new 1 timothy study book part 2 - lakeshore community church of...

Part 2 – 1 Timothy 3:14-‐6:21

Growth Group Study Booklet

Living for Jesus By making, maturing and mobilising disciples

For His Glory

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Part 2 – 1 Timothy 3:14-‐6:21

Introduction to 1 Timothy -‐ Page 3 Suggested Reading -‐ Page 4

Study 8 – 1 Timothy 3:14-‐4:5 -‐ Page 6 Study 9 – 1 Timothy 4:6-‐5:2 -‐ Page 8 Study 10 – 1 Timothy 5:3-‐16 -‐ Page 10 Study 11 – 1 Timothy 5:17-‐25 -‐ Page 12 Study 12 – 1 Timothy 6:1-‐5 -‐ Page 14 Study 13 – 1 Timothy 6:6-‐10 & 6:17-‐19 -‐ Page 16 Study 14 – 1 Timothy 6:11-‐16 & 6:20-‐21 -‐ Page 18 The Death Trap Called Covetousness -‐ 1 A Word to Workaholics -‐ Page 22 What It Means to Love Money -‐ Page 24 A Theology of Sport -‐ Page 25

Diary Dates GROW Conference Saturday September 3 School Holidays begin Saturday September 17 Senior Pastor Induction Service Sunday October 2 Y Conference Saturday October 8 1 Timothy Series recommences Sunday October 9 Annual General Meeting (AGM) Sunday October 16 Free Community Parenting Seminar Monday October 24 Ruth Series commences Sunday November 13 Carols in the Carpark Sunday December 11 Christmas Day Service (9am only) Sunday December 25

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Introduction to 1 Timothy The apostle Paul probably wrote this letter to Timothy in the mid-‐60s A.D., after his first release from imprisonment. Timothy was a pastor in Ephesus. The thrust of 1 Timothy is that godliness is central to the Christian’s continuing in the gospel and the church’s proclamation of the gospel. Words relating to “godliness” occur ten times in this short book (2:2, 10; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 5:4; 6:3, 5, 6, 11), and throughout the letter Paul grounds godly behaviour in Christ’s gospel. Sadly, those whose behaviour is contrary to the gospel of Christ deny the reality of their faith (1:6, 19–20; 4:1; 5:6, 8, 11–12; 6:9–10). Indeed, personal godliness (Christ-‐infused godliness) is not only indispensable to perseverance in faithfulness, but absolutely essential to the proclamation of the gospel to the lost world. In a nutshell, the theme of 1 Timothy is Christ-‐centred godliness for the sake of the gospel. This gospel theme is explicit in 2:1–7, where Paul urges that prayers be made for all people so that believers may lead godly lives. He comments, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2:3–4). Paul follows this declaration of God’s gospel heart with consecutive detailed directives for godliness to three groups: women (2:9–15), overseers (3:1–7), and deacons (3:8–13). These instructions are followed by what are the universally acknowledged key verses of the letter (3:14–16), calling the church to conduct that is radically Christ-‐centred and Christ-‐generated—which is to say, gospel-‐centred godliness. Chapter 4 begins with a warning against pursuing godliness through man-‐centred asceticism, which Paul terms the “teaching of demons” (4:1–5). This is followed by the famous non-‐ascetic command to Timothy to “train yourself for godliness” and its accompanying array of applications and benefits (4:7–16). Chapter 5 flows into chapter 6 with directives regarding how the treatment of various groups in the church must be shaped by godliness: older men and women, younger men and women (5:1–2), widows (5:3–16), elders (5:17–25), and masters (6:1–2). In chapter 6 Paul warns against those who teach a different doctrine that “does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness” (6:3–5). Godliness and greed are juxtaposed (6:6–10). Paul closes by exhorting Timothy, “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” And, in this Christlike spirit, “Fight the good fight of the faith” (6:11–16). So we see that 1 Timothy is not simply a moralistic manual for church conduct. It is rather a call to Christ-‐centred, gospel-‐centred godliness for the sake of the church—and a lost world.

