Danville Westside Church of the Nazarene

08/23/2026

Lesson. 12. August 23, 2026. Strengthening the Church Fellowship

We are called to show honor and respect to everyone within the church, and to discover ways to build a strong faith community within the church.

Last Week: We discovered the importance of grounding ourselves in God’s Word and being a godly example to others.

This Week: We will discover how interactions with fellow believers should be characterized by love and respect.

Leadership is essential for the body of Christ. Long before leaders watched over the church, God watched over God’s people as a Shepherd whose power was directed to the flock’s flourishing. As God’s church, there are those among us who deserve special honor and respect as befitting what they have done or because of their status. Here Paul identifies groups that were prominent in the Ephesian church.

WIDOWS AND ELDERS

The first consisted of the widows in the church. Paul instructs Timothy to appropriately honor them is the same word used in the command to “honor one’s father and mothers e Paul wants these vulnerable women in the church to receive proper care and respect. The second group consisted of the “elders.” The elders of the church were some of the older men, regardless of marital status. Like the leadership of the synagogue, faithful older men were selected in each church to “direct the affairs of the church with some even preaching and teaching.” In what ways these leaders differed from or overlapped with the roles of overseer deacon are not clear. What is clear is the kind of honor elders were to receive. Paul says that those who serve in this role well are worthy of a “double honor”,In essence, Paul advocates that elders are not only to receive high praise for their work but also generous compensation.

After instructing the church to honor their leaders, Paul makes clear that leaders are accountable to the people. Thus, elders who are found to be doing things contrary to God’s purposes (“elders who are sinning”) are to be corrected publicly as a warning to others. However, before anyone should take an accusation against an elder seriously, two or three witnesses are needed to bring it forward When an accusation is raised, Paul urges Timothy to resolve the situation in a way that does not show “partiality or favoritism as he holds both leaders and the church accountable. Appropriate honor demands that all know the truth of the situation, especially when leaders go astray as Paul knows well.

Further Instructions

The section on elders ends with additional instructions for Timothy. The first set of instructions consists of three commands and builds on Paul’s call for Timothy to be an impartial judge.In effect, Paul gives Timothy some key principles that will help him manage these delicate situations. The first principle seems obvious but is not always followed. Paul urges Timothy to take his time when selecting new leaders. A good way to prevent future leaders from failing is to develop a robust examination process that screens out those who are not qualified and prepares well those who are. But this process takes time. The second principle is to guard carefully one’s impartiality by not participating in the “sins of others.” If Timothy participates in the problematic behavior of others, he compromises his ability to hold people accountable. Finally, Timothy should keep himself pure. In essence, he must commit himself to holiness and be an example to the people. The next instruction seems out of place. Here Paul tells Timothy to add a little w**e to his diet. In the first century, water purity was problematic. So, as a remedy for stomach issues, alcohol was often prescribed. Paul closes this section with a general principle about sin and good works Some sins and some good works are obvious to all with the sins receiving judgment quickly and the good works being appreciated and enjoyed by all. Some sins and some good works, however, are not obvious. But, in time, both will be revealed for what they are, if for no other reason than God is aware of everything that we do, both any hidden sins and unrecognized good works.

Respect?

For the modern church, Paul’s final discussion is a bit confusing, especially in a conversation about believers who deserve honor. In addition, the practice of slavery is thankfully no longer legal and it is challenging for us to understand biblical passages that focus on slaves and masters. Unfortunately, slavery was an important component of the economy in the ancient world and those who became slaves did so for a variety of reasons. In the first century, at least 40% of the population of the Roman Empire were slaves. As we read 1 Timothy 6:1-2, we are surprised by Paul’s view of slavery. However, in chapter 1, Paul grouped “slave traders” with murderers, adulterers, liars, and the ungodly. Yet Paul had a higher goal than even social change. He was committed to the liberation of men, women, and children from slavery to sin.

What was Paul’s rationale for asking slaves to show respect to their masters? They were to show honor “so that God’s name . . . may not be slandered”. Who we honor on earth says a great deal about the One we worship in heaven.

