Sermon Notes-A Better Way

Here are my notes from my message today at Hesston MB based on 1 Timothy 3:14-16:

 

Introduction: I went on the internet and typed in books titled “A Bettter Way” and the search came up with more than 21,000 titles on topics from discipleship, worship, prayer, business, marriage, parenting, health, personal finance, education, dying, communication, cooking, life, government, being human, dating, friendship, travel, medical, think, discipline, making decisions and even preaching.  As humans, we are a fix it culture.  We are always looking for a better way no matter what we are doing.  When I was growing up, my dad was always looking for a better way to get somewhere on a trip.  Where most people would take the interstate or larger highways,  my dad was always looking for a better way (which meant quickest way with least amount of traffic).  I have to say I take after him a little because even when I put something in maps on my phone, I still question whether it is the better way.  In 1 Timothy 3, Paul is describing a better way.

Review-Last two weeks on Elders from Pastor Brad

·         Focus on aspiring not arrived; who they are—one all inclusive, 6 Do Be’s, 5 Don’t Be’s, 4 Standing

·         What they do-Lead & Serve, Teach & Preach, Protect From False Teaching, Exhort & Admonish, Visit Sick/Pray for healing, Doctrinal Issues, Spiritual Parent, Set an example.  How they develop maturity—accountability, humility, repentance

Church (vs. 14-15)

·         Vs. 14-Paul wanted to be with Timothy. This shows his love and concern for Timothy, one whom he had discipled.  He describes the church in three ways: household, church of living God, & pillar & foundation of truth

·         Vs. 15-But if he is delayed, here is better way to “conduct themselves in God’s household” (Elders-vs. 1-7, Deacons-8-13)

o   he does not want to delay the instruction necessary for conduct in God’s house. So he writes “these things” now^[1]

o   Household-the church is compared to a family

·         Vs. 15-Church of living God

o   We just sang, “He is not dead, He is alive. We have this hope in Jesus Christ.” These are not just lyrics we sing, but foundational in who Christ is and what He has done. 

o   The church is not a building, but a people called and brought together by relationship with Jesus.

o   Contrasts with deadness (or falseness) of idols or other religions.  Many cults today are based on someone who has died.

o   Since we worship a living God, we are not dependent on our own strength, but we are empowered to live today from that same God.

·         Vs. 15-Pillar & Foundation of Truth

o   Pillar-What does a pillar do? Pillars are tall cylinders or posts used to hold up a roof structure and also so it can be seen clearly from a distance. The reference to pillars would have been better understood by Timothy because of the temple of Diana in Ephesus that had 127 pillars.

o   Are pillars really that important? Can we remove them without any effect?  Check out this short video from Brazil on why pillars are important.

o   Foundation (NIV), buttress-ESV-a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall. 2 a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.^[2] A structural member used to stiffen, support or strengthen a framework;

o   What is the pillar and foundation of truth?  The Church

o   Truth matters.  Is truth just concerned with doctrine?  Or is truth a person? Unfortunately, throughout history, the church at times has gotten truth wrong in regards to Bible and who God is.

o   God’s church, his saved and assembled people, must realize that all its actions are built on the foundation of God’s truth and that it must also uphold that truth as a pillar. That truth, the source of Christian conduct or godliness, is the tremendous work of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.^[3] The living God has established his church to display the embodiment of his truth

o   The main truth to which a church should bear witness is the person and work of Jesus Christ^[4]

Christ  (vs. 16)

·         What is it?

o   probably adapted from a confession, creed or hymn..^[5]

·         Mystery of godliness

o   What is the mystery of godliness? Jesus

o   Having ended the last verse with emphasis on the truth of the gospel, Paul now writes of the confessed grandeur of the gospel in terms of him who is its reality.^[6]

·         Appeared in a body

o   Jesus is the God-man; fully God, fully man. It was necessary for Jesus to be God and man.  Both were necessary for our salvation. A reminder of the incarnation that we just celebrated at Christmas.

·         Vindicated by the Spirit

o   There, too, a vindication or demonstration is in view (“declared to be the Son of God with power”) and the means of the declaration is “by resurrection from the dead.”^[7]

·         Seen by Angels

o   Probably, therefore, the word refers here to the resurrection appearances, ascension & messengers of Jesus’ resurrection^[8]

·         Preached among the nations

o   We preach Jesus.  This is what the world needs to hear.  Our message is about Jesus.  Every other message is secondary—politics, culture, behavior

o   it is that of proclamation and announcement with Christ as the subject ^[9]

·         Believed on in the world

o   As the message is preached, we respond in belief or unbelief.

·         Taken up in glory

o   used elsewhere of Christ’s ascension and exaltation^[10]

o   indicates brightness, splendor, or radiance and denotes in particular the glory, majesty, To enter into God’s presence is thus to enter into glory^[11]

 

·         How can elders and deacons aspire to be leaders described in the church 1 Timothy 3 and we the church be the family of God stand for truth? 

o   Listen to these words from Gospel Transformation Bible—"So the call to godly conduct is not a challenge to pursue a self-generated “boot-strap” godliness. Rather it is a call to live out the dizzying realities of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ is the burning essence of godliness—its radiating nuclear core, so to speak. In his incarnation, death, and resurrection, the mystery of godliness was displayed before the universe. And by virtue of Christ’s saving grace, all those who believe in him have been united to him so that they share in his godliness. His godly record becomes ours by grace, but in the thankful response of regenerated hearts, we also begin to live out personally the godliness Christ embodied. Paul’s call to godliness is thus both gospel-generated and gospel-sustained.”

 

Closing:  What is a better way for our church? How is Jesus the better way for us?

---

^[1] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 178). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[2] Soanes, C., & Stevenson, A. (Eds.). (2004). Concise Oxford English dictionary (11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

^[3] Knight, G. W. I. (1995). 1-2 Timothy/Titus. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1106). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 223). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[5] Knight, G. W. I. (1995). 1-2 Timothy/Titus. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1106). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

^[6] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 182). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[7] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (pp. 184–185). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[8] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 185). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[9] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 185). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[10] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 186). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.

^[11] Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 186). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press.