From the Gospel Transformation Bible, Study Notes for 1 Timothy by R. Kent Hughes.

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Suggested Reading Some recommendations for further reading related to the content and themes of 1 Timothy

The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus

By John Stott A highly recommended helpful and

readable commentary.

The Trellis and the Vine

By Col Marshall & Tony Payne “The ministry mind-‐shift that changes everything” – prioritising the “vine”

ministry of the Word

The Treasure Principle

Randy Alcorn Unlocking the secret of joyful giving – principles for “laying up for yourselves

treasures in heaven.”

Gospel-‐Centred Church:

Becoming the Community God Wants You To Be

By Steve Timmis & Tim Chester Shaping the whole of church life

around the gospel.Studies written by Bill Forgeard, Joel Allen and Leo Woodward, using the following resources: -‐ John Stott, The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus, The Bible Speaks Today Commentary Series (1996). -‐ George W. Knight III, The Pastoral Epistles, New International Greek Testament Commentary Series (1992). -‐ R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1-‐2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the Word Commentary Series (2012) -‐ John Stott, 1 Timothy & Titus: Fighting the Good Fight, John Stott Bible Studies, IVP (1998). -‐ Phillip D. Jensen & Greg Clarke, To the Householder (1 Timothy), Interactive Bible Studies, Matthias Media (1996). -‐ The ESV Gospel Transformation Bible, Crossway Publishers (2013). -‐ The ESV Study Bible, Crossway Publishers, 2008. -‐ Websites: www.desiringod.org ; www.gotherefor.com

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Notes

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STUDY 8

1 Timothy 3:14-‐4:5 Kick Off: Do you have any “house rules” in your house? Do they work?

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 3:15 Big Idea: The Church’s godliness comes from Jesus

Investigate: 1. Read 1 Timothy 3:14-‐15 a) What was Paul’s reason for writing these instructions? What does this mean for you as you read 1 Timothy? b) What does each of the descriptions in verse 15 reveal about the nature of the church? “God’s household” “The church of the living God” “The pillar and foundation of the truth” 2. Read 1 Timothy 3:16. a) What part of Jesus’ ministry is each statement referring to?

“He appeared in the flesh”

“Was vindicated by the Spirit”

“Was seen by angels”

“Was preached among the nations”

“Was believed on in the world”

“Was taken up in glory”

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b) What is the connection between our growth in godliness (v15-‐16a) and this description of Jesus’ ministry (v16b)? 3. Read 1 Timothy 4:1-‐5. Paul describes two groups – those who “abandon the faith” (v1-‐3a) versus those “who believe and know the truth” (v3b-‐5). What difference do you see in the way these two groups attempt to live godly lives?

Think & Apply: 4. Sometimes we can treat the church lightly, or take it for granted, or feel negative towards it. How do the descriptions of the church in verse 15 challenge or encourage you in your attitude to the church? 5. Verse 16 says that the good news about Jesus is the source of godliness. How can focusing on this description of Jesus help you conduct yourself in the godly way God wants you to?

Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church.

Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 1:12-‐17

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STUDY 9

1 Timothy 4:6 – 5:2 Kick Off: Have you ever participated in a sporting competition or other event which required you to really push yourself to the limit? Was the effort you had to make worth it in the end? Share a story with the group.

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 4:7 Big Idea: As servants of Jesus we’re called to strive with genuine effort and perseverance to hold onto the truth of the gospel and to live lives of holiness.

Investigate: Read 1 Timothy 4:6-‐10 1. The words “train” or “training” appears several times in these verses. What does it mean to be trained both in good doctrine and in godliness? Why does Paul contrast the value of physical training in v.7 with the value of training in godliness? 2. What is the relationship between hard work and hope in verse 10? What does Paul mean when he says that God is “the savior of all people” in this verse? Read 1 Timothy 4:11-‐16 3. Why is Paul so keen to make sure that God’s word is a priority in the life of church leaders? Why is the example of Timothy’s life, doctrine, and faith so crucial for the rest of the church? Read 1 Timothy 5:1-‐2 4. What do we learn from these verses about how we should relate to each other as a church family?

