ADULT CONTENT: Guarding is Better

Summary:  In the final 2 verses of his first letter, Paul warns Timothy of something that happens to even the most spiritual people: swerving.  We learn 4 things about the Gospel in these verses as Paul urges Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him.

Text: 1 Timothy 6:20-21


1.  a. What are ways that people "swerve" from the faith?  Not a u-turn or totally turning their back on God, but a gradual, slight, deviation from the faith?  (Legalism, adding anything to Jesus for salvation and spiritual growth, stop attending a local church, stop studying Scripture, stop honoring God with specific parts of your life).

b.  Can "swerving" be more dangerous and costly for people that a total derailment?  Why?  (swerving goes unnoticed so many times, and people don't even realize they are off target and need to realign.  A total derailment can result in you hitting rock bottom and turning back towards God in a more noticeable fashion.)


2.  Paul uses strong language when he instructs Timothy.  GUARD is an all-consuming word and not simply a half-hearted effort. 

a. What are the areas of our lives that are easiest to let down our guard when it comes to the Gospel?  Where have you slacked off in guarding it?  What do you need to do to get that back on track?

b. How can we relentlessly GUARD the deposit that has been given to us?


3.  In this passage, we see 4 characteristics of the Gospel.
a. It's personal.  "O Timothy, guard the deposit that has been entrusted TO YOU."
Read John 3:16, inserting your name in the blanks: "For God so loved _____ that he gave his only Son Jesus so that if ______ would believe in Him then _____ would not perish but have eternal life."
-How is the Gospel personal to you?
-What does it mean that the Gospel is personal for you and me, and not some high brow religious statement or generic church creed?

b. It's enough. "Avoid the irreverent babble..."
-Where is the danger in focusing in on peripheral issues and teachings outside of the Gospel? (you can become more dedicated to secondary commands and teachings and lose your focus on what really matters.

c. It's practical. "...contradictions of what is falsely called 'KNOWLEDGE,' for by PROFESSING it..."
-Most religious people loved to study and gain knowledge and teach those things, but weren't interested in actually living it out.  What does it communicate to people when you say and preach one thing, but live something totally different?
-How has what you have been learning from the Adult Content series actually changed your life?  How has your Monday-Friday been impacted by what you've learned on Sunday?

d. It's grace. "Grace be with you."
-The MSG translation of the Bible puts that phrase as, "May you experience the life changing gift of God that will keep you and sustain you."  What impact do the words "gift" and "grace" have on your understanding of the Gospel?  How does that change how you receive the Gospel?  How does that impact how you view the giver of this incredible gift?