WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church family.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Luke Fawcett.

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! Most of you know me by now.

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 I'm the pastoral intern here at Maranatha.

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 I've been really grateful to serve here since May.

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 I am honored and eager to open God's Word together.

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 The title of the message this morning is

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 The Priority of Pastoral Ministry.

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 The Priority of Pastoral Ministry.

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 And the text this morning is 1 Timothy 4.

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 If you're looking at your pew Bibles in front of you,

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 you can find our passage on page 992.

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 Page 992.

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 Follow along as I read the whole chapter.

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 Now the Spirit expressly says

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 that in latter times,

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 some will depart from the faith

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 by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits

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 and teachings of demons.

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 Through the insincerity of liars

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 whose consciences are seared,

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 who forbid marriage

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 and require abstinence from foods

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 that God created to be received with thanksgiving

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 by those who believe and know the truth.

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 For everything created by God is good,

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 and nothing is to be rejected

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 if it is received with thanksgiving.

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 For it is made holy

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 by the word of God and prayer.

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 If you put these things before the brothers,

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 you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus,

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 being trained in the words of the faith

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 and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

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 Have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths.

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 Rather, train yourself for godliness.

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 For while bodily training is of some value,

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 godliness is of value in every way,

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 as it holds promise for the present life

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 and also for the light to come.

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 The saying is trustworthy

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 and deserving of full acceptance.

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 For to this end,

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 we toil and strive

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 because we have our hope

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 set on the living God

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 who is the Savior of all people,

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 especially of those who believe.

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 Command and teach these things.

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 Let no one despise you for your youth,

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 but set the believers an example

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 in speech,

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 in conduct,

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 in love,

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 in faith,

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 in purity.

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 Until I come,

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 devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,

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 to exhortation,

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 to teaching.

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 Do not neglect the gift you have,

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 which was given you by prophecy

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 when the council of elders

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 laid their hands on you.

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 Practice these things.

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 Immerse yourself in them.

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 So that all may see your progress.

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 Keep a close watch

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 on yourself

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 and on the teaching.

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 Persist in this.

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 For by so doing,

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 you will save both yourself

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 and your hearers.

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 our text this morning

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 sets out to answer

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 a single question

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 from many angles.

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 What does ministry

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 depend on?

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 What does ministry depend on?

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 You see,

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 up to this point,

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 the young pastor,

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 Timothy,

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 has received a number of charges

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 from the apostle Paul

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 concerning the ministry.

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 Timothy must correct

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 these teachers

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 who love to discuss ideas

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 but don't arrive at the truth.

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 Stop speculating.

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 Start stewarding.

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 Chapter 1,

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 verses 3-7.

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 Timothy must maintain

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 church discipline

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 of Hymenaeus and Alexander.

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 Known members of the church.

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 Chapter 1,

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 verses 18-20.

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 Timothy must also

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 call the men

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 to stop quarreling

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 and start praying.

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 Chapter 2,

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 verse 8.

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 Timothy must call

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 the women likewise

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 to quit

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 their spotlighting

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 of their clothes

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 and their styles

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 and start setting

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 the example

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 of good works.

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 Chapter 2,

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 verses 9-10.

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 Timothy must instruct

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 the church

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 to raise up

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 men of character,

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 not popularity,

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 not persuasion,

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 who will lead the church

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 in sound doctrine

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 and faithfulness

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 to Jesus.

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 And then,

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 at the center

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 of it all,

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 Timothy must uphold

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 the gospel

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 of Jesus Christ

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 as this glue

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 that binds

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 the church together

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 as the household

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 of faith

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 and as the pillar

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 of the truth.

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 Chapter 3,

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 verses 16-18.

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 In light of all

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 of this,

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 how is Timothy

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 to fulfill

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 the ministry?

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 What does ministry

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 depend on?

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 There are a number

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 of answers

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 that we could come up with.

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 Maybe ministry

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 depends on

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 a comprehensive

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 knowledge

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 of the scripture.

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 You have to

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 understand the Bible

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 to be able

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 to refute

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 false teachers.

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 And certainly,

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 pastors must know

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 their Bibles.

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 Maybe ministry

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 depends on

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 doctrinal clarity.

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 You can't teach

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 men and women

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 how to fulfill

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 their roles

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 if you don't know

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 your ecclesiology

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 and your anthropology.

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 Certainly,

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 pastors must be

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 able to teach.

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 Maybe ministry

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 depends on

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 cultural awareness,

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 knowing the politics

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 and the pitfalls

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 of leadership

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 and how to avoid them.

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 And certainly,

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 pastors must understand

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 the world

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 that they live in

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 and minister in.

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 Maybe ministry

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 depends on skill

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 and counsel

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 or care for the body.

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 And later,

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 Paul will go on

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 to tell Timothy

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 how to instruct

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 elders and widows.

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 Certainly,

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 pastors must know

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 and love

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 their people.

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 And there are

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 many other qualities

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 that could be added

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 to the list.

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 Pastors must have

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 their families in order.

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 They should have

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 a healthy marriage.

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 And their communication

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 must be sharp.

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 On and on,

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 we could probably

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 come up with

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 an endless list

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 of things

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 that ministry

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 could depend on.

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 And the reality

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 is that 1 Timothy

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 commends all these

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 responsibilities

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 for pastors.

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 They have to know

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 their Bibles.

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 They have to be able

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 to teach.

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 They have to have

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 their families in order.

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 But what does

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 ministry depend on?

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 What will make

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 or break

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 a pastor,

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 a leader,

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 or a parent?

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 Amid the dangers

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 and demands

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 of ministry,

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 there is one

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 central concern.

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 Make progress

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 in godliness.

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 That is what

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 ministry depends on.

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 Make progress

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 in godliness.

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 And that is the main

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 idea of the message

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 today.

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 So beginning

00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:04.060
 in verse 1,

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 we see point 1.

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 perilous departures

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 in ministry.

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 Perilous departures

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 in ministry.

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 Last week,

00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:14.480
 Andrew emphasized

00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:15.180
 the nature

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 of the church,

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 this pillar

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 and buttress

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 of the truth.

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 Chapter 3,

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 verse 15.

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 And it's in fact

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 our confession

00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:24.920
 of scripture

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 that centers

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 on the person

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 and work

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 of Christ.

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 He is the center

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 of our confession.

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 He is what gives

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 the church

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 its shape

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 and its form.

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 We must not

00:07:36.740 --> 00:07:37.419
 move past that

00:07:37.419 --> 00:07:37.979
 too quickly.

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 Because there is

00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:41.180
 no ministry,

00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:42.680
 there is no

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 progress

00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:45.379
 apart from Jesus.

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 And if we

00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:48.779
 deviate from Jesus,

00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:49.500
 we actually

00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:50.659
 deviate from the

00:07:50.659 --> 00:07:51.060
 faith.

00:07:51.779 --> 00:07:52.740
 That's where

00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:53.479
 we find ourselves

00:07:53.479 --> 00:07:54.099
 in the outset

00:07:54.099 --> 00:07:55.159
 of our text.

00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:56.539
 Verse 1.

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 Some will

00:07:58.539 --> 00:07:58.959
 depart

00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.139
 from the faith,

00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:01.000
 Paul says.

00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.600
 If making

00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:04.160
 progress

00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:04.819
 in godliness

00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:05.860
 is the focus

00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:06.720
 of our text

00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:07.819
 in primarily

00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:09.040
 verses 6 to 16,

00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:11.600
 then verses 1 to 5

00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:12.980
 provide the background

00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:13.519
 for it.

00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:14.740
 It's the situation

00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:15.560
 and outcome here

00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:16.939
 contrast with,

00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:17.720
 and then they

00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:19.339
 emphasize the necessity

00:08:19.339 --> 00:08:20.180
 of godliness.

00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:21.540
 Just take note

00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:22.019
 of some of the

00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.240
 stark contrasts

00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:23.980
 in the language.

00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:26.220
 Some will depart

00:08:26.220 --> 00:08:27.000
 from the faith,

00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:27.639
 verse 1,

00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:28.959
 is set against

00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:30.339
 you will save

00:08:30.339 --> 00:08:31.000
 yourself

00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:32.220
 and your hearers.

00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.319
 Verse 16.

00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:35.319
 Devote themselves

00:08:35.319 --> 00:08:36.659
 to deceitful spirits

00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:37.240
 and teachings

00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:37.720
 of demons.

00:08:37.939 --> 00:08:38.519
 Verse 1.