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Think & Apply: 5. What is one area in your life where you are struggling in your fight for godliness at the moment? Try and think of one concrete step that you can take to help you to make some fresh progress over the coming weeks. 6. How do you feel about the fact that your life and doctrine are an example to others? If you’d like to, share a story about a Christian whose example has had a big impact in your own life.


Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 5:3-‐16.

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STUDY 10

1 Timothy 5:3-‐16 Kick Off: What thought have you given to how your needs may be met as you grow older?

Key Verse: 1 Tim. 5:3 “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need” Big Idea: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress …” (James 1:27a) Investigate 1. What is God’s general view regarding the support of widows? See Deuteronomy 10:18, Psalm 68:5 and Psalm 146:9. Two categories of widows may be on view in this passage, with some overlapping between the two. The 1st group, to receive “proper recognition”, is considered in verses 3-‐8 and 16, while the 2nd group, likely to be engaged in some form of service in the church, are considered in verses 9-‐15. Read 1 Timothy 5:3-‐8 and 5:16. 2. What does “proper recognition” mean? What requirements are there for a widow to receive church support? See verses 3 and 5-‐6. 3. What role does family support play in the care of widows? See verses 4, 8 and 16. See also Exodus 20:12 and 1 John 3:17. Read 1 Timothy 5:9-‐15. 4. A “list of widows” was kept, most likely of widows who made a commitment to serve in the church. What were the conditions for inclusion on this list? See verses 9, 10 and 12.

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5. “As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list” (verse 11). Why not? See verses 11-‐13. Instead, what instructions are given for them? See verses 14 and 15.

Think & Apply 6. This passage written in the light of conditions prevailing in the 1st century. How might we apply the biblical principles in these verses in modern day Australia? 7. What practical “proper recognition” can you give to a widow (widower) that you know, either in our church, in your family, or in the wider community?


Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 5:17-‐25.

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STUDY 11

1 Timothy 5:17-‐25 Kick Off: What do Australians generally relate to their leaders? What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of this?

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 5:17 Big Idea: Elders in the church are worthy of honour

Investigate: Read 1 Timothy 5:17-‐21. 1. What is the church’s responsibility towards elders? 2. From verse 18, how is an elder like an ox and a labourer? How does this support Paul’s point from verse 17? 3. a) From verses 19-‐20, how should a church handle accusations against an elder? (See also Deuteronomy 19:15). b) What things will the procedures in verses 19-‐20 promote? What things will they prevent?

Read 1 Timothy 5:22-‐25. 4. Verse 22 probably refers to ordination (see 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). Why was it necessary for Paul to emphasise this to Timothy?

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5. What seems to be the intent of the instruction in verse 23? 6. What do verses 24-‐25 reveal about our need for discernment in relationships and in the church?

Think & Apply: 7. How can you personally apply this passage’s instructions about relating to church leaders? 8. Are you the kind of person who is more likely to base your opinion of others on their “sins” or their “good deeds”? How can you apply the warnings of verses 24-‐25 to the way you view others?

Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 6:1-‐5.

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STUDY 12

1 Timothy 6:1-‐5

Kick Off: Who is the best boss you have ever had? Who is the worst boss you’ve ever had?

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6:1 Big Idea: Christians have to continually work to maintain unity, both in relationships and in beliefs.

Investigate: Read 1 Timothy 6:1-‐2a. 1. a) How should Christian slaves view their masters? b) If their master is a Christian, how should this affect their work? c) What is the motivation for this attitude? 2. What principles for modern relationships between employers and employees can be draw from this passage? Read 1 Timothy 6:2b-‐5. 3. According to verse 3, how should Timothy identify false teaching? How can we carry out this test today? 4. According to verses 4 and 5 a) What kind of personal attitudes characterise false teachers?

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b) What effect does false teaching have within the church?

