This Personal Study Guide was created by FBC JAX with permission from LifeWay as a part of a paid licensing agreement. This quarter our study of the Bible takes us to the Pastoral Epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. While it is true that Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus to instruct them how to pastor their congregations in an orderly, faithful, God-glorifying manner, we must remember that all of God’s Word is for all of God’s people. Just read 2 Timothy 3:16- 17: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” In fact, one of the main themes throughout the Pastoral Epistles is the vital importance for all people to truly know and faithfully obey the Word of God. So, as you begin this study of the Pastoral Epistles, we want to encourage you to devote yourself to growing in your knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God. As you study, you will get to see a beautiful portrait of the nature, mission, and structure of Christ’s bride, the church. You will have the opportunity to marvel at the grace of God, which has appeared to you in the saving work of Christ and which shapes you into Christlikeness, day by day. Finally, our prayer is that your love for Christ would abound all the more and that as we follow our Lord’s example together and reach Jacksonville for Christ with the gospel, you would be encouraged to share the glorious news of His gospel with everyone you know. “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:2). 3 LIST OF LESSONS Sunday Lesson Title Scripture June 2 Entrusted 1 Timothy 1:3-17 June 9 On Mission 1 Timothy 2:1-15 June 16 Setting the Example 1 Timothy 3:1-13 June 23 Staying on Course 1 Timothy 4:1-13 June 30 Being Responsible 1 Timothy 5:1-8, 17-21 July 7 Lasting Investments 1 Timothy 6:6-19 July 14 Confidence 2 Timothy 1:3-14 July 21 Focused 2 Timothy 2:1-13 July 28 Diligent 2 Timothy 2:14-26 August 4 Enduring 2 Timothy 3:12-17; 4:1-8 August 11 Living with Opposition Titus 1:1-5, 10-16 August 18 Living with Integrity Titus 2:1-15 August 25 Living to Do Titus 3:1-11 4 Week of may 27, 2019 WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 Monday may I Timothy 1:1 27 Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy to instruct him in MAIN IDEA what it means to live a life truly shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the next six weeks we will be studying Paul’s first letter to Timothy. We know Paul’s relationship with Timothy to be the pinnacle of the mentor-mentee relationship. Paul, as the more experienced and seasoned pastor and missionary, writes to the younger and less experienced Timothy to give him advice concerning some disruptions from false teachers in his church. And yet, while the issue of the false teachers serves as the occasion for Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul does not focus specifically on the content of the false teaching. Rather, he instructs Timothy in the way of genuine Christianity and the transforming effects of the gospel in the lives of true believers. In short, we can say that 1 Timothy is about true gospel living in the context of the church. This is a message, brothers and sisters, we truly need to comprehend this summer as we continue to seek to reach those we know with the gospel of Jesus Christ. May God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant us insight into His Word that we may conduct our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so bring glory to His name. • Jot down some of the things that you already know about 1 Timothy–themes, specific verses, sermons you have heard, etc. As you approach this study of 1 Timothy, how do you want to grow in your understanding of this Spirit-inspired letter? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ • In what ways has your life been shaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ? As you study 1 Timothy, what are some ways that you would like to see your life shaped even more by the gospel? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ PRAY Ask that God would grant you insight and understanding into His Word. Ask that He would also grant you obedience to His Word. 5 Tuesday may 1 Timothy 1:1-2 28 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to his child in the faith, MAIN IDEA Timothy, in order to help him and those he leads flourish in their relationship with Jesus Christ. The introduction of Paul’s letter to Timothy (as all his letters) is both typical and atypical. It is typical in the sense that it does what every introduction to a letter did in the New Testament period: It identifies the sender and the recipient and it provides a greeting. And yet, Paul’s introduction is also atypical in the sense that every element of the introduction takes on more significance than just a mere greeting. Paul communicates truth, theology, purpose, and intent, even in the standard introduction of his letter. He identifies himself not only as Paul, but also as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). Paul writes not from his own authority, but rather from the direct authority of God our Savior and Christ our hope. Moreover, Paul identifies Timothy not only by name, but also as his “true child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). Timothy is not just a random recipient; he is a disciple of Paul, whom Paul led to repentance and faith in Christ and to whom Paul is now writing to help him progress in his faith. This is evident by Paul’s greeting to Timothy: “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul wants Timothy, as his disciple, to thrive in his relationship with God and experience the benefits of salvation that are his in Christ. As we move into the body of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, let us keep in mind that this is a letter from Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to his child in the faith Timothy, for the purpose of helping Timothy and those he leads abound in their relationship with Christ. As we seek to reach others for Christ, may we pray that this letter would have a similar effect on our lives as well! • What is the purpose of Paul’s introduction in 1 Timothy? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ • How would you like to see your relationship with Christ transformed over the next six weeks as a result of your study of 1 Timothy? Whom are you seeking to reach with the gospel? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ PRAY Ask that God would use your study of 1 Timothy to help you abound in your relationship with Christ. 6 Wednesday may 1 Timothy 1:3-7 29 Paul instructs Timothy to command the false teachers MAIN IDEA to stop teaching falsehood, with the aim to protect his congregation. When you were a child, there were probably times you looked with disdain on the rules your parents set for you. If you are a parent, your outlook on the rules parents set for their children may now be different. When you become a parent, you set rules for your children, not to unnecessarily restrict them, but rather out of love for them. For instance, you firmly command your child to not run into the street because you want to protect your child’s life. Paul is teaching Timothy something similar here. There were false teachers in Timothy’s church who taught a “different doctrine” and led people into “myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith” (1 Timothy 1:3-4). Timothy, Paul says, must “charge” these false teachers to stop teaching falsehood. And yet, this charge that Timothy must issue is not mean-spirited or unnecessarily restrictive, but rather its aim is “love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Have you ever looked upon a command of the Lord with disdain? When was the last time you obeyed God grudgingly? God’s commands are not arbitrary or unnecessarily restrictive. They are an expression of His love for us and are meant for our well-being. This is especially true for us who have placed our faith in Christ, since we have been brought under His Lordship and have become members of His kingdom. It was for the well-being of Timothy’s church that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to Timothy to “charge” these false teachers. And it is for our well-being that all the commands of God’s Word exist. Let us, then, obey them with robust gladness and willingness today. • What is the purpose of the “charge” that Paul instructs Timothy to give to these false teachers? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ • In what ways does your perspective of the commands of Scripture need to change? ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ PRAY Praise God today for His commands.