Sunday School Lesson

1. 1 Timothy 4:1-16
Staying On Course
June 23, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
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3. The Glory of God!
http://www.thecitychurch.org.uk/sites/default/files/glory-god.jpg

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
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5. June Memory Verse
Matthew 6:6 NKJV
6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and
when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who
is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in
secret will reward you openly.”

6. References
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV
(Nashville, Nelson Publishing, 1997).
•ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL, Crossway, 2008).
•Missler, Dr. Chuck, Timothy, Titus & Philemon, Session
3: 1 Timothy 3 & 4; YouTube Video.

7. Introduction to 1 Timothy
•The church in Ephesus was begun by Priscilla and
Aquilla (Acts 18) with Paul on his 2nd missionary
journey.
•Paul returned and served as pastor for 3 years during
his 3rd missionary journey (Acts 19).
•Timothy followed Paul as pastor of this church and
was serving when this letter was written to Timothy.

9. Paul’s Letters to Timothy
•Paul is addressing specific problems in the church.
•Timothy was familiar with the theology of Christianity,
so Paul’s letters do not elaborate on these subjects.
•The instructions to the Church in Ephesus have
universal applications – they apply to the church
today.

10. What are the purposes of the church?
•Acts 1:8 NKJV
8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
end of the earth.”
•Acts 2:42 NKJV
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and
in prayers.

11. The Church Worshipping
•John 4:23-24 NKJV
23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true
worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is
Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth.”

12. Focus of Lesson Today
•Warnings of Satan’s deception in the church with false
doctrine.
•Modern day examples of false doctrine.

13. Introduction to 1 Timothy 4 – Paul’s warning to
the Church in Ephesus in Acts 20.
•Acts 20:28-29 NKJV
28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the
flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that
after my departure savage wolves will come in among
you, not sparing the flock.

14. Introduction to 1 Timothy 4 – Paul’s warning to
the Ephesus Church in Acts 20
•Acts 20:30-31 NKJV
30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up,
speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples
after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember
that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone
night and day with tears.

15. Jesus’ Warning About False Teachers
•Matthew 7:15NJKV
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous
wolves.”
•Satan is the great imitator – looking like a believer
but trying to lead you astray.

16. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV (Paul describes false
teachers.)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some
will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in
hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a
hot iron,
•Apostasy – Renunciation or departure from the
Christian faith.
•Apostasy will reach a peak shortly before Christ
returns.

17. A description of these false teachers.
•I John 2:19 NKJV
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for
if they had been of us, they would have continued
with us; but they went out that they might be made
manifest, that none of them were of us.
•John’s assumption – The false teachers were not true
converts or believers in Christ.

18. What is the main lie of the false teachers?
•1 John 2:22-23
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the
Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the
Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the
Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the
Father also.
•antichrist – Someone against Christ.

19. Characteristics of false teachers
•Arise from within the church.
•Depart from the faithful and the true fellowship.
•Lead others to depart with them.

20. “having their own conscience seared with a
hot iron,”
•A medical term referring to cauterization that creates
scar tissue with no sensitivity.
•Ephesians 4:19 NKJV
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over
to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

21. “A Seared Conscious”

23. 1 Timothy 4:3-5 NKJV (False Teachers)
3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from
foods which God created to be received with
thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be
refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is
sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

24. Approaches used by false teachers
•Taking ordinances and blessings from God and placing
restrictions.
•Marriage was established and ordained by God and is
an honorable estate.
•Marriage is the means by which God reveals his most
intimate truths.
•Making human works as a prerequisite for salvation.

25. Approaches used by false teachers
•Teaching restrictions that are not scriptural.
•All foods are clean:
•Jesus in Mark 7:14-23.
•Peter in Acts 10:9-15.
•Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33; Romans 14:1-12 and
Colossians 2:16-17.

26. Paul teaches this to the Colossian Church
•Colossians 2:16-17 NKJV
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or
regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the
substance is of Christ.

