Elders as Bible Men

1 Timothy 4:13-16

About the Sermon

The fourth chapter in Paul’s letter to Timothy addresses Timothy with what he must do in his role of spiritual leadership at Ephesus. Timothy’s job helps us grasp the nature and role of biblical elders in the life of the church. With this sermon we come to 1 Timothy 4:13–16, a passage with no less than six commands to Timothy concerning what he is to do with the Word: “devote,” “do not neglect,” “practice,” “immerse,” “keep a close watch,” and “persist.” Why such repetition and urgency? It's because we need it.

About the Series

What if we could read a letter written by one of Jesus’ apostles to a first century church leader? What would we learn about Christ’s deign for her leadership and health? We need look no further than Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul tells us why he wrote this letter: that we may “know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (3:14–15). That will involve a variety of things, chief among them instruction in sound—literally, healthy—doctrine for a healthy church and a radiant witness (1:3, 10; 4:6; 6:3). From worship to widow-care, from anger to parenting, Paul’s words are for us.
What if we could read a letter written by one of Jesus’ apostles to a first century church leader? What would we learn about Christ’s deign for her leadership and health? We need look no further than Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Paul tells us why he wrote this letter: that we may “know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (3:14–15). That will involve a variety of things, chief among them instruction in sound—literally, healthy—doctrine for a healthy church and a radiant witness (1:3, 10; 4:6; 6:3). From worship to widow-care, from anger to parenting, Paul’s words are for us.

Sermons in the Series