Counsel From a Seasoned Veteran
Paul’s Guidance for the Church
In First and Second Timothy
1st Timothy 4:11-16
Church Leaders & Truth
1. The Authority of Truth
Vs. 11 “Command and teach these things.”
2. The Pattern of Christian Leaders
Vs. 12 “No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the
believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
Outward: Speech and Conduct
Inward
Love: Meeting your needs at my expense
Faith: Trusting Christ to do for you what you cannot do for yourself; staying
plugged in
Purity: Refusing to mix sinful compromises with a righteous life
3. The Priorities of Christian Leaders
Vs. 13 “Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.”
Reading: Provides Information… Appeals to the mind & memory
Exhortation: Provides Motivation… Appeals to the emotions & to the will
Teaching: Provides Explanation… Appeals to the understanding & spiritual insight
4. The Empowerment of Christians for Leading
Vs. 14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with
the laying on of hands by the council of elders.”
Do not neglect the gift - That is, by letting it lie unused
The Gift: A gracious gift from God
A specialty in Christian service, supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit
6. The Influence of the Leader’s Growth
Vs. 15 “So that your progress may be evident to all.”
Let Them See You Grow
The Ongoing Influence of Ongoing Growth
7. The Results of the Leader’s Perseverance
Vs. 16 “Persevere in these things”
Persevere: To stay with it
“By doing this, you will save both yourself and your hearers”
Persevering leaders produce persevering followers
Perseverance:
Perseverance is a condition to go to heaven
Perseverance is the inevitable result of the new birth
We persevere because God preserves
Perseverance is a human responsibility… a command to obey