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Bible Study Questions David H. Horner, Senior Pastor Sermon for the week of February 10, 2013… “Please Pay Attention” 1Timothy 4:11-16

Please Pay Attention 1 Timothy 4:11-16 INTRODUCTION Today/tonight we will be focusing on the importance of paying attention to our faith walk. As Pastor David Horner shared in his recent sermon, “Please Pay Attention,” “embarrassing things, even dangerous things, can happen when you stop paying attention, even for a moment.” A good example are the tragic stories we hear about people who were texting while driving. As Pastor Horner pointed out, “everyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ must pay close attention to what they believe, how and who they love, and how and what they do.” ENGAGE THE GROUP Who might be willing to share what can happen when you fail to “pay attention” to matters of faith? DISCUSS/SHARE Let’s turn in our Bibles to our key text for this discussion: 1 Timothy 4:11-16: 12

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the 13 believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote 14 yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands 15 . on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1Timothy 4:11-16) Look at verse 4:16, and let’s personalize it by stating “Keep a close watch on – insert your name here – and on the teaching. (Insert your name here) persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Now that we have personalized 4:16, what is Paul instructing you to do? Be sure to also consider the preceding verses. DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP RECOGNIZE: • • •

BELIEVERS CANNOT STOP PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT MATTERS MOST WE NEED SOMETHING SOLID UPON WHICH TO BUILD OUR LIVES IN CHRIST WE SHOULD DESIRE STABILITY IN OUR WALK WITH HIM



ONLY CONFIDENT FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OFFERS THE UNSHAKEABLE FOUNDATION WE NEED TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT COME OUR WAY

What do you think are “these things” Paul refers to in 1 Timothy 4:11? DISCUSS/SHARE Let’s take a moment to review some of the specific things that are included in Paul’s instruction to Timothy and to us. READ 1 TIMOTHY 4:10: For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (1Timothy 4:10) What is Paul telling us in this passage? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP RECOGNIZE: • • • •

WE ARE CALLED TO PERSEVERVE (“TOIL AND STRIVE”) IN OUR LIFE AND DOCTRINE WE HAVE HOPE IN THE LIVING GOD WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ONLY HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRIST WE BELIEVE THAT THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS THAT WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST—NOT ON THE BASIS OF A GOOD THING WE HAVE DONE

In chapter 4, Paul shows the pattern we find in the Living Word, through eight direct commands, or imperatives, in order to overcome the tendency toward falling away from the gospel. We find the first command in 1 Timothy 4:7: Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; (1 Timothy 4:7) Here, Paul teaches that we must avoid being drawn away from deceptive ideas and teachings, not by trying harder, but by training well. Now look at 1 Timothy 4:11-16 again, and see if you can find the seven remaining commands. DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP IDENTIFY: 1. 2. 3. 4.

LET NO ONE DESPISE YOUR YOUTH (4:12) SHOW YOURSELF AS AN EXAMPLE (4:12) DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS (4:14) COMMAND/PRESCRIBE AND TEACH WITH THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD, IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, AND THROUGH YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS (4:11) 5. GIVE ATTENTION TO PUBLIC MINISTRY OF THE WORD BY READING IT, EXHORTING PEOPLE FROM IT, AND TEACHING IT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE GLORY AND GRACE OF GOD IN JESUS CHRIST (4:13)

6. TAKE PAINS AND BE WHOLY IMMERSED IN THEM, SO THAT OTHERS AN SEE YOUR PROGRESS, GROWTH AND SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AS YOU MATURE IN CHRIST (4:15) th

Our final command (8 ) is really a summary of the seven Paul has already given: Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1Timothy 4:16) Paul exhorts us to “keep a close watch,” or pay attention on how we live and what we believe, and persist or persevere. For when we do so, we benefit not only ourselves but others. In other words, our walk and our talk are one in Christ! As Pastor Horner explained unless we pay attention to what really matters, we become susceptible to “spiritual drifting.” What are some ways “spiritual drifting” might affect our walk? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP RECOGNIZE: • • • • •

WE CAN BE ROBBED OF OUR JOY WE CAN BE STRIPPED OF OUR CONFIDENCE WE CAN BE INHIBITED IN OUR LOVE WE CAN BE FRUSTRATED IN OUR PRAYERS WE CAN BE MISLEAD IN OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT

In referring to J.I. Packer’s book, Rediscovering Holiness, Pastor Horner showed how a balanced life of growing holiness is like a three-legged stool; it must stand on equal footing on three legs: (1) Doctrine (2) Experience (3) Practice. As Pastor Horner explained, doctrine is truth taken into the mind and heart to live by. Experience is conscientious pursuit and conscious enjoyment of fellowship with the Father and the Son. Practice is a specific and habitual response of obedience to the doctrinal truth you have received. To put it another way, to be like Jesus requires that we be like Him… • • •

Doctrinally by believing what He believed. Relationally by loving the way He loved and experiencing a personal connection with Him. Practically by loving what He loved and always conducting Himself according to God’s will.

