Scripture References: 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (Main Text) Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 1:3-5; 1 Timothy 4:14-15

Intro: (Podcast Sermon Title Suggestion: God's House Rules: Intro to 1 Timothy)

• Analogy: Different households have different ways/rules (holidays, chores, gift reactions, tuna prep!). Churches also develop cultures.
• Starting a series on 1 Timothy asking: What are God's "house rules"? How should we conduct ourselves in His household, the church?
• Context: Paul writes to Timothy, his envoy correcting issues in the Ephesian church Paul founded (Acts 20 warnings).

Key Points:

1. God's Household: Purpose & Presence (1 Tim 3:14-15)
   • Paul's stated purpose: Writing so "you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God."
   • Key Identifiers of the Church: 
     • It's the "church of the Living God": He is present; His desires for conduct matter. We aim for outsiders to sense His presence.
     • It's "a pillar and buttress of the truth": The church's role is to uphold and display God's truth to the world.
   • Ultimate Goal: To glorify God, which shapes how we do church (includes making more and better disciples).
2. The Aim is Love (1 Tim 1:5)
   • The goal of God's instructions and sound doctrine isn't legalism. Paul clarifies: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
   • God's design integrates love with doctrine, rules, boundaries, and order – they support, not oppose, healthy relationships.
3. Why Study 1 Timothy Now?
   • To build a church that is: 
     • Obedient to God's Word: Seeking to align with the foundational apostolic teaching, discerning timeless principles for today.
     • Surrendered to the Spirit: Combining practical instruction with active dependence on and use of the Holy Spirit's gifts (1 Tim 4:14-15). It’s active, not passive.
     • Devoted to God's Mission: Getting the "house in order" not for its own sake, but to effectively welcome others and advance the gospel. Health enables fruitfulness.

Conclusion:

• 1 Timothy provides vital instructions from God on building a healthy, functioning church family that honors Him, displays His truth, and fulfills His mission.
• This series will explore relevant topics like relationships, doctrine, disagreement, leadership, prayer, mission, etc.

Call to Action:

• Join us in studying 1 Timothy over the next season.
• Ask God: How can our church community, and my life within it, better reflect Your design for Your household?
• Be ready to engage with foundational, practical, and sometimes challenging truths.

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