After Paul was released from Rome and as he made his way back toward Jerusalem, Paul dropped off Timothy to be the primary teaching pastor in Ephesus for a season. We learn why he did that, by eavesdropping on this letter. 1 Timothy 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. This book, one of the three so-called Pastoral Epistles, is addressed to a local church and regional pastor-teacher, but it is included in the New Testament canon for the edification of us all. Everything Paul asked of Timothy and Titus was to be passed on to their congregations, and by extension, to us. The verses in our cross hairs today contain two commands, surrounded by supporting reasons and encouragements. 1 - Be A Good Servant (6) 2 - Point Out The Right Things (6) 3 - Consume The Best Things (6) 4 - Reject Distractions (7) 5 - Discipline Yourself (7) 6 - Here's Why (8-9)

Today, without diminishing any of my appreciation for what God is doing among us and through us, I want to help us collectively grow in maturity. Many among us quietly and sacrificially and joyfully fulfill many responsibilities and step up when they hear of a need they can meet. But I am concerned when I see professing Christians in general in our nation who treat the Church, the body of Christ, like a hobby or a social club or a source of entertainment, and not as the priority God designs it to be. I'm all the more concerned when I see that attitude in people I know and serve. So in the same mindset as Jesus wrote to the Church near the end of the first century, I want to commend those who are commendable, and I want to nudge those who need a wake-up call, to consider how to better honor the Lord.

Luke 2:1-20: . . .When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Doesn't it make you wonder what was in her mind when "Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." About nine months earlier, Mary said to her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist: "My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." We don't know if Mary lived long enough to read the book of Titus. It's possible. If she did, I'm sure she smiled and understood better than ever all those magnificent things she pondered in her heart when her firstborn Son arrived to the praises of a host of heavenly angels to be her Savior. Many love to celebrate the birth of a baby, but don't comprehend the full significance of it. For that reason I commend this passage to you. Think of it in conjunction with your holiday celebration, and you can't miss the point. Titus 3:4-7 explains what Mary meant by " . . . and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior." He Saved Us! 1 - Not by our works 2 - But according to His mercy 3 - By regeneration and the Holy Spirit 4 - That we might be made heirs

4 Features of Triumph Confirming Your Eternal Praise 1 - The Victory of Illumination (1-2) 2 - The Victory of Multiplication (3) 3 - The Victory of Devastation (4-5) 4 - The Victory of Domination (6-7)

Africa Report 2025 Next Week's Reading – Genesis 18:16-19:38

Nahum is the sequel to the book of Jonah. Assyria, whose capital was Nineveh, was exceptionally bloodthirsty and evil. The repentance there under Jonah was unprecedented and never repeated anywhere. God used Nahum to predict the total destruction of the city which returned to wickedness: Nahum 1:1 (LSB): "The oracle of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite." From the few things Nahum writes which allow us to zero in on the timing, it appears it was only 20 to 50 years from Nahum's prophecy until the total destruction of Nineveh. There's nothing complicated in Nahum, just the sober and straightforward word from God that He was going to judge the evil nation Assyria and her capital Nineveh for idolatry and cruelty. The repentance of the Ninevites was genuine–Jesus Himself said so. But alas, as majestic as was the glory of God's grace showered upon Nineveh in the days of Jonah, genuine faith in the true God waned in the following generations. Old patterns resurfaced. Assyria crumbled from within because they spurned God and forfeited His blessings. It's interesting that God didn't tell Jonah what was ultimately going to happen to Nineveh. God knew all about it, but it wasn't Jonah's place to know. Remember that! Living by faith does not come with details about what's going to happen. You need to seek God's wisdom, make your choices, and trust Him to work through them. God does not owe you explanations. The opening line in the trailer to the movie sequel to Jonah would be "Nahum: God's Vengeance" if not "Nineveh: The Sequel." 1 - Wrath Is Poured Out Like Fire (Ch 1) 2 - Behold, I Am Against You (Ch 2) 3 - Your Wound Is Incurable (Ch 3)

4 Marital Features to Build Your Marriage Around 1. Bad Decisions 16:1-16 2. Laughter & Pain 17:15-27 3. Blessings & Regrets 18:1-15 4. Treachery & Grace 20:1-17 Next Week's Reading – Genesis 18:16-20:17

God called Jonah to Nineveh a second time, and this time Jonah obeyed. It must have taken him a month or more to reach Nineveh. When he announced (Jonah 3:4) "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown" people began to repent. Word got to the king himself, and he repented and called upon everyone to follow suit. The king said: (Jonah 3:9) "Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish." Here's the rest of the story. The people of Nineveh repented, God withheld judgment, Jonah didn't like it, and he threw a tantrum. 1 - God Appoints Salvation (3:10) 2 - God Appoints A Plant (4:1-6) 3 - God Appoints A Worm (4:7) 4 - God Appoints A Wind (4:8) 5 - God Makes A Point (4:9-11) 6 - Epilogue