ADULT CONTENT: Rich is Better

Summary: Paul tells Timothy that if we will put our trust in God instead of our money, then He will richly bless us with everything we need for our enjoyment.  We are exposed here to "God's economy," in which we are shown how we can use our finances to make a difference in the world and experience true life through Jesus.

Text: 1 Timothy 6:17-19


1.  Our entire lives are heavily influenced by money: making it, earning it, saving it, spending it, and using it.  Why is money and our finances often the acid test for our faith in God?  Why is money oftentimes the variable used to measure our trust and faithfulness in Him?  If not money, can you think of a better indicator of what our heart and mind is dedicated to other than our finances and calendar?


2.  In vs 17a, we see the world's view of your economy.  In 17b, we see God's view of your economy.  a. What are the differences in what the 2 teach about money?
b. What are the 2 promises that the world gives you about money (the more you have the happier you'll be, and the people with more money are better than the people without money)?  What are the promises from God found in this verse about money?  (what will He provide, what is the word used to describe how much He'll provide, and what is the purpose behind His provisions?)


3.  In vs 18, we see 4 characteristics that should mark the financial lives of Christians.
a. Do good: Are you using your money for more than just yourself?  Share some ways.
b. Rich in good works: Are you giving faithfully with your finances, but neglecting the other areas of your life?  What about serving others?  What about volunteering?  What about your calendar outside of Sunday morning?
c. Be generous: Is "generous" a word that your friends and family would use to describe your lifestyle?  Are there certain areas of your life that are marked by generosity while other areas are more stingy?  What areas do you need to focus on giving more generously in?
d. Ready to share: so many Christians have a heart to meet needs and would love to give generously in all areas of their lives.  The breakdown is the failure to be ready to do so.  Is there margin in your life?  Your schedule?  Your budget?  If God called you to do something this week with your time and finances, would you be ready to share or would you be apt to say "I'd love to, but I just can't right now"?


4.  In vs 19, Paul urges Timothy and the Church to invest in what really matters.
a. What does it mean to invest in eternity?  What are investments that you need to focus on that are really going to last and will actually matter in the long run?
b. Paul says that investing in the eternal gives "true life."  Is what you are investing in bringing true life to you and others around you, or is it simply about temporary gains that will be soon forgotten?  Answer this question by pulling up your bank statement online.  Pull our your calendar on your smartphone and go down the list.  Is this item investing in the eternal or the temporary.

-Remember not every dollar you spend or hour you have can be spent on something of eternal significance, but hopefully you are building a foundation and leaving a legacy for something that will bring true life long after you are gone.

ADULT CONTENT: Contentment is Better

Summary: Paul writes to Timothy explaining the importance of contentment in life.  Contentment is obtainable if we know where to look and we know what true contentment really is in life.  Don't waste your life looking for contentment in all the wrong places.

Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Ecclesiastes 5:10, James 4:14, and Philippians 4:11-13.


1.  READ 1 Timothy 6:7 and James 4:14.
a.  Many people postpone happiness and contentment to "a later date."  Some are discontent at work on M-F to hopefully find contentment in the freedom of their weekend.  Some are dissatisfied with their lives but say they are grinding it out so they can be content in their retirement and do whatever they want in the latter stages of life.  Some are miserable at home all year hoping to find contentment on a beach vacation or a weekend get-a-way.  What's the problem with delaying contentment according to these 2 verses?
b.  What makes sense about discontentment for 5 days a week to only enjoy 2?  That you work 50 weeks a year only to find happiness in 2 weeks off?  That some people work until they are 65 and then "enjoy" retirement for only a few years with limited mobility and health?  Is that your idea of working toward contentment?


2.  READ 1 Timothy 6:9-10.
a.  Most people are convinced that if they just had "more" then they would be content and happy.  What are the different areas in which people look to find contentment?  (Money, success, acceptance, lifestyle, relationships).
b.  Contentment is a major theme in 4 passages of Scripture in the New Testament, and all of them have to do with money.  Read Ecclesiastes 5:10.  What's the problem with trying to find contentment in money?
c.  What results are seen in the lives of people that sell out to pursue contentment through riches?  What words are used to describe their lives in 1 Tim 6:9-10?


3.  READ 1 Timothy 6:6.
Contentment is translated as being "settled" in life.  Not "settling" in life, but being settled.  Its finding security, safety, satisfaction, and happiness in life.
Godliness comes from the phrase "God aware."  It's knowing who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised you.
So knowing these words, how can being aware of God bring you contentment in life?


4.  READ Philippians 4:11-13.
Paul says he has had it both ways.  He has lived a great life of plenty and riches.  He has also lived a hard life of pain and want.  After experiencing both, what "secret" does he share to being content regardless of your outside circumstances?  Who does he say to rely on?  What is the source of true contentment?


Try out these ideas to find contentment in life.
1.  Be grateful.  Remember what you have and what God has done for you already.
2.  Look in the right place.  Realize that contentment isn't achieved by acquiring more stuff.
3.  Stop comparing.  Comparing and coveting others is a sure path to discontentment in your life.
4.  Serve Others. It quickly takes your mind off of your wants, your desires, your goals, and your needs and onto others.
5.  Be content with what you HAVE, but not with who you ARE.  Keep striving, straining, working, goal setting, and Moving Forward in your life, but learn to be content with what God has given you.

