Page 52 - Pastoral Epistles student textbook

4-7. Suggest four questions that should be asked of every elder to determine if he is qualified to serve.

8. What is the Greek word for deacon and what does it mean?

7.5 Let’s Personalize this Lesson…

Activity: All Christians are called to serve others! List some ways you serve others in your
church and in your community:

Study Section 8: I Timothy 4 and 5

8.1 Connect

Mark Price was an all-star guard from 1986 to 1996 with a professional basketball team
called the Cleveland Cavaliers. The star of that same team for a number of years was
LeBron James.
Mark Price had exceptional basketball skills, but he was only 5’10” tall.

One time, in front of a group of men and boys at his church, he was asked how someone his size could
be so good at playing basketball – a game usually played by men who are much taller than him.

His answer was something like this: on most Friday nights while all my friends were either on
a date or at home, I was alone in the gym – practicing both free throw shots and long-range
shots.

He also said his dad worked with him to help his shooting and his blocking skills. He
practiced non-stop. In high school, he was chosen to play on an all-state team. In college, he
was honored to be chosen as an all-conference player from Georgie Tech – a big basketball
college in America.
Then he was signed by the pros.

Physical strength and excellence require training and hard work. Spiritual strength and maturity
require the same things. Training and dedication and hard work. It doesn’t just happen. But too often
we become satisfied with mediocre results while we watch others live for Christ. Today let’s see what
it takes to develop spiritual strength and maturity…
51