Think & Apply: 5. For those who work, are you working in such a way that “God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered”? How would you like to change your work practices or attitudes to grow in this area? 6. When you are presented with Christian teaching (either from a friend, in a church, in a book or magazine, on the internet or the radio, on TV or a DVD), how well are you able to discern whether it is godly teaching or false teaching? How can you grow in this?

Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 6:6-‐10 & 6:17-‐19.

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STUDY 13

1 Timothy 6:6-‐10 & 17-‐19 Kick Off: If a lump sum of $1,000,000 was deposited into your bank account tomorrow, do you think this would make it easier or harder for you to keep living for Jesus? Give reasons for your answer.

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6:10 Big Idea: The love of money and wealth is a danger to our faith in Jesus which we need to take very seriously.

Investigate: Read 1 Timothy 6:6-‐8 1. What are the main points that Paul makes in these verses about being content? How does Paul’s baseline for contentment in verse 8 compare with your own? Read 1 Timothy 6:9-‐10 2. Why is the desire to be rich such a dangerous temptation? How might this desire lead to “all kinds of evils” or cause us to wander away from our faith? Read 1 Timothy 6:17-‐19 3. What should our attitude towards wealth be according to these verses? What antidote for the love of money does Paul give us in v.18? 4. What does Paul say about the outcome of his (eternal) investment advice in v.19? How is this outcome different from a life that is lived for the treasures of this world?

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Think & Apply: 5. Share some examples of common attitudes towards wealth. Is your own attitude towards money similar or different to these? 6. How does the gospel change the way that you think about money and wealth? Share one practical example of a way that you can be generous with money in order keep it from getting a strangle hold on your heart.

Prayer: In your group prayer time: 1. Share prayer requests and pray for one another in your group. 2. Use a copy of the Lakeshore Church prayer points (either from Sunday’s bulletin or from the weekly email) to pray for people and events across the church. Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read 1 Timothy 6:11-‐16 & 6:20-‐21.

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STUDY 14

1 Timothy 6:11-‐16 & 20-‐21 Kick Off: Do you think it is true that most people in our culture live their lives thinking mostly about the “here and now” rather than about the future? Do you think this is a good or a bad thing?

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6:12 Big Idea: We are to fight the good fight of faith by setting our hope on Jesus as we remember that he will return again to reign forever.

Read 1 Timothy 6:11-‐12 1. What are the contrasts between the things that Timothy is commanded to flee from and the things he is commanded to pursue? 2. What do you think that the phrase “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” means in verse 12? How does this expand on Paul’s earlier command to fight the good fight the good fight of the faith? Read 1 Timothy 6:13-‐16 3. What crucial truths about Jesus does Paul outline in these verses? How do these truths help us to press on in living for Jesus? Read 1 Timothy 6:20-‐21 4. Do you think that these verses provide a good summary of the message of 1 Timothy? What does it mean for us to “guard the deposit” of the gospel which has been entrusted to us?

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Think & Apply: 5. Do you ever think much about the final return of Jesus? Does the reality of his return make much difference to the way that you go about your day-‐to-‐day life? 6. Share one particular example of a way that our journey through the book of 1 Timothy has freshly encouraged you to fight the good fight of faith.


Read Ahead: For next week’s sermon and growth group, read Ruth 1.

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Notes

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The Death Trap called Covetousness By John Piper

Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:9) Covetousness can destroy the soul in hell. The reason I am sure that this destruction is not some temporary financial fiasco, but final destruction in hell, is what Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:12. He says that covetousness is to be resisted with the fight of faith; then he adds, “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession.” What’s at stake in fleeing covetousness and fighting for contentment in future grace is eternal life. So when Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:9 that the desire to be rich plunges people into ruin, he isn’t saying that greed can mess up your marriage or your business (which it certainly can!). He is saying that covetousness can mess up your eternity. Or, as 1 Timothy 6:10 says at the end, “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (literally: “impaled themselves with many pains”). God has gone the extra mile in the Bible to warn us mercifully that the idolatry of covetousness is a no-‐win situation. It’s a dead-‐end street in the worst sense of the word. It’s a trick and a trap. So my word to you is the word of 1 Timothy 6:11: “Flee these things.” When you see it coming (in a television ad or a Christmas catalog or an Internet pop-‐up or a neighbor’s purchase), run from it the way you would run from a roaring, starving lion escaped from the zoo.

