Preaching & Teaching Series February 23rd & 24th, 2013 What Matters Most? Preaching & Teaching Series February 23rd & 24th, 2013

“What Matters Most?” New Series

What Matters Most? The central truth of the gospel is that Christ came to save sinners. This lesson is about grounding our faith in the truth of the Gospel of Grace. Any compromise to the centrality of the Grace of God, means it is no longer true Gospel.

Avoid Distractions to the Truth 1 Timothy 1:3-7 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith.

Avoid Distractions to the Truth 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Avoid Distractions to the Truth What do we know about Timothy? Gentile Father and Jewish Christian mother named Eunice; He grew up in Lystra, and become a Christian when Paul first visited; The rest on the map; Paul asks Timothy to join him. Paul preaches in Ephesus for 3 years and appoints Timothy as “chief pastor” to the Church.

Avoid Distractions to the Truth Paul directs Timothy to oppose and prevent false teaching in the Church there at Ephesus; Paul also begs Timothy to stay at the Church, even though he was thinking of leaving. Why? He was young and may have felt intimated by church leaders; He may have felt he was not up to the challenge;

Avoid Distractions to the Truth Paul wanted Timothy to demand troublemakers stop teaching error. Paul does not identify these false teachings, but compared to the Gospel, they are nothing. It is the Good News of Jesus Christ that frees the sinner from guilt and declares them righteous in God’s sight.

Avoid Distractions to the Truth It is God’s revelation in Jesus Christ that is the center-piece for believers and churches; God has provided everything we need for life here and life eternally; Anything else is human speculation and useless information that contradicts God’s plan and is a poor substitute for the Word of God;

Avoid Distractions to the Truth False Teachers still plague the church today; They love to mix truth and error; They promote themselves as all-important; They pile up fables and myths, which are only rubbish; Stay away from them like you would poisonous snakes. It was a snake that first mixed truth and error!

Avoid Distractions to the Truth Paul identified false teachers: They had nothing to show for their work – people’s lives did not change! Paul’s teachings about Christ changed people, forming in them: A pure heart; A good conscience; A sincere faith; Our will, mind and emotions Awareness of right and wrong Genuine trust in Jesus Christ

Take Your Stand on the Truth 1 Timothy 1:12-17 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

Take Your Stand on the Truth 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me,

Take Your Stand on the Truth the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Take Your Stand on the Truth The truth of the Gospel does not come from within us, but from outside of us. It is God’s plan of salvation, revealed in the Bible; It is God’s plan of salvation, brought about by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was God’s plan right from the beginning.

In the beginning, God… 3-1

3-2-2 …created the heavens and the earth. Male and female, He created them. 3-2-2

God’s plan was for us to serve Him by serving others. 3-3

But humanity sinned. 3-4-1

With sin came death. And death to all because all have sinned. 3-4-2

Jesus, our Savior, lived a sinless life, loving God by serving others. 3-5

Jesus suffered the death we deserved to die because of our sin. 3-6

Through Jesus’ Cross, we are forgiven and given the Holy Spirit. 3-7-2

Death is now the door to eternal life as we strive to live out God’s original plan. 3-7-4

Take Your Stand on the Truth Paul gave thanks for this grace of God – God’s plan of salvation. To think that God’s grace could save the likes of Paul – “the worst of sinners.” He slandered Christ and tried to get others to do the same; He persecuted the Christians; He had them killed;

Take Your Stand on the Truth Trustworthy statement: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.” If Jesus can save Paul, He can save anybody. If Jesus can save Paul, there is no one beyond His reach of mercy. Paul becomes living proof that Jesus can deliver from death and darkness ANY sinner.

Battle for the Truth 1 Timothy 1:18-20 18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience.

Battle for the Truth Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Spiritual Warfare! Battle for the Truth There is a battle going on today for the Truth of the Gospel. The Gospel has an easy side – where we enjoy love, joy, peace and communion with Jesus. The Gospel also has a hard side – where we fight against Satan and all the falsehood he stirs up. This is… Spiritual Warfare!

Battle for the Truth Paul encourages this young Timothy to remember: What was said about him, predicting His service to the Lord; Already seeing then, his gifts and abilities that would be used in ministry; These, joined with faith and a good conscience will help Timothy battle for the truth.

Battle for the Truth Paul also was battling for the faith and challenges Timothy to join him. Paul had handed over to Satan, Hymenaeus and Alexander. Why? They had blasphemed God – slandered or insulted God; Removing them from the Christian fellowship says this is serious; With the hope that they would repent of their sin and return to the faith;

Excommunication Which is MORE Loving? Battle for the Truth Years ago, the Church would hand unrepentant people to Satan. Do you know what was it called? We don’t do that much any more. But when people purposely stay away from worship and the Lord’s Supper, what should the Church say? That’s okay – you’ll come to your senses some day; Speak a hard word “to turn over to Satan, until they should repent.” Excommunication Which is MORE Loving?

Yes! Yes! Yes! Battle for the truth Must we take the Gospel message seriously? Does the rejection of the Gospel means an eternity of separation from God? Do people need to be saved? the likes of which we have never seen before! Yes! Yes! Yes! Battle for the truth

Battle for the Truth

Battle for the Truth

Battle for the Truth

Battle for the Truth