1 Timothy 1:1–11 (ESV) - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) - I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV) - What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

1 Timothy 3:14–15 (ESV) - I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 (ESV) - …so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

If you want to make a mess in the church, use the ministry for yourself.

If you want to make a mess in the church, be sloppy with the Scriptures.

1 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) - The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:6-11 (ESV) - Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

If you want to make a mess in the church, neglect the Gospel

Preach the Gospel to yourself every day.

1. Acknowledge the pervasive presence of sin in the world - everything has been effected by sin.

2. Acknowledge the pervasive presence of sin in your own life.

3. Confess your need for Jesus - He is the only way.

4. Embrace the glory and beauty of your salvation - all that is true of you in Christ.

5. In light of all this, saturate your mind with the truth that this world is not the end. Eternal perspective.

Discussion Questions
1. Paul says the goal of his charge to Timothy is love (v5). Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. How can Timothy show these qualities in the way that he confronts the men who have been bringing the new ideas into the church and also in dealing with the people whom they have influenced?

2. The source of love is “a pure heart and a good conscience.” How do we keep our hearts pure (see Ps. 51:10; 139:23–24; 1 John 1:9) and our consciences clear? (See Heb. 9:14; Acts 2:37–38; Heb. 13:18.)

3. What do James 1:19–20 and Galatians 6:1–2 tell us to do when another Christian wanders from God’s ways?

4. Identify some of the ‘vain discussions’ in today’s church. What steps should be taken to avoid them?

5. Review what it means to preach the Gospel to yourself every day. How can you develop this intentional spiritual discipline?