ADULT CONTENT: Doctrine is Better

Recap:

Some people believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin (accomplish by His death on the cross), but they dismiss His offer of righteousness (accomplished by His perfect life on earth). If you don't believe that Jesus' righteousness has been imputed to you then you'll work your booty off trying to create your own righteousness. Disbelief in imputed righteousness gives way to legalism. Trust in imputed righteousness gives way to a life of praise and glad obedience for what Jesus has done.

Questions (*indicates assists with answers):

1- Read 1 Timothy 4:1. What are the teachings of demons, and how might one protect him/herself from them?

*Demonic teaching is the assertion that there is something better...more fulfilling that God. We see this clearly in the enticement of Eve in Genesis 3.

2- Read 1 Timothy 4:2. The text says that the purveyors of demonic teaching have seared consciences. Searing is a process (a relatively expeditious one, but a process none the less). How do you suppose that happens and are you engaged in any activities that may be producing a "searing" effect on you?

3-Read 1 Timothy 4: 3-4. The particular legalism to which Paul responds taught that through abstention from certain pleasures (marriage and good food) one might prove himself righteous. Why is this teaching inaccurate?

*Righteousness is an internal issue, not an external one. The problem of unrighteousness is ingrained in our nature. It will take something more than abstention to transform us.

4-Read 1 Timothy 4:5. How do the Word of God and prayer make things clean?

*The Word of God refers to the Gospel, and prayer is the thing that aligns us with God's heart. When the Gospel and prayer are transforming your heart it allows you to partake in all of the pleasure God created without worshiping/going after the pleasures. Instead those pleasures actually become catalysts for worship/going after God who gave you the pleasure. That makes things clean because they are being used for their intended purpose (e.g. Sex is a great gift from God, but when misused it can become one of the filthiest practices in which we engage).

Mother's Day Momisms

Recap:

Timothy's grandmother and mother are to be praised for having laid a foundation for Timothy that set him on a trajectory for "spiritual beasthood." They did this specifically by teaching him the sacred writings (the Old Testament). In the questions below we will seek to go deeper into the Sundays text. 

 Questions (*indicates assistance with answers):

1-According to verses 14 and 15 Timothy's grandmother and mother taught him the sacred writings (that's the Old Testament). Based on your understanding of the Old Testament, what kinds of things might Lois and Eunice have taught Timothy?

          *The Holiness of God-The holy standard of God-the holy wrath of God toward mans sin.

2-Why should those themes (the holiness of God and His wrath toward sin) make it into our biblical vocabulary as we talk with our kids/anyone about God?

          *It is God's holiness that makes Him mesmerizing...without holiness God neither deserves or receives our attention, our infatuation, or our lives. If we cast a vision of a holy God, transcendent, massive, beyond us in every way, we've given people something at which to marvel. We visit the grand canyon because it "transcends" us...we are intrigued by the ocean because of its massive expanse...mountain ranges capture our attention because of their grandeur...how much more should the Creator of these things enthrall us? Teaching our kids the holiness of God gives them something worth while at which (or in this case, "at whom") to marvel.

3-Read verse 15. How does the old testament make one wise for salvation?

*Without God's holiness and wrath toward sin you don't need a Gospel that offers salvation. The only way to "prime the pump" or "make one wise for salvation" is to first establish their need for the salvation that is being offered. The Old Testament does this quite well.


4-Based on your reading of verses 16 and 17 what is it that will help our kids (and ourselves for that matter) become "Timothys" (by that I mean people of godly character who are willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel, 2 Tim.3:12)?

*Scripture has the power to help make us "Timothy's"...memorize it, meditate on it, do what it says!

W.I.H.N.? He's Grace To You

Summary: Jesus is grace personified.  He oozes grace.  He epitomizes grace.  He is grace personified.  He is the manifestation of grace here on earth.  There are many questions about grace that keep people from accepted it as the free gift that Jesus offers.  Understanding grace in your life gives you salvation, freedom, and the ability to offer the grace of Jesus to others that need to know him.

Grace define: the unearned, undeserved favor of God in your life.

1.   What are your issues with grace? What do you struggle with? What questions have you asked before? Why is it so hard for people to understand and embrace grace from God?

2. READ John 1:14, 16-17.  What does Jesus offer people as a result of their fallen and broken lives?  How does that differ from other world religions?  What do the other religions give you as options for your sin problem?  (following the law, reincarnation, good deeds, martyrdom)

3. Read Romans 5:20 in Roman 6:1-2. What should our response to the grace of Jesus be? What are the negative responses that manipulate and abuse grace?

4. How does the giving of grace by God actually draw us closer to Him and push our lives more towards righteousness?

5. Read 1 Peter 5:12 and Titus 3:5. Some people  reject grace because they think it is performance driven. What do these verses make clear about grace and how it is given in your life?

6.  Have you ever felt guilty as a recipient of grace because of the sin that remains in your life?

7.  Why do so many people feel obligated to repay God for His grace?   Read John 6:28-29. What does Jesus say is the only thing we are "obligated" to do to receive this gift?