From http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-‐death-‐trap-‐called-‐covetousness

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A Word to Workaholics By Mark Priestap

Allow me to speak personally for a moment about a sin that long festered in my life: forsaking the means of grace in my home, sacrificing them on the altar of vocational work. In my profession, it is customary to work long hours to meet deadlines (often multiple overlapping deadlines). And since the work is not back-‐breaking labor, it is easy to slowly get entangled in it until I find that I have spent an entire year working such long hours that I have forsaken the first things God has called me to, namely prayer, meditation, scripture memorization and study, instructing my wife and children, knowing their infirmities, and bearing with them in daily struggles. God has plainly shown us in his Word the means that a man ought to attend to if he is going to see godly spiritual fruit on the vines of his family. Consider what Paul says to pastor Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13-‐16:

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Now it would be a mistake to apply all of these things to fathers, since most fathers aren't preachers. But consider what are the means by which God saves "both yourself and your hearers": it is through reading, exhortation, teaching, and being immersed in scripture. Can we say that a father may neglect these means of God's grace and expect that his family will not suffer terribly? Do we not shake our heads when pastors neglect these things only to let their flock get attacked by wolves? So too must fathers give themselves diligently to these things if they wish to see God bearing fruit in themselves and their families. Do not think that you can simply take your family to church for a couple hours a week and then forsake the means of sanctification in the home. Just as pastors who forsake the public means of grace destroy their flock, so do fathers destroy their children who neglect spiritual disciplines in the home. It might actually be worse because it teaches them hypocrisy—that the Christian faith consists of maintaining moral duties in public while neglecting personal holiness. It would be better for you to be a pagan than for Christ's gospel to be so profaned. After years of neglect in this essential calling, the guilt can feel overwhelming. But David's beautiful words in Psalm 51 guide me in finding comfort:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

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And we may know full well that he will cleanse us and help us to fulfill our spiritual calling, for he has told us, "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." Will he not give penitent sinners the fruit they long to see in their lives? Of course he will. These things are according to his will, so he will surely give them to us as we call out to him. "But", you say, "I don't have the faith to ask him and I have sinned against him too long for him to have mercy on me." Fellow sinner, remember that Christ did not come to save the righteous but sinners like us. Jesus said, "It is not the healthy that need a physician by those who are sick." He will give you what you desire. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:17) So, fellow workaholic, I urge you, if you desire the blessings of God that he promises through the means of grace, do not delay to arrange your life and disentangle yourself from the things of this world that so easily make you too busy and tired to attend to them. I am not suggesting that you refrain from working hard—far from it!—but I am suggesting that you consider whether your commitments have become an idol and if you have chosen to give priority to your professional calling over your spiritual calling. If this is so, I urge you to repent. Find rest in the Savior and once again possess a clear conscience before the Lord. The harvest of joy, peace and righteousness that the Lord is eager to give you will far outweigh the fleeting pleasures of this life. Rejoice in him—allow him to come in to you and "sup with you" as he desires to do, that, as Paul prayed, "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

From http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/an-‐admonition-‐to-‐workaholics

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What it Means to Love Money By John Piper

