1 Timothy 4:13 to exhortation
Timothy was a young man who was called by God to preach. However, because of Timothy’s age, there would be many people who would be inclined to ignore the message that Timothy preached. As such, Paul gave Timothy five lessons that he should implement into his life so that his ministry […]

1 Timothy 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading,
Timothy is a young man who has the calling of God to preach. Paul is advising Timothy of five things he needs to do in order to ensure that the message he preaches is heard and not simply discarded because of Timothy’s age. The first thing […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in purity.
Timothy is a young man who has been called by God to preach the gospel. Paul is advising Timothy on the things that he should do so that his message is not ignored by people who think Timothy might be too young to fully understand the deep doctrine of the Christian […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in faith
Timothy is a young man who has the calling of God to preach. Paul is instructing Timothy how to act so as to ensure that his message is not lost on individuals who believe he is too young. Because of Timothy’s age, it would be easy for others to discount him […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in spirit
Timothy is a young man that God is using mightily to help build the New Testament church. Paul is advising Timothy of things that he must do in order to assure that the message God has given to him is not discredited by others because of his young age.
Paul gave Timothy […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in charity
Paul is teaching Timothy five things that he needs to do in order to ensure that the message that he preached is not dismissed because of his age. The first thing that Paul teaches Timothy that he needs to do is to be an example. Paul gives Timothy six areas that […]

1 Timothy 4:12 in conversation,
In this passage, Paul is instructing Timothy what to do in order to ensure that his age was not used against him. Timothy was a preacher who while he was called of God, had the problem that he was not very old and as such, he was probably afraid that some […]

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word,
Paul is writing this letter to Timothy. Timothy may be a young man but he has the calling of God upon his life. However, Timothy cannot afford for people to not pay attention to the message that […]

1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth;
Paul is speaking to Timothy and shows him how he is supposed to act despite his young age. Many people look down on youth as immature and inexperienced but Paul desired to give Timothy some direction so that he would know how to act so as to […]

I Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
The Greek word that is translated science in this passage is the same Greek word that Peter used in 2 Peter that was translated knowledge. At this time in history, there […]

I Timothy 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

As Paul is finishing this letter to Timothy, he tells Timothy to �keep that which is committed� to him. Paul had just instructed Timothy on several important doctrines to the Christian faith and he told Timothy to keep these doctrines. Paul did not tell Timothy to obey the doctrines, if he had, he would have used a different Greek word. While the word �keep� does have a meaning of obeying, it also means to watch, to guard, to preserve, to observe, and obey.

Paul did not just want Timothy to obey the words that he instructed, but he wanted him to guard the words and ensure that the doctrine of the gospel as presented in this letter were preserved and taught to the church. Paul had shared the truth with Timothy, and it was now time for Timothy to take these truths and ensure that the church understood them.

After instructing Timothy of what he should do, he then cautioned Timothy on two things that he should avoid. Timothy was instructed to avoid fruitless and vain debates and he was instructed to stay away from science or knowledge that proclaimed truth but in reality was just false religion. Paul was not saying that there was a problem with the sciences and knowledge, what was going on at this time was that there were individuals who were using their knowledge to try to explain away some of the power of God and thus by their false knowledge, they were leading many away. There are some things of God that cannot be explained or understood until you get to heaven.

Timothy was charged to keep the faith. Timothy had chosen to serve the Lord and now he had the responsibility to ensure that he did not place himself in a position where he would err or cause others to err concerning the faith. Paul gave Timothy the truth and he instructed Timothy to keep his attention on the truth.

An individual whose job it is to find counterfeit money spends all their time studying the real thing, so Paul desired that Timothy spend his time on the doctrines of God. By avoiding vain discussions he would be able to concentrate on the doctrines of truth. By avoiding strange sciences, Timothy was able to spend his time studying the truth. It was the truth of the doctrine of the gospel that saved Timothy and it was these doctrines that would guide him in the way he was to live.