For Paul, believers should serve faithfully in whatever role that they find themselves because this honors God, the church, and the gospel message of salvation through Christ.

Did You Know?

Instructions to slaves and masters are a standard part of the instructions to those in God’s household.

Think About It

To protect the church from false teachings, Timothy had to remove those teachers who continued in their heresy. He needed additional elders to assist him in ministry at Ephesus. However, Paul cautioned him, “Do not be hasty”. Leadership in the church is a serious responsibility. It calls not only for mature faith, but for moral integrity as well. Those who strive to be leaders should have time to prove themselves. People became slaves in the Roman Empire as prisoners of war, due to extreme poverty, or being children of parents who were slaves.

Reflect

Who deserves appropriate honor in your church but is not receiving it? What can be done about it?

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08/16/2026

Lesson. 11. August 16, 2026. Good Teaching

Grounding ourselves in the Word of God and relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance enable us to avoid false teaching, then committing ourselves to God’s Word and being Christlike examples in our speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Last Week: We examined the way church leaders should exhibit godly character, self-control, and a knowledge of and a commitment to the faith.

This Week: We will examine the way we can recognize teaching which conflicts with Scripture and undermines the message of the gospel

Discover:

A myth is a story that tries to explain how and why things have come about. It is not necessarily historical but certainly can refer to historical events. Myths had a sense of truth that resonated with the ancient world and were used in religious and philosophical instruction on how to live one’s life. Yet Paul warned his young companion, Timothy, to avoid such tales. Why did he do so?

Deceptive Teaching

Paul addresses the issue of false teachings in Ephesus and how best to address them. The fact that there are deceptive teachings should not be a surprise to believers. As Paul says, the Holy Spirit has already clearly said that such teachings would be promoted in later times. Early Christians saw themselves as caught in the final struggle between the new world that God was creating in Christ and the old where evil forces fought to maintain their rule over this earthly world. In addition, they believed that, as this struggle came to an end, the challenges for the faithful would become greater as deception increased, and some believers turned away from the faith. Thus, for Paul, the fact that some of the Ephesian community had abandoned the faith and now teach false doctrines, and are even attempting to deceive other believers, is sad but expected. And since the primary struggle between the evil forces of this age and God’s new age continues even to our time, we can expect the same. The challenge for believers of every age is to recognize this deception and to name it for what it truly is. In this passage, Paul identifies some of the deceptive teachings that were being taught among the Ephesians. First, he calls these teachers “hypocritical liars” In other words, these teachers likely had false motives for promoting a gospel contrary to what was taught by Paul and the apostles. Second, they could do this without a second thought because their “consciences were seared as with a hot iron.” This suggests that they once knew the truth but now deliberately renounced the truth topromote their false beliefs. Specifically, these teachers forbade “people to marry and ordered them to abstain from certain foods.” In essence, these teachings were problematic because they were blanket prohibitions that called into question God’s good creation. For “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” Both Jesus and the apostolic church had decreed that food prohibitions were not necessary for faith and nowhere did the leaders of the church prohibit sexual relations within marriage.While some believers may elect not to marry or to abstain from certain foods, those that insisted on these prohibitions as critical to one’s salvation were actually promoting a false gospel.

The Best Defense

In the face of all these deceptions, Paul identifies the best defense: godliness. As Paul says, “Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Such godliness is demonstrated by those who are committed to God’s gospel concerning salvation for all people in Christ and who behave appropriately in the “household of God”. Such godliness does not come automatically, but only through training. In essence, as is the case for those who pursue physical training, training to be godly is hard work. It involves discipline such as staying away from “godless myths and old wives tales”. and instead involves regularly feeding upon the truths of the faith and whatever other good teaching that is passed down to believers. Only those who have been trained in this way can point out deceptive teachings ,and hope to help other believers remain faithful. Such training may even bring back to the faith those that have abandoned it. Since, as Paul points out, Timothy has been trained in this way, Paul trusts that he will be able to confront the false teachers and preserve the church from their teachings. As he does, he will join with Paul as they both labor and strive in the service of the “living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe”.

