I Timothy 5-6:2 - We need to have health relationships so that God is glorified

I Timothy 5-6:2

Thesis: We need to have health relationships so that God is glorified.

As I was leaving church yesterday, I was standing outside the door talking with someone. And this cute, little seven year old girl with a lisp stepped out the door, put her hand on my shoulder and said �I�m thaying this because I care. Get thome help.� and she walked between us and went on.

It was cute. We all chuckled a bit. I�m still not sure what she meant, and I don�t mean to over analyze it. But as I drove away I thought, �Isn�t that just like us. We are quick to diagnose people around us, but we really don�t care enough to do anything about it.� We�ll give advice, but not love and effort.

We�re over half way through I Timothy, and today Paul is talking about relationships, and how we relate to the people around us.

Now, as much as I don�t want to admit it, the Gospel, Christianity, and everything that matters hinges on relationships. There�s been times when I�ve wanted to go back to Alaska, claim my brother�s land, build a little cabin in the mountains and forget this hopeless, dieing world. But for the sake of eternity, mine and those I might touch, I can�t.

Perhaps you�ve heard the statement, �Christianity is not a religion; it�s a relationship.� It�s a relationship with God that demands proper relationships with others.

God wants to have a relationship with you.

Christ suffered to restore your relationship to God.

You have to build healthy relationships with others to point them to Christ.

So how does all this relate to our text? We are looking at I Timothy chapter 5 and a little bit of 6, and again this is Paul writing a litter to Timothy about issues that Timothy was facing such as how to deal with widows, elders, and slavery. What we have to do is apply these instructions to our modern situations. Widows and slavery are not big issues to most of us, but giving respect and taking responsibility are. Because we need to have health relationships so that God is glorified. Give respect and take responsibility.

Give Respect (5:1&2, 17-21,6:2)

As I read the first part of the text I want you to look at it in light of giving respect.

Chapter 5 verse 1

1Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Now skip down to verse 17. We�ll get back to the rest later.

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,"^[b] and "The worker deserves his wages."^[c] 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

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1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

Give respect and take responsibility.

It doesn�t matter how old or young you are, or if your neighbor seems to want it or deserve it, we must always give them proper respect as one loved by God and made in His image. We�ve talked bout the fact the we are called to love God and love others. Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself, but He says in Romans 12:10 to honor or respect them above yourself.

Romans 12:10 (New International Version)

10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

And Paul says it again in

Philippians 2:3 (New International Version)

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Teachers, notice verse 21 of chapter 5

21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

Again we find this in

James 2:8-9 (New International Version)

8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"^[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

In every healthy relationship, teacher to student, student to teacher, child to parent, peer to peer, spouse to spouse, whatever, you must show respect.

If I�m dealing with a first grader at church and I put him down or look over his head while he�s talking. I�ve disrespected him and he�s likely to discredit anything I have to say. Or if I have a boss or an instructor that�s a real jerk, this is completely hypothetical, of course, and I wine or get in his face and tell him what I think, or worse, I tell everyone but him, our relationship will have walls big between us, and my witness for Christ is empty.

Whereas if we give people more respect than they deserve, they will be more likely to respect you in return.

As a teen you may feel the yoke of slavery. You can�t always go where you want to go and do what you want to do with the people you want. And as staff and faculty of a small organization, I�ve been told that it�s not a salary, it�s slavery. So let�s all consider chapter 6 verses 1&2.

1All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

So that�s giving respect, now, as I read the rest of chapter 5 I want you to think about taking responsibility.

Take Responsibility (3-16, 22-25)

Starting with verse 3 of chapter 5.

3Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these [the children] should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,^[a] 10and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

11As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. 12Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. 13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 15Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

16If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

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22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

I�ve been accused of avoiding the hot issues, so let me say, The wine, in verse 23, was for medicinal purposes that were physical, not physiological. We have more advanced medicine now.

That�s responsibility for your body, but in a few months a man is scheduled for a parole trial for a crime he committed March 13, 1964. It took place on a New York city street and in to the halls of an apartment building. His victim was a 28 year old woman he didn�t know, Kitty Genovese. He slowly and brutally stabbed her to death. But this is the kicker, when it comes to witnesses, the police report said that approximately a dozen, the The New York Times claims least thirty-eight, of her neighbors witnessed the attack and/or heard her screams and did nothing. In the course of the 30-90-minute episode, her attacker was actually frightened away by one man who yelled at him from a window, then he returned to finish her off. Yet not once during that period did any neighbor really assist her. The implications of this tragic event shocked America, and it stimulated two young psychologists, Darly and Latane, to study the conditions under which people are or are not willing to help others in an emergency. In essence, they concluded that responsibility is diffused. The more people present in an emergency situation, the less likely it is that any one of them will offer help. This is popularly called the "bystander effect." or "Genovese syndrome"(In the actual experiment, when one bystander was present, 85 percent offered help. When two were present, 62 percent offered help. When five were present, then it decreased to 31 percent.)

