1. In verse 1, what job title does Paul give himself? 2. What does the word apostle mean? 6. What does Paul call Timothy in vs. 2?

Transcription

1 The lessons for each week are divided up into a five day study. Each day will cover a section of the scripture we are studying for this lesson. As you READ each section of scripture pray for God to REVEAL His truths to you so that you will be able to RESPOND to what God is teaching you and you will be able to apply His Word in your life. Do not be discouraged if you have difficulties with some of the questions. When we get together each week we will have a teaching time to help with your understanding of each verse. Day 1 Committed As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus I Timothy 1:3 Lesson 1 I Timothy 1:1-2 1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2) To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1. In verse 1, what job title does Paul give himself? 2. What does the word apostle mean? 3. If you were writing a letter to a friend in this same format, how would you describe yourself? 4. Read the following verses: Psalm 18:46, Psalm 25:5, Psalm 27:9, Micah 7:7, Habakkuk 3:18. How is God described in all of these verses? 5. The opposite of hope is despair. Hope is the expectation of coming good. The opposite of hope is despair. What are you filled with today? Read Colossians 1:27. Where does Christ need to be in order for you to have hope? 6. What does Paul call Timothy in vs. 2? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 1

2 7. Read Philippians 2: How did Paul describe Timothy in these verses that reflected that he was a true child in the faith? 8. Read Acts 16:1-3. List three things these verses tell you about Timothy. 9. Paul extends to Timothy God s grace, His mercy and His peace. God is the source for all these gifts. Describe these gifts from God that Paul is telling Timothy (and us) that we can have: Grace: Mercy: Peace: 9. Are you in need of any of these gifts today? God wants to give them to you. Read Hebrews 4:16. What does God tell us we need to do? Day 2 I Timothy 1:3-7 3) As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4) nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5) But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6) For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7) wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 2

3 Remain prosmeno meaning to wait or continue remaining 1. According to verse 3, Paul told Timothy he needed to stay committed and remain on at Ephesus. Why? What did Paul tell Timothy he needed to do? Ephesus had long been the place where teachers established schools and attracted students to their newly invented philosophical systems. Swindoll, Charles, Swindoll s NT Insights, pg What was the church at Ephesus supposed to stay away from according to verse 4? Why? 3. What are some of the false teachings/strange doctrines in our culture today that the church needs to stay away from? 4. Paul told Timothy that what needed to be happening was the furthering of the administration of God which is by faith. What does this statement mean? (You may need to dig a little to understand this ) 5. Paul told Timothy he needed to be committed to guarding the truth. He needed to stay committed to God s goal of instruction. According to vs. 5, what is the goal of all instruction? 6. What three things are necessary in order to attain this goal? List and describe the three parts of living a godly life according to this verse. a) b) c) Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 3

4 7. Verse 6 tells us that some men strayed from these things. (those things listed in vs. 5) Read Galatians 5:9. How does this verse relate to the false teachers and the church? What does the leaven stand for? What does the lump of dough represent? 8. How would you describe fruitless discussion? 9. What does James 3:1 tell you about teachers? 10. According to verse 7, why should these men not be considered to be reliable teachers? 11. Have you ever had someone share spiritual things with you, or have you ever heard or read from someone (via TV, internet, books, etc.) and inside your heart you started waving a red flag? How can you know if the teaching you hear is truth or false? Read Acts 17: What should be your response to false teaching? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 4

5 Day 3 I Timothy 1:8-11 8) But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9) realizing that fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10) and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11) according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 1. What is the purpose of the Law? How is it to be used lawfully? Read Romans 3:19-20 and Galatians 3:24 The law s purpose is to drive us to God s mercy. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary, pg How is the Law sometimes used unlawfully? What is legalism? 3. Is the Law for the believer as well as the unbeliever? Why or why not? Read I Thessalonians 4: According to vs. 11, what is the sound teaching that Paul is saying we need to stay committed to? Paul was an expert in the Law, but he needed Jesus. 5. What does it mean that Paul said God entrusted him with the gospel? 6. Are we also entrusted with the gospel? Who is in your life that needs to hear the gospel from you? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 5