27. 1 Timothy 4:6-7 NKJV (Whole counsel of God)
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things (truth of
scripture), you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ,
nourished in the words of faith and of the good
doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject
profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself
toward godliness.
•Acts 20:27 NKJV
27 For I (Paul) have not shunned to declare to you (the
Church at Ephesus) the whole counsel of God.

28. What is the “whole counsel of God”?
•Paul is describing the total encompassing truth in all
the scriptures.
•“In the Old Testament concealed, in the New
Testament revealed” – Dr. Chuck Missler.
•Do not get focused on just one aspect of doctrine.
•Avoid the ‘one verse theology.’
•Interpret scripture based on the whole.

29. 1 Timothy 4:8-11 NKJV (A Christian worldview
of life.)
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is
profitable for all things, having promise of the life that
now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful
saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end
we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in
the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially
of those who believe. 11 These things command and
teach.

30. The eternal perspective of godliness
•People in Ephesus understood the athletic examples
about life.
•Physical exercise is profitable for our earthly bodies,
but our spiritual bodies will last forever.
•The condition of our “spiritual bodies” is more
important.
•Spiritual fitness also requires effort and discipline.

31. 1 Timothy 4:12-14 NKJV
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to
the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in
faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading,
to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift
that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with
the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

32. Timothy’s age was an issue in the church.
•Timothy was in his 30’s when he was Pastor at
Ephesus.
•Anyone under 40 was considered “a youth” and not
considered as experienced and respected.
•Paul had full confidence in Timothy because he had
been under Paul’s teaching for over 10 years.

33. In verse 12, Paul gives 5 areas where Timothy
is to be an example to the church.
1. Word – Speech.
2. Conduct – Righteous living.
3. Love – Self-sacrificial service to others.
4. Spirit – Humble confidence & not fear.
5. Faith – Faithfulness & commitment.
6. Purity – Sexual purity.
(Some Greek manuscripts omit ‘in spirit’)

34. A believer’s behavior does matter.
•Paul wants Timothy and the believers to know that
“Believing and behavior always go together.”
•An apostate is not just wrong doctrinally, he is wrong
morally.
•False doctrine is running away from accountability.

35. 1 Timothy 4:15-16 NKJV
15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to
them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take
heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them,
for in doing this you will save both yourself and those
who hear you.
•Progress – A military term for advancing the troops.
•Our duty is to deliver the message, not change it.

36. Why is doctrine important?
•Salvation depends on hearing the Word of truth.
•If you do not know truth, you can easily be led astray.
•The content of our faith is critical; sincerity is not
sufficient.
•Ephesians 1:13 NKJV
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also,
having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit
of promise,

37. What are Satan’s goals to thwart the purposes
of the church?
•Promote false doctrine.
•Keep believers from praying.
•Keep believers from worshipping God in spirit and
truth.
•Prevent the world from hearing and accepting the
gospel.
•Create confusion, conflict and division among
believers.

38. Lesson Application – How does Satan
accomplish his goals?
• John 15:18-19 NKJV
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me
before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world
would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates
you.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds
of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of
the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

39. Application of 1 Timothy 4
•Let’s look at examples of areas in our culture that
Satan (the world) presents challenges for the Believers
in Christ (the Church).

40. Examples of Satan’s (the world’s) attack
methods.
World
•False Teaching.
•Myths.
•Legalism (works).
•Roles of Men & Women
in Church.
•Gender – I get to decide.
•Abortion Rights.
Church
•Authority of Scripture.
•Canonized Scripture.
•Faith in Christ alone.
•Authority of Scripture &
Roles Defined.
•Created by God.
•Life begins at conception.

41. Examples of Satan’s (the world’s) attack
methods.
World
•Prayer – Not in public.
•Many paths to God.
•Worship – about you.
•Persecution.
•Compromise.
•Division.
Church
•Prayer – In Public.
•Jesus Christ Alone.
•Worship – about God.
•Steadfastness.
•Truth in Scripture.
•Unity.

42. Closing Scripture
John 16:33 NKJV
33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.”

43. Closing Scripture

44. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

45. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay
the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.

46. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8, will
experience the “second death” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn away from sin and to
come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

47. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.

48. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

49. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/