Teach and Urge These Things

In one paragraph

Pastor Nathan opened Father's Day by walking through the long list of commands Paul gave Timothy across the first six chapters of 1 Timothy, landing on the phrase that starts chapter six's next section: "teach and urge these things." The sermon then worked through what Paul says about money, contentment, and the danger of letting wealth become the organizing ambition of a life. Before reading a...

Read together

1. Psalm 63:1 sung as a prayer song at the opening of the service
2. 1 John 4:4 quoted in pastoral prayer: the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world
3. 1 Timothy 6:2 the starting point of the sermon text: teach and urge these things
4. Galatians 1 referenced to show that even Paul or Timothy teaching a different gospel would be anathema
5. Matthew 28:19-20 the Great Commission quoted and discussed regarding teaching content versus conduct
6. John 13:34 Jesus's new commandment to love one another as he has loved, tied to teaching them to observe his commands
7. 1 Timothy 6:3-10 main passage: false doctrine, love of money as a root of all kinds of evil, craving for riches leading people away from the faith
8. Job referenced as the earliest Bible book for the idea that we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out
9. Matthew 19:24-26 referenced: harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but with God all things are possible
10. 1 Corinthians 10:31 closing benediction: whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God
11. Psalm 33:4 sung as the closing song: the word of the Lord holds true and we can trust everything He does

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nathan walked through a long list of imperatives Paul gave Timothy across the first six chapters of 1 Timothy. Which one or two of those instructions stood out to you most, and why?
2. Pastor Nathan said 'methods are many, principles are few, methods always change, principles never do.' What does that look like practically for a church trying to stay faithful to Paul's instruction to Timothy?
3. The sermon drew a contrast between knowing something and actually living it out, using the example of a student who got an A in Bible and an F in conduct. Where do you see that gap showing up in your own life?
4. Pastor Nathan made a distinction between 'the love of money' being a root of all kinds of evil and money itself being evil. How do you personally try to tell the difference between providing for your needs and letting money take a place it shouldn't have?
5. Pastor Nathan pointed out that by a global measure, nearly everyone in the room is in the top one percent of wealth. How does that change, or should it change, the way you think about Jesus saying it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?