Be An Example

Paul’s final instructions are for Timothy himself. However, Paul knew that the letter would not be read by Timothy alone. He expected it to be read aloud in church for all to hear. Thus, even as we read these words, it is safe to assume that Paul’s hope is that all believers would be “an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purityWhile not all of us may be gifted as Timothy in leading public worship (i.e., reading Scripture publicly), preaching, and teaching. we should all be sure not to neglect whatever gift God has given to us. As their spiritual leader, Paul wanted Timothy to stay faithful even when others looked down upon him because he was young. The best way to do that was to stay accountable to those in the church by giving himself wholly to them so that everyone might see his growth in the faith. Paul’s last two commands to Timothy here are not just good advice to Timothy, but to us all. May we all observe our lives carefully (NIV, “watch closely”) and stay faithful to sound teaching (NIV, “doctrines”). Even more, may we persevere in both these tasks, because if we do, both ourselves and others will find salvation.

Did You Know?

The false teachers likely promoted an early form of Gnosticism. Some Gnostics believed that the created world is evil, and that salvation is obtained through an ascetic lifestyle that forbade eating certain foods and forbade sexual relations.

Think About It

Paul told Timothy to lead by example. He was to be a model of what Christ expected from believers. Timothy’s conduct was to be worthy of imitation. In the words of Frances of Assisi, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.”

Reflect

What kind of example is your walk with Christ to those who observe it?

08/09/2026

Lesson. 10. August 9, 2026. Qualified to Lead

God has provided in His Word the qualifications and standards needed for those who hold places of leadership within the church. Therefore we must examine the qualifications and standards required of those who hold places of leadership within the church and to reflect on our own place and responsibility within the church.

Last Week: We saw how our worship must be centered on God.

This Week: We will see Paul’s instruction to Timothy in regard to the proper qualifications for leadership.

Singing has always been a part of the worship of God. Singing hymns and songs was not only part of synagogue practice, but it was also an inherent feature of the early church. Because of this, many have wondered if several passages in the New Testament, including 1 Timothy 3:16, are ancient hymns.

Called to Lead

For Paul, the church had not been around long enough to identify clear leadership roles like those in churches today. Thus, he did not have in mind pastors, church elders, bishops, or other church positions that exist today. However, Paul understood every church needed believers who were called to lead, and those called to serve.

Paul identifies church leaders as serving in the “office of overseer”. What is involved in this role is not entirely clear. Most likely, those in the role had an overall responsibility for the church which included supervision and general care. Paul also identifies this role as “a noble task.” As for its qualifications, it is interesting that Paul only lists two specific skills: “able to teach”, and to “take care of God’s church”. All other qualifications focus on the candidate’s moral and spiritual character. Many of these moral qualities are not unique to Christianity but have been expected of leaders by moral philosophers throughout the centuries, including those in Paul’s time. Thus, overseers should be above reproach, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and gentle (not violent). In addition, overseers should not be quarrelsome, lovers of money, or recent converts. Besides these qualifications, overseers should not have a problematic relationship with alcohol (“temperate” and “not given to drunkenness,” Also, those that are married should be faithful to their spouses, manage well their families, including raising their “children in a manner worthy of full respect”.Finally, overseers should “have a good reputation with outsiders. In essence, good church leaders are spiritually and morally mature, self-disciplined, and caring for all others in their lives, including members of their own family.

Deacons

In Paul’s letter, the difference between an overseer and a deacon is not clear since he does not identify any specific skills for the deacon. Likely, the term “deacon” was enough to indicate what duties were expected of this leader. Thus, a primary task for deacons was likely to serve (minister to) those in the church. Paul understood himself to be such a servant. And Jesus even characterized His earthly ministry as service to others.

As for the qualifications for this role, the spiritual and moral qualifications are like those of an overseer. Deacons are to be worthy of respect. This sums up well the overall moral qualifications of a deacon. Paul then goes into more detail. First, deacons are to be sincere. Literally, they are not to be “double-tongued. In other words, they are to say what they mean. In addition, like overseers, deacons are not to have a problematic relationship with alcohol. While drinking was not forbidden in that culture, those who drank in excess did not demonstrate appropriate self-discipline. Finally, deacons are not people who pursue “dishonest gain”. They are not greedy, nor do they take advantage of others for money.

