10/04/2021
*ADULT TEACHER JANUARY TO JUNE 2021*
April 11, 2021
Lesson 15
*INSTRUCTION FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRY*
*Memory Verse:1 Timothy 4:16*
Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (KJV).
*Central Truth*
All Christians are called by God to Christlike, Spirit-empowered ministry
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*The Lesson Outline*
1. Exemplify Christian Character
1 Timothy 3:1-13
A. Instructions for Pastoral Leaders
B. Instructions for Lay Leaders
2. Devote Yourself to Ministry
1 Timothy 4:8-16
A. Pursue Godliness
B. Be a Good Example
3. Minister to Fellow Christians
1 Timothy 5:1-10, 17-22
A. Provide for Your Own
B. Deal Justly With Others
*Teaching Goals*
1. Impart and ReinforceKnowledge: Explain theinstructions Paul gave Timothyfor pastoral and lay leaders in thechurch.
2. Influence Attitudes: Encouragestudents to appreciate andrespect pastors and lay leaders
who set for others goodexamples for Christian ministry.
3.Influence Behaviour: Encouragestudents to engage In ministry to fellow Christians as well as tounbelievers.
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*Introducing the Lesson*
*Ask, "What role does doing good things for others play In the Christian llfe?"*
While doing good things is certainly part of being aChristian (see Acts 10:38), Christian ministry is not simply doing good. Many people do good deeds who are not Christians.
The apostle Paul gave the parameters of Christian ministry: "As we have opportunity, letus do good to all people, especially tothose who belong to the family of believers" (Galetlans 6:10, NlV).Christian ministry begins in the community of faith (the church), andthen extends outward to the whole world
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*The Holy Scriptures*
*1 Tim 3:*
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3. not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4. one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5. (for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
*1 Tim 4:*
12. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
*1 Tim 5:*
8. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
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*1. Exemplify Christian Character*
*A. Instructions for PastoralLeaders1 Timothy 3:1-7*
In the New Testament, those who were called bishops and overseers (or, elders and presbyters) were pastoral leaders.
Pastoral ministry involves having the oversight direction, and care of a congregation of believers in Christ, Itis essential that pastors be well qualified for their ministry.
Paul affirmed that some Christians sense a calling from God to serve as pastors. The apostle did notdeter those who aspire to this, butinstead he reminded Timothy that theoffice of a pastor is "a good work," and,therefore, those who aspire to thisoffice should be well-qualified to Shepard a congregation (1 Timothy 3:1)
The qualifications of a pastor provide good perspective in what apastoral ministry demands of thosewho seek it (versee 2-7). It is the duty of a pastor to set a Christian examplefor others to follow, to be an able teacher of God's Word, and to minister to the needs of people.
Note the importance placed on godliness in the minister's private life, Just as in his or her public life (verses 4-7), This priority helps us understandPaul's directive that anew believer should not be elevated to the position of pastor; a quick riseto leadership can often lead toarrogance.
Some might question why the private or family life of a minister matters especially if the church seems to be experiencing success in its endeavours.
Note Paul'sstatement that a poorly managedpersonal life is a strong indicator that a person will not manage the public life of ministry very well either.
*Questions for Application*
Write down the specific qualificationslisted in verses 2-7. Now describe how falling short in each will impactone's effectiveness in ministry.
Are there any qualifications listedthat people might tend to overlook? lfso, why might they be overlooked?
*B. Instructions for Lay Leaders1 Timothy 3:8-13*
The word deacon (diakonos) means "servant" or "assistant," as well as being translated as "deacon" (as seen in 1 Timothy 3:8-18). Most
believe that the seven men chosen to administer the benevolence of theEarly Church (Acts 6:1-6) were thefirst deacons.
Deacons were lay leaders in the church whose ministry supported the work of the pastors. Yet, in light ofActs 6, there are differences to note:
The deacons carry out temporaltasks of ministry, leaving theministers to pursue their calling in the study of the word and prayer. As in the case of the pastors, they are to be highly qualified for their ministry.
*Questions for Application*
Why must lay people who areministry leaders in the local church have excellent spiritual and moral qualifications?
What are some of the benefits ofhaving lay leaders whose ministries complement the ministry of your pastor and serve the temporal needs of the congregation?
*Response to the Word*
Living a godly life. And doingChristian ministry with integrity ispleasing to God. Any Christian leader who follows the directives ofScripture will gain respect and trust from others, and will have from Godall the spiritual power needed to serve successfully.
We, in turn, are wise to affirm their ministry by giving them our support in every way we can. We need spiritual leaders who will minister effectively to us, and they also need us, to support themwith our prayers as well as our temporal support.
**2. Devote Yourself to Ministry*
*A. Pursue Godliness 1 Timothy 4:8-10*
We must be careful not to misinterpret the "bodily exercise" mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:8. Paul was not saying that physical exercise is worthless, but that its worth is limited to this world. In contrast, godliness (spiritual exercise) brings profit in all things related to living as a Christian in this world.
Paul exhorted Timothy to excel in godliness by living consistent with the truth of the gospel. While it is essential to verbally proclaim the gospel, this proclamation also takes place through our living. More than by the words we speak, we prove by living according to the gospel how much we value the truth.
The work of ministry will involve persistent human effort and can be accompanied by negative responses by our enemies (verses 9-10).
Therefore, anyone involved in ministry must be prepared physically and spiritually.
Paul knew this as much as anyone who has lived, since he suffered great persecution and emotional struggle, through imprisonment, torture, and abandonment.
Yet he placed his focus on being spiritually fit—cultivating spiritual disciplines for the work to which he had been called.
*Questions for Application*
What actions does a spiritual leader do that have eternal benefit? What actions may not have have eternal benefit? How can you tell the difference between the two?
