LETTERS FROM PAUL BLOG

While Timothy had been sent to a church that was already started and had gotten headed in the wrong direction because of false teachings and Elders of the church that led unchristian lives, Titus was starting a new church and picking Elders for the first time. So much of Titus sounds like 1 Timothy, but Paul is not talking to Titus about holding true to the faith and resisting those that would lead him astray.

What role was Titus’ lifestyle supposed to play in growing his church? Does that apply today? How do you speak to others with your lifestyle?

Paul reminds Timothy that the end of the world is near (at least he should live that way) and people will try to entice others to follow the wrong ways. Timothy should mark those people and avoid spending time with them.  Paul says that Timothy should remember the example of Paul and his life and teachings. Paul points to the fact that he tried to live the way that he was teaching. How would any of that apply today? Is it hard? How are you doing?

In these chapters Paul encourages Timothy to remain faithful to the teachings that were given to him by his grandmother, mother and Paul himself. It seems that in the locale where Timothy was working there were several other teachers with very different teachings that were tempting to follow. What does it mean to you to “remain faithful”? Is that hard to do in today’s society?

In Chapter 4 Paul encourages Timothy not to worry about his youth but to use the gifts that God has given him and live a godly life that will convince the people around him that he is truly a man of God. Does your life say anything to the people around you?

Chapters 5 and 6 talk to Timothy about matters that must have been troubling the church where Timothy was working.  These may not always apply to our situations today.

1 & 2 TIMOTHY, AND TITUS - “The Pastoral Letters”

Timothy and Titus were disciples of the apostle Paul. Paul released them to oversee the work being done in several young churches that had experienced problems. These letters were written to his young disciples as encouragement, but they have also come to be seen as manuals for church structure and order. We need to remember that Paul wrote these letters to answer particular problems that these churches faced in the society and times of their day. Therefore not everything that he suggests would be helpful or appropriate today. Paul writes to these young Christian men to encourage them to not be intimidated by the church community or the secular community around them, but rather that they should “Be the Church” as they live boldly the faith that is within them.

Timothy 1:1-3:16 - Paul warned Timothy that he would be tempted to get involved with endless discussions of the law. He told him that this would be fruitless, and worse it would lead him away from the faith in Jesus Christ that was his true salvation vv. 3-11.  Do you think that happens in church today? To you? Paul describes the boundless grace and mercy that God showed to Paul and now has available to Timothy, trust that grace vv. 12-20. Do you feel God’s grace in your life today? There seems to have been a structure of “overseers,” people that helped with the leading of the congregation who reported to Timothy. Paul gives instruction to Timothy as he is choosing these men, just what he should look for. If chapter 3 is the job description, how hard would it be to find someone to fit that description? Would Timothy have to settle for someone who had most but not all? Do we do that today?

Living the Life Christ Won for Us
Do you feel like God’s chosen person, holy and dearly loved?
Pray Colossians 4:3-6 as your personal prayer.

Christ holds it all together, His Power and Grace
Read this section and write down all the things that God has done for you (i.e. rescued us).
Cool assignment – Re-read Colossians 1:15-18 and then watch a You Tube video. Search for Louie Giglio and lamanin. Well worth 10 minutes. Trust me.
If you received Christ by grace (2:6), why do some choose to live differently, by works? How do you live?

Finding Joy
What is God’s antidote for anxiety?
What do you spend the most time thinking about?
How does that match the characteristics in Philippians 4:8?
Do you really believe Philippians 4:13?
The Christians at Philippi learned Paul’s secret of contentment and it drove their giving. What drives your giving? What keeps you from giving?

Living Life on Purpose
When have you put confidence in the flesh? Do you still do it?
Re-read Colossians 3:10-11. I like to think of this as Paul’s mission statement. What is your personal mission?
Thinking back over Paul’s life, what did he have to forget? What do you?

Both of these letters were written by Paul most likely while he was in prison in Rome. While he had experienced dungeons, jails, beatings and hunger, this was most likely house arrest. He made the most of his time thinking and sharing Christ with everyone he met. It obviously transformed his heart. Even in the midst of a loss of freedom, he still was filled with indescribable joy. In fact, the word joy is used 16 times in Philippians alone in 4 short chapters. He had discovered the great secret that Christ is the only way to die and the best way to live. That joy, peace, life can be yours too.

Attitude is Everything
Who do you share a spiritual connection with? Have you thanked them recently?
When have you seen something good come from something “bad?”
How do people describe your attitude? How does it match with the description of Jesus’ attitude in Philippians 2:6-11?
What does it mean to “work out your salvation?” (Philippians 2:12)