Class Lesson February 24, 2013

Hey Gang,

This week we will conclude our series entitled: What Matters Most. We have been studying the five “faithful sayings” in the Pastoral Letters of Paul. Each saying is a clue for what matters most today for churches and believers. This Sunday we end with Paul's final "faithful saying" on Endurance as being what matters most.

 

When have you quit something you now regret not sticking with?

What could you do now?

Many people are willing to serve Jesus as long as it doesn’t require too much sacrifice or inconvenience. But when following Him brings difficulty, they walk away. Many won’t even be aware they’re doing this. They just stop listening to God. This lesson challenges us to embrace the difficult with the glorious parts of life with Christ and recognize that the only path to life is to faithfully endure. 

   

Life Goal 

Faithfully persevere for the sake of the gospel.

Living for Christ is not always easy and safe. Martyrdom is still a reality for believers in many parts of the world. Christians who live in the West live without fear of physical persecution, yet many suffer in other ways, many of these are unseen. Some Christians refuse the boldness and resolve required to faithfully serve Christ in today’s world. They miss so much. With the power of God’s Holy Spirit all of us can persist in doing right for the right reason.

I. KEEP DOING RIGHTLY – 2 TIMOTHY 2:1-2

Be Strong in Grace

2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

What does being strong mean in the biblical sense? What are some fake meanings of strong? What damage comes by living according to these fake meanings of strong?

• Paul was in prison in Rome and expected he would soon be executed (4:6). This letter contains his final instructions to Timothy.
• Paul urged Timothy not to be fearful (1:7), not to be ashamed of Christ or of him (1:8), and to rely on Christ (2:1). Paul’s suffering and execution would give Timothy reasons to be discouraged and to depend on Jesus.
• The things Paul was telling Timothy to do – reproduce disciples, suffer for Jesus, stay focused on Jesus and the gospel, and endure in the faith – were things he could not accomplish in his own strength. He would need to rely on Christ’s power within him.
• Each age has its own challenges for Christians.
• Believers need to find their strength in the God of grace. Any and all strength for ministry comes from one source: Jesus Christ. How do we keep from simply using Jesus as a power source, rather than honoring Him by obeying Him?

What are the differences between evangelism and discipleship?

• Paul’s command her was more specific than basic evangelism. More than sharing, Timothy was to take the gospel training he received and entrust it to certain men gifted and able to teach it to others.
• Discipleship is an ongoing process that begins with witnessing and conversion but goes beyond that to produce active and mature believers.

How much does the continuing spread of the gospel today depend on our willingness to keep reproducing disciples who will in turn reproduce disciples?

• Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples. Making disciples involves teaching them to observe everything Jesus commands (Matt. 28:19-20).
• God could have communicated His plan of salvation to the human race through some miraculous means in one supernatural event or through one extraordinarily gifted individual. Instead, He chose to pass it along, for the most part through individuals like you and me, one at a time; pouring our lives into the lives of others intentionally and compassionately.
• Every believer is to pass on the faith to others. 

II. EXAMPLES OF ENDURANCE – 2 TIMOTHY 2:3-10

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. 9 I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound. 10 This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.


Typically we want to spare people we love from hardship/pain. Why did Paul urge Timothy to “share in suffering”? How have you done this?

• We live in a broken world. God is not the Author of the suffering that we choose to inflict. Instead He helps us through and shows us what to do (James 1:5, 12-15; 1 John 1:5).

What can we learn about how to live the Christian life from the good soldier, the dedicated athlete and the hardworking farmer?

• Christians are like soldiers who must fight the good fight of faith.
• Christians are like athletes who must discipline themselves and follow the rules.
• Christians are like hardworking farmers who will partake of the harvest they have worked so hard to cultivate.

III. WHY ENDURANCE MATTERS – 2 TIMOTHY 2:11-13
11 This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.


What does Paul mean when he says to die with Him and to live with Him? Is this only for the future?

• Use Romans 6:1-11 to explain “died with Him.”
• Believers have died to a way of life that involved disobedience and rebellion against God.
• We will live with Christ forever in heaven, but eternal life begins abundantly in the present.
• Those who die with Christ will live with Him.
• Those who endure with Christ will reign with Him.
• Those who persistently deny Christ will be denied by Him.

Does verse 12 mean it’s up to us to remain faithful to God, and our salvation hangs on whether or not we can do this?

• Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice … they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish – ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all.
• We interpret this to mean that those who are truly saved cannot lose their salvation. Our endurance to the end demonstrates that we truly belong to Him.