You have been saved and are instructed to live your life for HIM. Are you living your life so that others can see the truth through you? You have the truth; do not waste your time with vain conversations that do not assist you in understanding the truth. Do not waste your time trying to understand things that will compromise your faith. Spend your time in the word; spend it studying the truth because it is the truth that will set you free.

It only takes one drop of poison to poison a glass of water, so too it only takes one mistruth to destroy the purity of the teaching of God�s word. Spend your time guarding the truth to ensure that you do not cause others to stumble in the faith because you allowed others to corrupt your understanding of the truth of God�s word.

I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hopefully no one told you that maintaining your faith would be a walk in the park. In this verse, Paul actually describes the Christian life as a fight. Satan does not desire for you to be a child of God and as such, there is a battle raging for your soul. You must fight to maintain your faith. You must grab a hold of the promises of God for eternal life and not let go. You must be faithful to fulfill what God has called you to do.

Fight so often has a negative connotation. However, as Solomon put it, there is a time for war and a time for peace. When it comes to your soul, it is not a time to be striking deals with the devil. From the Garden of Eden until the Lord returns, Satan�s job is to draw many from a close relationship with God. It takes great effort to see through Satan�s deceptions and to maintain a close walk with the Lord.

Fighting with your sibling may not have been a good fight. However, fighting the fight of faith is a good fight, it is pleasing in the sight of God. God understands your enemy better then you do, and HE desires that you stand up to the enemy and fight to maintain your faith. HE has given you the weapons of spiritual warfare so that you can fight and maintain your faith. It grieves HIM when you refuse to use the tools that will enable you to have victory and thus you stumble in sin.

Imagine you were walking along side a cliff. All of a sudden you tripped and fell over the edge. However, as you are falling you reached out and grabbed the edge of the cliff and you stop your fall. As you look down you see that if you had not grabbed the rock, you surely would have been killed by the fall. What are you going to do, you have a hold of the rock, are you going to continue to fight and hold on as long as you can, or are you going to just end it all and let go? You are going to fight and hold onto that rock.

In a way, the picture of holding onto the rock is similar to what you must do with eternal life. Salvation is like the rock that is saving you from eternal destruction. You have a hold of eternal life, and Satan is doing everything that he can to cause you to abandon your hold upon the solid rock.

Timothy had been called into the ministry. Paul knew that the ministry was not going to be easy and that Timothy would face many challenges. Timothy had professed God�s purpose for his life before many witnesses. This verse was a reminder to Timothy that God had called him to fight this fight of faith and that Timothy must continue to fight. When Satan�s actions discouraged Timothy, Paul wanted Timothy to remember the calling, remember he was in a fight, and remember all the individuals who are witnesses of God�s calling for Timothy�s life. The witnesses were there to keep Timothy accountable during the fight, to remind him that he was not alone.

God has a fight for you to fight. HE has called you to serve HIM and to bring glory to HIS name. Be quick to profess your calling among the brethren so that when you are discouraged in the fight, you will have those who can stand beside you and assist you in staying focused for your fight. It will not be easy, but through God, you will overcome.

I Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

You who proclaim to be a Christian, examine your life and flee from the sin of loving money. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as your self. The first commandment that God gave Moses upon the mount is that you are to have no other gods before the one true God. Money can very quickly become a god in your life.

In today�s society, it is easy to make money the god of your life. Everywhere you turn, you find individuals worshiping at the god of the almighty dollar. People may not think that they are worshiping at the alter of the greenback, but all they need to do is a quick evaluation of their life and they will quickly see just how dependant upon money they are and how they put God in the back corner.

In examining your life, do you feel you are heeding Paul�s direction to Christians to flee from the love of money? Do you feel that you have set a good example for others by demonstrating that you are willing to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience and meekness? You cannot serve two masters; you cannot serve both God and the greenback. Which one is going to control your life?

If you are pursuing righteousness, this means that you are conforming your heart and life to the divine law. If the love of money is controlling you, you are quick to make excuses for yourself as to why you can do things that are not necessarily pleasing in God�s sight.