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. (1 Timothy 6:10) What did Paul mean when he wrote this? He couldn’t have meant that money is always on your mind when you sin. A lot of sin happens when we are not thinking about money. My suggestion is this: he meant that all the evils in the world come from a certain kind of heart, namely, the kind of heart that loves money. Now what does it mean to love money? It doesn’t mean to admire the green paper or the copper coins or the silver shekels. To know what it means to love money, you have to ask, What is money? I would answer that question like this: Money is simply a symbol that stands for human resources. Money stands for what you can get from man instead of God. God deals in the currency of grace, not money: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1). Money is the currency of human resources. So the heart that loves money is a heart that pins its hopes, and pursues its pleasures, and puts its trust in what human resources can offer. So the love of money is virtually the same as faith in money — belief (trust, confidence, assurance) that money will meet your needs and make you happy. Love of money is the alternative to faith in God’s future grace. It is faith in future human resources. Therefore the love of money, or trust in money, is the underside of unbelief in the promises of God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. . . . You cannot serve God and money.” You can’t trust in God and in money at the same time. Belief in one is unbelief in the other. A heart that loves money — that banks on money for happiness — is not banking on the future grace of God for satisfaction.

From http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-‐it-‐means-‐to-‐love-‐money

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A Theology of Sport: 1 Timothy 4:1-‐10 By Sandy Grant

The Rio Olympics are on, and I heard a joke yesterday: what’s the number-‐one sport in Brazil? Volleyball; because football is a religion! Can we really say sport is god and stadiums its temples? The Olympics has ceremonies and rituals, such as reciting an athlete’s creed and the priestesses of Olympia lighting the torch. We call sporting grounds like Lords or the MCG ‘hallowed turf’. There’s language of redemption after a loss. Some people see transcendence in a top performance such as a perfect ten in gymnastics. Many find their identity as a player or spectator, in a search for purpose and pleasure. Yes, for many sport is god and their team or favourite code is their religion. But let’s go no further without considering God’s word, starting with the most famous sporting verse in the Bible. 1 Timothy 4:8 says “bodily training is of some value”. There it is, the justification sports fans everywhere have wanted! But surely there’s more to it than quoting half a verse out of context.

1. Everything God created is good Even before we get to verse 8, the first five verses of 1 Timothy 4 tell us everything God created is good. But the actual topic they introduce is false teaching. Basically, people were trying to create an air of extreme ethical excellence by going further than what God’s Word said. For example, Paul said singleness was a good way to serve the Lord. But these legalists took it further and insisted no one should marry. Wrong! Marriage is good—a central part of God’s creation for humans. Jesus and Paul both praised marriage. So it’s a free choice; it’s not somehow more spiritual to stay single, and it’s devilish to forbid marriage. Maybe you can see the parallel between marriage and sport. As part of his good creation, God has given us bodies that can play sport as well as get married. But, like sex, sport can be an idol. I’ve heard it said our most-‐watched television shows identify our non-‐religious idols. If you look up the figures, they are the Super Bowl in the US, State of Origin Rugby League in Australia, European Championship football in the UK, and whatever World Cup or Olympics are on in a year. They’re what many live for, what gives them meaning and pleasure. Sport can cause people to wander from the faith. Some are more loyal to their team than their church. They’d never miss a game, except for the worst injury, but many of us feel free to skip a few Sundays at church, if we don't quite feel like it or if something else is on. Of course, it’s not just sports that rival church for loyalty. Concerts, family birthday parties, and retail jobs often occur on a Sunday. This is partly why some churches developed Sunday evening family and youth services. But even so, the other commitment leaves some of us too tired to come and others too tired to make the most of coming. In 1 Timothy 6:11, Paul tells Timothy to flee idolatry like the love of money. If your idol is sport, you need to give it up.

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But some Christians go too far: “We shouldn’t get caught up with such frivolity.” Many Puritans wanted to ban sport. The idea is that some kind of physical self-‐denial makes you more spiritual. Sounds godly. But it’s wrong. The Bible rejects it. We are not saved by our spiritual works but by grace. We are justified in God’s eyes only by trusting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, not by being more religious than other people. There is nothing wrong with abstaining from sport, any more than being single. But that does not give you the right to forbid what the Bible does not forbid. So the first plank in our theology of sport is to receive it with thanksgiving. That’s how Paul generalises about creation in 1 Timothy 4:4-‐5. One big emphasis here is the goodness of God’s creation—every bit of it. Things like sex and marriage can be received with thanksgiving. Things like our ability to swim or run can also be received with thanksgiving. God created us with human ingenuity to dream up a game and to make rules and to cooperate in competitions. I’m told John Calvin played bocce, and Bonhoeffer had a hit of tennis! To play a game is to enjoy something creative for its own intrinsic good. The other emphasis here is on God as the giver. Thanksgiving means we recognise God’s purposes in giving. He is providing for human needs. When used in lawful ways, these gifts are meant for our joy.

2. Physical training: of some value Paul was probably a sports fan. He often used sporting illustrations. Fight the good fight of faith. Run the race. Wrestle in prayer. But what of his comment in verse eight that “bodily training is of some value”? The way he phrases it could be dismissive, possibly taking a swipe at sports-‐crazed Ephesus, where much effort was spent training men for sporting contests at pagan festivals. But given his love of sporting analogies, and the fact he just said the physical creation is to be received with thanksgiving, I think he is saying that physical training has real value. It’s limited rather than little value. Sport can teach teamwork, perseverance, and respect for the rules. It can provide community, a way of connecting with others. It’s good for health. Professional sport provides entertainment for millions. And it's great when a Christian sport-‐star models prayer, not for victory but for protection from injury and contentment regardless of the result. But sport is not eternal. Train for the life to come. The implication in verse 8 is that physical training only holds promise for the present life, not the one to come. But we train in the gospel. We are spiritual fitness fanatics. As verse 10 puts it, we toil and strive, literally ‘fight’—like an athletic contest—because we’ve put our hope in God who is the Saviour. And that note of eternal hope puts all your sporting efforts into perspective. Don’t hope in sport. The best fitness regime in the world will not stop you dying in the end. The world seems to have gone crazy. The news lurches from terror to crime to disaster. We need a Saviour! No amount of sporting entertainment can hide that. Paul writes earlier in 1 Timothy 2:3-‐6 of “God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” Jesus redeems it all. And quite likely, the “training in godliness” in 1 Timothy 4:7-‐8 refers to "training in religion”—Christianity! The word translated ‘godliness’ often just refers to religion, especially its doctrines

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and practice. The same word is used in 1 Timothy 3:16, where the mystery of godliness is a poetic list of key truths about Jesus: his appearance in the flesh, his vindication by the Spirit, and his angel-‐endorsed, glorious preaching among the nations as the great object of faith. The parallels to “training in godliness” or “religion” here in chapter 4 are “the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (verse 6). So “training in godliness” probably doesn’t mean learning how to say your prayers or doing good works like visiting the sick. They are good things to do. But we are saved by Jesus, not by good deeds. Rather, training in godliness means steeping yourself in the doctrine of Jesus. That’s real hope. That’s how you get the promise of the life to come. Sticking with Jesus. Do you know the gospel of Jesus as well as you know the stats of the Australian cricket team? Do you know the teachings of the Bible better than you know the football rulebook?

Develop your play ethic Protestants in the West often have a great work ethic but lack a play ethic. But understanding the gospel of Jesus can help us relax, as free forgiveness in Jesus gives us salvation now and hope for the future. Through the gospel, athletes can stop looking to sport to justify themselves and play sports as they were designed to be—a gift to be enjoyed for its own intrinsic good and for the enjoyment of others. And through the gospel, a Christian’s identity is based not on their performance but on God’s grace. You are never a basketballer who happens to be a Christian. You are a Christian who plays basketball.

From http://gotherefor.com/offer.php?intid=29427

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Coming Up

GROW Conference Saturday September 3 School Holidays begin Saturday September 17 Senior Pastor Induction Service Sunday October 2 Y Conference Saturday October 8 1 Timothy Series recommences Sunday October 9 Annual General Meeting (AGM) Sunday October 16 Free Community Parenting Seminar Monday October 24 Ruth Series commences Sunday November 13 Carols in the Carpark Sunday December 11 Christmas Day Service (9am only) Sunday December 25

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