The Apostle Peter wrote an admonition and prayer that expresses my desire for you. 2 Peter 3:17–18: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. To that end, we're beginning a new sermon series today, but not a sequential study through a book of the Bible. Instead, it will be a series of studies of crucial passages which help us learn how to take what we know and apply it in the most helpful ways possible. The goal: I want you to grow in your ability to nourish your soul from the word of God. Our first passage is 1 Timothy 1:5. The previous verses give the background. + In Ephesus certain ones + Teach a different doctrine + Pay attention to spiritual poisons + Speculate rather than being faithful to Scripture Then comes a phrase that is introduced by the glorious word BUT. The but is the Greek word that connotes both a connection and contrast. The connection is that there are certain ones who are altering sound doctrine and introducing spiritually poisonous ideas. The contrast is BUT the goal of OUR instruction is LOVE. 1 Timothy 1:5: But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 - A Pure Heart 2 - A Good Conscience 3 - Unhypocritical Faith