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1 Timothy 4 - Are You Working Out At God's Gym?

1 Timothy 4 - NI V 4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. As we have seen, one of Paul's major concerns is the false teaching that is infiltrating the church in Ephesua. Though the teaching may come from false teachers, the source of it was " deceiving spirits and things taught by demons ". It is strange to think that demons can teach. But whether they teach in a way we normally think of or not, they are the ones who are influencing the church in a...
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1 Timothy 3 - Who Should Run the Church and How Should They Do It?

1 Timothy 3 - NIV Overview of 1 Timothy 3 Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. 8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hol...
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1 Timothy 2 - Do You Spend More Time Complaining About the Government Or Praying for It?

1 Timothy 2 - NIV Overview of 1 Timothy 2 Instructions on Worship 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Paul teaches Timothy put a priority on prayer in the church of Ephesus. There are lots of things we can do at church, lots of programs, but at the heart of any church is prayer. Paul lists four types of prayer.  Petitions/Supplications - As the name su...
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1 Timothy 1 - The Danger of Endless Speculation On Matters Not Essential to the Gospel!

1 Timothy 1 - NIV Overview of 1 Timothy Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. Paul writes this pastoral letter to Timothy, who he calls,  " His dear son in the faith . " Though they are not biologically related, to Paul, Timothy is a true son in every way. Paul mentored and equipped Timothy so that he could confidently leave him in charge of the church in Ephesus, one of the bi...
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2 Thessalonians 3 - Don't Be So Heavenly Minded You Are Of No Earthly Good!

2 Thessalonians 3 - NIV Summary of 2 Thessalonians 3 Warning Against Idleness 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”  11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as...
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2 Thessalonians 2 - What Will Happen Before Jesus Returns and How Can We Be Ready?

2 Thessalonians 2 - NIV Intro to 2 Thessalonians 2 The Man of Lawlessness 2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.  5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so ...
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2 Thessalonians 1 - Is Hell A Real Place?

2 Thessalonians 1 Introduction to 2 Thessalonians Chapter 1: Encouragement in Persecution: Paul thanks God for the growing faith and love of the Thessalonians, assuring them that God will bring justice and relief when Jesus is revealed from heaven. (Bible Project) 5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, becaus...
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