Note: The first minute of this sermon was not recorded.

Main Point. Caring for the members of God’s household.

Driving Question. How do we care for God’s household?

1. Words of care (1–2)

1 Jn 3:14–15. 14

Exodus 22:22-24.

Deuteronomy 10:18.

2. Widows cared for (3–16)

Three marks of the true widow.

1. True widows are without family care (4–5, 8).

2. True widows are godly (5, 9–10).

3. True widows are of a certain age (9).

Takeaways.

The church is now a family and we care for our own.

The church is to care for widows and this pleases God.

The church is to be filled with families willing to care for their parents.

The church is to be filled with godly women.

Widows, you are loved by God and your church.

Main Point. Faithful pastors are essential for the spiritual health of the church.

Driving Question. What is God’s pastor to be?

1. He must be an example (v. 12)

2. He must be wholeheartedly devoted (vv. 13–14)

3. He must be ever watchful (vv. 15–16)

Application.

1. Identify and point out the spiritual growth in your brothers and sisters.

2. Examine yourself.

Takeaways.

The pastor is to be different in all areas of life.

The pastor must be in proximity and accessible.

The pastor must live a life that is aligned with his teaching.

The pastor must be wholly devoted.

The pastor must bring a Christ centered, God-glorifying focus to the church.

The congregation must be wholly willing to consider the word taught and the life lived by their pastors.

Main Point. The whole Church is to train for godliness with hope in the living God.

Driving Question. What does our spiritual training entail?

1. Train in the words of faith (6)

Applications: Godly ministers who teach: feed others with the word, and feed themselves on the word.

In what particular ways is the word nourishing you these days?

2. Train for godliness (7–9)

How do you train yourself for spiritual growth?

Recognize that God says you should give conscious attention to your spiritual growth (this is important).

Regather for Lord’s Day worship with your brothers and sisters (nourishment and communion with saints).

Run alongside others (communion with saints).

Read the Bible (know and learn about God).

Respond with obedience and good works (practice his character).

Regular prayer in communion with God (talk with God).

Remember your efforts don’t justify you before God (trust in Christ).

3. Train with hope set on the Living God (10)

Takeaways.

Confession and repentance.

Christ is our righteousness.

Consider the corporate application (v.6).

Condition the heart for godliness.

Main Point. Some will be deceived and depart from the faith, but the faithful embrace God's goodness with thanksgiving.

Driving Question. How must the church guard against deception?

1. Expect apostasy (v. 1)

Application.

Be prepared for some to deconvert and abandon the faith.

2. Expose deceitful teaching (vv. 2–3)

Attributes of false teaching:

Demonic (v. 1)

Deceitful (v. 1)

Distorted (v. 2–3)

Applications:

Be ready and remember:

Satan attacks God’s character and changes God’s word.

Always reject your own works as God rejects them.

Self-denial cannot change your heart, nor your position before God.

3. Embrace God’s goodness by the word and prayer (4–5)

Responses.

Repent from holding on to anything but Christ.

Rest in the centrality of Christ’s work.

Remember the certainties and warnings of God's Scriptures.

Recognize the difference between legalism and godliness.

Receive Christ and all things with gratitude from God.

Main Idea: Proper behavior in the church both promotes and protects the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1) Why does our behavior matter? (vv. 14-15)

a. We are the household of God

b. We are the church of the living God

c. We are the pillar and buttress of the truth

2) What is our behavior rooted in? (v. 16)

Takeaways:

1) Are you united with Christ?

2) Are you prioritizing the local church?

3) Will you help us stay committed to the gospel?

Main Point. God protects his church through qualified deacons.

Driving Question. Who must deacons be?

1. The Deacon's Faithfulness (8–12)

Personal character.

Dignified (8).

Not double-tongued (8).

Proper steward.

Not addicted to much wine (8).

Not greedy for dishonest gain (8).

Persistent faith.

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (9).

Publically tested.

Tested first (10).

Pious wife (or women).

Faithful in all things (11).

Private household management.

Husband of one wife (12).

Manage his own household well (12).

Driving Question. What are the results of faithful deaconing?

2. The Deacon’s Favor (13)

Two simple rewards:

Good standing for themselves (13).

Great confidence in Christ (13).

Responses.

Remember that though deacons “do” faithful work, The Chief Deacon’s work is “done.”

Reflect the attributes of the deacon.

Respond to the physical needs of the church.

Main Point. God protects his church with qualified overseers.

Driving Question. What is an overseer?

1. The Work of the Overseer (1)

a. He aspires to the work. Not only is it good and noble, but Paul says it’s good to aspire. There should be a willing desire to do this work, to shepherd God’s flock [1 Pet 5:2].This isn't to be done out of compulsion, nor out of pride.

b. His work is an office.

c. His work is noble.

Acts 20: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Application.

Do any of you aspire to this office?

Do you love Christ’s church?

Are you already "pastoring" in the church?

Driving Question. How do we identify overseers?

2. The Walk of the Overseer (2–7)

Four areas of life that are to be evaluated.

1. Personal faithfulness.

Above reproach (3:2).

Sober-minded (3:2).

Self-controlled (3:2).

2. Private fidelity.

Husband of one wife (3:2)

Manage his own household well (3:4,5)

3. Pasroral fitness.

Hospitable (3:2)

Able to teach (3:2)

Not a recent convert (3:6)

4. Public favor.

Respectable (3:2)

Not a drunkard (3:3)

Not given to violence, but gentle (3:3)

Not quarrelsome (3:3)

Not a lover of money (3:3)

Well thought of by outsiders (3:7)

Responses.

Do you see God’s protection for his church through this office?

Are any of you wanting to do this work?

Who do you see in the congregation that is walking in these qualifications?

What are we doing to increase our candidate pool and ready our men?

How many elders do we want here?

Would you pray for us?

If I delay, you 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. (1 Tim 3:15)

Main Point. God protects his church through the functional roles of his created order.

Driving Question. How does God protect his Church from false teaching?

1. God protects his Church by having the men pray (not divide) (8)

Application.

1. Are you more quarrelsome or passive?

2. Men, lift your hands and pray.

3. Men, lead your families to worship God.

4. Men, love your God.

5. Women, encourage your husbands and the men of the church to lead and pray.

2. God protects his Church by having women dress in godliness (and not distract) (9–10)

Application.

1. Ask yourself, why are you wearing what you are?

2. Nurture your heart, before your hair.

3. Brothers, encourage your sisters when you see godliness and good works in them.

3. God protects his Church by preserving his created order (11–14)

Application.

1. Ladies, come to the church to grow in intimacy with God and to learn theology.

2. Ladies, look to Christ who taught us to submit to the Father’s will.

Two common objections:

Objection 1. Paul was misogynistic.

Paul is not saying. (as Satan would tempt you to believe):

Women don’t ever have a teaching responsibility in the church (Titus 2; Matt 28:18–20; Col 3:16).

Men can’t learn from women (Acts 18:24–26; 2 Tim 1:5).

Women are not less intelligent or gifted, or significant.

Objections 2. This was Ephesus’ cultural moment.

But look where Paul roots his argument: Creation.

4. God protects his Church by the Seed of the woman (15)

Response.

This is a call for us to trust God’s word over our own.

This is a call for us to walk in God’s good design.

This is a call of reminder that our value is in Christ.

Main Idea: The Triune God created man and woman in His image to exercise dominion over the earth through distinct and complementary roles. Yet, because of sin, a curse came upon the world that distorted God’s design until Christ came to reverse the curse.

1. Delighting in our Designer - Gen. 1

Our God is a Trinitarian God

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Our God is a Trinitarian God

-Equality in the Trinity

-Distinction in the Trinity

-Creates out of the overflow of His fullness, goodness, and generosity.

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2. Delighting in His Design - Gen. 2:15-25

-Equality of man and woman

(Man and woman created in God’s image)

-Man and woman have equal value and dignity, and both reflect His glory

-Man and woman both given Creation Mandate

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-Distinction between man and woman

(God’s design for man):

-The Lord formed the man first as representative of the human race (2:7-8)

-The Lord formed the man “from the dust of the ground” and put him in the garden to “work it” and “keep it.” (2:15)

-Adam was given the responsibility to maintain the holiness of the garden (2:16)

(God’s design for woman):

-The Lord formed the woman "from the man" to be “a helper fit for him.” Or “a helper corresponding to him.” (v. 18-21)

-Adam names his wife “woman” (ishshah) showing equality and interdependence (3:23)

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3. Distortion in His Design

God-given roles and differences are distorted at the fall, but not created.

The curse is reversed by the One who would crush Satan’s head (3:15)

God’s design re-created and renewed only in Christ

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Response:

1. "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)

-Be with Him daily in His word.

2. Seek ways to flourish in the design and roles that God has given to you.

-Men: as humble, diligent, loving, initiative-taking servants who are zealous to protect and uphold God’s Word.

-Women: as life-giving, strong, compassionate helpers.

Main Point. We pray that all people be saved through Christ, who gave His life as a ransom and is the only Mediator between God and man.

Driving Question. Why do we pray for all people when we come together for worship?

1. Because the Church can live a peaceful and godly life (1–2)

Application.

How are we doing in this as a church?

Are you taking advantage of God’s common grace as you live in a free society?

Notice the order of importance: worship God through prayer, then disciple/evangelize.

Our lives are to be godly and dignified (2).

2. Because these prayers please God (3)

3. Because God desires all people to be saved and know the truth (4)

Application.

Rest in the loving heart of God who desires all men to be saved.

Rest assured that every type of man will be saved, but don’t rest from telling every man.

Do you struggle with wanting certain sinners, or types of sinners, to be saved?

4. Because Jesus Died as a Ransom For All (5–6)

Application.

We pray for people to know and trust this One Mediator.

Responses.

The Church is to worship God our Savior and Christ our Mediator.

The Church is to pray with purpose that is aligned with our God.