Fight the Good Fight – 1 Timothy 1:18-20 1) Marching Orders = 2) Resources = 3) Practice = 4) Motivation = -What does the imagery of combat bring to the understanding of ministry and the Christian life? -What choices and/or actions are involved when a person rejects a good conscience? -What does it mean to hand someone over to Satan? How does church discipline serve to protect faith in Christ? -Are you committed, by God's grace, to fighting the good fight of the faith? What will this look like in your daily life? Other passages to consider: Josh 1:9; Mt 18:15-20; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Cor 5:1-5; 2 Cor 10:3-4; Eph 6:10-20; 1 Tim 4:14; 6:3-5,11-12,20-21; 2 Tim 1:6-7; 2:1-3; 3:8; Jude 3, 17-25.

Embracing a Biblical Perspective of Spiritual Leaders I Corinthians 4:1-7 – Tom Madon – Living Word Fellowship Instead of giving their foremost allegiance to Jesus Christ, many in the church in Corinth were elevating their favorite teacher and leader beyond what God intended. Paul's corrective words provide Christians with a Biblical understanding of how to view spiritual leaders in the church. In our passage today, Paul highlights three crucial truths that apply to the church in all generations. 1. Paul corrects their flawed perspective on how to ______ Christian leaders (Verses 1-2). • Paul and his fellow leaders were to be viewed as ________ and ______________. o Their service was to Christ. o Their stewardship was of the mysteries of God. o The foremost calling of servants and stewards is faithfulness to Christ and His Word. 2. Paul corrects their mistaken perception of how to __________ spiritual leaders (verses 3-5). • The evaluation of others was of minimal importance to Paul. • His evaluation of himself was far from conclusive. • God's evaluation is the one that ultimately matters. 3. Paul corrects their inflated _______________ in failing to see God's goodness in everything they possessed (Verses 6-7). • Paul's illustration of himself and Apollos was for the church in Corinth; his words about Christian leadership apply to the church through the ages. • Paul asked three penetrating questions that have application for all believers.

Using the OT Law – 1 Timothy 1:8-11 · Goal of biblical teaching – · False teacher's wrong use of the OT law – · Right use of the OT law – vv8-11 1) 2) 3) -Even though Christians are no longer under the OT law, how does it continue to be profitable for Christians under the New Covenant? -What does the OT law reveal about God? What does it reveal about man by nature? -How does the OT law point us to Christ and the Gospel? Other passages to consider: Jn 5:38; Acts 14:11-18; 17:16-34; Rom 1:14-32; 2:14-16; 7:6; Gal 2:16; 3:19-26; 2 Tim 3:16; Heb 8:7-13.

Recognizing - Rejecting False Teaching - 1 Timothy 1-3-7--1- The forbidding of false teaching - vv3-4a-- --2- The fruit of false teaching - v4b-- --3- The goal of biblical teaching - v5- - -4- The traits of false teachers - vv6-7-- ---How does the temptation to useless speculation confront the contemporary church today-----Why is love the proper outcome by which teaching and preaching must be evaluated-- How does this contrast with the goal of the false teaching in vv3-4 and with false teaching today-----How does an impure heart, a seared conscience, and an insincere faith bring forth a failure in Christian love-----Identify a time when you became involved in -fruitless discussion.- What was motivating you and what was the result of that conversation-----What is your biggest take-away from this passage that will help you recognize and reject false teaching----Other passages to consider- Mt 7-15-20- 22-36-40- Jn 13-34-35- Acts 17-11- 20-28-32- Eph 1-10- 3-9- 1 Tim 3-1-7- 5-17- Titus 1-5-16.

Recognizing & Rejecting False Teaching – 1 Timothy 1:3-7 1) The forbidding of false teaching – vv3-4a 2) The fruit of false teaching – v4b 3) The goal of biblical teaching – v5 4) The traits of false teachers – vv6-7 -How does the temptation to useless speculation confront the contemporary church today? -Why is love the proper outcome by which teaching and preaching must be evaluated? How does this contrast with the goal of the false teaching in vv3-4 and with false teaching today? -How does an impure heart, a seared conscience, and an insincere faith bring forth a failure in Christian love? -Identify a time when you became involved in "fruitless discussion." What was motivating you and what was the result of that conversation? -What is your biggest take-away from this passage that will help you recognize and reject false teaching? Other passages to consider: Mt 7:15-20; 22:36-40; Jn 13:34-35; Acts 17:11; 20:28-32; Eph 1:10; 3:9; 1 Tim 3:1-7; 5:17; Titus 1:5-16.