“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching”

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching” Preachers and all Christians must keep learning and applying God’s Word to ourselves first

Three Important Questions • How can I progress in the faith? • How can I help my family progress in the faith? • How can I help this local church progress in the faith?

Introduction • The answer to the last two questions is entirely dependent on the answer to the first question • Our concern to help family and local church to progress in the faith often can cause us to overlook our own progress in the faith • Failing to grow spiritually will cause our influence on family and local church to be negative

Introduction • In Paul’s letters to Timothy, these questions are answered • More precisely, they are all answered with one answer – Timothy as well as we must first learn the teaching, keep applying to ourselves first and then teach others to learn and apply God’s Word to themselves

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching” • 1Ti 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:3 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." • Act 19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. • Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. • Act 19:9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. • Act 19:18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. • Act 19:20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:26 "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:27 "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 19:29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. • Act 19:30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. • Act 20:18 And when they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, • Act 20:19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 20:20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, • Act 20:21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 20:28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. • Act 20:29 "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 20:30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. • Act 20:31 "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.

Paul’s Work In Ephesus • Act 20:32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Timothy’s Work In Ephesus • 1Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, • 1Ti 1:2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s Work In Ephesus • 1Ti 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, • 1Ti 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

Timothy’s Work In Ephesus • 1Ti 1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. • 1Ti 1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, • 1Ti 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

How Would Timothy Accomplish His Task In Ephesus? • Should he focus completely on teaching and correcting others who were straying from truth? • Should he focus on his own study and application of the Word to himself without concern for correcting others? • Neither of these is the answer

How Would Timothy Accomplish His Task In Ephesus? • Keep learning and applying the teaching to yourself first • Keep teaching others to learn and apply the teaching

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching” • 1Ti 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. • 1Ti 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching” • 1Ti 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. • 1Ti 4:15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching” • 1Ti 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Three Important Questions • How can I progress in the faith? • How can I help my family progress in the faith? • How can I help this local church progress in the faith?

How Would Timothy Accomplish His Task In Ephesus? • Keep learning and applying the teaching to yourself first • Keep teaching others to learn and apply the teaching

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. • 2Ti 3:14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 2Ti 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. • 2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; • 2Ti 3:17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 4:7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; • 1Ti 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. • 1Ti 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. • 1Ti 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. • 1Ti 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. • 1Ti 6:11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. • 2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 2Ti 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. • 2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Keep Learning And Applying The Teaching To Yourself First • 2Ti 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Ti 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, • 1Ti 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Ti 4:13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. • 1Ti 5:1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, • 1Ti 5:2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Ti 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. • 1Ti 5:20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 2Ti 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. • 2Ti 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Pe 3:14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, • 1Pe 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Pe 3:16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 2Ti 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. • 2Ti 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, • 2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. • Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 2Ti 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: • 2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, • 2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. • 2Ti 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Keep Teaching Others To Learn And Apply The Teaching • 1Ti 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, • 1Ti 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity • 1Ti 3:5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

“Pay Close Attention To Yourself And To Your Teaching”