00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:39.679
 It's set against

00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.679
 devote yourself,

00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:41.120
 Timothy,

00:08:41.659 --> 00:08:42.360
 to the public

00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:43.379
 reading of scripture,

00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:44.899
 to exhortation

00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:45.679
 and to teaching.

00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:46.639
 Verse 13.

00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:48.360
 Through the

00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:49.539
 insincerity of liars

00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:50.240
 whose consciences

00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:50.939
 are seared.

00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:51.620
 Verse 2.

00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:53.039
 It's set against

00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:53.899
 you will be

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:55.039
 a good servant

00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:56.419
 of Jesus Christ,

00:08:56.419 --> 00:08:57.379
 being trained

00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:57.979
 in the words

00:08:57.979 --> 00:08:58.539
 of the faith

00:08:58.539 --> 00:08:59.799
 and of the sound

00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:00.319
 doctrine.

00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.899
 The danger

00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:05.379
 of departure

00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:06.860
 is real.

00:09:08.339 --> 00:09:09.899
 And the necessity

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:11.120
 of godliness

00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.559
 is paramount.

00:09:14.199 --> 00:09:15.179
 The text says

00:09:15.179 --> 00:09:15.759
 that those who

00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:16.519
 have departed

00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:17.839
 have devoted

00:09:17.839 --> 00:09:18.240
 themselves

00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:19.559
 to these teachings.

00:09:20.439 --> 00:09:21.319
 These teachings

00:09:21.319 --> 00:09:22.039
 described as

00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:22.899
 deceptive

00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:23.919
 and demonic.

00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:25.519
 And these

00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:26.399
 descriptive words

00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.240
 indicate that

00:09:27.240 --> 00:09:28.480
 ideas are not

00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.439
 just conceptual.

00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:31.139
 Ideas are

00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:32.179
 intrinsically

00:09:32.179 --> 00:09:33.199
 spiritual.

00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:35.120
 You see,

00:09:35.179 --> 00:09:36.779
 we live in an age

00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:38.480
 where information

00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:39.319
 is everything.

00:09:39.539 --> 00:09:40.240
 It's almost

00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.079
 a gluttony

00:09:41.079 --> 00:09:41.799
 of information

00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:42.299
 that we have

00:09:42.299 --> 00:09:43.079
 access to.

00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.840
 So many ideas

00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.059
 and it's hard

00:09:46.059 --> 00:09:46.620
 to sift

00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:47.659
 the tasteful

00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:48.740
 from the poisonous.

00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:49.959
 Right?

00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:50.819
 We have media,

00:09:51.500 --> 00:09:52.199
 podcasts,

00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:53.319
 messages,

00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:54.799
 streaming.

00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:59.439
 And just one

00:09:59.439 --> 00:10:00.240
 minute of scrolling

00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.919
 TikTok or

00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:02.959
 Instagram reels,

00:10:03.359 --> 00:10:03.899
 we might have

00:10:03.899 --> 00:10:04.639
 consumed 20

00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:05.519
 different videos

00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.459
 without really

00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:07.419
 understanding what

00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:08.500
 it is that we're

00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:09.479
 watching or

00:10:09.479 --> 00:10:10.039
 listening to.

00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:11.719
 I was actually

00:10:11.719 --> 00:10:12.379
 in a restaurant

00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:14.179
 not too long ago,

00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:15.899
 literally went into

00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:16.439
 the bathroom

00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.659
 and there was a TV

00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:18.279
 in front of me.

00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:19.219
 I was like,

00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:19.979
 this is the weirdest

00:10:19.979 --> 00:10:20.359
 thing.

00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:20.860
 Why am I

00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:21.480
 watching TV

00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:21.820
 while I'm

00:10:21.820 --> 00:10:22.060
 going to

00:10:22.060 --> 00:10:22.460
 the bathroom?

00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:23.960
 But the reality

00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:25.080
 is we cannot

00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:26.080
 get away from it.

00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:26.759
 There is this

00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.159
 inundation of

00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:29.080
 entertainment

00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:29.960
 and information.

00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:31.300
 And it's not

00:10:31.300 --> 00:10:31.960
 that entertainment

00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:32.879
 or information

00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:33.639
 is inherently

00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:35.000
 evil or demonic

00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:36.220
 or antithetical

00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:36.840
 to God.

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:38.440
 It's that

00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:39.680
 overconsumption

00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:41.000
 of information

00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:42.360
 begins to

00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:43.379
 dull your mind

00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:44.620
 and your conscience

00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.480
 away from

00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:46.220
 discernment.

00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:47.720
 Our culture

00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:48.840
 packages ideas

00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:49.300
 in a way

00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:49.960
 that makes it

00:10:49.960 --> 00:10:51.060
 nearly impossible

00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.639
 to think about

00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.480
 what we're watching.

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:55.740
 So Timothy,

00:10:55.920 --> 00:10:56.399
 information

00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:57.980
 is not just

00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:58.780
 information.

00:11:00.040 --> 00:11:01.040
 In our passage,

00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:01.940
 the teachers

00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:02.740
 and the listeners

00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:03.800
 are not just

00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:04.840
 intellectually deceived.

00:11:05.500 --> 00:11:06.280
 They are

00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.200
 spiritually

00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:08.060
 bankrupt.

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.220
 And here's

00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:10.680
 what's shocking

00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:11.120
 to me.

00:11:11.680 --> 00:11:12.519
 The idea

00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:13.300
 that they followed

00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:14.800
 after is not

00:11:14.800 --> 00:11:15.280
 a denial

00:11:15.280 --> 00:11:16.019
 of the humanity

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:16.740
 of Christ.

00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.639
 It's not a denial

00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.759
 of his resurrection,

00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:20.620
 even though we see

00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.500
 that in other places.

00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:22.939
 It's that they

00:11:22.939 --> 00:11:24.100
 forbid food

00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:25.259
 and marriage.

00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:27.539
 This departure

00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:28.199
 from the faith

00:11:28.199 --> 00:11:28.799
 is not by

00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:29.659
 leaving the church.

00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.980
 It's by leaving

00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:31.840
 the doctrines

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.600
 that demonstrate

00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:33.439
 the sufficiency

00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:34.559
 of Christ

00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:35.460
 in salvation.

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.679
 That's where

00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:37.199
 the departure

00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:38.279
 has taken place.

00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.019
 You see,

00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:40.639
 they're promoting

00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.919
 this physical

00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.720
 abstinence,

00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.000
 but the problem

00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:45.220
 is not in singleness.

00:11:45.439 --> 00:11:46.519
 It's not in fasting.

00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.000
 Jesus was a single man,

00:11:49.779 --> 00:11:50.919
 and yet he commended

00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:51.699
 marriage

00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:52.759
 as God's design.

00:11:53.799 --> 00:11:54.740
 Jesus also spent

00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:55.639
 time fasting,

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.579
 and yet he went

00:11:57.579 --> 00:11:58.279
 to dinner parties

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:59.240
 and he enjoyed

00:11:59.240 --> 00:11:59.939
 weddings.

00:12:03.579 --> 00:12:05.379
 But even so,

00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:06.799
 food and marriage

00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.519
 are not ends

00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.059
 in themselves.

00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:09.159
 For Paul will soon

00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:10.079
 assert that bodily

00:12:10.079 --> 00:12:11.579
 training is actually

00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:12.600
 of some value.

00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.199
 So what are we

00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:14.879
 to make of this

00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.320
 departure?

00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.360
 What is Paul's

00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.020
 point here?

00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:19.720
 It's that abstinence

00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:20.640
 and enjoyment

00:12:20.640 --> 00:12:21.960
 are not the point.

00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:24.140
 Treasuring Christ

00:12:24.140 --> 00:12:24.900
 is.

00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:26.259
 To abstain

00:12:26.259 --> 00:12:26.820
 or to enjoy

00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:27.320
 means little

00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:28.240
 if Jesus is not

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:28.840
 the reason.

00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:30.000
 And we can think

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.100
 about endless examples

00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:32.100
 in our own culture,

00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:33.259
 our own context

00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:33.720
 for this.

00:12:34.420 --> 00:12:36.160
 Why set the alarm

00:12:36.160 --> 00:12:37.440
 earlier

00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:39.180
 versus sleep in?

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.180
 Why eat at McDonald's

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:42.400
 versus choose

00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:43.240
 the salad bar?