This truth and these statistics, I would assume, are not only true for emergency situations but most situations that require our voluntary effort. If it�s as simple as picking up someone else�s trash in stead of stepping over it, or if it�s as big as giving your life to a thankless ministry, the bystander effect or "Genovese syndrome" is seen. We think, �That�s not my fault or job,� or �Certainly someone else is addressing it, or will address it, or should address it.�

Hello, if you see a problem, fix it. If you see a gap, fill it.

Back to that little seven year girl old I mentioned earlier, about ten minutes before I went outside, I had a couple of pizza boxes and some paper towels that needed to go down stairs. She was standing at the top of the stairs, so I asked her kindly if she would take them down and put them in the kitchen with the big trash cans. She closed her eyes, through her head back and said, �Why does it have to be me?� Now, in her defense, that�s a typical seven year old response, because they are brave enough to say it out load.

How often does God give us instructions and opportunities to serve and we think, �Why does it have to be me?�

When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn't know she was in line for the throne of England. Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn't motivate her. She just didn't take her studies seriously. Finally, her teachers decided to tell her that one day she would become the queen of England. Upon hearing this, Victoria quietly said, "Then I will be good." The realization that she had inherited this high calling gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly affected her conduct from then on.

You are an aire to the throne. You are a child of God. You have and will have greater responsibilities. You have a high calling and it revolves around proper relationships. We need to have health relationships so that God is glorified. And our lives and message are creditable.

I like verse 24The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

So in every situation, give respect and take responsibility, so that God is glorified.

Lawrence S. Wrightsman, Social Psychology in the Seventies (Monterey, Calif.: Brooks/Coal Publishing Company, 1972), pp. 33-34. quoted in Courage - You Can Stand Strong in the Face of Fear, Jon Johnston, 1990, SP Publications, p. 37.

I Timothy 4 - If you truly believe, it will change your days

I Timothy 4

Key verse: 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

Thesis: If you truly believe, it will change your days.

When I was in high school I started to loose the little boy body and my arms and torso started to look more like a man. I could tell, even if no one else could. I thought, �Hey, I could develop this.� So I started working out. I tried a number of times to get disciplined and have a routine, but I just wasn�t that motivated and committed. I stayed in shape, but nothing real impressive. It was mostly a waits of time.

Now, they have all these energy drinks to help motivate you and get you moving. What is your drive and motivation to do what ever it is that fills your day?

Are you working out to be physically fit or spiritually fit?

Missionary C.T. Studd was moved into action, and ministry, by a statement from an atheist. The atheist said,

�Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyment as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I would labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of Eternity only. I would esteem one soul gained for Heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand, nor seal my lips. Earth, its joys and griefs, would occupy no moment in my thoughts. I would strive to look upon Eternity alone, and on the immortal Souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, and my text would be, �What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?��

Today, let�s address the fact that if you truly believe, it will change your days.

We are looking a I Timothy chapter 4. And in here we find Paul�s Spiritual Fitness Program.: Effort, Understanding and Diligence.

I Timothy 4 verse 1

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Let�s consider the first secret to Paul�s Spiritual Fitness Program

I. Effort

Effort requires

1. Focus (6-7)

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

He�s saying that there are a lot of things that can distract you, but you must stay focused.

The Olympic gold-medalist in small-bore rifle competition, Lanny Bassham, was quoted in Sports Illustrated, about his marksmanship: "Our sport is controlled non-movement. We are shooting from 50 meters--over half a football field--at a bull's eye three- quarters the size of a dime. If the angle of error at the point of the barrel is more than .005 of a millimeter (that is five one-thousandths), you drop into the next circle and lose a point. So we have to learn how to make everything stop. I stop my breathing. I stop my digestion by not eating for 12 hours before the competition. I train by running to keep my pulse around 60, so I have a full second between beats--I have gotten it lower, but found that the stroke-volume increased so much that each beat really jolted me. You do all of this and you have the technical control. But you have to have some years of experience in reading conditions: the wind, the mirage. Then you have the other 80% of the problems--the mind.

You can take all the classes the college has to offer, but if you do it just to get the grade, but don�t engage your mind, you�re going to miss the mark. You�ve cheated yourself and your future employers, or congregations.

Let the mind of the master be the master of your mind.

Stay focused.

Effort also involves

2. Values (8-10)

8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

I read a story once about a body builder who made a guest appearance on a talk show. He came out all buff and cut. And in the interview the host asked, �so what can you do with all those muscles?� The body builder stood before the crowd and flexed isolated muscles from his calves up through his chest and down his arms. The crowd cheered. But he host tried again, �Of what use are they?� and again the body builder wowed the crowd. It was clear; he had no other answer. He was getting what he wanted from his hard work, the praises of others.

How many of us are like that? We fill our heads and our lives full of knowledge and godly things, but we don�t know how to use them for anything useful. But we sure look or sound impressive.