Endurance is a defining quality of a genuine Christian life. It is the fruit of relying on God’s grace. Endurance is based on qualities like the hard working farmer who shares in the harvest and like the soldier who is totally committed to the mission and who seeks to please his commander. Christians live with endurance by living the disciplined life of an athlete who plays according to the rules. Paul was an imperfect example of the perfect endurance of Jesus.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me to have the kind of endurance like that of the apostle Paul and of Jesus Himself. Amen.

Well, this will conclude our series on Paul's faithful sayings. I hope you have found Paul's message of What Matter Most enlightening, he certainly has given me some soul searching perspective on what's important about my faith.

We will miss you this Sunday, but you are in for a real treat with Dave Auler opening our class with a report on his recent mission trip to Cuba and our own Mark Krohl sharing our lesson this week.

See you next week!

In His Love,

David & Susan

 

Class Lesson February 17, 2013

Hey Gang,


We continue this week in our series entitled: What Matters Most. We are studying the five “faithful sayings” in the Pastoral Letters of Paul. These sayings are clues for what matters most for churches and for believers today. This Sunday we look at Godliness as being what matters most.

How do we train in godliness? How can you challenge yourself without overdoing it? What makes a person truly beautiful and truly fit? What are indicators that our muscles are working? Using physical fitness for illustrations, what might a trainer in godliness recommend for you? 

Jack Lalanne

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Jack Lalanne, a fitness guru, championed healthy living and defined the limits of aging. Known for incredible feats of fitness, he once towed 70 people in 70 rowboats for 1.5 miles in the water – all while handcuffed and shackled – at the ripe old age of 70. Jack passed away in January 2011, at the age of 96. How does God want your spiritual fitness to parallel this?


How would you define Godliness?

• Godliness refers to the act of being pious (devout) and living a good, reverent life toward God and others because of what Christ has done in us.
• Devotion in Action  

Life Goal: Pursue and live out a godly life. 

I. TRAIN IN GODLINESS – 1 TIMOTHY 4:7-10

7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, 8 for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.



Paul carefully walks the Ephesian church through ways to improve. With concern for the church, he points out their flaws. He corrected the false teaching and explained how to move toward the delight of godly living. He begins by warning the people not to even dabble in falsehoods and irreverence. Bogus doctrines are empty and worthless – the will wreak havoc.



What does Paul mean when he says that the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way?

• Paul uses a metaphor of physical fitness to describe a plan of action to develop godliness.
• In our society, there is a lot of emphasis placed on physical health and fitness. But spiritual health and fitness are even more important. They guide each area of life, including the physical. This lesson is important because training in godliness cannot be optional for a believer. Belief and behavior cannot legitimately be separated.

How might people have been familiar with physical training in Paul’s day? How does a person train spiritually for godliness?

• Imagery from athletic training pictured the effort required to grow spiritually. See 1 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 2:2; 5:7; 2Timothy 4:7.
• In Paul’s time, athletes and others worked at physical training in the Greek gymnasia. It was a focal point in Hellenized towns, so readers would have understood Paul’s analogy.
• Historical records trace first Olympic Games back as far as 776 B.C. Early Olympic Games played an important role for ancient Greeks.
• Spiritual growth depends on the regular practice of disciplines like prayer, Bible study, application, service, relating, and the like.

Why is physical training good? Why is spiritual training better? How do they work together?

• Physical training: Lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, fights depression, boosts self-esteem, and improves sleep. During exercise your body releases endorphins – chemicals that interact with the brain to lessen the perception of pain. Endorphins also generate positive feelings in the body, sort of like a natural morphine.
• Spiritual training: Lowers blood pressure, reduces stress (guilt), fights depression, boosts dependence on God, and improves sleep.
• There is Scriptural support for keeping our bodies healthy and fit. We are stewards of the physical body God has given us to serve Him and others within this life.
• Some make idols of their bodies, pouring too much energy and money into physical fitness while neglecting other aspects of godly living.

What’s the motivation for working hard to train for godliness (v. 10)? Why sacrifice and push ourselves to become spiritually fit?

• Recognizing that this life is not our final destination gives us different goals (Phil. 3:20-21).

II. DEMONSTRATE GODLINESS – TITUS 3:1-8a
Christian Living among Outsiders

3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace,
we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8a This saying is trustworthy.


 

Titus was another pastor that Paul quoted a trustworthy saying. After Paul’s release from prison in Rome, Titus served on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. Paul left Titus there to help the church with their doctrinal and organizational difficulties. From an unknown location, Paul wrote the Letter to Titus, asking him to continue in ministry, encouraging him, and reminding him of pastoral responsibilities. Paul stated what he wanted Titus to do – remind them of my past teachings on Cretan Christians’ relationship with unbelievers. What was that teaching?

