New Heart Community Church
Series: Doing Church God’s Way
“Don’t Let the Bible Mess You Up!” (Part I)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Have you ever fudged the truth…just even a bit?
The book of I Timothy is first about “truth”. Paul’s overriding preoccupation in his letters to these two Pastors (Timothy and Titus) was the faithful guarding and passing on of TRUTH.
I. THE USE & MISUSE OF GOD’S WORD (I Timothy 1:3-4)
1 Timothy 1:3-7(NIV)
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.
II. HOW TO RECOGNIZE DANGEROUS BIBLE TEACHING:
? SPECULATION.
Ť CONTROVERSY.
Titus 3:9-11(NIV)
9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
? CONFIDENT INGNORANCE.
I Timothy 1:6-7(NIV)
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.
Deuteronomy 29:29(NIV)
29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
III. HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL DEAL (I Timothy 1:5-6)
I Timothy 1:3b-5(NIV)
…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.
? It produces AGAPE love. (1:5a)
Revelation 2:5a(NIV)
5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
Ť It focuses primarily on CHARACTER, OBEDIENCE and TRUSTING GOD (1:5b)
Application