The second secret to Paul�s spiritual fitness program is

II. Understanding

First of all you need to understand your

1. Weakness and Strengths (12-14)

12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Now remember this is a letter from Paul to Timothy. Paul is pointing out perhaps Timothy�s biggest personal obstacle, his youth.

Now, I don�t know if this is a proper interpretation of this scripture, but my 5^th and 6^th grade Sunday School class and I came up with a version that was inspiring to us. We thought �don�t let� sounded harsh and hard to control. How do you control how people look at you? And what part of being young is bad? So we took this perspective, �Don�t cause anyone to look down on you because you are immature.�

So that addresses the weakness, how about the strengths? Evedently Timothy�s strengths and gifts were preaching and teaching, so Paul encourages him to keep it up. What are your Strengths and gifts? If you don�t know, don�t stress it. That�s normal but keep looking. Be a student of yourself.

I had a dream a couple of days ago that I was in this place where everyone had a special gift. I found myself on a dock, in a warehouse. And the warehouse was flooded with about two to three feet of water. Now, I�ve heard that in Christian dream interpretation, water usually represents the Spirit of God. The water in this warehouse was a good thing because instead of having to use fork lifts and pallet jacks to move the stuff around, it was effortlessly distributed like rafts. But check this, when a worker near by stepped off the dock to go to work. He simply stepped on to the water and walked on the water. That was his gift. The warehouse was Housing and distriputing fruit.

I hope this is not too abstract for you, but what I got from it was that if you let the Spirit of God fill your life, and you trust him with every step, and you learn to use the gift that He has given you, you�ll produce, move, more fruit.

Also, pertaining to understanding are

2. Beliefs (1-3, 16)

You need to understand what you believe.

Let�s look at the frist few verses and the last verse of chapter 4.

1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.

16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Timothy was probably dealing with Gnostics, and as I understand, they believed that God is perfectly good and He is completely Spiritual and the opposite of spiritual is the physical, and man is physical so therefore evil. Under the supreme God were many levels of godheads, and Jesus, being human, was way down here. Though many claimed to be Christians, they discredited Christ, and in there pursuit for godliness they tried to be as spiritual as possible. Shunning physical things of like marriage and some foods. They were extremist, passionate about their godliness.

Extremes are good, but you better make sure you are fighting the right battle. Check what you believe and why you believe it. How does it measure up to the universal perspective of eternity. Can you easily communicate it to the world around you?

The third secret to Paul�s spiritual fitness program is

III. Diligence, and diligence requires

1. Total Commitment (15)

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

An old Italian baker once said, 'if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.'

We cannot be lukewarm, sort of Christians.

In one of his books, author, Jon Johnston, remembered ball player, Clint Courtney. He played catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1950s. During his career he earned the nickname of Scrap Iron, implying that he was hard, weathered, tough. Old Scrap broke no records -- only bones. He had little power or speed on the base paths. As for grace and style, he made the easiest play look rather difficult. But armed with mitt and mask, Scrap Iron never flinched from any challenge.

Batters often missed the ball and caught his shin. Their foul tips nipped his elbow. Runners fiercely plowed into him, spikes first, as he defended home plate. Though often doubled over in agony, and flattened in a heap of dust, Clint Courtney never quit. Invariably, he'd slowly get up, shake off the dust, punch the pocket of his mitt once, twice, and nod to his pitcher to throw another one. The game would go on and Courtney with it -- scarred, bruised, clutching his arm in pain, but determined to continue. He resembled a POW with tape, splints, braces, and other kinds of paraphernalia that wounded people wear. Some made fun of him -- calling him a masochist. Insane. Others remember him as a true champion.

How will people remember you?

When you are in God�s work you are going to take some hard hits. They may not be physical. But Our belief in a omnipotent God who design one way to salvation, is very offensive to many people, but you have to stay in the game.

John Holcomb, said, �You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee.�

You can�t kill time without injuring eternity.

Because If you truly believe, it will change how you spend your days.

Also under diligence, we must consider why we are doing it, It�s

2. For Others (9-10, 16)

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Have any of you seen the movie, Evan Almighty?

I don�t mean to endorse a secular movie, or try and reenact it for you, but it was a cute, funny movie with some inspiring biblical truths and there�s one aspect I want to use as an illustration here.

Evan Baxter is a newly elected congressmen with a slogan about �changing the world.� Well, God tells him to build an ark. And obviously Evan doesn�t want to at first. And in one sean Evan without much forethought says, �What about my plans?� And I think the producers and actors did a good job right here, because God gives this belly laugh and just laughs out load. But the laugh is not mocking or insulting, it simply points out Evan�s mistaken mindset. It�s not all about you.

When you�re ready to sacrifice your lifestyle, your prestige, your goals to line them up with God�s. Then, and only then, will you find the abundant life God has for you.

If we truly believed that this short life has any effect on eternity, it would completely change the way we spend it. Each day will be filled with that in mind. From the first thought in the morning to our last thought at night they will be filled with eternity and the goal of winning one more for Jesus. If you truly believe, it will change your days.