If you are pursuing after godliness, this means that you are reverencing God�s character and laws. If the love of money is controlling you, you are more concerned with making money then you are at spending time getting to know who God even is.

If you are pursuing faith, this means that you are seeking to hear God and to do what HE says. If the love of money is controlling you, you are trying to keep up with the Jones and are more concerned with your status in this world that will someday perish.

If you are pursuing love, this means that you are placing God first in your life and that you are seeking to please HIM in whatever you do. If the love of money is controlling you, you are seeking to please yourself and are allowing money to feed your lusts.

If you are pursuing patience, this means that you submit to God�s will, cheerfully enduring, knowing that God�s timing is perfect. If the love of money is controlling you, you are not constrained but instead you take what you want when you want it.

If you are pursuing meekness, this means that you are attempting to be humble and to put God and others first. If the love of money is controlling you, you are proud of your accomplishments and take credit for things that God and others have done through you.

Serving the god of money will destroy your faith. While money is a tool that can be used to do much good, you must be careful to ensure that it does not destroy your faith. Seek to put God first in your life and to pursue after those things that are pleasing to HIM.

I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It is important to remember that contentment with what God has given you will save you from many sins. Paul reminded Timothy in verse six through eight of this chapter that godliness with contentment is great gain, that he brought nothing into this world and will take nothing out, and that with food and raiment be content. In verse nine, Paul reminded Timothy that the rich fall into many temptations.

The love of money can destroy your faith. God desires that you learn to demonstrate contentment in your life. You do not need to keep up with the Jones. God has a different plan for your life and material possessions should not be very high on your list. While you have a need for food and raiment, even Jesus tells us that we are not to worry about food and raiment because your Father up in heaven knows your needs and HE is able to take care of it.

If you do not have money and you have a need and God supernaturally provides for you, you will give glory to God and your faith will be increased. The time you spent on your knees praying to God for your needs will only strengthen your faith when you are out of the storm. However, if you have great wealth, when you have a need, you simply go and purchase what you perceive to be a need. You do not enjoy the fellowship with God over seeking HIS direction and provision regarding your life.

While wealth has some benefits, it has some great detriments to your faith. Wealth will cause you to look to yourself for your direction rather then looking to your Creator. Your faith is an essential element of your Christian walk. The love of money is the greatest hindrances to living a life pleasing to God. God desires you to be relying upon HIM rather then yourself.

One of the hardest times in a parent�s life is when their child reaches a stage where they would rather be with their friends then with the family. The child may be hanging around some individuals who do not have the same standards as the family and it will grieve the family that friends are taking priority in their lives. This is similar to how God feels about you when you allow money and possessions to get in-between your relationship with HIM. It grieves HIM that you are making decisions that are deteriorating your relationship with HIM and that HE no longer has priority in your life.

Your faith increases as you see the Lord�s direction in your life by daily provision. When you are constantly looking to God for your daily needs, you will have a close relationship with HIM and will not quickly yield to temptation. However, if you put money first in your life and allow it to drive you, you can quickly be led astray because your focus is no longer on God.

You need to learn to be content with what God has given you. Even if God has given you great possessions, you must learn to daily seek HIM for your direction. Do not allow money or possessions to control you. Paul tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil, money has caused many a good man to stumble in the faith. Do not be one of them.

I Timothy 5:11-12 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.

Paul is informing Timothy of a problem in the church where a widow would dedicate her services to the church vowing that she would not marry. While it was ok to accept the services of the older widows who were qualified, Timothy was not to accept the services of the younger widows. Paul had seen several younger widows make such a vow to the church that they would not marry and after the church took them in to their service, the widow remarried and caused great damage.

The widow caused great damage to herself because she could not keep her vow to God. She had excellent intentions of serving God for the rest of her life, however, when the trials came, the widow�s natural instinct towards a husband and children became too strong that she found herself unable to maintain her vow.

The widow also caused great damage in the church because here was an individual who was very active in the church serving God who is demonstrating to the entire church that a vow is not an important thing to keep. A vow to God should be kept at all costs, and now that this widow is not keeping her word, it is a bad testimony to all who see her.

