An Expositional Sermon
1 Timothy 4:6-16
“What Godliness Looks Like”
Theme/Big Idea: Godliness looks like being a waiter, gym rat, doggedly devoted to the Bible, and a practicing life.
Aim/Appropriation/Application: Pray that we would find it a joy to devote ourselves to Christ as He grows us in godliness.
Outline:
(1) Waiter (1 Timothy 4:6)
(2) Gym Rat (1 Timothy 4:7-10)
(3) Doggedly Devoted to the Bible (1 Timothy 4:11-14)
(4) A Practicing Life (1 Timothy 4:15-16)
Questions for Further Reflection
(1) What’s the first and foremost way that an elder/overseer/pastor is a waiter of Christ Jesus?
(2) From this text, why should we keep coming back to the Bible? Why don’t we just teach things that we think would be relevant in light of what’s going on in the culture right now?
(3) What might it look like for you to be a “gym rat” in the gymnasium of Christ?
(4) What promises do people believe by going to work out and get physical exercise? If the weak promise of health and appearance can be such a strong motivator to work out, why aren’t God’s more trustworthy, unstoppable, and unbreakable promises to His people in Christ enough to motivate us to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ? What are some ways that are you tempted to doubt God’s promises and thereby robbing yourself of God’s comfort in the trials of this life?
(5) Christ is the Savior of all people in the sense that it is only through Christ that anyone can be saved from God’s wrath. Ask yourself if this encourages your evangelism?
(6) Christ is especially the Savior in the effectual call of God toward those who believe? Are you counted in this group? Are you repenting from your sin and trusting in Jesus Christ alone? You know Christ not merely as a possible Savior, but as your actual Savior. Is this encouraging to you? Do you see evidences of God’s grace in your life? Make a list and pray a prayer of thanks and praise to God.
(7) Does your life match what you say you believe? Are you living a life of self-deception or of public-deception? Are you living with a seared conscience? Do you keep a close watch on your life and your doctrine?
(8) If there is bad fruit in your life or in the life of your church, how is the good doctrine that you say you believe somehow being cut off from the fruit? What and where is the disconnect between your orthodoxy (right doctrine) and your orthopraxy (right practice)?