I Timothy 2:9 -3:16 - Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept

I Timothy 2:9 - 3:16

Thesis: Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept.

Before we get into our text today, I think we ought to review a bit. Because after today we will be half way though our study of I Tim.

Christ�s cross made us worthy. Love God; love others.

We need a spiritual mentor.

You are in the right place at the right time.

Today we�re going to talk about how to be beautiful inside and out because Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept. Culture is on the outside; Integrity is from within.

Our text today is a strange one. I�ve been dreading this for a number of reasons. I mean, it�s talking about how to choose an overseer and a deacon. I don�t think many of you are on a church board right now that is dealing with the hiring possess.

So how do we make this applicable to us, now?

I seems like a bunch of rules, and frankly, I don�t like to talk about rules, trying to please God, and that God has rules. We are saved by grace, not by works. We cannot earn our salvation.

I love to talk about God�s grace, mercy and love.

I have helpers at church that know that I don�t like rules. Yesterday we started a new Sunday morning program. They repainted and decorated the Sunday School classroom that I use. And They posted these new rules. Honestly, I still haven�t read them. As I was about to get started, one of the other leaders pointed out that we need to start by going over the rules. I mumbled something about not needing rules. So she offered to be the bad guy and go over them for me. A bunch of stuff about be nice to others and have fun. I want the kids to be nice to each other because they want to, not because it�s a rule. True righteousness, which is beautiful comes from the inside.

So in preparation for today and trying to apply all these rules, I prayed and I procrastinated. I read and brainstormed. I came up with a lot of ideas, and considered a number of possible thesis statements. But the passage addresses so many different issues, 27 by my count, where do you start and where do you go with it?

Well, let�s take a look.

I Timothy 2:9 - 3:16

9I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women^[a] will be saved^[b] through childbearing�if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,^[c] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives^[d] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He^[e] appeared in a body,^[f]
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.

So what do we do with that? It sounds like a bunch of rules to post on a classroom wall.

Well, I found that like I said that there are 27 character qualities mentioned here, and as I began to sort through them I found that they fit rather neatly in to 3 categories: Values, Self-discipline, and Honor.

When you get these three lined up properly, it the ingrediance for a beautiful spirit, and Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept. beauty on the inside cannot be hidden.

You can try all your life to fit in and keep up with the culture around you so that you�re acceptable to those around you, but you are most acceptable, most beautiful when you are right with God on the inside.

Let�s take a look at the first category, Values. (Values transparency)

Now there are many other things that we can put into this circle, but evidently these are some things that the Ephesians were dealing with at the time.

The point being;

A beautiful worldview based on selfless, godly values.

A worldview is how you see and interpret the world around you.

And I looked up Values and got 18 different definitions.

I narrowed it down to 4;

Sociology. the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard. These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy.

Ethics. any object or quality desirable as a means or as an end in itself.

to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance.

to regard or esteem highly: He values her friendship.

So we face the question, �What is valuable to you?�

Is it money or possessions?

When actress Sophia Loren had a peace of jewelry stolen, and as she sobbed, her director told her, �if there is one great truth I have learned about life, it is this--never cry over anything that can't cry over you."

Perhaps your values are rapped up in how you look.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said,

�I have heard with admiring submission the experience of the lady who declared that the sense of being perfectly well-dressed gives a feeling of inward tranquility which religion is powerless to bestow.�

Is your identity and self-worth defined by how your dressed?

Perhaps, social acceptance by your peers is what is most valuable to you?

I was laughing with a grade schooler the other day about how she got picked last in kickball. Later, I told her that I wouldn�t tease her about it if I thought that it would hurt her feelings, but I know that, where some kids would get really upset about getting picked last, this kid is mature enough to realize that their value is not defined by how good they are at kickball.

How do you measure your value and what do you consider valuable? Are your values selfless and godly?

The next category is Self-Discipline.

Now again, Paul was addressing issues of his day, which are not far from the issues of today.

You may say, �One spouse is not an issue that a high schooler or college student is facing.�

But (Self-discipline transparency)

I would assume self-control is.

Verse 2: �temperate, self-controlled, respectable,�� Save your body and your heart for the one God has for you. Do not awaken love be for it�s time. Song of Solomon 2:7 If you�re still in your teens, it�s not time.

You�ll notice that some of these qualities , along with the categories, overlap, and again, there are countless other qualities we could add. I couldn�t even fit the 27 into these circles.

But in our search for true beauty we find that

Beauty within requires self-disciplined (repeat)

Now discipline and punishment are not synonyms. A punishment is the consequence of a wrong action. Discipline is to prevent the wrong action. Discipline and training are synonyms.

An immature person requires a lot of disciple from authority, but a mature person will discipline themselves. They will be teachable and submissive and self-controlled.

Evidently Timothy was dealing with some people that had trouble controlling their temper. I like the quote by Joseph Hunter about his temper.

�My life is in the hands of any fool who makes me lose my temper.�

Don�t give your life away so easily.

In what ways do you need discipline?

