Godliness Is of Value in Every Way

In one paragraph

The pastor opened 1 Timothy 4 and worked through Paul's instructions to Timothy on what it means to be a good servant of Christ Jesus. The message centered on the relationship between the content of the gospel and the conduct of the believer, with a direct challenge to the idea that Jesus saves people regardless of what they believe. Paul tells Timothy that if he puts "these things" before the...

Read together

1. Psalm 63 quoted at the opening of worship: 'because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you'
2. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 the message of the cross is power of salvation to those being saved but foolishness to those perishing
3. Romans 1-2 cited alongside 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 on the power of salvation for those being saved
4. 1 Timothy 1:15 trustworthy saying: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the foremost'
5. 1 Timothy 4:4-10 main passage: bodily training of some value, godliness of value in every way, hope set on the living God savior of all especially those who believe
6. John 14:6 cited to show Christ is the only way: 'no one comes to the Father except through me'
7. John 3:16 cited on universal offer: 'whosoever believes in him' does not mean all without condition
8. Acts 4:12 cited on exclusivity: 'there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved'
9. 1 Timothy 2:5 cited on one mediator: 'one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom'
10. Ephesians 4:4-6 cited on unity: one body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all
11. John 10:9 Jesus said 'I am the door; if anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and find pasture'
12. John 10:10 Jesus said 'I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly'
13. John 11:25-26 Jesus said 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me though he may die he shall live'
14. John 8:12 Jesus said 'I am the light of the world; whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life'

Talk about it

1. The pastor talked about the connection between content and conduct, saying that what you believe shapes how you act. Where have you seen that to be true, or not true, in your own life?
2. Paul tells Timothy to have nothing to do with 'irreverent, silly myths' and instead to train himself for godliness. What does that kind of training actually look like day to day, and what makes it harder to pursue than physical training?
3. The sermon walked through the phrase 'He is the savior of all people, especially of those who believe.' What questions does that raise for you, and how did the weight of the other scripture passages help you think through it?
4. The pastor described universalism and inclusivism as a 'convenient' belief that leads to a lax practice, and asked why we would send missionaries at all if everyone ends up saved regardless. How do you hold the discomfort of an exclusive gospel alongside a genuine love for people who have not believed?
5. Paul tells Timothy to watch both his conduct and his content, saying that by doing so he will save both himself and his hearers. What does it look like practically to keep a close watch on both of those things in your own setting, whether at work, at home, or in this church?