6 The Law served a purpose, but God did not give it as a means of salvation. The Law condemns us; it reveals to man that he is a sinner in need of a Savior. Under the Law the best man in the world is absolutely condemned, but under the gospel the worst man can be justified if he will believe in Christ. McGee, J. Vernon, I & II Timothy Titus Philemon Commentary, pg. 30 The gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose on the third day. All those who place their trust in Jesus for salvation will be saved from the coming judgment. To add any other condition to faith for salvation is to make justification a matter of works. Compact Bible Commentary, pg. 870 Paul wants Timothy and us to understand that true Christian conduct is not motivated by external rules and laws. True Christian conduct can be motivated only by the indwelling life and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you love the Lord, you want to please Him. You don t need a law to keep you from doing evil; your conduct will be controlled by love alone. Stedman, Ray, pg. 16 Day 4 I Timothy 1: ) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13) even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14) and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15) It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16) Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1. What three things was Paul thankful for? (vs. 12) Humility and gratitude should mark the life of every Christian. Never forget that you too are a sinner save by grace. Life Application NT Commentary, pg. 934 Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 6

7 God s callings are always accompanied by His enabling. He will never call us to do something without also enabling us to do it. Many times the Lord asks us to do something that is impossible. And then, working in us, by His Holy Spirit, He proceeds to do the impossible. Chuck Smith, The Word for Today Bible, pg Paul said he acted ignorantly in unbelief. Read I Corinthians 2:14 and II Corinthians 4:3-4. What are these verses telling you about unbelievers? 3. What four gifts did God show to Paul even in His unbelief? (vs ) 4. How does Paul describe God s grace? And hearing this, Jesus said to them, It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Mark 2:17 5. According to verse 15, why did Jesus come into the world? 6. Read vs and John 3:17. What encouragement do these verses give you? God saved Paul so that others would have hope. Chuck Smith, The Word for Today Bible, pg According to these verses, was Paul able to have a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith? Why? But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. Romans 11:6 Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 7

8 8. Are you able to have a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith? Why or why not? Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. Galatians 2:16 9. After Paul expressed the great mercy and grace that he had in his life he automatically bursts out in praise (vs. 17). What four attributes of God does Paul praise? 10. What can we learn from Paul s example of praise? What is the condition of our heart? Are you overflowing with praise today for the grace and mercy that God has shown to you? If not, what can you do to change your heart? Day 5 I Timothy 1: ) This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19) keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20) Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. If you are God s servant, called by the Spirit, obeying His will, then you can stay with it and finish the work. Wiersbe, Warren, The Weirsbe NT Bible Commentary, pg In vs. 18, what does Paul command Timothy to be committed to do? Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 8

9 2. Read Ephesians 6:12. What does this verse tell you about the enemy that Timothy was called to fight against? Christian ministry is spiritual warfare against God s enemies. Compact Bible Commentary, pg. 870 Satan hates God and everyone who serves Him. 3. According to verse 19, how are we able to fight the good fight? 4. Why do keeping faith and a good conscience have to go hand in hand in fighting the good fight? Why can they not be separated from each other? A life of obedient faith leads us to a good conscience. Stedman, Ray, pg What happens if you begin to reject your faith according to verse 19? 6. Refusing to listen to your conscience will result in a shipwrecked faith. Is there anything in your life that is keeping you from having a good conscience? How can you keep a good conscience? Read and respond to the following verses. Psalm 139:23-24 Psalm 51:3 I John 1:9 Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 9

10 7. In verse 20, what do you think it means when it says Paul handed these men over to Satan? 8. Why did Paul do this? As a strong spiritual leader Paul deals with unrepentant sin and open rebellion forcefully, not only to protect the integrity of the church, but to allow the consequences of sin to discipline wayward believers. Swindoll, Charles, Swindoll s NT Insights, pg. 33 The only way to identify what is false is to know the truth. God s truth is contained in His Word, the Bible. Thus our theology (that is, our doctrine, what we believe) should be consistent with what the Bible says. Unless we are grounded in the Word, we will be susceptible to any number of false teachings. In addition to being well grounded, we also should avoid anyone who twists the words of the Bible for his or her own purpose. And we should confront and expose false teaching and teachers whenever we find them. How well do you know God s Word? Be a student of the Bible, reading, studying, and applying it. And pay attention to sound doctrine so that you will be able to identify false teaching and stand against it. Life Application NT Commentary, pg 929 Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 10

11 Circle of Sisters in Christ Women s Ministry - Calvary Chapel Lexington, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC (803) Page 11