Is it honesty? or anger? Gossip? Or dealing with peer pressure?

Now lets consider the last category, Honor. (transparency)

Is there honor in your name?

Now in preparing for today this is where I was really getting hung up. It�s easy, in the church setting to get hung up here, and put to much focus on pleasing others and being socially acceptable. We dress a certain way, talk a certain way, and act a certain way in order to fit in, but your sub-culture does not define your character. A skin deep life will decay; a spiritually deep life will live abundantly.

Heb 13:18 says,

��that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.�

We don�t live honorably to please others or to earn our good standing with God. We live honorably because we love God and we love others.

When people hear your name do they think: gentle, upright, above reproach, honest, teachable.

You�ll notice that when we put all of these together it forms integrity (transparency)

Now, when speaking of honor and integrity, one can get mislead into thinking that we are simply talking about reputation and making people happy. Integrity is who you are when no one is watching. Our honor and integrity is not to please others, but it�s done out of love and respect for God. We become spiritually healthy, and beautiful, when our goal shifts from being good to being godly.

You�ll notice that the character qualities that form integrity are not defined by our culture or temporary surroundings, they are timeless. But a person of integrity will work within the setting and traditions of his neighbors to point them to God, without compromising his integrity.

Integrity is summed up in: Values, Self-discipline, and Honor.

When you get these three things lined up properly, it is the ingrediance for a beautiful spirit, and Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept.

When these are what people see in you, when, like in verse 10, you are clothed in good deeds, then you are beautiful inside and out. Because beauty on the inside cannot be hidden.

(Extra notes)

Values

Modest clothes

Not a lover of money

Loves what is good

Hospitable

One spouse

Not a drunkard

Manages family well

Obedient children

Sincere

Self-Discipline

Self-control

Not violent but gentle

Not quarrelsome

Not Overbearing

Not Quick tempered

Disciplined

Temperate

Holds to truth

Submissive

Honor

Has a good reputation

Upright, Holy

Above reproach

Respectable

Able to teach

Not a resent convert

No Dishonest Gain

Tested

Teachable

When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others.

John Newton.

At their school carnival, our kids won four free goldfish (lucky us!), so out I went Saturday morning to find an aquarium. The first few I priced ranged from $40 to $70. Then I spotted it--right in the aisle: a discarded 10-gallon display tank, complete with gravel and filter--for a mere five bucks. Sold! Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of clean-up a breeze.

Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day. But by Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly up. We called in an expert, a member of our church who has a 30-gallon tank. It didn't take him long to discover the problem: I had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no. My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was trying to protect. Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the lives of others, we unfortunately use "killer soaps"--condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper. We think we're doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is more than they can bear. Integrity is the backbone of you ministry.

Culture is on the outside; Integrity is from within.

Beauty on the inside is a secret that cannot be kept.

Richard L. Dunagin.

I Timothy 1:12-2:8 - You are in the right place

I Timothy 1:12-2:8

Thesis: You are in the right place at the right time.

I have this theory. I call it my choreographed life. I�m sure you�ve all watched at least part of a ballet or figure skating in the Olympics. My kids are big into High School Musical. The dancer has every step planed out and timed to a fraction of a second to stay in time with the music. When they do it well it can be spellbinding, breathtaking. Even if you�ve never been a fan of the sport, you become one for a moment.

I like to think of my life as a beautifully choreographed dance. Every person and challenge that enters it was planned by the great musician.

A Christian friend while back was feeling sorry for some circumstances in my life and commenting on how well I was handling it. And I responded that I�m just playing the hand the Lord deals me.

He got offended. He argued that God didn�t cause my wife to leave me. My point was, �How�s in charge?�

Now, I�m no theology major, or Calvinist, and I realize we live in a fallen world where everyone has a free will. But if you truly believe,

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Then I think God can work our mistakes and those of others into His beautiful plan. All I have to do is be willing to do what He wants me to do at every step.

So my point is that you are in the right place at the right time.

Of course, we�re still looking at I Timothy. Today I want to focus on 1:12 - 2:8 and look at God�s plan for us in relation to the past, future and most importantly, the present.

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners�of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone� 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men�the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle�I am telling the truth, I am not lying�and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

Let�s start with your past.

God came for sinners (15)

15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners�of whom I am the worst.

Ya know what?

God �s not limited by your past (1:12-15)

It doesn�t matter what happened when you were a little kid, or last year, yesterday, this morning, or two minutes ago. As far as your being qualified to serve, the only thing that matters is your willingness to do so, now.

It�s funny how our main excuse not to serve, not being qualified, is the thing God likes to use most, our unworthiness.

2 Corinthians 12:10
For Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There are countless people in the Bible that God used not because of their righteousness, but primarily because they where in the right place at the right time.

Zacheous

All the disciples

Mary mother of Jesus

And the list goes on.

God sees potential in you (12-14)

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus

God is not concerned with how you�re not qualified. He put you right here, right now, to do what only you can do.

So embrace it.

