How to use this reading plan: 1. Start by praying that God would open your eyes and heart to understanding what it is He would have you learn from His Word 2. Read the weekly passage 3. Use the HOPE Journaling Method to dive-in on what God is showing you 4. Connect with a small group to discuss what God is showing you 5. Read the “Weekly Devotional” and “Read Also” passages to help deepen your understanding of the primary weekly reading 6. Answer the weekly “Group Questions” on your own. Again, connect with your small group to discuss these answers, pray for one another, and encourage each other towards holiness, growth, and knowledge. 7. Take action on the “Group Questions” in order to live out the calling of Christian life and to help people find and follow Jesus! Context Author: Paul Date: mid-60s AD Recipient: Timothy The apostle Paul wrote this letter to Timothy probably in the mid-60s A.D., during a mission trip not recorded in Scripture. This trip took place after the events described in Acts, between Paul’s first and final Roman imprisonments. Writing from an unknown location, Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus to instruct him on how to lead the church there. Ephesus was a wealthy and highly influential port city in the Roman province of Asia, renowned for its temple of Artemis (Diana). Theme and Purpose The letter’s theme is that the gospel leads to practical, visible change in believers’ lives. The true gospel, in contrast to false teaching, must and will always lead to godliness. Paul wrote 1 Timothy to advise his coworker Timothy about issues in the church in Ephesus. False teachers are the main cause for the letter. Their teaching apparently involved incorrect assumptions about the law and not allowing marriage and certain foods. Paul’s real concern is with the results of the false teaching. For example, it promotes mere theories over solid truth. It also leads to arrogance and greed. Paul focuses on the fact that true Christianity is shown in lifestyles shaped by the gospel. Those whose lives are not shaped by the gospel have turned away from the faith. Furthermore, Paul instructs Timothy on how to order the church properly.1 1 “Introduction to 1 Timothy,” ESV Bible, https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/introduction-to-1- timothy/ Outline of 1 Timothy **Note: Sermons on each passage will be preached on the Sunday following the reading** Week of Monday, August 24, 2020 1 Timothy 1:1-11 Week of Monday, August 31, 2020 1 Timothy 1:12-20 Week of Monday, September 7, 2020 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Week of Monday, September 14, 2020 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Week of Monday, September 21, 2020 1 Timothy 3:1-13 Week of Monday, September 28, 2020 – Big Give <reading TBD> Week of Monday, October 5, 2020 1 Timothy 3:14-16 Week of Monday, October 12, 2020 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Week of Monday, October 19, 2020 1 Timothy 4:6-10 Week of Monday, October 26, 2020 1 Timothy 4:11-5:2 Week of Monday, November 2, 2020 1 Timothy 5:1-16 Week of Monday, November 9, 2020 1 Timothy 5:17-6:2a Week of Monday, November 16, 2020 1 Timothy 6:2b-10 Week of Monday, November 23, 2020 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Week of Monday, November 30, 2020 1 Timothy 6:17-21 Week of Monday, August 24, 2020 1 Timothy 1:1-11 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope: 2 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and males who have sex with males, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. -- 1 Timothy 1:1-11 (CSB) HOPE Journaling H – Highlight what stands out to you O – Observe what it teaches P – Practice this in your life E – Express this in your prayers Weekly Devotional “He that perverts truth shall soon be incapable of knowing the true from the false. If you persist in wearing glasses that distort, everything will be distorted to you.” – Charles H Spurgeon A 2017 Lifeway Research study showed that 69% of self-professing Christians in the United States believe that God wants His people to be financially wealthy in this lifetime. The same study showed that 38% of churchgoers in the United States say that the church they attend teaches that God will bring financial wealth to those who give more to their church. This is what is commonly called the “prosperity gospel.” False teaching, false gospels, like that of the prosperity gospel are prevalent in the church today. But this is not a new problem. Ever since the beginning of the Church over 2,000 years ago, false teaching has found its way into the local church. We see some of the same issues in the church today that Paul lists in his letter to Timothy regarding the Ephesian church: sexuality, dishonesty, and more. We see some churches around the world pushing forth a gospel that distorts the truth for what feels right. Paul doesn’t limit false teachings simply to what he lists. Instead, he goes on to say any other false teachings or “whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the gospel.” That opens the door to a lot of potential false gospels. How are we to know or understand what all of those are? Paul says earlier in this introduction to the letter that the problem that is creating some of these false teachings is that people want to teach but they don’t even understand what it is they are talking about. Essentially, they don’t even know the truth. So, it stands to reason that to be able to accurately discern false teaching, you have to know the truth. The absolute truth. In a world that says everyone has their own truth, we must stand on the one, absolute, unbending, unchanging truth. That knowledge can only be attained by knowing the One that is Truth. Jesus said about Himself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). It starts with salvation. It starts with surrendering oneself wholly to the One who is Holy. As we start this new reading plan, it seems appropriate that we first call you to repentance and faith; to belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Once saved, the pursuit of greater knowledge of the truth is attained through engaging the Bible and studying it, not just reading it. Through this study we encourage you to talk through it with others such as your spouse, your small group, someone. Dive deep into the Word of God and grow in understanding of the truth. Grow in understanding of the one true gospel of Jesus Christ. Then stand strong on that truth against false teaching. Read Also: 1 Timothy 1 [helps understand context of the book] 1 Timothy 2 [helps understand context of the book] 2 John [points to importance of the truth and reality of deceivers] Galatians 1:6-12 [there is only one true gospel] Titus 1:10-16 [addresses motivation of false teachers and how we respond] Colossians 2:4-23 [the gospel of Jesus vs heresy] Psalm 25 [prayer for righteousness and truth] Titus 3:9-11 [avoid unprofitable debate] 2 Peter 2 [false teachers will be judged] Romans 7:7-25 [sin distorts the truth] Psalm 119:89-112 [God’s truth is good and eternal] Group Discussion Questions - Theological Considerations - What is the gospel? - Why do we need salvation? - Why did Jesus have to shed blood and die for salvation? What is penal substitutionary atonement? - What is the law? What purpose does it serve? Did the purpose change with Jesus? - What role do the local church and the universal Church bodies play in protecting against false teaching? Group Discussion Questions – Digging Deeper - How has the law given by God been misapplied, misrepresented, or abused? - What are some examples of a false gospel? - Where do we see the Bible twisted in culture today? What role do you play in fighting against that? - How has the advent of technology, social media, and the internet exasperated or impeded the spread of false teaching? - When someone says something like “God wants me to be healthy and wealthy,” “God made me this way and He doesn’t make mistakes,” “Love is love,” or “God condones slavery in the Bible,” how do you respond? What do you say? - What are some examples of “fruitless discussions” seen in the church today? Week of Monday, August 31, 2020 1 Timothy 1:12-20 12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry — 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man.