00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.519
 Why sit with your

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.320
 friends versus

00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:48.259
 pursue the friend list?

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.560
 Why read John Piper

00:12:50.560 --> 00:12:51.460
 versus watching

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:52.639
 your favorite TV show?

00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:54.220
 Or serve on a Sunday

00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.440
 versus spending it

00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:55.980
 with your family?

00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:58.779
 You see,

00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.399
 we may look spiritual

00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:01.840
 and feel spiritual

00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.639
 if that is all

00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:04.159
 the substance

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.299
 of our action.

00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:06.480
 If we're just

00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:07.840
 pursuing another thing

00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:09.840
 without making

00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.100
 any progress

00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:12.019
 in godliness.

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.159
 godliness.

00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:14.779
 So what is going

00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.179
 to get you

00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:16.100
 right with God?

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:17.960
 And what is going

00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:18.740
 to keep you

00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.899
 right with God?

00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.319
 How do we make

00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.139
 progress

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.079
 in godliness?

00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.899
 The answer is that

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.879
 the same thing

00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.379
 that gets you

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.240
 right with God

00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:29.539
 is the same thing

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.259
 that keeps you

00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.139
 right with God.

00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.579
 It's faith

00:13:32.579 --> 00:13:33.419
 in the sufficiency

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.579
 of Christ.

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.179
 It's not a form.

00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.819
 It's not a regulation.

00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.360
 It's not a goal.

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.519
 It's not even

00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.879
 progress itself.

00:13:43.300 --> 00:13:44.100
 The problem was

00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:44.879
 that these people

00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:45.500
 were promoting

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.800
 this performance-based

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:48.659
 kind of spiritual life.

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:50.480
 Disciplining the body

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:50.840
 was,

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.899
 disciplining the body

00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:54.000
 by denying it pleasure

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.740
 had become

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:55.620
 the main strategy

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.539
 for gaining favor

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.159
 with God.

00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.759
 And in doing so,

00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.180
 they had departed

00:14:00.180 --> 00:14:01.419
 from Jesus.

00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:06.620
 There is much,

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.219
 I think,

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.819
 in this small

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:08.899
 section of Scripture

00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.000
 for sinners

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:10.759
 and saints

00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:12.259
 who struggle

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.399
 with embodiment.

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:16.819
 Many of us,

00:14:16.959 --> 00:14:17.860
 I think,

00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.039
 want a different image.

00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:21.199
 Food

00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:22.120
 and mirrors

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.479
 and pleasure

00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:24.799
 have just lost

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.480
 their taste.

00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:28.519
 Many of us

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:28.980
 struggle with

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.480
 the decay

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.779
 of the body.

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:33.079
 even while we live

00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:33.679
 and our bodies

00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.579
 seem to betray

00:14:34.579 --> 00:14:36.339
 every effort we make

00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:37.379
 at working

00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.360
 to sustain them.

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.439
 So what are we

00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:40.839
 to do

00:14:40.839 --> 00:14:41.659
 with the corruption

00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.899
 of our bodies?

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.039
 Is it better

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.259
 to eat

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.159
 or not to eat?

00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.120
 What are we

00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.479
 to do

00:14:49.479 --> 00:14:50.779
 with body image

00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.779
 and the decay

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:52.360
 of everything?

00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:55.839
 Jesus

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:57.319
 understands

00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:00.100
 the difficult.

00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:02.480
 Jesus understands

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.320
 the difficulty

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.300
 of embodiment.

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.760
 When Hebrews

00:15:06.760 --> 00:15:07.460
 says that he

00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:08.640
 became like us

00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:09.460
 in every way,

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:10.280
 it wasn't a figure

00:15:10.280 --> 00:15:10.800
 of speech.

00:15:11.680 --> 00:15:12.480
 That was

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:12.820
 Jesus'

00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:13.760
 life.

00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.060
 Matthew says

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.000
 that foxes

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.840
 have holes

00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:19.040
 and birds

00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.680
 have nests,

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:20.760
 but the Son of Man

00:15:20.760 --> 00:15:21.280
 has nowhere

00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:21.940
 to lay his head.

00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:24.760
 Jesus hungered.

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.240
 Jesus felt

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.919
 exhausted

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.779
 from the constant

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.840
 demands of the crowd.

00:15:30.939 --> 00:15:31.860
 He understood

00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:33.019
 pressure.

00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:35.620
 Pressure from enemies.

00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.539
 Pressure from authorities.

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.639
 Pressure from family.

00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.220
 Pressure from friends.

00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:43.100
 Pressure from his disciples.

00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.860
 Pressure from temptation.

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.919
 And pressure from success.

00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:49.039
 And always

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.039
 the unrelenting

00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.599
 pressure

00:15:50.599 --> 00:15:52.279
 of this journey

00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:53.179
 to Jerusalem

00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:54.559
 where he would

00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:55.659
 break his body

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.059
 and spill his blood

00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:58.299
 for our forgiveness

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:59.039
 and redemption.

00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:01.120
 But here's

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:01.899
 the good news.

00:16:03.479 --> 00:16:04.519
 Jesus is alive.

00:16:06.299 --> 00:16:07.479
 His bodily

00:16:07.479 --> 00:16:08.459
 resurrection

00:16:08.459 --> 00:16:09.240
 ensures

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:10.299
 our bodily

00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.059
 resurrection.

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.079
 Very soon

00:16:13.079 --> 00:16:13.659
 we will meet

00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.099
 Jesus

00:16:14.099 --> 00:16:15.459
 or he will

00:16:15.459 --> 00:16:16.159
 meet us.

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.600
 And this is how

00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.419
 Paul says it.

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.579
 We shall not all sleep,

00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:21.539
 that is,

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:21.980
 die,

00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:23.339
 but

00:16:23.339 --> 00:16:24.519
 we shall all

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.299
 be changed.

00:16:26.199 --> 00:16:26.879
 In a moment,

00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:27.639
 in the twinkling

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.299
 of an eye,

00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.559
 at the last trumpet,

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.959
 for the trumpet

00:16:30.959 --> 00:16:31.600
 will sound

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.139
 and the dead

00:16:32.139 --> 00:16:32.839
 will be raised

00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:33.819
 imperishable

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:35.219
 and we

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:36.679
 shall be changed.

00:16:37.459 --> 00:16:38.000
 For this

00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.860
 perishable body

00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:39.579
 must put on

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.500
 the imperishable

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:42.039
 and this mortal

00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:42.579
 body

00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.659
 must put on

00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.860
 immortality.

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:46.980
 that is

00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.700
 good news

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:48.480
 for saints

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.139
 and sinners

00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.820
 who struggle

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.659
 with the body.

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.379
 We've observed

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.379
 perilous departures

00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:54.879
 in ministry,

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.800
 now let's turn

00:16:55.800 --> 00:16:56.539
 to the private

00:16:56.539 --> 00:16:57.279
 life and the

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.159
 public activity

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.180
 of faithful

00:16:59.180 --> 00:16:59.659
 ministry.

00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:00.860
 So point number

00:17:00.860 --> 00:17:01.180
 two,

00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:02.180
 private life

00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:03.159
 in ministry.

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.220
 Private life

00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.759
 in ministry.

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.799
 Let's look again

00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.880
 at verse six.

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.579
 Paul says this,

00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:13.039
 If you put

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:13.579
 these things

00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.099
 before the

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:14.460
 brothers,

00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:15.799
 you will be

00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.439
 a good servant

00:17:16.439 --> 00:17:17.319
 of Christ Jesus,

00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:18.659
 being trained

00:17:18.659 --> 00:17:19.299
 in the words

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.039
 of the faith

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:20.839
 and of the good

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.319
 doctrine

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:22.299
 that you have

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:22.720
 followed.

00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:25.199
 This conditional

00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:26.319
 statement hinges

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.539
 on what these

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:28.619
 things are.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.000
 Whatever these

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:30.740
 things are,

00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:32.319
 that's the condition.

00:17:32.899 --> 00:17:33.539
 And it's repeated

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.240
 again in verse

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.659
 11.

00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:35.639
 Paul says,

00:17:35.699 --> 00:17:37.079
 Command and teach

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:38.359
 these things.

00:17:38.359 --> 00:17:40.159
 So what does

00:17:40.159 --> 00:17:40.740
 these things

00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.399
 refer to?

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:43.319
 I would argue

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.259
 that the things

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.299
 that Paul tells

00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.079
 Timothy to shepherd

00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:46.719
 the church in

00:17:46.719 --> 00:17:47.939
 are the same

00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.679
 things that he's

00:17:48.679 --> 00:17:49.319
 been instructing

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.079
 him with all

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.500
 along.

00:17:51.179 --> 00:17:51.959
 It's the whole

00:17:51.959 --> 00:17:52.599
 of the letter,

00:17:52.979 --> 00:17:53.659
 which this previous

00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.579
 section illustrates.

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.939
 It's this relationship

00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.000
 between doctrine

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.779
 and godliness,

00:17:59.039 --> 00:17:59.639
 or doctrine

00:17:59.639 --> 00:18:00.359
 and the gospel

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.240
 that leads to

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.279
 this Christian life

00:18:02.279 --> 00:18:03.079
 and this devotion

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.679
 to Jesus.

00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:05.199
 Look again

00:18:05.199 --> 00:18:05.779
 at the purpose

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.039
 statement in 314.

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.139
 He says that

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:10.519
 I hope to come

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:11.219
 to you soon,

00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:12.799
 but I am writing

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.879
 these things

00:18:13.879 --> 00:18:15.219
 to you so that

00:18:15.219 --> 00:18:16.500
 if I delay,

00:18:16.839 --> 00:18:17.500
 you may know

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.559
 how one ought

00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.159
 to behave

00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:19.799
 in the household

00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.299
 of God,

00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:21.179
 which is the

00:18:21.179 --> 00:18:21.719
 church of the

00:18:21.719 --> 00:18:22.219
 living God,

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:23.379
 a pillar and

00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:23.919
 a buttress

00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:24.879
 of the truth.

00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:27.119
 And that truth

00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:27.719
 that the church

00:18:27.719 --> 00:18:28.939
 upholds is the

00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:29.359
 gospel.

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:30.139
 That's the next

00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.559
 confession that

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.219
 you hear in

00:18:32.219 --> 00:18:32.879
 verse 16.

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.219
 You see,

00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:34.919
 it's Christ

00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.899
 that makes

00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:37.219
 teaching Christian.

00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:38.919
 That's why

00:18:38.919 --> 00:18:39.479
 the servant

00:18:39.479 --> 00:18:40.339
 imagery for

00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.199
 Christian ministry

00:18:41.199 --> 00:18:41.839
 I think is

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:42.459
 so helpful.

00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.639
 We often

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.139
 think of a

00:18:44.139 --> 00:18:44.679
 servant as

00:18:44.679 --> 00:18:45.219
 someone who

00:18:45.219 --> 00:18:46.279
 completes the

00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.039
 right tasks.

00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:48.879
 So you help

00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:49.339
 your mom with

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.779
 the dishes,

00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:51.519
 or you shovel

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:52.399
 the driveway

00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:53.240
 for your neighbor.

00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.000
 But being a

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.539
 servant is not

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.559
 just a responsibility.

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.240
 It is an

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:58.899
 identity.

00:18:59.699 --> 00:19:00.459
 It is who

00:19:00.459 --> 00:19:01.219
 you are.

00:19:02.219 --> 00:19:02.819
 The metaphor

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.500
 might be more

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.299
 clear if we

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.459
 exchange servant

00:19:05.459 --> 00:19:06.439
 for slave.

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:07.640
 It's not a

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:08.660
 popular connotation

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.580
 for modern

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.200
 ears, but

00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.019
 this is the

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.100
 meaning in

00:19:12.100 --> 00:19:12.980
 biblical language.

00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.220
 And the

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.960
 language communicates

00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.559
 at least two

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.059
 realities.

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:18.680
 First, there

00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.440
 is a master,

00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:20.580
 Christ Jesus,

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.940
 who directs our

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.640
 life and our

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.140
 practice.

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.860
 And second,

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:25.640
 there is this

00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:26.539
 stewardship that

00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.500
 we have received

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.259
 and that we're

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.320
 entrusted with to

00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:29.840
 multiply.

00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.200
 And that

00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:31.840
 stewardship, I

00:19:31.840 --> 00:19:32.920
 think, is the

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.740
 words of Christ

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.279
 itself.

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.240
 It is the

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:35.720
 gospel.

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:35.839
 gospel.

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.880
 And that we

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:37.980
 multiply in

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.579
 relationships.

00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:42.100
 I think these

00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:43.240
 realities are at

00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.100
 the heart of

00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:44.539
 ministry.

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:45.860
 And that's why

00:19:45.860 --> 00:19:46.420
 the next command

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.440
 is so important.

00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.220
 Have nothing to

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.600
 do with irreverent

00:19:50.600 --> 00:19:51.319
 silly myths.

00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.740
 Rather, train

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:55.100
 yourself for

00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:55.660
 godliness.

00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:58.980
 Honestly, I'm

00:19:58.980 --> 00:19:59.680
 not sure what

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.200
 these myths

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.339
 refer to.

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.860
 But notice how

00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.380
 it contrasts with

00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:05.039
 godliness.

00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.539
 not sound

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.019
 doctrine.

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.339
 Whatever these

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.140
 myths are, they're

00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:10.860
 promoting this

00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:12.160
 speculation, this

00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:14.480
 love of ideas, but

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.839
 not a stewardship of

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.240
 what they've

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.700
 received.

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.660
 Paul calls these

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.579
 vain discussions

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.180
 because they're

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.299
 characterized by this

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.640
 self-promotion, this

00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.600
 building up of

00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:23.920
 self.

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.380
 I want to be a

00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.700
 teacher, and so I'll

00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.339
 discuss these

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.740
 things.

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.839
 Knowing the right

00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.960
 things is what

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.759
 seems to get you

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.319
 into the inner

00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:32.720
 circle.

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:32.799
 people.

00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:34.259
 Or having the

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:35.220
 right heritage and

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.819
 the right family

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:37.120
 background gives you

00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.980
 status with God's

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.299
 people.

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.880
 But that is not how

00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.519
 a good steward

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.059
 thinks.

00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.819
 A steward doesn't

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.880
 sit around discussing

00:20:43.880 --> 00:20:46.200
 how to most

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.160
 effectively run the

00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:47.860
 master's business.

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.480
 He gets to work

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.299
 running it.

00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:51.880
 He does the work.

00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.380
 He invests and he

00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:54.519
 risks so that his

00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.519
 master can get a

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:55.900
 reward.

00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.539
 He's not concerned

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.259
 about himself.

00:20:58.259 --> 00:21:01.299
 His main concern is

00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:02.799
 the commendation of

00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.440
 his master.

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:07.400
 Godly people find

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:09.200
 their worth in God,

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:11.220
 not in their success,

00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:13.619
 not in their growth,

00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.740
 not in their heritage,

00:21:16.099 --> 00:21:17.220
 or their position,

00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.480
 or their knowledge.

00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.359
 But in fact,

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.500
 godliness is not an

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.240
 end to itself.

00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.140
 Look at verse 10.

00:21:23.140 --> 00:21:25.940
 For to this end we

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.240
 toil and strive.

00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.119
 Why?

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.379
 Because we have our

00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:32.339
 hope set on godliness?

00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.640
 No, on the living

00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.460
 God who is the

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.720
 savior of all people,

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.500
 especially of those

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.000
 who believe.

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:44.420
 Souls are at stake

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.339
 in ministry.

00:21:46.359 --> 00:21:47.379
 We work for a

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:48.420
 particular end,

00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:50.180
 the salvation and

00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.359
 preservation of the

00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.359
 people of God.

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:56.359
 And is there a

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.200
 better thing to work

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.460
 for?

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:00.920
 What does money,

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.259
 position,

00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:04.100
 and status mean

00:22:04.100 --> 00:22:05.480
 if it's not moving

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:06.460
 us in the direction

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:08.059
 of knowing God

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.740
 and making him

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.059
 known?

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.120
 This end of

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.059
 salvation and

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.500
 preservation.

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.620
 And the promise

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.500
 and hope of salvation

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.700
 requires us to keep

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.620
 our eyes up

00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:19.539
 and to look ahead

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.640
 to the goal of

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.360
 eternal life.

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.179
 when I was first

00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:24.679
 learning how to

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.159
 drive,

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.299
 straight roads were

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:27.919
 pretty easy,

00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:29.559
 but curves were

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.379
 tough.

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:33.039
 Just a little

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.919
 kind of adjustment,

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:34.859
 teens, you probably

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.359
 know this, you're

00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:35.679
 driving.

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.019
 A little adjustment

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.639
 makes a big

00:22:37.639 --> 00:22:38.319
 difference, right?

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:39.279
 It's not like those

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:40.099
 arcade games that you're

00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.639
 like spinning the

00:22:40.639 --> 00:22:41.379
 wheel, right?

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:44.060
 for a while I could

00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:44.980
 not make a smooth

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.720
 turn for the life

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.040
 of me.

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.520
 But it was because I

00:22:48.520 --> 00:22:49.360
 was like this,

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.720
 looking in between the

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.180
 lines and trying to

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.840
 stay centered.

00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.820
 And there was

00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:55.640
 something that my

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:56.640
 mom, who was

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.420
 helping me drive,

00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.700
 used to repeat to me

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.780
 that made the

00:22:59.780 --> 00:23:00.220
 difference.

00:23:01.280 --> 00:23:01.820
 She said,

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.800
 keep your eyes

00:23:02.800 --> 00:23:03.940
 ahead of the curve.

00:23:04.760 --> 00:23:05.580
 Keep your eyes

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:06.580
 ahead of the curve.

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:08.819
 Now that's pretty

00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:09.539
 counterintuitive,

00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:09.879
 right?

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.119
 I had to look

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.299
 ahead to stay

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:13.699
 centered.

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.720
 But the Christian

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.740
 life is essentially

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.240
 that.

00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.139
 It's staying centered

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:20.279
 on Jesus despite

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:22.419
 the curves of our

00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.599
 flesh, the curves

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.619
 of the world, the

00:23:24.619 --> 00:23:25.759
 curves of false

00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.480
 teaching.

00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.139
 And you actually,

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.579
 here's the

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.079
 counterintuitive

00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:29.460
 reality.

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.679
 You have to look

00:23:30.679 --> 00:23:32.299
 ahead to stay

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:32.699
 centered.

00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.899
 You have to keep

00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:35.720
 your eyes on

00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.279
 eternity.

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.980
 to live well in

00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.460
 the present.

00:23:39.659 --> 00:23:40.740
 That is how we

00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.799
 make progress in

00:23:41.799 --> 00:23:42.220
 godliness.

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.699
 But the picture of

00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.539
 progress isn't a

00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.159
 perfect image.

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.339
 I don't want to

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.199
 give you this rosy

00:23:49.199 --> 00:23:49.579
 picture.

00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:52.359
 We have an

00:23:52.359 --> 00:23:53.299
 eternal enduring

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.720
 hope.

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.659
 But life in this

00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:57.439
 age is not easy.

00:23:58.359 --> 00:23:59.019
 And I think that's

00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.740
 why Paul gives

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.720
 this comparison to

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.399
 bodily training.

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:02.679
 He says in verse

00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.659
 eight, for while

00:24:03.659 --> 00:24:04.720
 bodily training is of

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:05.480
 some value,

00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.880
 godliness is of

00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.799
 value in every

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.160
 way.

00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.579
 Anyone who

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.819
 understands or

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.500
 has tried to

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.940
 exercise and

00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.599
 train their body

00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:17.120
 knows that it

00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:18.319
 requires strenuous

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:20.460
 effort over time.

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:22.120
 Strenuous effort

00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:23.120
 over time.

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.980
 Just the daily

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.259
 effort to get up

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.279
 and go to the

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:28.380
 gym or get on

00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:29.920
 your cycle or go

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.880
 jog around the

00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:32.200
 block is not

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.519
 easy.

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:35.420
 And literally,

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.079
 when you're

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.619
 working out,

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.480
 you're tearing

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.680
 your muscles so

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.099
 that they can

00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:39.700
 build themselves

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.319
 back up.

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.839
 I mean, who

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.539
 wants to do

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:42.759
 that?

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.079
 Maybe some weird

00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.819
 people, but they

00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.039
 enjoy the tearing.

00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:49.319
 But no, it's the

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.460
 goal of growth.

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.420
 It's the goal of

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.420
 getting better.

00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:52.460
 better.

00:24:57.740 --> 00:25:00.240
 And the thing

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.480
 is that over

00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.779
 time, you

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.460
 actually see your

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.080
 muscles grow.

00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.400
 You actually see

00:25:05.400 --> 00:25:06.180
 them get toned.

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.400
 And then those

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.940
 things that you

00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:08.519
 don't really want to

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.700
 talk about, they

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.340
 lessen.

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.779
 And I think it's

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.259
 the same with

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:13.160
 making progress in

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.560
 godliness.

00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:15.360
 It requires us to

00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:16.180
 take our hearts

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:17.620
 and our habits

00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:18.620
 to Jesus

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:20.440
 again and

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.660
 again and

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:22.740
 again in

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.779
 repentance and

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.580
 faith, saying,

00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.920
 Lord, help me

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.940
 to please you.

00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.880
 But this is the

00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:29.900
 good news, that

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:32.220
 over time, Jesus

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:34.059
 actually becomes

00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.299
 better in our

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.680
 hearts.

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:37.100
 We actually want

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.980
 it because we're

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:38.620
 growing.

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.960
 Our muscles, our

00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.160
 spiritual muscles are

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.799
 getting better, and

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:42.960
 we say, you know

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.259
 what?

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:45.340
 The flesh, that's

00:25:45.340 --> 00:25:46.140
 not even worth it.

00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:48.320
 Anger, that's

00:25:48.320 --> 00:25:48.799
 destructive.

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:51.299
 Lust, it's

00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.680
 damaging.

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.919
 I don't want it.

00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.539
 Jesus is better.

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.099
 So this effort at

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.819
 godliness in the

00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:00.039
 private life will

00:26:00.039 --> 00:26:00.940
 inevitably shape the

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.859
 ministry activity in

00:26:01.859 --> 00:26:02.200
 public.

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.019
 And that's the

00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.960
 third point, public

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:06.319
 activity and

00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.779
 ministry.

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.039
 Public activity and

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.460
 ministry.

00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.680
 Paul here is

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.559
 essentially giving

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.339
 two commands.

00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:17.339
 don't get

00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.799
 discouraged, but

00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.699
 set the example.

00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.539
 And don't

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:23.659
 neglect the gift, but

00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.819
 devote yourself to

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.159
 teaching.

00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:27.559
 It's these two

00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.799
 responsibilities that

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.859
 I think make up

00:26:29.859 --> 00:26:30.519
 ministry.

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:33.119
 This imitation and

00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:33.639
 instruction.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:35.399
 Imitation and

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:35.839
 instruction.

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.720
 The question isn't

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.279
 will people watch

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:40.480
 you?

00:26:40.579 --> 00:26:41.319
 The question is

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.159
 what kind of

00:26:42.159 --> 00:26:43.099
 example will they

00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.459
 see?

00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.059
 What kind of

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:47.159
 example are we

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.399
 setting?

00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:49.919
 Pastor Bobby

00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:50.699
 Jameson in his

00:26:50.699 --> 00:26:51.519
 book, The Path to

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.339
 Being a Pastor, puts

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:52.879
 it this way.

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.139
 I think it's both

00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.019
 true and kind of

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.259
 funny.

00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:57.539
 The day you start

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.559
 serving as pastor

00:26:58.559 --> 00:27:00.159
 is the day that

00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:00.799
 everyone starts

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.359
 watching you.

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.259
 And that's true.

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.139
 If you've been in

00:27:04.139 --> 00:27:04.699
 any kind of

00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:05.599
 leadership role, you

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.659
 know that imitation

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.319
 is inevitable.

00:27:07.959 --> 00:27:08.719
 We cannot get

00:27:08.719 --> 00:27:09.859
 away from setting

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.480
 an example.

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:10.579
 people.

00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:12.319
 And parents

00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:12.960
 probably know this

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.680
 better than most.

00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:14.680
 Right?

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.099
 Children do what

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:17.759
 they see more than

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.599
 what they hear.

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.640
 We think, man, why

00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:21.799
 is this kid so angry

00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.579
 and selfish?

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.759
 And he's just using

00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.539
 his words like

00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.000
 weapons?

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.559
 And I'm like,

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:30.220
 that must be me.

00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:30.799
 Oh no.

00:27:31.220 --> 00:27:32.240
 I need to change.

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.460
 I had this problem

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:35.880
 with my younger

00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.140
 brother.

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.839
 I wasn't a parent

00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:38.000
 obviously, but I

00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.620
 grew up in a big

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:38.980
 family.

00:27:39.380 --> 00:27:39.900
 There's a lot of

00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.980
 imitation between

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.460
 siblings.

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.180
 And occasionally

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:45.000
 as a kid, I would

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:47.100
 get into a freezer

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.920
 because we had

00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.519
 chocolate chip cookie

00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.080
 dough ice cream

00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.740
 that was just

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.519
 amazing.

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.780
 And I was like,

00:27:52.840 --> 00:27:54.200
 you know, what's

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.860
 the harm in a few

00:27:54.860 --> 00:27:55.680
 scoops, a few

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.780
 spoonfuls here and

00:27:56.780 --> 00:27:56.980
 there?

00:27:58.340 --> 00:27:59.160
 But one day I

00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.019
 noticed my younger

00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.560
 brother opening the

00:28:01.560 --> 00:28:03.160
 freezer and taking

00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.019
 out the ice cream

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.280
 and starting to eat

00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:06.380
 it right as my mom

00:28:06.380 --> 00:28:07.180
 is cooking dinner.

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.800
 I'm like, bro, you

00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.519
 can't get into the

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.299
 ice cream right now.

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:10.900
 Don't you know

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:12.500
 that you're about to

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.299
 eat dinner and we

00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.079
 need that for later?

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.160
 And you know what

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.519
 he said?

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.319
 You did it.

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.859
 I hate that.

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.059
 But it was true,

00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:21.440
 right?

00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:23.500
 Like, I did it.

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.200
 He was right.

00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.539
 See, imitation is

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.000
 inevitable.

00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.700
 It is inevitable.

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.400
 So Timothy must set an

00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:32.980
 example instead of just

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.819
 telling the church what

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.220
 to do.

00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:36.519
 And it's not actually

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.339
 man-centered for

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.059
 Timothy to say,

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.799
 follow me.

00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.900
 This is how God has

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:42.380
 designed relationships,

00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.600
 that we imitate those

00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:46.180
 that we trust, those

00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.380
 that we see their lives

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:49.460
 and we say, I want to

00:28:49.460 --> 00:28:50.140
 be like that.

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.779
 You know, I'm not

00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:54.100
 sure where this person

00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:54.880
 is going astray,

00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:56.160
 where this, I can't

00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.339
 articulate what the

00:28:57.339 --> 00:28:58.019
 scripture says about

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:59.860
 this nuance, but it

00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:01.059
 doesn't jive with the

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.640
 person that I've

00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.120
 learned from.

00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:05.000
 I trust my parents

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.919
 and I don't know if I

00:29:06.919 --> 00:29:08.199
 agree with what this

00:29:08.199 --> 00:29:08.919
 person is saying.

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:12.719
 Sometimes the greatest

00:29:12.719 --> 00:29:13.919
 defense against false

00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:15.500
 doctrine and misplaced

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:17.439
 devotion is a godly

00:29:17.439 --> 00:29:18.059
 example.

00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:20.199
 A godly example.

00:29:21.919 --> 00:29:23.159
 But imitation must be

00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:24.119
 coupled with instruction.

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.039
 So Paul says in verse

00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:28.259
 13, until I come,

00:29:29.179 --> 00:29:30.239
 devote yourself to

00:29:30.239 --> 00:29:31.559
 public reading of

00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:31.919
 scripture.

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:34.239
 to exhortation and

00:29:34.239 --> 00:29:34.799
 to teaching.

00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.419
 What do these three

00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:38.439
 things have in common?

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.259
 It's that they're

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.659
 centered on scripture.

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:44.539
 Read it, preach it,

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.759
 teach it, Timothy.

00:29:47.219 --> 00:29:48.459
 Those who want to make

00:29:48.459 --> 00:29:49.959
 progress in godliness

00:29:49.959 --> 00:29:51.979
 have to be people of

00:29:51.979 --> 00:29:52.399
 the word.

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:54.379
 Because it's the word

00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.719
 in which Jesus reveals

00:29:55.719 --> 00:29:56.619
 himself to us.

00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:58.519
 It's the word where he

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.579
 makes himself known.

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:01.500
 And then verse 14

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.720
 gives just the flip

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:04.179
 side of verse 13.

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.720
 Devote yourself to

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:07.419
 teaching and do not

00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:08.619
 neglect the gift you

00:30:08.619 --> 00:30:10.059
 have, which was given

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.319
 you by prophecy when the

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.279
 council of elders laid

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.119
 their hands on you.

00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:15.460
 So he's telling

00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.539
 Timothy, don't be

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.220
 apathetic.

00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:19.159
 Don't neglect what you've

00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:20.659
 received, this gift

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:21.379
 that's been given.

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.720
 Now there are a lot of

00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.939
 Bible readers who

00:30:24.939 --> 00:30:26.740
 differ on what this

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.480
 gift is.

00:30:27.480 --> 00:30:28.839
 The New American

00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.500
 Standard Version

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.880
 actually translates

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:32.259
 this spiritual gift.

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.559
 But most Bible

00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.620
 readers or

00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:36.339
 translators just

00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.079
 leave it as gift.

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:38.480
 And there are two

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.319
 other places in the

00:30:39.319 --> 00:30:40.059
 pastoral epistles

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.460
 where similar language

00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.460
 is used in reference

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:42.980
 to Timothy.

00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:45.120
 1 Timothy 118.

00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.579
 This charge I

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.339
 entrust to you,

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.860
 Timothy, my child

00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.559
 in accordance with

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.360
 the prophecies

00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:52.360
 previously made about

00:30:52.360 --> 00:30:54.440
 you, that by them

00:30:54.440 --> 00:30:55.799
 you may wage the

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.400
 good warfare.

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.460
 prayer.

00:30:57.840 --> 00:30:58.780
 And then 2 Timothy

00:30:58.780 --> 00:30:59.600
 1.6.

00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.640
 For this reason I

00:31:01.640 --> 00:31:02.540
 remind you to fan

00:31:02.540 --> 00:31:03.620
 into flame the gift

00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:05.160
 of God, which was

00:31:05.160 --> 00:31:06.300
 given by the laying

00:31:06.300 --> 00:31:07.360
 on of hands.

00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:10.680
 So is this gift the

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:12.820
 ministry itself, or is

00:31:12.820 --> 00:31:13.820
 it something that

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:15.040
 empowers Timothy for

00:31:15.040 --> 00:31:16.800
 ministry, like teaching

00:31:16.800 --> 00:31:18.140
 or confidence in the

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:18.740
 face of false

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.060
 teachers, or a

00:31:20.060 --> 00:31:20.780
 spiritual gift?

00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.779
 faith?

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.899
 Honestly, I'm not

00:31:23.899 --> 00:31:24.519
 certain.

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.759
 But I lean towards

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.839
 seeing it as the gift

00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.899
 in reference to

00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:29.460
 pastoring.

00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.259
 The laying on of

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.920
 hands seems to

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:33.299
 refer to this

00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:34.539
 pastoral affirmation

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.460
 from the Ephesian

00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:35.799
 elders.

00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:37.339
 Actually, later in

00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.960
 chapter 5, Paul will

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.960
 tell Timothy, don't be

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.779
 hasty in the laying

00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.420
 on of hands.

00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:42.740
 And I think what he's

00:31:42.740 --> 00:31:43.920
 saying is, do you

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.460
 see all these

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.759
 examples of teachers

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.319
 who are leading

00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:47.099
 people astray?

00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:49.039
 Do not be hasty in

00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:51.000
 affirming pastors and

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.379
 teachers.

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.480
 Make sure the

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.719
 character lines up.

00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.779
 But also the closest

00:31:55.779 --> 00:31:56.819
 referent is this

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:58.000
 ministry of teaching

00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:00.240
 in verse 13 that he's

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.799
 supposed to devote

00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.399
 himself to.

00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:05.199
 Now, kind of in

00:32:05.199 --> 00:32:06.139
 verse 15, Paul

00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:07.299
 summarizes all that

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.740
 he's been saying with

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.839
 four active commands

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.980
 and one promise.

00:32:11.899 --> 00:32:14.079
 Practice, immerse,

00:32:14.719 --> 00:32:16.839
 keep watch, persist.

00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.980
 For by so doing, you

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.719
 will save both

00:32:19.719 --> 00:32:21.039
 yourself and your

00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:21.579
 hearers.

00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:22.679
 So point four,

00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.419
 persistent effort in

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:24.859
 ministry.

00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:27.480
 Persistent effort in

00:32:27.480 --> 00:32:27.899
 ministry.