Paul is instructing Timothy to not accept the services of the younger widows but instead to encourage them to find a new husband and to marry and have children. These younger widows who return to marriage will not put themselves into a position that they are going to give Satan an opportunity to cause great damage in the church. If the widow does leave the Lord, she will not be in such a high position that it causes great damage to the church, but if the widow proves herself faithful, in due time, her faithfulness will do great good.

It is important to understand that Paul actually encourages marriage. Paul has stated in this book how it is the family life of both a man and a woman that helps qualify the individual for the service of God. If a man or a woman does not produce positive results with their family, why should they be put in charge of the services of a church?

Paul is not saying in this passage that a younger widow is not capable of serving the church and remaining single the rest of her life. Anna is an excellent example of a young widow who remained faithful to the work of God. However, Anna is an exception, and Paul was informing Timothy that he knew of plenty of examples of widows who had actually forsaken the faith after they had vowed to serve God for the rest of their life.

I Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

This scripture reminds you of the obligation to provide for those who God puts in your care. Paul uses some strong words to bring the point across that if one does not take care of their own family they have denied the faith. You can probably hear someone say that the reason they did not have money to take care of their family was because they were giving to a missionary or they were not working as much as they could so that they could be at church ministering for the needs of others. However, Paul is extremely clear, your first obligation is to those who God places in your care.

You have an obligation to take care of the needs within your family. However, this does not mean that you have an obligation to ensure that you are keeping up with the Jones prior to your taking care of the needs of others. Those who God has placed in your care are first among your duties of which you must provide for.

One of the key elements of your faith is a demonstration of your love one to another. The world is looking at how you are treating those around you. If the world sees that you cannot even provide for your own family, then the world does not want any part of your faith. Why would someone desire to enter a religion that appears to require all your money and all your time?

In addition to how the world looks at your faith, your own family will be examining your faith. Why would your children desire to follow you in the faith if all they see is that they had to suffer a lack of provision because of the sacrifices of your time and money? Faith is to be alive and powerful, but if your own family does not see the power of faith because of your lack of provision, then your faith is worthless.

The demonstration of your faith must begin in the home. You need to learn first to live by faith with your daily provision. As the Lord provides and takes care of you then you can expand out and watch the Lord use you in many ways. If you cannot be faithful over the small things, why should God trust you to be faithful over large things?

Jesus condemned those who made a public showing of their fasting and prayers. Those who are spiritual for the praise of men will receive their reward from man. You are not to be seeking the praise of men; you are to be seeking the praise of God. This means that you do your basic duty so that God is glorified. God is glorified when you demonstrate your love for your family when you take care of their needs before you take on extra obligations by taking care of others needs.

The world is watching you to see if your faith is something that they desire to make their own. They are not only examining your walk with the Lord but they are also looking at your family to see if this faith that you proclaim to be life changing is really something that they desire to make their own. Christians who talk the talk but do not walk the walk do more to deter others from accepting the faith then anything else. This is why it is so important that you demonstrate your faith to the world and to your family by ensuring that you are following God�s priorities. Your faith is not just a doctrine; it is a way of life.

I Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Paul is instructing Timothy that his age should not be a limitation on his ability to lead the church. While some people may look down on Timothy because of his age, Paul told Timothy to simply be an example of how one should live. Even though Timothy was young, he could demonstrate the way a Christian should behave.

Samuel was a child, while Eli�s sons were committing abominations in the sight of the Lord; Samuel was living his life according to God�s rules and was an example in word.

Prior to killing Goliath, David served Saul with music. Saul loved David and David found favor in the sight of Saul because David was an example of good conduct in both his private and public life.

When Jesus feed the 5,000, he was able to do so because one young boy was willing to give up his lunch in order for others to eat. This lad was an example in love.

Daniel and his three friends refused to compromise their standards and it was evident to all that these young men had a different spirit about them.

