1 Timothy 3:8-13 - When we ask a man to serve as deacon, we ask him to take the lead in being last. To show us what Christ-like, sacrificial service for the sake of others looks like.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 - These verses give us the qualifications for men who would serve as elders in Christ' church. But more than simply a job description, this passage shows us the shepherd's heart of God, who loves his Church, and cares for her by providing her with qualified, godly leadership.

Matthew 1

1 Timothy 2:1-7 - Our prayers are a reflection of our beliefs about God. What you pray for signals the things the heart is truly hoping for. Is your heart hoping for the things that God's heart is hoping for? Are you prayers driven by God's Passion?

1 Timothy 1:12-20 - All of Paul's confidence is in the power of the mecry and grace of Jesus. It was the mercy of Jesus that solved the biggest problem the young church had faced, which was Paul himself! It is powerful to solve our problems too.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 - How does the church pursue love? Through knowing, loving, embracing, believing, and living the gospel.

1 Timothy 1:3-7 - When Paul charges Timothy to stay and pastor the church in Ephesus, he teaches us three things about how the gospel does its work in our hearts. It takes time, it takes truth, and it leads to love.

1 Timothy 1:1-2 - Beginning a new series going through 1 Timothy, Pastor Jeff introduces the main themes of the book. Two of our greatest needs in the church are for Jesus' authority, and Jesus' mercy.

Matthew 6:9-13 - After the fifth petition, in which we seek forgiveness for our sins, in the sixth (and last) petition, we ask to be protected from the temptation to sin again. And also to be delivered from evil altogether, so that we no longer live with sin and its consequences.

Matthew 6:9-15 - "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Jesus also adds a footnote to this teaching in verses 14-15. Why does he say that if we don't forgive one another, that God will not forgive us? That's a hard teaching!