Page 50 - Pastoral Epistles I & 2 Timothy, Titus

thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is
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to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the
words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly
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myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in
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every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and
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deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living
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God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
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11 Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example
in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of
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Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given to you by prophecy
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when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all
may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing
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you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy chapter 4 is about us … Disciplining Ourselves for Life.

Read Psalm 1:1-6. What does it mean in V15 to be diligent in these matters and to give yourself
wholly to them? What is Paul talking about, and what does this look like in a disciple’s life?

Why do most Christians live with the attitude that … we could and should do more for Jesus, but
we seem content to – in many ways – to just live mediocre lives. Why?

When the Apostle Paul used the phrase in V1 … in later times, some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving
spirits. He was not necessarily talking about those days just before Jesus returns. He was more than likely talking
about something that has been going on throughout all Christian history.
I am not familiar with all of Christian history within Africa, but in the United States, we have had a series of cult-
like groups come into existence one after the next, especially in the last 150 years.
Mormonism arrived on the scene in the 1820s. Then there were the Jehovah's Witnesses in the 1870s, and then
a group calling themselves Christian Science in 1875. In the 1950s, we had the Moonies from Korea, and then a
group known as Hara Krishna arrived in the 1960s, with their shaved heads and silk robes, and they would stand
on the corner and chant Hara Krishna repeatedly.

It has been one group after the next – all claiming to be God-fearing, but solid, mature Christians understand
these people are not Christians. In 1 Timothy 1 Paul talked about the importance of identifying false doctrine
since we live in a time when cults continue to practice and promote their false doctrines.
Paul says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits. He said that these teachings
will come from hypocritical lairs who come up with all sorts of rules to live by, including but not limited to:

Make a list of some of the strange religious groups you have encountered and list some
of the strange teachings that these groups are trying to promote.
1.
2.
3.

How do you know that what they are teaching is not correct?

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