What happens when a Christian fails to have a healthy perspective on what it means to follow Christ in all things? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP RECOGNIZE: FOCUSING ON JUST ONE OF THE THREE “LEGS,” CAN LEAD TO DISTORTED UNHEALTHY GROWING. WE NEED TO AVOID APPROACHING HOLINESS PIECEMEAL, OR FOCUSING

OUR ATTENTION ON JUST ONE OF THE “3 LEGS,” DOCTRINE, EXPERIENCE (RELATIONS) OR PRACTICE. Let’s take a moment to examine each of the “legs” (doctrine, experience and practice) individually and what can happen when attention is given to one and not the others. What would a person who focuses on doctrine look like? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE WHO FOCUS ON DOCTRINE ONLY TEND TO CRAVE INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE AND LIKELY WILL NOT BE VERY ACTIVE IN OBEDIENCE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. THEY WILL FAIL TO GAIN A RADICALLY CHANGED LIFE, ACCORDING TO J.I. PACKER. YES, LOVING TRUTH IS A GOOD THING, BUT IT SHOULD NOT PUSH ASIDE THE BALANCE BROUGHT BY EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICE. What about someone who focuses on experience? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROOUP RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLEWHO FOCUS ON EXPERIENCE, OR A NEED FOR FEELINGS (“WARM FUZZIES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE”), CAN COME TO BELIEVE THAT DOCTRINE GETS IN THE WAY OF MOVING EXPERIENCES LIKE INSPIRITIONAL MOMENTS (“MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE”), HUGS AND TEARS. THEY FIND STUDYING AND READING ARE TOO ACADEMIC AND NOT “TOUCHY FEELY” ENOUGH. THEY COME TO BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS TO BE THE GOD OF MIRACLES, ONE WHO STANDS READY TO BAIL THEM OUT OF TOUGH SITUATIONS, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM THEIR OWN FAILURE TO WALK IN HIS TRUTH. THEIR WALK IS LIKELY LIVED ON A ROLLER COASTER OF PRAISE AND FRUSTRATION WITH GOD, BECAUSE HE WITHHOLDS THE MIRACLES AND ALLOWS THEM TO EXPERIENCE THEIR OWN CONSEQUENCES. And how would you describe someone who focuses on practice? DISCUSS/SHARE PEOPLE WHO FOCUS ON PRACTICE, IN OTHER WORDS THEY DEMAND ACTION, HAVE LITTLE PATIENCE WITH DISCUSSIONS OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUE, OR THEY MAY NOT CARE HOW THEY FEEL OR HOW OTHERS ARE FEELING. SUCH “WORKER BEES” CAN FAIL TO REALIZE THAT THEIR BUSY-NESS IS A COVER FOR SHALLOW FAITH AND SUPERFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS. Do you recognize yourself or your tendencies in any of these we have described today/tonight? What must we do to gain a proper perspective? DISCUSS/SHARE HAVE GROUP SEE THAT WE MUST BE WILLING TO YIELD TO CHRIST TO GAIN A BALANCED SPIRITUAL LIFE. TO GAIN HOLINESS WE SHOULD SEEK TO GROW OR MATURE IN HIM AND PAY ATTENTION TO: • • •

WHAT WE BELIEVE (DOCTRINE), OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES (RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND OTHERS), AND HOW WE PRACTICE OR LIVE OUR FAITH.

IN CLOSING Let me share three questions that Pastor Horner suggested we ask ourselves to help us pay attention to our walk with Christ: 1. Are you paying close attention to yourself, the way you are and what you do? Does your faith have any “blind spots” that need special attention? 2. Does your faith exist in a relational vacuum, one that thinks a lot and does a lot, but seldom experiences loving relationships? What are the names of those relationships can you can share with Christ? 3. How will you pay attention more to “these things?” Who can help you be accountable? As Paul writes in his letter to the Colossian believers… Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may 29 present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me. (Colossians 1:28) Let us remember to pay attention to our: LIFE…remembering that our gifts are to be used for God’s glory and the good of others and our conduct is to reflect the righteous and holy character of Christ TEACHING…allowing our faith to rest on what is sound and true according to God’s Word, a clear gospel, a basically consistent doctrine, which are foundational to all areas of our walk with Christ EXPERIENCE…letting our love be demonstrated in our relationship with the Lord and in significant, caring community with others. Never forget that God will bring His saving grace to those who do this and pour out His life and love in them in full measure! CLOSE WITH PRAYER