00:32:29.799 --> 00:32:30.939
 What must Timothy

00:32:30.939 --> 00:32:31.480
 practice?

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.099
 What are these things

00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:34.259
 referring to this time?

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:36.240
 I don't think this

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.279
 actually refers to the

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.559
 whole letter or even

00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.259
 necessarily the

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.879
 substance of the

00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:40.199
 gospel.

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.119
 I think this refers to

00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:42.899
 what Paul has just

00:32:42.899 --> 00:32:44.579
 said, this imitation

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.980
 and instruction that

00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.939
 comprises the

00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.400
 ministry.

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.480
 And notice the

00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.400
 connotation of these

00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:51.340
 verbs, what it

00:32:51.340 --> 00:32:52.960
 communicates in it.

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.180
 He says, practice

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.019
 these things.

00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:56.799
 This isn't like

00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.860
 preparing for a play,

00:32:58.220 --> 00:32:59.259
 high schoolers, where

00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:01.080
 you rehearse your line

00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:01.960
 and prep for the main

00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.240
 event.

00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.480
 He's not telling

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:05.140
 Timothy to recite his

00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.880
 sermons until they

00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:06.820
 sound good on Sunday.

00:33:07.820 --> 00:33:08.720
 The New American

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.960
 Standard Version says,

00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.180
 take pains.

00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:13.299
 I think the idea is

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.160
 something about

00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.759
 diligence.

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:17.080
 This ongoing effort

00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:18.860
 at imitation and

00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:19.320
 instruction.

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.580
 And then a different

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:22.200
 kind of verb.

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:23.440
 Immerse yourself in

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:23.660
 them.

00:33:24.560 --> 00:33:25.539
 Don't just engage with

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:25.960
 your head.

00:33:26.100 --> 00:33:27.320
 Engage with your heart.

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.820
 Engage with your hands.

00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.620
 This whole person

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:32.279
 giving yourself to

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.420
 imitation and

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:33.920
 instruction.

00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:36.900
 What we think, what

00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.960
 we love, and what we

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:39.800
 do must be conformed

00:33:39.800 --> 00:33:40.240
 to Jesus.

00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:42.380
 There's no room for

00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:44.180
 hypocrisy in

00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:44.759
 pastoring.

00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:48.700
 And the good news

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.880
 again is that there

00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.940
 is actually visible

00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:51.860
 progress.

00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.320
 Christians can

00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:54.400
 actually grow.

00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:56.539
 This isn't just an

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:56.960
 idea.

00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:57.039
 idea.

00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:59.160
 It's actually the

00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:00.140
 expectation if

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:01.299
 Timothy gives himself

00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:02.340
 and we give

00:34:02.340 --> 00:34:03.539
 ourselves to making

00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.720
 progress in

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.140
 godliness.

00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:07.519
 The third verb is

00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.539
 keep watch over

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.579
 yourself and on the

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:09.840
 teaching.

00:34:11.240 --> 00:34:12.659
 The verb implies

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.720
 that temptations and

00:34:13.720 --> 00:34:15.000
 distractions will come.

00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:18.000
 It's not a matter of

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:22.519
 the world and the

00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:25.240
 flesh and sin

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.800
 getting in the way.

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:28.960
 It's will we be

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.500
 distracted?

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:31.460
 Will we drift from

00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.800
 Jesus?

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.099
 Persistence.

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:38.159
 Persistence requires

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:38.679
 stamina.

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.360
 Ministry is a

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.780
 marathon.

00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.039
 It's not a

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.360
 sprint.

00:34:44.619 --> 00:34:46.400
 A lot of young

00:34:46.400 --> 00:34:48.179
 Christians in a

00:34:48.179 --> 00:34:49.519
 good way are very

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.500
 zealous for God.

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.460
 They're learning

00:34:51.460 --> 00:34:52.880
 theology and they're

00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.360
 learning the

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:53.679
 scriptures.

00:34:54.400 --> 00:34:55.300
 But when they hit a

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.559
 trial, it's like,

00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:58.240
 where did God go?

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.679
 But the reality is

00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:02.340
 that ministry and

00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.679
 the Christian life is

00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:04.179
 a marathon.

00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:05.159
 It's not a sprint.

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.920
 And every trial,

00:35:07.460 --> 00:35:08.740
 every difficulty is an

00:35:08.740 --> 00:35:10.019
 opportunity to continue

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:11.519
 in growing in

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:11.940
 godliness.

00:35:11.940 --> 00:35:19.440
 the sobering reality.

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.480
 The sobering reality, I

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:22.500
 think, of verse 16 is

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.280
 that there are two

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.240
 outcomes in

00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:24.679
 ministry.

00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:29.039
 Salvation or

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.519
 shipwreck.

00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.820
 Salvation or

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.320
 shipwreck.

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.700
 I think the quote from

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:36.480
 Pastor Paul Tripp puts

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:36.920
 it well.

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.300
 Leadership in the

00:35:38.300 --> 00:35:38.900
 church of Jesus

00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.960
 Christ is not a

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:40.880
 battle for theological

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:42.360
 faithfulness, or

00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:43.380
 sorry, not just a

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:44.200
 battle for theological

00:35:44.200 --> 00:35:45.700
 faithfulness, gospel

00:35:45.700 --> 00:35:46.539
 purity, and

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.579
 methodological integrity.

00:35:48.380 --> 00:35:51.000
 It is also always a

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.200
 war for the heart of

00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:52.980
 every leader.

00:35:54.240 --> 00:35:55.460
 Many more leaders

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.820
 fail because they

00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:57.740
 have lost the battle

00:35:57.740 --> 00:35:59.380
 of their heart than

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.440
 because of shifts in

00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:02.200
 their theology or view

00:36:02.200 --> 00:36:02.800
 of the gospel.

00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:02.880
 people.

00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:06.580
 And the sobering reality

00:36:06.580 --> 00:36:07.820
 is that the pastoral

00:36:07.820 --> 00:36:09.380
 epistles are full of

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.380
 examples of people who

00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:12.880
 have lost the battle.

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:15.140
 They were likely a part

00:36:15.140 --> 00:36:16.080
 of the group at one

00:36:16.080 --> 00:36:17.620
 point, but they became

00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:18.760
 enamored with something

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.180
 other than Jesus.

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.280
 Genealogies or

00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:24.720
 position or power or

00:36:24.720 --> 00:36:25.160
 money.

00:36:26.200 --> 00:36:27.580
 And these same dangers

00:36:27.580 --> 00:36:28.980
 can shipwreck our

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:29.900
 ministry too.

00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:33.079
 The love of money, the

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:35.260
 love of power, the

00:36:35.260 --> 00:36:39.260
 love of success, pride,

00:36:39.860 --> 00:36:41.400
 suffering, cynicism.

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:46.200
 That seems pretty bleak

00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:47.619
 to be honest.

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:50.099
 So what is our hope?

00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.260
 What does ministry

00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:52.180
 depend on?

00:36:52.179 --> 00:36:55.659
 It depends on making

00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:57.639
 progress in godliness.

00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.839
 It depends on keeping

00:36:59.839 --> 00:37:02.339
 our eyes up to Jesus,

00:37:02.899 --> 00:37:04.519
 the one who keeps us.

00:37:06.679 --> 00:37:07.839
 I want to conclude with

00:37:07.839 --> 00:37:09.599
 two words of exhortation.

00:37:10.859 --> 00:37:12.199
 There's two ways to think

00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:13.199
 about this text.

00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:16.940
 First, don't pursue

00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:17.519
 arrival.

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.179
 Pursue Jesus.

00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:21.500
 Don't pursue

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.059
 arrival.

00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:24.079
 Pursue Jesus.

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:26.539
 If you pursue

00:37:26.539 --> 00:37:28.480
 arrival, goals

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:29.819
 rather than godliness

00:37:29.819 --> 00:37:31.019
 will become the focus.

00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:33.079
 You'll be so set on

00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.899
 making the next

00:37:33.899 --> 00:37:35.980
 thing that you'll

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:37.019
 miss God in the

00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:37.579
 process.

00:37:38.379 --> 00:37:39.619
 But the weird thing is

00:37:39.619 --> 00:37:40.659
 that if you pursue

00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:41.099
 Jesus,

00:37:41.899 --> 00:37:43.460
 you will never

00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:44.119
 arrive.

00:37:44.500 --> 00:37:45.379
 You'll be coming to

00:37:45.379 --> 00:37:47.440
 him again and again

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:49.240
 and again in faith

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:50.039
 and repentance

00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:51.159
 and worship.

