Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

Scripture: 1Tim. 5: 8 And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Observation: This was a simple observation, for the world was scrutinizing the new believers . Their actions had to speak louder than their words. While they cried out for social responsibility within the community of faith, if they failed to care for their own relatives their testimony was void.   Application: The great command is to love God and love neighbor. Christian witness is not in the words we speak, but the ways in which we live our lives. Therefore, the love of God is revealed by the ways in which you love your neighbor, and your closest neighbor is your own family. The consequences are disastrous for those Christians who fail to care for their own family members, for Christian social responsibility begins at home.     Chrysostom writes: And what will be said, if instructin...

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters—with absolute purity. Observation: Timothy was being instructed as the spiritual leader in the way in which he was to have conversations with people in his congregation. Obviously, there would be those who would not always agree with him. Therefore, he was to show respect for his elders. The older men may have been a minister, or an overseer. Timothy may have struggled with things that he was being told by those who were his supervisors. Even if he didn’t agree with them, he was to speak and respect these individuals as if he were speaking to his father. Younger people within the life of the church were also to be shown respect. Just imagine that these were your brothers, for this is the family of God. Older women were to be treated as mothers, and younger women, as if they were ...

Scripture: 1Tim. 4:6   If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Observation: Over and over Timothy is encouraged to be a good teacher. Discipleship training was an important feature of the early church and there were great concerns over false teaching. The only way this could be overcome was by on-going, correct teaching about the faith. This meant that Timothy hims...

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4-5 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer. Observation: False teachers were preaching a very strict asceticism for Christ followers. The problem was that they were embracing Gnosticism ,   and separating the world into two realms, the spiritual and the physical. Over and again there is the affirmation that just as Jesus came in the flesh, sanctifying all of humanity, so we are to live in the flesh as sanctified followers of Christ. The Gnostics   saw physical creation as evil, and therefore to be avoided.   This teaching was not to infiltrate the church ,   but it had. Now the affirmation was to embrace the beauty of things that God had created. This included sexual relations in marriage, as well as enjoying lovely foods. All of this was to be seen as a gift from God, enjoyed with gratitude and thank...

Scripture : 1 Timothy 2:8-15 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument; also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty. Observation : The people attending Timothy’s church seemed to have some issues with the ways in which they were behaving. Christlikeness was probably not a word that someone would have used to describe what they saw at the church. Therefore, t...

Scripture: 1Tim. 2:1     First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. Observation: Timothy was being instructed on prayer, both for himself and the church community whom they served. They were to take seriously the call to prayer, which included all of those within their community. They were to bring needs and requests, as well as their thanksgivings before the Father in prayer.   No one was to be excluded from the prayers of the church community. Even those with whom they did not have common interest were to be prayed for, including those in leadership. To pray for the leaders was to pray for the whole community because of their decisions. Therefore it becomes the Christian’s duty to pray for those whose actions will have an effect on every citizen. The re...

Scripture: 1Tim. 1:12   I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. Observation: This story from the life of Paul becomes an example of grace and mercy. Saul, the persecutor was captured by th...