Fellow Pastors, Pay Attention! – Pt. 1 of 2

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Fighting the good fight of faith—as a pastor—boils down to the constant maintenance of two areas of life: Our personal lives and our doctrine (pastoral failure is almost always the result of unfaithfulness in one of these areas).

While teaching on The Pastor’s Home in Russia last week, I broke the men into small buzz groups. Their assignment was to read through 1 & 2 Timothy and chart specific applications of Paul’s two-fold admonition: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” (1 Tim. 4:16). We then re-grouped and discussed our findings. Here’s a summary of the first part.

Pay Attention to YOURSELF…

1 Timothy

  • 1 Timothy 1:12 [be thankful to Christ for His calling you to the ministry]
  • 1 Timothy 1:12-15 [keep God’s grace before your eyes]
  • 1 Timothy 1:16 [be a godly example, by grace]
  • 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8 [be a man of prayer who leads the church to pray]
  • 1 Timothy 3:15 [be conscious of your own personal conduct]
  • 1 Timothy 3:1-7 [discipline yourself to remain qualified to lead]
  • 1 Timothy 4:6 [nourish your own soul with sound doctrine]
  • 1 Timothy 4:7 [discipline your body: most in the class, including myself, admitted we could stand to lose at least 10 pounds each]
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 [maintain a godly example]
  • 1 Timothy 4:14-15 [develop your spiritual giftedness]
  • 1 Timothy 5:1-5 [treat older men and widows in the church with respect & care]
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-10 [be content]
  • 1 Timothy 6:11 [flee materialism, pursue personal godliness]
  • 1 Timothy 6:12 [fight the good fight of faith]
  • 1 Timothy 6:14 [don’t stain God’s Word]
  • 1 Timothy 6:20 [avoid empty chatter, worldly arguments]

2 Timothy

  • 2 Timothy 1:3 [keep your conscience clean & clear]
  • 2 Timothy 1:3 [be a man of constant prayer]
  • 2 Timothy 1:6 [stir up your giftedness]
  • 2 Timothy 1:8 [be willing to suffer]
  • 2 Timothy 2:1 [rely on grace to strengthen you]
  • 2 Timothy 2:3 [suffer hardship for the gospel’s sake]
  • 2 Timothy 2:4 [don’t be entangled with the world]
  • 2 Timothy 2:5 [discipline yourself first]
  • 2 Timothy 2:6 [excel in your work ethic]
  • 2 Timothy 2:8 [remember Christ, risen from the dead]
  • 2 Timothy 2:10 [endure all things for the sake of the elect]
  • 2 Timothy 2:19 [abstain from wickedness]
  • 2 Timothy 2:21 [be sanctified, prepared]
  • 2 Timothy 2:22 [flee lust, pursue righteousness]
  • 2 Timothy 2:24-25 [be gentle and kind]
  • 2 Timothy 4:8 [love, and look forward to, the Lord’s appearing]

Tomorrow’s post will summarize our discoveries concerning our teaching ministry.

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