Only those who “keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience” are worthy of being deacons. They are those who search out the truth of the faith and believe it firmly. In addition, they are to be people who have been tested. In difficult situations, they have demonstrated their faithfulness to the gospel message of salvation. Finally, like overseers, those that are married are to be faithful to their spouses and manage their families appropriately, especially their children .

Imbedded in the discussion of deacons, Paul talks briefly about qualifications for deaconesses. Like deacons. they, too, are to be worthy of respect and like overseers . they are to be temperate. The remaining two are not mentioned elsewhere. Deaconesses are not to be malicious talkers and so slander others in the church. And in everything, they are to be trustworthy. All who serve well in their roles (probably all the leaders discussed here) are doubly blessed. Because of their faithfulness, they have gained an “excellent standing” and so receive honor for themselves (both inside and outside the church) and before God. And they have gained “great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” Thus, through their service, they have demonstrated to all their true faithfulness to Christ.

The Reason for Instruction

As he closes this section of the letter, Paul gives his reason for his instructions concerning how believers should conduct themselves as part of “God’s household, which is the church of the living God”.

He talked about how men and women should conduct themselves in worship previously . In this chapter, he has provided the qualifications for those in leadership. Yet, what Paul provides is not simply good advice for living in community together. Instead, those who live in this way embody “true godliness,” for it springs from the “mystery” that God has revealed to all believers. This mystery is that God has brought salvation to all in Christ, as Paul’s final poetic tribute to Christ makes clear. Because of this salvation, may we all commit ourselves to faithfully embody true godliness.

Think About It

“The lists of qualifications for church office show that living a blameless and pure life requires effort and self-discipline. All believers, even if they never plan to be church leaders, should strive to follow these guidelines because they are consistent with what God says is true and right. The strength to live according to God’s will comes from Christ.

08/02/2026

Lesson. 9 8/ 2/ 2026. A Perspective on Worship

True worship derives from our hearts and lives centered on God. This is so we can gain a biblical perspective on what should be present in our worship of God.

Last Week: We discovered God calls us to embrace the truth of His Word and to lovingly correct those who are teaching a false message.

This Week: We will discover that when we gather for worship, we should conduct ourselves in a way that our focus is on God and we are cultivating love, grace, mercy, and peace toward all people.

What does Paul have to say about the role of women in the body of Christ? What is the role of women in the church? Paul’s words in his first letter to Timothy seem to suggest that it is limited. Yet, in spite of what many say are clear teachings against the role of women as leaders in the church, Holiness churches have traditionally favored the ordination of women. How do we make sense of this? ‘

Importance of Prayer

Of all the worship practices in the ancient church, Paul highlights prayer as one of the most important. As he does, he does not prefer one kind of prayer over another. In fact, the reason why Paul lists so many kinds of prayer here is not to differentiate one from another, but to emphasize that believers should participate in the widest range of prayers to God. In addition, all the words are in the plural which suggests that Paul also wants believers to pray as often as possible. Finally, it is striking for whom Paul wants believers to pray. Paul wants believers to “pray for all people.” This is not a typical request for Paul. Often, he will request prayers for himself or for believers to pray for one another. However, Paul’s ultimate concern is for the salvation of all people and it often begins with believers taking time to pray for those who are not part of the Christian community.

Though believers are urged to pray for all people, Paul highlights one group in particular: “kings and all those in authority.” Such prayers certainly arise out of Paul’s Jewish context. Within the Greco-Roman culture context, offering sacrifices to the emperor was seen as customary. However, Jews could only offer sacrifices to God and so they were suspected of disloyalty to Rome for not being willing to be flexible on this. To offset some of this suspicion, Jews would, instead, regularly offer prayers to God for the emperor and other government leaders. Thus, since Christians like Jews were reluctant to follow typical Roman worship practices, Paul, instead, urges believers to pay appropriate respect for those in authority including through prayer.

