Please Read: 1 Tim 1:1-17 NIV

1.Know that you are called. (v. 1)

It’s not surprising that after a major disappointment, we might be tested. The enemy wants to challenge our calling. So how do we help ourselves and others during these times of testing?

Luke 4 offers a good answer to this question.

Go to the Word (try journaling!). Reading God’s Word will clarify our calling and our identities as God’s children..

2.Know that you belong. (v. 2)

The way people speak can tell you a lot about whether or not they feel like they belong. Have you ever heard someone say, “in this church they do this. . . Or they think that. . .”? This is a sign that the person feels they don’t really belong. Or perhaps you’ve heard phrases like, “in my church we do this. . . Or we think that. . .” In the second example, the person clearly feels they belong in the church. Their language is the language of ownership. 

You have probably never heard a child call his house “that house” or “this house.” It would be really strange. So, why is it important to belong?

When you belong to the house, there’s ownership, power, and anointing. We need an anointing of grace, mercy, and peace. 

3.Be able to hold on to the truth. (vv. 3-4)

Great teachers know when something sounds off, and they are able to warn others about wrong teaching. When you observe great teachers, you will see fruit popping up around them. They know they are called to build people up in their faith. We are not in the business of helping people stay the same. We don’t just stop at establishing a good foundation of belief; we continue on to build. At the moment, we are building online. Don’t wait until we are together again. Speak into people’s lives and help them build now.

4.Teach out of a great heart (right motives). (v. 5)

This is the heart you should teach with:a heart of forgiveness, a heart to serve others, a heart that isn’t easily offended, self seeking, or eager to build its own reputation.

5.Don’t get off track. (v. 6)

Don’t get distracted by controversies or trending subjects that lead to meaningless talk and arguments. Through social media, we now have more access to teachings and to people’s opinions from around the world than we ever have had before. However, we should always run what people say through the filter of God’s Word. 

6.Teach Biblical principles with grace, not with law. (v. 7)

People under the law don’t grow. This is why good teachers present Biblical principles with grace, rather than with law. They present God’s directions and sign posts with love, helping people to understand God’s reasons behind each. When people place themselves under God’s directions, they will grow. When people place themselves under the rules of human leaders, they will not grow. 

7.Promote cleansing and wholesome teaching. (v. 10)

This is uplifting teaching that brings healing, not judgmental teaching that tears people down.

8.Great teachers must focus on Jesus. (vv. 12-15)

If you talk about everything in the Bible but you leave out Jesus, you have missed the opportunity of connecting people to Him. Teach Jesus first!

9.Know how to give constant thanks to Jesus. (v. 15)

This means being personally thankful for what Jesus did for you. This helps build a positive testimony.Our testimony is powerful!

10.Always have a mouth full of praise! (v. 17)

Be sure you are always honoring and praising God for who He is!