Stewarding Possessions Well - 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Responsibilities – vv17-18: Results – v19: -By what standard should we judge whether we are "rich in this present world"? -How did you come to have the possessions you do? What attitudes should that truth produce in us? -What is the connection between riches and thinking highly of yourself? -What is a steward? What is the responsibility of a steward? -How can we enjoy all that God gives us without being seduced into putting our hope in riches? -What does it look like to hope in God? How does being generous help us not put our hope in money? -How can being generous enable us to experience more fully that which is truly life? For further study: Dt 8:18; Ps 24:1-2; Mt 6:19-24; 19:16-22; Acts 2:44-45; 14:17; 1 Cor 4:2,7; 2 Cor 8:9; 1 Tim 6:6-10; Jam 1:17; 2:15-17; 1 Jn 3:16-18.

Fueled by Knowing God - 1 Timothy 6:15a-16 Truths about God: 1) God is completely ________________________! 2) God _________________ over all! 3) God will _______________________! 4) God's glory is so great, He cannot be ______________________! -Can we know God truly? How? Why is it a good thing that we can never know all there is to know about God? -What does it look like to know God in a personal and growing way? How does knowing God this way fuel your obedience to Him? -What is the difference between knowing things about God and knowing Him personally? Why are both essential? How are they related? -What things hinder our growing knowledge of God? What can we do about that? -How does knowing God is completely satisfied in Himself encourage you to draw nearer to Him? -Explain why…the more you know about God, the more you want to know Him? How does this contribute to your perseverance in the faith? -How does knowing God's sovereignty and final victory empower our perseverance? For further study: Ex 33:17-34:8; Ps 9:10; 34:8; 90:14; 145; Isa 40:10-31; 55:1-2; Dan 4:34-35; Rom 11:33-36; 1 Tim 1:17; 6:13-16; 1 Jn 1:5; Rev 19:6-7.

The Supremacy of Christ - Roger Ibrahim 1) Introduction to Hebrews 2) The Person of Christ 3) The Work of Christ

Don't be a Lazy Christian - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 Four commands to battle laziness in living for Christ: -Would you describe yourself as lazy or diligent in living for Christ? How does being diligent bring more glory to Christ and more joy to you? What are the results when you are lazy? -Does working hard in following Christ in any way negate believing salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? Explain. How can you rely on God's strength to be diligent in living for Christ? -What sins and temptations do you often encounter? What would it look like to flee these? -What steps can you take to pursue these six qualities in v11? -What does sin or worldly distractions deliver? What does God's Word promise comes from diligently pursuing Christ? Which do you want? How can you cultivate godly desires? -What resources has God provided with which to strengthen your faith in Christ? Are you utilizing them? -What blessings of the life to come has God already made available to you? How can you enjoy those blessings? For further study: Ps 16:11; Mt 16:24-26; 1 Cor 6:18; 9:24-27; 10:14; Eph 4:22-24; Phil 2:12-13; 3:7-14; Col 3:8-17; 1 Tim 1:18; 4:7-8; 2 Tim 2:22; 4:7.

Seek the Lord and Live Amos 5:1-6

Glorifying God in Attitude and Action-1 Timothy 6:1-2 Notes on vv1-2: Biblical truths to remember: -How could the Gospel be displayed in the early church by bond-slaves and masters? -What does this passage teach us about the relationship of our circumstances to our mission? -How does our attitude affect our actions? What role does biblical truth have in directing my attitude? -What sinful attitudes do you struggle with? What biblical truths could God use to change your attitude? Digging deeper: Mt 5:16; Rom 12:2; Eph 4:22-24; 6:5-8; Phil 2:7; Col 3:22-25; Titus 2:5,8; 1 Pt 2:18-25.

The Church and Her Elders 1 Timothy 5:17-25 1) Be ________________ to your elders – vv17-18. 2) Be careful in handling ______________ against elders – v19. 3) Be open & clear in ____________________ of elders – vv20-21. 4) Be thorough before ___________________ elders – vv22-25. -What evidences indicate an elder rules well? -What is significant about Paul referring to both an OT quotation and a quotation of Christ as "the Scripture"? -Why is it wise to require two or three witnesses before entertaining an accusation against a leader? Should this requirement ever be bypassed? If so, when? -Why does a sinning elder need to be rebuked in the presence of the congregation? -Why did Paul so emphatically emphasize the solemn nature of this charge in v21? How does partiality hinder dealing with sinning elders? -How do these verses stress the participation and authority of the congregation? -How can a church properly examine/vet potential elders? What length of time is needed to avoid being hasty in appointing a new elder? Digging deeper: Dt 19:15-21; Mt 18:15-20; Lk 10:7; Rom 2:11; 1 Cor 9:7-14; Gal 6:1-8; 1 Tim 3:1-7.

Caring for the Needy 1 Timothy 5:3-16 Instructions to 1st century church in Ephesus: 1) Families should provide for family members in need – vv4,7-8,16. Contemporary application = _________________ 2) The church should provide for godly, older widows who have no family – v5,9-10. 3) The church should not commit to ongoing provision for: -younger widows – vv11-15 (v6) -widows with family – v16 Contemporary application = A church's benevolence ministry entails ______________________ __________________________________. -In what way has the plight of widows changed in our contemporary context compared to 1st century Ephesus? How does this affect our application of this text, if at all? -When and how should "honor" of parents involve material and practical help? -What does it look like to fix your hope on God? -Who in your life would fall under your "own household" and therefore be your responsibility? In what ways can you plan now for their future welfare and support? -How can the church help guard those in need in their vulnerability to life's pressures and temptations? -How does having too much time on your hands lead to various kinds of temptations? What remedies are available to idleness? -What criteria should a church employ when providing benevolence? How can benevolence be a vehicle for the Gospel? How can benevolence be harmful? For further study: Dt 10:18; 14:29; 24:17-21; Ps 68:5; Lk 2:36-38; Jn 19:26-27; Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor 8:9; Eph 6:2-3; 1 Tim 4:6; 2 Tim 3:6; Jam 1:27.