Besides this, Paul had another reason to encourage believers to pray for those in authority. By showing appropriate honor to those in power, Paul’s hope was that Christians would be able to “live peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness” In Roman society, gatherings of people typically were for reasons that were readily recognized in society (synagogue worship, guilds). Other gatherings, like for Christian worship, were generally considered suspicious at best or subversive to Roman society at worst. For Paul, then, it was important that Christians demonstrated to outsiders that the faith expressed in Christian worship was not unnecessarily problematic for outsiders to possibly appreciate. As a “true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles” . Paul always had an eye towards how worship practices would be seen by those who did not yet believe.

Jesus the Mediator

What drove Paul’s passion to work with the Gentiles was the gospel message itself. Here he provides one of the clearest summaries of that message. God is Savior and wants “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”. To receive this salvation, people need a mediator between themselves and God. That mediator is “the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all people”.Assumed in this gospel summary is the cross on which Jesus died for the sins of all people. By His death, He paid the price that made salvation possible. So, Jesus’ death came “at the proper time” which became the testimony (“witnessed to”) of Jesus’ disciples and of Paul himself . All those who have found this salvation will want to be like Paul and do whatever it takes toi share it with all people, especially those who do not yet believe.

Expressions of Worship

After providing a general overview of worship and prayer, Paul makes application to specific groups within the church and gives instructions on how they are to express themselves in worship. He first addresses men in the church. In this instruction, he identifies where men should pray. Men should pray “in every place” . What this means is not entirely clear, but it certainly does mean that they should not restrict their prayers to worship gatherings only. He then assumes that men will pray by “lifting hands,” a Jewish practice found in the Old Testament .While this behavior is a typical prayer practice, Paul’s focus is more on the spiritual disposition of the men. As they raise their hands, they should do so with “holy hands.” The hands here are representative of the whole person and so only those who are living lives that are pleasing to God can lift holy hands. More specifically, Paul has in mind lives that are “without anger and disputing.” Thus, those who are consumed with anger or who are in conflict with others would not be able to pray effectively with those who are a part of the church. nor would they be effective witnesses of God’s salvation to those who are not.

The other group identified here are women. Regarding their worship practices, Paul is most concerned about how women clothe themselves for worship (i.e., “dress”). Thus, as women prepare their outward appearance for worship, they should do so in ways that keep everyone focused on God. Things like “gold, pearls, expensive clothes, or braided hair” highlight a woman’s wealthy social status more than her relationship with God. However, dressing “modestly with decency and propriety” help keep everyone’s focus on God and help keep one’s appearance from being a distraction to those who are outside the faith. In essence, women who clothe themselves with good deeds do what is “appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Then, like men who lift holy hands without anger and disputing, these women who adorn themselves appropriately, especially with good deeds, will both be able to pray effectively with those who are a part of the church and be effective witnesses to God’s salvation to those who are not.

Did You Know?

Prayers were offered with the face and hands lifted toward heaven. Paul reminded the Ephesians, and he reminds us, that when God’s people prayed, they needed to lift “holy hands”. It is not enough to say the right words. One’s heart must long for the right things. Prayer begins by seeking a right relationship with God and others.

Think About It

The four words Paul uses for different kinds of prayers in verse 1—petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving—are meant to represent the full range of prayers that may be offered to God. We have the privilege of presenting our needs to God. However, we must not forget that it is also our obligation to present our expressions of thanksgiving to Him as well.

Reflect

Our acts of worship are seen by others both inside and outside the church. How consistent are we when others see how we worship God externally and then experience our attitudes and actions toward them?

07/26/2026

Lesson. 8. 7/26/2026 Telling the True from the False

God calls us to embrace His message of truth, and to lovingly correct those who are teaching and preaching a false message. Because to learn the truth of God’s Word and point others to God’s truth and the eternal life He offers to all who believe in Him.

Last Week: We saw that the health of every relationship Christians are involved in should be measured by this standard: Does this relationship draw me closer to or further from Christlikeness, holiness, and purity?

