A. Pray First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings are made for everyone. (1)

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview March 10, 2013 Please God in Your Worship Background & Lesson: 1 Timothy 2:1-15 Motivation: Worship, both private and public, is a major part of our response to God s Lordship. We both respond to God s majesty and seek to understand Him more. I. Pray for Others (2:1-4) A. Pray First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings are made for everyone. (1) 1. Petitions Generally speaking, this is a request made on one s own behalf, i.e. Lord, I need this or Please forgive this 2. Prayers This may include both praise to God and blessings for others. 3. Intercessions Just as Christ makes intercession for us, we are to intercede in prayer on behalf of others. (Heb. 7:25) 4. Thanksgiving Just as a devout Jew would always give thanks to God prior to a meal, so we are to give thanks regularly in our prayer times. B. Pray for Leaders for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (2) Dignity, in the context of 1 / 6

2 prayer, Paul states to God-ordained role of government, to keep the peace. True inner peace only comes from Jesus (John 14:27). Government s role is to establish a peaceful environment through enforcement of law and protection against outside threats (Romans 13:1-7). C. Pray for Evangelism This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (3-4) When we pray for a person s salvation, we can be assured that we are praying according to God s will. (2 Peter 3:9) HCSB, p. 2086: 2:4 Come to the knowledge of the truth is a way of referring to being converted. The truth is often used in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus as a synonym for the gospel. II. Teach the Truth (5-7) A. One Way For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human, (5) In our postmodern culture, exclusivity of faith is not a popular view. However, we cannot deny that Christ as the only way to God is the consistent New Testament proclamation by Jesus (John 14:6), Peter (Acts 4:12) and John (John 1:12), although an unpopular message (cf. stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:54-60 and the persecution of the early church in Acts 8:1-4). B. One Ransom who gave Himself a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. (6) (cf. Hebrews 7:27) Christ s substitutionary atonement is viewed here as a ransom for all held captive by sin and Satan. Christ paid the ransom price with His death. (1 Peter 1:18-19; Hebrews 9:1-28) C. One Mission For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (7) This points all the way back to verse 2 it pleases God our Savior who wants everyone to be saved Paul sees his mission in terms of a herald (one proclaiming the Good New), an Apostle (one commissioned or sent by Christ) and a 2 / 6

3 teacher (one who examines and explains truth). We can teach (and pray) truth when we stick to God s Word. Involving our opinions and editorials can sometimes get us in trouble! III. Behave in Worship (8-15) Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument. (8) A. Praying Men - The posture of prayer for Jewish men was standing with palms lifted toward heaven. The attitude rather than the position of the prayer is the concern. While some interpret this literally, others view it as a command to come in prayer wit h clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:4; Ps. 66:18). HCSB, p. 2086: 2:8-9 The word therefore resumes the call to prayer from verse 1. Lifting up hands was a typical posture for prayer in the Bible (Ex 9:29; 1 Ki 8:22; Ps 28:2; 63:4; Is 1:15; Lk 24:50). With the words I want the men also, the women, Paul addressed specific concerns in regard to each gender. B. Modest Women Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God. (9-10) Paul s instructions to women are in contrast to the worldly standards of the day. Gentile converts were familiar with pagan places of worship where women served as temple prostitutes. Obviously their dress would be anything but modest. His directive is also in keeping with Galatians 3:28, There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you all are one in Christ Jesus. When we gather to worship, we are not to emphasize our differences but our oneness in Christ. C. Submissive Attitude A woman should learn in silence with full submission. (11) Again, this teaching is in contrast to the practices of women in pagan worship. Paul also taught mutual submissive attitude in church for men (Ephesians 5:21). 3 / 6

4 D. Commissioned Spirit I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent. (12) Since the authority for all teaching in the local church is derived first from the Bible and then from the Senior Pastor, this is not a directive that women should never speak up in a mixed congregation. In fact, 1 Corinthians 11:5 assumes that women had an active role in the New Testament church: Churches met in the homes of Mary (Jerusalem, Acts 12:12) and Lydia (Philippi, Acts 16:40); Nympha (Colossae, Col. 4:15); Priscilla and Aquilla were treated as co-laborers & teachers (Acts 18:26) Philip s daughters prophecied (Acts 21:9); Titus 2:4 clearly provides a teaching ministry for women. Paul often gives greetings to women in his epistles as co-laborers (1 Cor. 16:12; Col. 4:16). As we read in 2 Tim. 1:5, Timothy s mother and grandmother are given credit for his profession of faith. So as the Senior Pastor of the local church deems appropriate, men and women will receive teaching assignments fitting within the God-given mission of the local church. E. Specific Roles But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love and holiness, with good judgment. (15) A literal reading of this verse would lead one to conclude that childbearing replaces the cross in salvation and that a woman incapable of having children cannot be saved. Since both of these conclusions are contradictory to Paul s clear teaching, we must discern a symbolic meaning rather than a literal one. Thus, in context, Paul seems to be advocating that both men and women have different roles. Just as men are physically incapable of bearing children, a difference we all acknowledge, so women must serve within the framework of their giftings in the Body. In sum, we re not all designed identically and therefore must accept our God-given gifts, roles and assignments within the local church. Application: 1. Prayer is foundational to all we re called to do. 2. Christ has called us to share His gospel. 3. Happiness is found in submission to God s assigned roles. 4 / 6

5 Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 5: Poster: Exclusivity Biblical Illustrator: no article this week **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: Dates: 1/15 3/5 LivingProof Bible Study Tues; 3/3 MIYC Orientation; 3/4-6 Sr. Adult Revival; 3/ 8-16 HUB Trip to Israel; 3/11-15 Spring Break; 3/17 M 1:8 Announcement Day; 3/18 Imago Setup; 3/21-22 FBA MS Play; 3/22 Summit Celebrates in Chapel; 3/23 SPF Hippity-Hoppin Easter party; 3/29 Good Friday Church offices closed; 3/31 Easter Sunday (8-9:30-11 & 5:30)- no LBS; 3/31 Full Launch of Cypress and Sienna campuses; 4/5 Warrior Day; 4/11 FBA Spring Musical; 4/12 6 th grade Wax Museum; 4/12 Recreate: Date Night; 4/16 Imago tear down; 5 / 6

6 4/19-20 Apologetics Conference; 4/21 - LBS Leadership Lunch; 4/21 AMP Wired; 4/26-28 Summit Spring Retreat; 4/29 FBA Spring Fine Arts. 6 / 6