Naaman the leper had a young maid who was an example in faith when she told her master that there was a man of God in Israel who could heal her masters.

Joseph was fairly young when Potiphar�s wife tried to have a martial relationship with him. Joseph was an example in purity to all today.

Paul understood that God uses youth to do great things for HIM. When Jesus was on the earth, he rebuked those who prohibited the little children from coming to HIM. Jesus taught his disciples that they needed to have the faith of a little child. While there is wisdom that comes from age, youth can still be an example and remind others of God�s perfect will. Just because Timothy was young it does not mean that he could not minister.

Regardless of your age, others are watching you and you are also to be an example to others on how to live for God. God is looking for those who will be willing to live for HIM and be an example to others. If you are not an example, why should the Lord expand your ministry? If you desire to be used of God, then you need to live what you preach even if it is in the privacy of your own home. As you live Godly behavior, it will become a part of you and God will be able to use you in ways you never imagined.

It is so important that you not only teach others how to live by faith but that you also are an example of how to live by faith. People hear words and they see actions, but of the two, the actions are going to have a greater impact upon their life. That is why testimonies are so powerful. You can preach all day that God will take care of your every need, but an example of how the Lord took care of you will be much more powerful. Is your life an example to others of how to live your life for the Lord? It does not matter your age, you are to be an example so that no one will stumble and fall short of the glory of God. Are you an example in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith and purity.

I Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

If someone were to look at the spiritual dipstick of your faith, what would it show? Would it show that you had no faith? Would it show that you had little faith? Would it show that you had great faith? Would you take your car to a mechanic who runs their car on no oil? You know that if a mechanic does not even properly take care of their own car, how can you trust them to take care of your car.

Paul is instructing Timothy in this passage that if Timothy desires to be a good minister, then Timothy must remind the brethren of the faith. Paul informs Timothy that he has the authority to remind the brethren of the faith because Timothy has already demonstrated that he has faith and good doctrine. Paul brought Timothy up in the words of faith and now is the time for Timothy to feed others just as he also was fed.

Timothy was not instructed to teach the brethren a new doctrine. He was simply told to put the brethren in remembrance. To put someone in remembrance means to remind them of something that they already know. It would be similar to going back and looking at a photo album or a journal that is over five years old. Your memory will be refreshed of things that you trivialized that you now see are important. So likewise, Timothy needed to remind the brethren of their faith. Timothy could do this by telling them how he was nourished in the faith and by reminding the brethren of specific examples of how God demonstrated to them personally that HE was alive and directing their lives.

Christians are quick to forget the little things that God has done to direct their steps. By reminding Christians of how God has directed their steps one day at a time, Timothy would be considered a good minister. Timothy did not need to go out and preach some new great doctrine in order to be a good minister, all Timothy needed to do was go back to the basics and ensure that the brethren were reminded of the faith.

When examining the importance of this scripture, the first thing that you must do is examine yourself. If someone were to look at your life, would they be able to say that you have attained great faith? If your answer to that question is no, then you need to start putting yourself in remembrance of the things God has done for you to increase your faith. If your answer is yes, other will see great faith in you, then the next question that you must answer is whether or not you are being a good minister in helping the brethren draw closer to God by assisting them in growing in their faith?

Faith is a basic element of your Christian walk. You cannot afford to be like the Israelites after they left Egypt. The Israelites were so self focused that they failed to see the daily provision, protection, direction, and correction that the Lord was providing. They in turn sinned against God because of their lack of faith and ended up wondering in the wilderness for 40 years. It is important that you keep in your focus the things that the Lord does so that when the trials come, you can have the assurance that God is with you. Remember what God has done for you and allow your faith to increase. As your faith increases, be quick to remind others of just how the Lord has directed their lives.

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Do not be surprised when you see individuals backslide from the faith. While you should not be surprised, you should definitely be grieved that someone who had the faith is seduced into departing from the faith. It is one thing for an individual who has not had the truth never to accept it; it is another thing all together for someone who had the truth to now depart from it.

