flesh (Acts 8:1-3).

Questions to consider:

1. What does Paul call God and Jesus Christ in verse 1?  How is God our savior and how is Christ our hope?  (2 Corinthians 5:21)
2. What does Paul call God and Jesus Christ in verse 2?  How is God our Father and how is Christ our Lord? (Matthew 7:11, Matthew 28:18)
3. What can we learn from Paul’s regard for Timothy as a son in the faith?  What is the discipleship relationship to look like?  Do you have a “Paul” in your life?  A “Timothy”?  If not, who might those people be and how can you be praying for and pursuing those kinds of godly relationships in the church?