This Week: We will see that right teaching comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Discover:

Of all Paul’s associates, Timothy is the one mentioned most often in Paul’s letters. Timothy worked closely with Paul in many ways. Regarding Paul’s letters, no other associate is mentioned as a co-sender with Paul more than Timothy. Who was Timothy, and why did Paul write to him? Let’s find out.

Stop False Teaching

The church in Ephesus was one that Paul knew quite well because he spent over two years there. He knew the church so well that he deliberately left Timothy there with one charge: “To command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer”. What Timothy faced is an age-old problem. Instead of conspiracy theories, half-truths on the Internet, and other false information that are common today, Timothy had to wrestle with “myths, endless genealogies, and other kinds of controversial speculations” . Paul does not engage these teachings directly because he saw them as “false doctrines” and “meaningless talk” In fact, doing so would have been pointless and would likely have made things worse, so he urged Timothy to simply put a stop to these teachings. The reason for this instruction is clear. These false teachers were not “advancing God’s They were, instead, harming it. Much of this harm shows up later in the letter. What Paul does highlight here is the false teachers and their fascination with some kind of special knowledge that they believed had salvational significance. Instead, however, what they taught undermined a core Christian teaching that God’s salvation in Christ comes by faith. In commanding Timothy to put a stop to these false teachers, Paul does not encourage Timothy to use coercion. Instead, the “goal of this command is love.” Only by acting in love can Timothy work redemptively to curb these false teachings without creating additional problems. Thus, Paul reminds Timothy to examine himself to make sure his actions arise out of “a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith”. Only as one is right with God can one help others to see the error of their ways.

The Law’s Purpose

These false teachers saw themselves as having superior knowledge on how the law supplemented or even replaced faith. But this was not true. In fact, they had no idea what they were talking about. As Paul taught, the law’s purpose is not to bring salvation but to expose human sinfulness as Paul’s list of vices The fact that this list roughly parallels part of the Ten Commandments is on purpose. Any other use of the law is to use it improperly as the “righteous” already know these misuses do not conform to the “gospel” message that Paul has faithfully preached.

The Grace of the Lord

Paul’s commitment to love arises out of his own personal experience. He, too, once promoted ways of thinking and acting that were contrary to God. Paul says that he was a “blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent man”. However, despite all this, God understood that he acted “in ignorance and unbelief” and so He showed Paul mercy. In addition, God poured out upon Paul His “grace, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus”. To this Paul responded by leaving behind his errant ways and came to faith in Christ, and then accepted the call to “his service”. The lesson to Timothy is clear: all have sinned as the false teachers are doing now, and if these teachers will turn from their meaningless talk, they too can be renewed because of God’s mercy toward them. Yet, as Paul affirms this way of love, it does have its boundaries. Those who do not respond may need to be publicly denounced and removed from the community. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two that had “suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith” and so Paul handed them over to Satan so that they would learn “not to blaspheme”.

Jesus’ Immense Patience

While tough love is sometimes necessary, Paul prefers to focus on the “immense patience” that Christ Jesus has with all sinners, including himself whom he calls “the worst of sinners” After all, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. As Paul says, this is “a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.” Paul’s call is to patiently bear in love those who are fascinated with their problematic teachings. By acting in love towards them, the hope is that these teachers will see how their teachings are damaging to themselves and to the church. One may even hope that they will let these meaningless ideas go, trust only in Christ (i.e., “believe in him”), and so “receive eternal life.” For Paul, no other teaching should replace our singular focus on God our king who is eternal, invisible, and worthy of honor and glory. God’s plan of salvation in Christ is clear and does not need to be supplemented with human speculation. May we be centered in this faith that Paul teaches here and follow Paul’s example of love in dealing with others who insist on ideas that really do not matter.

Did You Know?

In the Pastoral Epistles, five times Paul references “trustworthy sayings” that should be self-evident to the mature Christian.

Think About It

"Responding to God’s grace must lead to change in our lives. God forgives our sins, but we need to learn from our past. By being open about his past sinful life, Paul allowed the grace of the Lord to be more evident. We should not glory in our sin but allow God’s loving-kindness to shine through the testimony of our transformed lives".

Reflect

How can your experience of God's grace help you be more loving and patient toward those whom you disagree with?