Satan does not give up simply because you became a Christian. Satan understands that you once belonged to him because of your sin and he will do everything in his power to bring you back into his fold. Satan understands that one day he will be destroyed because of his sin. It is his goal to take as many with him as he possibly can. Satan has nothing to lose. Just because you are now a child of the King, in his mind, it does not make you off limits for him to destroy your effectiveness for God and cause you to depart from the faith. Instead, the closer your relationship with God, the more he desires to destroy you.

Satan is not to be trifled with; he is a powerful opponent. Satan understands that he is eventually going to be a loser. However, Satan is just like a cornered mountain lion. The mountain lion is not going to sit down and be captured. The mountain lion is going to be captured while it fights. The mountain lion is going to look for an opportunity to attack. Satan knows what is going to happen, Satan�s sin has made it so that he can never have eternal life in heaven. Satan understands his punishment and his whole purpose is to now cause as much grief to God as he can.

You understand that nothing is sacred with the enemies of God. Just because you are a child of God, it does not mean that you are free from temptations and trials. Satan is going to try to cause you to forsake your faith. Satan desires to cause you to lose sight of the power of God. Satan knows that God created you and that he gain possessions of the souls of men by causing Adam and Eve to sin in the garden. Satan knows that God purchased you back with the life of HIS Only Son. Satan feels that if he has taken you from God once, that it does not hurt to try to take you away again.

You must be vigilant to keep your faith. Paul warns Timothy in this passage that some will depart from the faith. You must learn to be like Job who endured great testing and was able to say, naked came I into the world and naked shall I return. Job refused to curse God and he refused to deny his trust in God. While you may not personally suffer like Job suffered, Satan is still going to put you through the trials in an attempt to cause you to fall short of the glory of God.

Paul has warned you that some will turn from the faith. You have studied God�s word and you understand that Satan is going to lose in the end. Now it is time for you to strengthen your faith so that when the storms of life blow, you will be in a position that you will not quickly be seduced. Do not be seduced by false doctrines. Do not be seduced by lies. Do not be seduced by creating higher standards then those that God demands. You have the truth. Give thanks to God that you have the truth and that through HIM you are more then capable of overcoming the attacks of Satan.

I Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

In order to be even qualified to be a deacon, the steps that are required ensure that the individual must have great boldness in the faith. Paul laid out so many qualifications that if one is truly qualified, the church should not have to wonder if this individual would lead them astray. Paul is basically saying that if a person met all of God�s qualifications, then he could predict with certainty the fruit that will be evident in this person�s life.

The world will know you by your fruit. Your life should be clear and convincing evidence before man that God is number one in your life. If you desire to lead others to draw closer to God, there should be evidence in your life of a boldness that you have in sharing with others the power of the living God in your life. If you do not have a natural boldness in sharing your faith with others, what makes you believe that you are qualified to assist others in drawing closer to God?

God does not have you living on this earth to see how much money you can make and spend upon yourself. God does not have you living on this earth to see how much fame and prestige you can obtain. One of the biggest purposes of your life is to draw glory to God, to cause the world to see that God is living and that they are accountable to HIM for every thought, action, and deed.

God desires that you live your life for HIM. HE has commanded you to let the light of your life shine and that you are not to hide it. If you do not have a boldness of preaching the gospel of Christ, then what business do you have in teaching others to do the will of God? If you want to be a leader, then you first must be a follower of Christ and must first demonstrate to God that you are a faithful soldier who has a track record of fulfilling the commands of Christ.

One indication that you have the boldness in the faith is that you do not fear man. Your life should be a beautiful illustration to others of an individual who fears God and is not afraid to tell others how they are failing to live up to God�s perfect standards. There is too much political correctness going on in the church today. Believers are not holding themselves accountable let alone holding their fellowman accountable. Sin is sin, and if you see a brother in sin, rather then beating around the bush, you should have the boldness to approach that believer and tell them were they are falling short. Samuel demonstrated great boldness in telling king Saul that his actions did not please the Lord, and Nathan sure did not beat around the bush when he confronted David about his sins of murder and adultery.

