HERE'S A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING ...
HANG ON TO THE ETERNAL LIFE

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further studies in I Timothy

Trustworthy Sayings

1. Christ came into the world to save sinners (1:15)
2. Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task (3:1)
3. Our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers (4:10)

Teach These Things

1. All ages (5:1-2)
2. Widows (5:3-16)
3. Elders (5:17-25)
4. Slaves (6:1-2)
5. Wealthy (6:17-21)

Promoting Godliness

• The Tragedy of the Trouble-making Mind (6:3-10)
• Flee From All This Man of God (6:11-16)
  - Don’t dance to their tune
  - Pursue godly life
  - Hold on to eternal life
  - Don’t waver

Truisms

• Some people just need to be mad. They want their pain.
• Angry people don’t speak “reason.”
• Some people need to be “right,” regardless of the cost.
• Anxiety spawns triangles—-even over distances.
• Upset people lose the capacity to practice grace and will believe the worst of others in an instant.
• Just one willful angry person can stir up a group if the healthier ones do not respond with godliness.
• Anxiety spreads like a virus in a group that lacks immunity provided by godly leadership.
• During times of acute anxiety emotionality trumps rationality, even in a church full of “smart” people.
• Trust is a gossamer thread; once severed it’s almost impossible to regain.
• Information reduces anxiety (but for anxious people, so will misinformation).
• When people lack data, they’ll fill in the blanks.

Teach These Things

1. All ages (5:1-2)
   • Older men, women; younger men, women [Not elders]
     - This is not “diplomatic immunity” for elders
   • Teach gently; be an example
   • Contrast to 5:20 (applied to elders)

2. Widows (5:3-16)
   • Widows in ancient society
   • Help those who have no one else
   • Encourage others to follow God’s ways (care for family, marriage)
   • What principles could guide the way we help others?

3. Elders (5:17-25)
   • Honor those who serve well
   • Beware of frivolous accusations (see Deuteronomy 19:15)
   • Do not be hasty to appoint or accuse; let the evidence surface
   • Bring everything into the open

4. Slaves (6:1-2)
   • The statement accepts slavery without endorsing it
   • There is neither slave nor free in Christ (Galatians 3:28)
   • Show due respect and do not shame the way of God

5. Wealthy (6:17-21)
   • Do not trust in riches
   • Trust in God
   • Use wealth for doing good and sharing (Luke 16)
   • Focus on the future

Chris Benjamin

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Evening Sermon, 7 March 2010

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