1 Timothy 4:1-16 October 6, 2016 1. Think back on the people who have had a significant influence over your life. Can you recall any who influenced you in a negative way? Share how they were able to influence you. 2. Read 1 Timothy 4:1-5 where Paul warns of the influence of false teachers within the church. According to verse 1, what has influenced these false teachers? Read 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. To whom are false teachers compared, how are they similar and whom are they serving? 3. According to 1 Timothy 4:3, describe the rules the false teachers are imposing in Ephesus. Note and record the strong, commanding words that are used. Do these words suggest that these instructions are optional? How does Paul defend participating in marriage and eating in verses 3-5? 4. A dramatic contrast is shown as the good servant of Christ Jesus is described in 1 Timothy 4:6-10. Read these verses. What does the good servant use to train or mature himself? What is to be avoided? What is the goal of this training?
1 Timothy 4:1-16 October 6, 2016 Page 2 5. According to Paul, where/when do we experience the benefits of pursuing godliness? Consider your own spiritual journey and describe some benefits you have experienced as a result of pursuing spiritual maturity and godliness. How might godliness today benefit us in the life to come? 6. What strenuous words are used in 1 Timothy 4:7 and 1 Timothy 4:10? What do these words suggest about training in godliness? Many of us have difficulty exerting disciplined and sustained effort. Read 1 Timothy 2:3-4. How does knowing God s desire for you help you to put your hope in Him and press on in training for godliness? 7. Describe someone who has had a positive influence in some area of your life. How were they able to influence you? 8. Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16. Paul points out that Timothy s age would not prevent him from influencing fellow members of the church. From verse 12, what five characteristics would set a positive example for the church? Prayerfully consider each of these characteristics and choose one that you could improve upon in your own life. Share with your group what changes you could make and how that might influence believers around you. If someone were to demonstrate all these things in their life, how would you describe them?
1 Timothy 4:1-16 October 6, 2016 Page 3 9. 1 Timothy 4:13 describes responsibilities of a leader in the church. What are the three things that Timothy is specifically instructed to do? Consider each task and look up and record the definition if it isn t clear to you. Look back at 1 Timothy 3:15 and record the purpose of the church or the household of God. How would these instructions to Timothy assist the members of the church to fulfill their purpose? 10. 1 Timothy 4:14 refers to a gift that Timothy received. This is a special spiritual enablement. Read Ephesians 4:11-12 and also 1 Peter 4:10 and further explain why Timothy needs to use this special ability. 11. List the directives given to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15-16. Looking closely at the verbs used, how would you describe this series of instructions and what would be the duration of this work? 12. If Timothy follows these instructions, what is the reasonable outcome described in verse 15? Also read Titus 2:7-8 and 1 Peter 5:2-3 and describe the favorable results that occur when leaders lead with integrity. 13. Read and record the outcome of good leadership described in 1 Timothy 4:16 and compare and contrast this with the tragic outcome of false teachers that we read in verse 1. 14. Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?
October 6, 2016 #KeepinItReal Paul s Letters to Timothy Real Leaders of the Church: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 1 Timothy 4:1-16 The Bad and Ugly Leaders vs. 1-5 Who they are: They are liars, desensitized by their own disobedience and influenced by. What they do: Add man made laws to the truth of the gospel Claim a higher level of spirituality reached by man s own efforts What they produce: They cause some to from the faith. They cause confusion, division, disorder and pride. The Good Servant Leaders vs. 6-16 Who they are: They are both trained and training in the scriptures which produces godliness. Their hope is set on God. What they do: Display integrity through good speech, good behavior, healthy relationships, steadfast faith and a pure heart Teach the whole of the Scriptures, providing explanations and applications Using their spiritual gifts, they display a visible reality of God s redeeming work Regularly evaluate themselves and their teaching What they produce: Protection for God s people Protection for God s truth Protection for God s church, enabling the church to fulfill its role to both proclaim and display truth. FOLLOW THE GOOD LEADER we each have a responsibility to get behind the good leader and not follow false teachers. We must know the truth in order to discern between the two. FOLLOW THE GOOD train, toil, strive and persist in godliness and be a part of God s great plan for His great Church! Key: Satan, depart, continually, example
#KeepinItReal Paul s Letters to Timothy October 6, 2016 ACTS 20:28-30 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. JOHN 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. COLOSSIANS 2:16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. ACTS 10:15 NIV Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 1 TIMOTHY 2:3-4 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 PETER 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: EPHESIANS 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. MATTHEW 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.