Why is it important that the truth of the gospel be proclaimed through our living as well as our words?
*B. Be a Good Example*
*1 Timothy 4:11-16*
If we conclude that Timothy was about twenty years old when he became a ministry assistant of Paul (Acts 16:1-3), then he would have been in his mid-thirties when this epistle was written.
Timothy lived in a time when age and experience were been viewed by many with a critical eye (2 Timothy 4:11-12). Therefore, Paul instructed him to provide such a good example that no one could charge him with being too young and inexperienced to have the oversight of the churches in Ephesus.
This instruction continues the message that those who teach the gospel must live by the gospel. To this end, Paul commanded Timothy to be an example to his fellow Christians in every way: in the words he spoke, in his lifestyle, in demonstrating Christlike love for others, in exhibiting godly attitudes, in strong faith, and in moral purity.
An exemplary Christian life results in part from practising spiritual disciplines: reading the Bible, praying, private and corporate worship, serving others, tithing, and giving.
As Paul recited these to Timothy, he also noted that there were other spiritual disciplines that would be of value: the public reading of Scripture, and teaching and preaching (exhortation) based on the Word.
In doing these things, Timothy would honour the gift God had placed within him. He would also provide the means by which others could identify the progress (profit or advance) of that gift within him (verses 14-16). He would serve as a witness and example to all who knew him and knew of his faith.
*Questions for Application*
Beside youthfulness, what are some reasons others might look down on us in ministry? How can we help dismiss these criticisms?
How does practising spiritual disciplines help eqiup us to engage in Christian ministry to others?
*Response to God's Word*
Whether we are pastor or lay people seeking to do Christian ministry, we need to be devoted to whatever ministry Christ has given us to do.
That devotion, in turn, will invite others to become devoted as well. How devoted are you to the work God has called you to do? How can you become more devoted?
*3. Minister to Fellow Christians*
*A. Provide for your Own 1 Timothy 5: 1-10*
Paul also instructed Timothy as to how he should treat fellow Christians. As God's family, the Church ought to foster wholesome relationships.
To this end, Paul instructed Timothy to treat old men with respect and gentieness, as a good son would his own father.
Similarly, Timothy was to relate to Fellow believers as brother, regarding older women as he would his own mother, and the younger women as his sister (1Timothy5: 1-2).
"Widow indeed"(verse 3, KJV) merited extra regard because they were especially vulnerable, having no children to care for them and they were old, (past sixty years of age).
These widows had a reputation for doing good works and and continuing in prayer (verses 5,9-10). conversely, widows who did have families should expect that those families would take the responsibility of caring for them (verse 4).in doing so, the children and grandchildren would please God and put their faith in action (see James 2:20).
The emphasis on caring for the need of widows and other needy people is a revelation of God's concern for the vulnerable - those who have neither power nor money but might be mistreated by those who do.
Paul instructed that while caring for widows, the church needed to be careful not to encourage laziness and sinful not behaviour from younger widows. The church was not give material help to widows and to their families.
While much of 1 Timothy 5 speaks to the responsibility of the church to care for elderly widows in need, verse 8 is a strong rebuke of Christians who will not provide for their own families.
It was commonly accepted in Bible times, even among Gentiles, that family members, and especially married men with children, had a duty to provide for the needs of family members.
Thus the refusal to provide for one's own family was not only a violation of the Christian faith; it was worse behaviour than the conduct of unbelieving Gentiles.
*Questions for Application*
How would our relationships with fellow Christians be different if we treated one another as we would a beloved parent or sibling?
How might Paul's teachings in these verses impact the way we look at caring for needy family members and other needy people in the church?
B. Deal Justly with others1 Timothy 5:17-22*
The terms bishop, elder, and pastor are used interchangeably in the New Testament. Pastors who leaf well do so by the virtue of their Christlike example and love, by faithfulness to preaching and teaching the Word, and by reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The church should value pastors who work hard at preaching and teaching the Word of God (verse 17). Giving the pastor "double honour" is usually seen as a reference to commands from the Old Testament that a working ox be allowed to eat, and that a working man be paid for his labour (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 25:4).
Paul then counseled Timothy to deal with sin in public, probably starting with elders. While a public rebuke may seem harsh, it was intended to prevent others from falling into same sin (verse 20).
Timothy was commanded by Paul to be impartial in his dealings with pastors and with lay people in the churches.
He was not to shrink from pastoral duties and must avoid all appearance of favouritism. All Christians were to be treated as equals, subject to the same discipline.
Note that Paul called on God, Christ Jesus, and the holy angels to witnesses of his charge to Timothy (verses 21-22). This speaks to the seriousness of Timothy violating Paul's instruction.
His purity and commitment to the task were not to be taken lightly. This is also seen in the charge to avoid ordaining others (laying on hands) too hastily. Timothy must take his calling seriously. We, too, whether we are pastors or lay people, are wise to respect the seriousness of our calling.
*Questions for Application*
What are some ways we demonstrate that we take our calling seriously?
Why must Christian discipline, whether for pastors or for members of the congregation, be administered justly and without favouritism?
*Response to God's Word*
The Church is composed of Christians of many different ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds. Yet we all have one Saviour, and we are all brothers and sisters in the family of God.
The Church is a family of believers. As such we must care for each other regardless of barriers that threaten to divide us. We are called to help each other, no matter what barriers seem to get in our way (1 John 3:17-18; James 2:15-16).
*Call to Discipleship*
There is much that could separate us as Christians. Sadly, the temptation to act in divisive ways afflicts leaders just as it does laypeople. In response, we must keep one important fact:
We are all disciples of Jesus Christ. We are all learning, overcoming flaws, growing in the Lord, and winning battles only through the power of the Spirit. How does your status as a disciple of Christ impact the way treat other Christians?