00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:53.000
 And isn't that the

00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:53.860
 Christian life?

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:56.119
 It's not arriving.

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.340
 It's pursuing him.

00:37:59.619 --> 00:38:01.220
 When I got out of

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:02.980
 college, you know,

00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:05.000
 college is this time

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:06.820
 of an insane amount

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.720
 of information being

00:38:07.720 --> 00:38:08.380
 thrown at you.

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.500
 And you're working

00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:11.800
 50, 60 hours on

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.200
 homework.

00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.460
 And for me, I was

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.900
 an RA and I had a

00:38:14.900 --> 00:38:15.900
 job and I had a

00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.300
 fiance.

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:17.000
 And it was like,

00:38:17.080 --> 00:38:18.240
 man, when I get out

00:38:18.240 --> 00:38:19.300
 of college, it's

00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:19.960
 going to be great.

00:38:20.140 --> 00:38:20.480
 I'm going to have

00:38:20.480 --> 00:38:21.240
 all this time for

00:38:21.240 --> 00:38:21.660
 learning.

00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:22.980
 I'm going to be set.

00:38:23.740 --> 00:38:25.260
 And it doesn't work

00:38:25.260 --> 00:38:25.800
 out that way.

00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:29.120
 There's always more

00:38:29.120 --> 00:38:29.620
 to do.

00:38:30.340 --> 00:38:31.280
 And that's actually a

00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:31.720
 good thing.

00:38:31.840 --> 00:38:32.920
 It's not a bad thing

00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.460
 necessarily.

00:38:34.340 --> 00:38:35.440
 It makes us return

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:37.000
 to Christ in every

00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.840
 moment and say,

00:38:37.980 --> 00:38:39.060
 Lord, how can I

00:38:39.060 --> 00:38:39.539
 please you?

00:38:40.060 --> 00:38:41.180
 What is the priority?

00:38:41.580 --> 00:38:42.300
 Help me to honor

00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:42.539
 you.

00:38:42.539 --> 00:38:45.440
 Second, create

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.659
 margin for learning

00:38:46.659 --> 00:38:47.599
 so that you can

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.460
 make progress.

00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:50.579
 Learning isn't

00:38:50.579 --> 00:38:51.599
 about getting more

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.559
 busy with books

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.440
 and articles

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.400
 and conferences.

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.920
 It's actually the

00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:56.259
 opposite.

00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:57.239
 It's the slowing

00:38:57.239 --> 00:38:59.500
 down to reflect

00:38:59.500 --> 00:39:00.860
 and to remember

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:01.360
 God.

00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:03.900
 Time seems to

00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:04.699
 always be the issue

00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.340
 with priorities.

00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:08.000
 And we all know

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.539
 this kind of in

00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.119
 different ways.

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.239
 there's another

00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:10.619
 email.

00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:11.599
 There's another

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.079
 activity.

00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:13.039
 There's more

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.900
 teaching, more

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.719
 training, more

00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.980
 conversations, more

00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.579
 needs in our

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.079
 families.

00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.359
 And our culture

00:39:19.359 --> 00:39:20.759
 provides, ironically,

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.779
 more ways to

00:39:21.779 --> 00:39:23.019
 multitask efficiently

00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:23.839
 in all these

00:39:23.839 --> 00:39:24.319
 things.

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:26.699
 But the reality is

00:39:26.699 --> 00:39:27.139
 that it doesn't

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:28.179
 accelerate godliness.

00:39:29.679 --> 00:39:30.859
 Godliness happens

00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.960
 through persistent

00:39:31.960 --> 00:39:33.440
 effort with God

00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.339
 over time.

00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.440
 Persistent

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.559
 effort with God

00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:37.179
 over time.

00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:39.919
 And progress

00:39:39.919 --> 00:39:41.239
 requires that.

00:39:42.259 --> 00:39:42.940
 So we don't

00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:44.139
 microwave spirituality.

00:39:44.699 --> 00:39:45.379
 We have to

00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:46.679
 create margin for

00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:47.500
 learning and

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:47.859
 growing.

00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:51.339
 Let me conclude

00:39:51.339 --> 00:39:52.279
 with Titus 2,

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.539
 11 to 14.

00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.440
 This kind of

00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:55.219
 sums up

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:57.139
 really Paul's

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:57.519
 message.

00:39:58.279 --> 00:39:59.059
 And it's a word

00:39:59.059 --> 00:39:59.799
 of hope for us.

00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.919
 He says this,

00:40:02.919 --> 00:40:04.819
 For the grace of

00:40:04.819 --> 00:40:05.899
 God has appeared,

00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:07.860
 bringing salvation

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:09.019
 for all people,

00:40:09.680 --> 00:40:10.940
 training us to

00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:11.940
 renounce ungodliness

00:40:11.940 --> 00:40:13.099
 and worldly

00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:14.460
 passions, and to

00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.539
 live self-controlled,

00:40:15.920 --> 00:40:17.079
 upright, and godly

00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:17.860
 lives in the present

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:19.680
 age, waiting for

00:40:19.680 --> 00:40:21.059
 our blessed hope,

00:40:22.139 --> 00:40:23.180
 the appearing of

00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:24.519
 the glory of our

00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:25.380
 great God and

00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:26.099
 Savior, Jesus

00:40:26.099 --> 00:40:28.539
 Christ, who gave

00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:29.900
 himself for us,

00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:31.240
 to redeem us from

00:40:31.240 --> 00:40:32.019
 all lawlessness,

00:40:32.780 --> 00:40:33.860
 and to purify for

00:40:33.860 --> 00:40:35.099
 himself a people for

00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:35.900
 his own possession,

00:40:36.420 --> 00:40:37.500
 who are zealous

00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:38.679
 for good works.

00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:40.639
 Amen.

00:40:40.880 --> 00:40:41.360
 Let's pray.

00:40:50.259 --> 00:40:51.119
 Father, how we

00:40:51.119 --> 00:40:51.539
 need you.

00:40:53.880 --> 00:40:55.400
 We're so prone to

00:40:55.400 --> 00:40:55.960
 distraction.

00:40:57.860 --> 00:40:59.059
 We're so prone to

00:40:59.059 --> 00:41:00.599
 deviate from Christ,

00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:02.579
 to make something

00:41:02.579 --> 00:41:03.420
 else our goal.

00:41:04.259 --> 00:41:04.980
 Lord, even good

00:41:04.980 --> 00:41:05.420
 things.

00:41:06.360 --> 00:41:07.019
 And you know our

00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:07.460
 hearts.

00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.659
 We want to please

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:09.900
 you.

00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:12.400
 So, Lord, I pray

00:41:12.400 --> 00:41:12.840
 that you would

00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:14.840
 recenter us in our

00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.539
 progress and

00:41:15.539 --> 00:41:15.940
 godliness.

00:41:16.940 --> 00:41:18.219
 Help us, Lord, to

00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:19.299
 bring all of our

00:41:19.299 --> 00:41:20.199
 responsibilities,

00:41:21.000 --> 00:41:22.659
 all of our cares,

00:41:23.420 --> 00:41:24.500
 and our concerns to

00:41:24.500 --> 00:41:26.139
 you, and ask,

00:41:26.319 --> 00:41:27.579
 Lord, how can we be

00:41:27.579 --> 00:41:28.420
 pleasing to you?

00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:30.980
 And thank you, Lord,

00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.059
 that because of

00:41:32.059 --> 00:41:33.680
 Jesus, we are, in

00:41:33.680 --> 00:41:34.460
 fact, pleasing to

00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:34.680
 you.

00:41:35.400 --> 00:41:36.139
 Lord, because of his

00:41:36.139 --> 00:41:38.280
 righteousness, we are

00:41:38.280 --> 00:41:39.240
 made clean.

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:42.039
 So, Lord, help these

00:41:42.039 --> 00:41:43.039
 things to motivate our

00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:43.920
 growth and godliness.

00:41:44.900 --> 00:41:46.420
 Make us godly men and

00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:48.440
 women who love you and

00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:49.480
 love our neighbor with

00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:50.280
 all of our hearts.

00:41:51.240 --> 00:41:52.159
 We ask these things,

00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:53.300
 Lord, only by your

00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:53.900
 Holy Spirit.

00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:55.619
 In Jesus' name, amen.

00:41:58.420 --> 00:41:59.420
 Amen.