At our kids church we have a missions Sunday once a month, where we highlight a missionary and or a country and tell the kids how the Lord and his people are working. But we noticed a problem. We were making our missionaries out to be celebrities and we needed better application for the kids other than maybe God wants you to go to Mozambique someday.

We decided to change our focus from �someday� there� to �today� right here.�

If you are in the Kingdom you are set apart, a chosen one, a member of the holy priesthood. If you call yourself a Christian, you are called to be a minister, a missionary, not someday, but right here right now. Light your little world. Be a peacemaker.

We�ll talk about this a little more in a minute.

Next we find that

God has vision for the future (2:3-8)

God wants all people to look to Him (3-6)

It�s our job to help make that happen.

3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men�the testimony given in its proper time.

An author by the name of Sandy Reynolds once said, �The door of life is a door of mystery. It becomes slightly shorter than the one who wishes to enter it. And thus only he who bows in humility can cross its threshold.�

Your life is not about you.

Love God, Love others.

God wants you to bless everyone you touch (7-8)

7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle�I am telling the truth, I am not lying�and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 8I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

I was telling my kids the other day that they are leaders. Not because they are Menefees, but simply because you�re breathing you are influencing others. You are a leader because your actions affect those around you. Spread the light as much as possible because it�s like what Robert Moffat, the great missionary to Africa, once said, �We'll have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only one short hour before sunset to win them.�

You are in the right place at the right time.

So what kind of a leader are you going to be?

Here�s my opinion. Most Christian schools, like churches, need a lot more cheer leaders, (pause) No, I�m not talking about pompoms and rhyming chants. I mean we need more positive people, encouragers. Our church is going through some big changes. I tell my kids, there are enough negative people in churches; we need to be the cheerleaders.

So we�ve considered God opinion of our past- �Don�t stress it� and His vision for the future- �everyone.� Let�s consider the present.

God wants you to focus on today (1:16-2:2)

God wants to use your live as an example (16-20)

I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

18Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19holding on to faith and a good conscience.

Now living in or around the utopia of KCCBS, finding ways to witness your faith may seem empty or fruitless. I mean everyone here pretty much believes in Christ. Though there are varying degrees of maturity. So we have to ask, �What�s your fight?� What are you fighting with or for? I find that the biggest battles in the good fight take place right here (point at heart). There could be scores of different unseen fights going in the lives here. Maybe your fight is showing respect for an instructor. Maybe it�s fighting laziness, that addictive TV show or video game that waist so much of your time.

Perhaps your fight is with your attitude or you thought life.

I got this haunting mental picture the other day. You realize that you�re never alone? God hears your thoughts and Satan hears your thoughts.

Imagine the spiritual battle going on all the time. You�re standing in a valley. God�s army, countless in number are on this side, and Satan�s dark forces consume the mountain over here. You are the reason they have met here. This is your life, and your thoughts are being yelled though a megaphone. You decide who the winner is. Even when you�re check�n out some hottie or ticked off with an instructor, parent or boss. Countless unseen ears are hearing what you think.

2 Corinthians 10:4&5

Says that 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. And that, We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Taking our minds captive this leads us to the subject of prayer and verses 1-2 of our text.

God wants to hear from you (1-2)

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone� 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Now, prayer could be the topic of not only a completely different sermon, but a sermon series, but since Paul brings it up, I�m just going to just touch on it a little.

But I don�t mean to discredit the importance of prayer. Notice Paul says, �I urge, then, first of all.� Communication with God should be a top priority.

Most of you have seen the serenity prayer,

�God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

That�s beautiful isn�t it.

Well, I�m a big Calvin and Hobbs fan, and this is what Calvin prays for,

�the strength to change what I can,

The inability to accept what I can�t,

And the incapacity to tell the difference.�

The point?

Don�t worry about weather or not you can make a difference. Have faith, pray big, and remember that simply the fact that you are alive makes you a leader, because every action, every word, and every attitude affects those around you.

Conclusion: You are in the right place at the right time, It�s up to you to be willing to serve, and do the right thing at each step of your life, at each moment. Live your beautiful choreographed life abundantly.

Don�t assume you�re not good enough or that you have to wait for an opportunity. Today, this minute, you are where you are for a reason. What are you going to do with it? How can you glorify God in it?

17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Timothy 1 - We all need a spiritual mentor

I Timothy 1:1-15

Thesis: We all need a spiritual mentor.

Yes, it�s Monday and I�m back. Now, I was told last week that I was too short� I�m sorry there are some things I just can�t help. I mean I could stand on the stage if it would help, were some cowboy boots, but as far as being short winded, we�ll just follow the Menefee theme, less is better.

Over the next seven weeks we are going to be looking at the book of I Timothy. If any of you are at a cross roads in your devotions and not sure where to go next, feel free to join me in this study for the next couple months.