• Respect for secular government authorities and all people as well.
• Regarding civil rulers and authorities, Paul required believers obey them, willing to carry out every good work.
• Believers’ allegiance to Christ does not necessarily conflict with allegiance to the state. We join together for society’s good. Cooperating with state laws and working charitably for others’ benefits are Christians’ responsibility. Unquestionable obedience to the state when it clashes with God’s law is not required.

If Paul’s instructions in 3:1-2 tell practical ways to live out godliness in secular culture, how might believers living by these principles influence culture?

• We will demonstrate godliness by being intentional with our faith.
• Be model citizens by honoring and respecting governing authorities, willing to participate for the good of all.
• Be a model neighbor by avoiding insulting and quarreling treat others with courtesy and care.
• These instructions in 3:1-2, 8-9 direct believers in their relations to all people, not just other Christians. Godliness involves how we relate to all.

Why is the Holy Spirit a key player in our training for godliness? What’s His role? What’s our role?

• Growing in godliness is a supernatural process. The Holy Spirit is the agent of this growth. As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead, He guides us to develop and express godly behavior.

The Trustworthy Saying of Titus: Washing of Regeneration

• The trustworthy saying in Titus 3:4-7 points out that God saves sinners by the Holy Spirit’s washing them. The result is rebirth, or renewal, which refers to a radical internal and spiritual cleansing. The washing is spiritual cleansing that baptism symbolizes and is achieved by the Holy Spirit, not by public ceremony.
• That’s not all He does for sinners. Paul continued with having been justified by His grace. God justifies, declares believers righteous in His sight, not because of their own righteousness but solely because of His grace. God counts our sins as belonging to Christ and Christ’s righteousness as ours. To be justified is to be forgiven, delivered from the curse of sin since God placed that curse on Christ at the cross. The ultimate reward of God’s salvation is so we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Works don’t save us but they are still part of the plan.




III. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO GOOD – TITUS 3:8b-9
8b I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Paul urges Titus to make absolutely sure that the people don’t forget that the gospel changes lives. He says to remember who you once were, remember how desperately you needed God’s grace, and remember how radically it changed your life! But know that it doesn’t end there – the gospel is meant to be lived out. We go from right belief to right behavior, from Good News to good works. Believers must devote themselves to putting their faith into practice hour after hour. True godliness is a lifestyle. It’s the way you treat people. It’s the way you make decisions. It’s the way you solve problems. It’s the way you work, laugh, live and love.



What words or phrases here indicate Paul didn’t consider training toward godliness optional or unimportant? Why is it vital?

• Terms like “insist,” “be careful,” and “devote themselves to” show the importance placed on “these things.”
• One way to answer the second part of this question is to consider what happens when we fail to train ourselves for godliness.

What’s involved in devoting yourself to something? How would this apply when the thing you’re devoting yourself to is good works?

• Devote themselves to good works suggests good works should be a lifestyle, not just an occasional practice.
• Becoming godly does not happen automatically to Christians; it requires intentionality and effort. We grow in godliness when we commit ourselves to the habits that lead to godliness.

What’s good and profitable? What’s unprofitable and worthless? Why would anyone focus on the latter? How do we focus on the former?

• Satan’s goal is to oppose God’s plans and purposes in every way. one way he can gain victory over believers is by misleading us to focus on insignificant and divisive things rather than on following God’s agenda.
• False teachers wasted time and energy on frankly, stupid things – time and energy that could have been better spent to everyone’s profit (v. 8). The danger remains for us today, all believers need to avoid petty focus and nitpicky details to pursue godliness. Think of it like running: one leg is belief and the other is behavior. You need both legs to run, and you need them to be balanced to run straight.
• By studying and applying God’s Word, investing time in prayer, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can stay focused on truth.

Paul counseled Timothy and Titus to teach and model sound doctrine and godly living because the response to God’s saving grace should be a life that rejects sinful living and maintains righteous living. Jesus died for our sins and will come again. Sharing this experience and hope sets apart believers as God’s special people. Living above reproach involves being law-abiding, gentle, and humble. Sins against God and others that were part of the old life should not be part of the new. And even though people are not saved by good works, saved people will do good works for the good of all.


Godliness doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t rush it and don’t be discouraged. But do invest in it action by action, attitude by attitude, and decision by decision. It won’t happen quickly, but it won’t happen at all if you don’t choose it. Where’s your heart in the development of godliness?


Genuine godliness stems from a life continuously changed by the true gospel of Jesus. Jesus makes godliness possible. He is the reason as well as the fuel for any good works. If you believe in God, how should that influence your behavior?  

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help me be a person who practices biblical godliness. Amen.

See you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan