I. Introduction
A. Winkler’s Wise Words
1. In my office, I have a piece of paper that reads, “Each time you preach, you have the opportunity to change someone’s mind, touch someone’s heart, or alter someone’s destiny.”
a. I’m not sure when I first heard Dan Winkler make that statement, but I have never forgotten it.
b. It speaks of the responsibility of what I do each week. Sometimes I am up to the task, and sometimes I am not.
2. Two things I do before I preach any lesson are: 1) Ask God to work through me, and 2) Preach the lesson to myself first.
3. This morning, we’ll examine the purpose of our time of study in God’s Word during worship.
B. Background
1. When Paul writes this final letter to Timothy, he emphasizes the dangers posed by false teachers in the church.
a. The warning found in our passage this morning is extremely relevant for our day.
b. We live in a world today that struggles to understand the value of conviction and has, in its place, opted for the regressive response of offense.
2. This morning, there are two things I need you to help hold me accountable to as your preacher, so that I provide true biblical teaching that helps you transform into who God desires you to be. The last point is one I ask you to reflect on, to hold yourself accountable to, so that you receive teaching that transforms.
II. Teaching that Transforms
A. Teaching
1. The of God’s Word is always to be the focus of the message, not political commentary, a weaponized slight, or a preacher’s .
2. Preaching that is not centered around the truth of God’s Word is worthless.
3. Paul describes it as “sound teaching.” The concept is of healthy teaching.
a. Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (correction was needed for some teaching falsely)
b. Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
c. Illustration: Sometimes the things that are healthiest for us are not the most desirable. If someone offered me the choice between kale and an Oreo cookie, I’d choose the Oreo cookie. If you asked me to choose which is healthiest for me, I’m going to choose kale, even though that truth is hard to swallow.
4. Every generation faces the challenge of discovering and accepting the truth of God’s Word; biblical teaching is essential for the journey. The biggest challenge is accepting the truth when it doesn’t align with my desires.
5. Paul uses three terms that define transformative teaching:
a. – to convict
b. – express strong disapproval
c. – encourage, commend, comfort
6. All of this is to be done with love (Ephesians 4:15).
B.
1. Preaching is to be geared towards helping Christians the world.
a. Paul tells Timothy to remain ready to instill a biblical worldview, regardless of how the world changes (“be ready in season and out of season”).
b. Paul didn’t shy away from difficult topics in the Christian’s life. (Acts 20:27 Paul speaking to the Ephesian elders on his way to Jerusalem)
2. We live in this world, but we must learn to live differently from its standards; teaching should help us to figure out how (John 17:14-17).
C. Engaged
1. have a responsibility to engage with the Word individually.
2. More than once, Paul observes that there will come a time when people decide to find teachers who teach what they want to hear (1 Timothy 1:3-11, 4:1-5, 6:3-05; 2 Timothy 3:1-9).
a. Receiving the truth requires open and .
b. We do not want to be like the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus rebuked in Matthew 15:1-9.
3. True followers of God are those who have given their hearts to Him.
a. If we do not engage the heart, Christianity becomes a religion of .
b. When the heart is engaged, follows.
III. Conclusion
A. Responding
1. On occasion, someone will ask me, “Does it discourage you when people don’t respond during the invitation?”
2. My answer is no because I know that everyone responds, whether they know they do or not.
3. My job is to share the message and to do my best to follow
B. Invitation