I Timothy 1:1. Go ahead and turn there. This is a letter written by Paul just before he took his fourth and final Mission Trip. He�s writing it to his treasured friend Timothy. They had been through a lot together. Timothy respected Paul. It was a father-son type of relationship. Paul acted as Timothy�s mentor. My main point today is that We all need a spiritual mentor.

Mentor, where does the word mentor come from? It�s often used in the professional world as meaning a wise and trusted counselor, guiding one's career, preferably someone in the upper reaches of the organization.

But the word is first found in Homer�s Odyssey. This is Greek mythology. Mentor was the trusted friend of Odysseus, and he was left in charge of the household while Odysseus's away at battle. The goddess, Athena, disguised herself as Mentor to guide Odysseus's son Telemachus in his search for his father.

Now that is plainly pagan theology, so we can�t read too much into it. But each of us are on a spiritual journey to find our Father. We need God at times to take human form to guide us. And so�we all need a spiritual mentor, an adviser, a wise counselor.�

Let�s get back to I Timothy.

I Timothy 1:1-11

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2To Timothy my true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers of the Law

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work�which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

8We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9We also know that law^[a] is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers�and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.� Let�s stop right there.

Paul discipled Timothy and planted him in this church at Ephesus to carry on the work there. So now it was time for Timothy to do the discipling, and he had a mess on his hands. The first and main thing Paul mentions is false teaching.

Timothy had a tough assignment (1-7)

With a study of I and II Timothy we find that the Ephesian church is dealing with:

Teaching false doctrines

Teaching Jewish myths

Wanting to be teachers of OT law

Building up endless far fetched, fictitious stories based on obscure genealogical points

Being conceited

Being argumentative

Using talk that was meaningless and foolish

Not knowing what they were talking about

Teaching ascetic practices

Using their positions of religious leadership for personal financial gain

And on top of all of that Timothy is a young guy. Without a good advisor, that would be overwhelming, but

Remember the sticky side of your brain? Post this one:

A spiritual mentor will help you deal with false teachings.

Now, if I can be transparent for a moment, I don�t think its any secret that I�m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but maybe some of you can relate. When I was younger, I didn�t want to go to seminary or any deep College level Bible courses because, among other reasons, I didn�t want to become indoctrinated by those professor�s opinions. I wanted to be a clean slate for God and come to my own conclusions about the Bible.

The Bible is a simple black and white instruction book�right.

I�ve got a couple stories for ya:

There was a time when migratory birds in the U.S. were tagged by the Department of the Interior with metal strips reading "Wash. Biol. Surv."--for Washington Biological Survey. The code was changed, so the story goes, after a farmer from Arkansas wrote to the department: "Dear Sirs, I shot one of your crows, My wife followed the cooking instructions attached--she washed it, boiled it and served it. It was the worst thing we ever ate."

Quote magazine.

Speaking of instructions:

A replacement hood for hair dryers came with this printed message (quoted here in its entirety): "Instructions for attaching the hair dryer hood--just clamp, plug, push, squeeze, or turn."

Bits & Pieces.

The Bible is our instruction book and it can be equally as misunderstood and confusing. So we all need a Spiritual mentor to help us sort through the gray and properly apply it to our lives.

Here�s you another point

A Spiritual mentor will help you stay on track

In verses 6&7, �6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.�

It�s easy to get distracted or think that you�ve got thinks figured out. Particularly in you teen years is where you�ll make this mistake, that you don�t want to be taught.

Let me share with you one of my biggest regrets of my teen years. My dad came to me to give some advice on an issue that I was faceing, and I stoped him. Each time he tried to talk I would cut him off and say don�t tell me. I wanted to figure it out on my own. He left hurt and frustrated. Needless to say, I failed terribly in the matter, and to this day, I still don�t know what he wanted to tell me. He dropped it and it was never brought up again.

Don�t ever miss an opportunity to learn from a trustworthy advisor.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.

There is one other thing I want to point out here:

A spiritual Mentor will help you reach your goals by checking your motives.

Look at verse 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.�

Your mentor will also inevitably work as an accountability partner. If you have someone you�re meeting with on a regular basis for lunch or just to share thoughts and plans, they get to know you and your weaknesses. They can help you stay on track and check your motives. Don�t be afraid to be transparent with a godly counselor.

Now, I�m reading into it here, but I wouldn�t be surprised if Paul�s making this statement because he knows Timothy tends to be passionate about the Gospel. Perhaps, Timothy has a tendency to attack the false teachers instead of the false teachings. Paul�s reinforcing the fact that our goal is always love. Love God, love others.

Rockford College conducted a three-phase experiment, and used over 100 college graduates who were preparing for youth ministry.

In the first phase: They took a young volunteer from the room and blindfolded him. They simply told him that when he returned, he could do anything he wished. He remained outside the room while they instructed each audience member to think of a simple task for the volunteer to do. When the volunteer returned, they were to shout their individual instructions at him from where they sat. Prior to this, they privately instructed another person to shout a very specific task at the blindfolded volunteer as though it were a matter of life and death. This person was to attempt to persuade the blindfolded volunteer to climb the steps at the back of the auditorium and embrace an instructor who was standing at the door; he had to shout this vital message from where he sat in the audience. The volunteer was oblivious to all instructions and previous arrangements.

