Sermon Outline April 13, 2008 Evening Service

Topic: Understanding Our Message

Text:      1 Timothy 1:3-20                                                                     

Introduction

I.    Timothy was a man who answered God’s call to service.

A.   There was a lot that went against him.

B.   But life had turned Timothy into a man of courage and determination.

II.   But how can leaders properly manage the church when the manual they follow sometimes appears to disagree with itself?

A.   The truth is that there is no discrepancy here!

B.   The answer is in realizing that the church has the most distinct message in the world.

C.  The key is to our understanding our message.

Text

I.    Some things do separate us from each other (verses 3-5).

A.   Paul reminded Timothy of his reason for being in Ephesus.

1.   As much as he valued harmony in the church (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:13), Paul realized that peace and unity are not our highest priorities.

a.   Peace at the expense of truth does not advance God’s work.

b.   When men deviate from the truth there is no harmony.

2.   Anything that produces pointless controversies will distract God’s people from God’s truth and God’s work.

B.   True Christian teaching produces love.

C.  False doctrines only produce controversy and confusion, so Paul urged Timothy (and us) to oppose them directly and decisively.

II.   Some things will separate us from God (verses 6-11).

A.   These teachers, while presenting themselves as Christians, had wandered from the truth.

B.   Once we start wandering from the truth, we will wander from the faith.

III.  One thing unites the body of Christ: Salvation by grace through faith (verses 12-20).

A.   God shows his grace to sinners by forgiving anyone who trusts in Jesus and obeys His message of salvation.

B.   The basis of forgiveness is God’s grace.

1.   God’s grace and mercy are available for all who will admit their sin and trust and obey Jesus for salvation.

2.   God’s grace extends to the very worst of sinners, but only as they trust and obey Jesus as their Lord (Acts 22:3-16).

3.   The salvation Jesus offers led Paul in two directions:

a.   He looked to heaven and praised God for His mercy.

b.   He looks to earth and encourages all of us to hold fast.

C.  Christianity is both inclusive and exclusive.

1.   It includes everyone who will obey the gospel.

2.   It excludes those who will not obey and those who obey only to mislead and divide.

Conclusion

I.    Let’s understand our message.

II.   To be a healthy church, we must thankfully hold fast to what is right.