The volunteer represented our young people, the audience represented the world of voices screaming for their attention, and the person with the vital message represented those of us who bring the message of the Gospel to youth. The blindfolded student was led back into the room. The lecture room exploded in a din of shouting. Each person tried to get the volunteer to follow his or her unique instructions. In the midst of the crowd, the voice of the person with the vital message was lost; no single message stood out. The blindfolded student stood paralyzed by confusion and indecision. He moved randomly and without purpose as he sought to discern a clear and unmistakable voice in the crowd.

The second phase: They told the audience about the person attempting to get the volunteer to accomplish the vital task. At this point we chose another person from the audience to add a new dimension. This person's goal was to, at all costs, keep the volunteer from doing the vital task. While the rest of the audience was to remain in their seats, these two people were allowed to stand next to the volunteer and shout their opposing messages. They could get as close as they wished; however, they were not allowed to touch the volunteer. As the blindfolded volunteer was led back into the room, the shouting began again. This time, because the two messengers were standing so close, the volunteer could hear both messages; but because the messages were opposed to each other, he vacillated. He followed one for a bit, then was convinced by the other to go the opposite direction.

In order for you to clearly hear the message, you have to get close to the messenger. Even then, there are others with opposing messages who also are close enough to make their messages clear. Sometimes they are peers or relatives...The main lesson: only the close voices could be heard. Even though the volunteer took no decisive action, at least he heard the message.

The third phase: The response to the third phase was startling. In this phase everything remained the same except the one with the vital message was allowed to touch the volunteer. He could not pull, push or in any way force the volunteer to do his bidding; but he could touch him, and in that way encourage him to follow. The blindfolded volunteer was led into the room. When he appeared, the silence erupted into an earsplitting roar. The two messengers stood close, shouting their opposing words. Then, the one with the vital message put his arm gently around the volunteer's shoulder and leaned very close to speak directly into his ear. Almost without hesitation, the volunteer began to yield to his instruction. Occasionally he paused to listen as the opposition frantically tried to convince him to turn around. But then, by the gentle guidance of touch, the one with the vital message led him on. A moment of frightening realism occurred spontaneously in the crowd as the one with the vital message drew close to the goal. All those in the audience, who up to this point had been shouting their own individual instruction, suddenly joined in unison to keep the volunteer from taking those final steps. Goose bumps appeared all over my body as students began to chant together, "Don't go!" "Don't go!" "Don't go!"

So many times I've seen the forces that pull our youth in different directions join together to dissuade them from a serious commitment to Christ. The chant grew to a pulsing crescendo, "Don't go!" "Don't go!" But the guiding arm of the one with the vital message never left the volunteer's shoulder. At the top of the stairs in the back of the lectrure hall, the one with the vital message leaned one last time to whisper in the ear of the volunteer. There was a moment of hesitation, then the volunteer threw his arms around the instructor and the auditorium erupted in cheers and applause.

My lesson here to the faculty, future pastors and ministers is that, if our message is to be heard, we cannot simply shout it from the cavernous confines of our church buildings or from where I�m standing here. We must draw close to those with whom we wish to communicate. If we really seek a life-changing commitment from our young people, we also must reach out to where they are and in love, gently touch their hearts and lead them to that commitment.

They asked the volunteer why he followed the one with the vital message, the one who touched him. After a few moments he said, "Because it felt like he was the only one who really cared."

And the lesson here for everyone who wishes to grow, there are a lot of voices pulling at you. There always will be, sometimes more than others. Ask your pastor for a mentor to follow and follow them closely.

Conclusion: Timothy and Paul had a relationship of trust. Timothy submitted to the leadership and teaching of Paul enough, that he was ready to confront the problems around him. As you practice your faith, you will face many problems and confusing debates. That�s why we all need a spiritual mentor to lean on.

I I I I /

I

I lied

I said that I was going to keep blogging and update this site, but obviously I haven�t.

I've been very distracted with classes the past few months. Perhaps I will explain in more detail soon.

Some have asked for my sermon manuscripts on I Timothy, so I'll try to get those up right away.

What goes around, comes around

Vern told me that I needed to check out the latest clothing closet donations. They have some pants that ought to fit me, so I stopped by while I was on that side of town. Sure enough, right by the front door was a rack of men's pants, and sure enough, I found some that fit. The pants I was wearing were pretty dirty (I think they were well into week two of daily wear), so I changed into a pair of my "new" work jeans. I was really happy with my new jeans. They fit well, my style (if I have one)... they promised to be my new favorite jeans.

After a couple hours, I noticed the right pocket rim was frayed in the same place I always clip my tape measure, and the cuff of the legs had been cut in a couple places as I have been known to do to allow them to fit around my boots! My new jeans were my old jeans.

Maybe I should keep a better eye on what clothes my daughter is donating to the clothing closet.