There are many qualifications for you to be a leader, and if you have met all those qualifications, then it will be evident in your life a boldness of faith. Until you have that boldness to put God first in your life and not fear what man will think or do to you, then you are not ready to lead others in the local church. Your daily walk with the Lord should be evident to all and should cause others to see and desire to follow your example. You cannot afford to hide your faith from the world. Your faith is what draws the world�s attention to the fact that there is a living God who they are accountable to today.

I Timothy 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Paul is still talking about those who desire to be leaders in the church. One of the requirements that Paul lists for men who desire to be leaders is that his wife also demonstrate her complete faith in God. It is not just a one-man show. God makes a husband and wife one, thus when a man is being examined to see if he qualifies to lead others in the church, the qualifications of the man�s wife are equally as important.

Jesus tells us that a house divided against it self cannot stand. If a man meets all the qualifications of being an elder yet his wife does not maintain the same standards, there are going to be issues that will arise in that family if they are not already obvious that will tarnish the effectiveness of the families ministry. The purpose of a deacon is to minister to others, not to be ministered to. If the husband and wife do not have the same level of faith, it is inevitable that the family relation will reach a point where it will need help thus resulting in not only a diminishing ministry, but also causing others to stumble when they look at this leader�s family life.

You have heard that one is not to be unequally yoked. While this scripture deals with marriages among believers and unbelievers, the principle can also be applied to Christians being married with different levels of faith and different purposes in life. God created marriage so that a husband and wife are one. As a single unit, they are a powerful team to work together to do the will of God. However, if a husband and wife are not equally yoked in their level of spiritual growth and purpose in life, while they may still be one in the eyes of God, they will not have an effective ministry.

In this passage, Paul gave six verses on the qualifications of a leader in the church. Of those six verses, two are spent upon his qualifications based upon his wife and his family. Paul understood it was not just about the man but his entire family that needed to be qualified. Scripture says that you shall know them by their fruit. That is exactly what Paul is telling you to do, look at the fruit of a man�s family in order to determine if he is worthy of a position of leadership.

It is possible that you would miss problems in a man�s life if all you did were to look at just his qualifications. That is why it is necessary to also look to see if he is equally yoked, has followed God�s law by being faithful to only one woman, and that his children demonstrate that he is raising them properly by how they act. When one begins to lead in the church, it is not just the one individual who is ministering but it is the entire family.

Life is not about what you can do. It is God who created the family unit. The family was not created by civil government, it was not created by the church, it was created by God from the very beginning. Adam was able to do his job by himself, but it was God who brought him a helpmate. Together they were to have dominion over the whole earth. You can minister to God on your own. However, if you are married, your spouse must demonstrate the same level of faith or else your ministry will not be very effective in the long run. Your faith and your spouse�s faith are important elements when it comes to your ability to serve God. If you desire to serve God, be faithful first at home.

I Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

Paul is speaking here about the qualifications of a deacon in the local church. One of the many qualifications is that the man must hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. There are many things of faith that you cannot understand. However, it is your duty as a Christian to believe in God regardless of whether it makes sense or not.

A deacon is to be a leader in the church. As such, if they cannot trust God in all things, how then are they qualified to lead others? Paul lays forth the requirement that if one desires to be a leader; then he first must be willing to take God for who HE claims to be. You cannot afford to doubt God. You cannot afford to be in confusion over what the Christian faith is all about. If you are going to lead others in the faith, then you must first demonstrate your ability to live what you are supposed to be teaching.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This means that a leader in the church will not be perfect. Nonetheless, the leader should be demonstrating their walk with the Lord. One cannot just talk the talk, but they must also walk the walk. It is one thing for a leader to get up and teach others about living their faith, but they must demonstrate to all that they not only can teach proper Christian living but that they can also live it.

What are the mysteries of the faith that you must demonstrate with a pure conscience before both God and man? Remember that faith is the things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. To determine what are some of the mysteries of the faith, you simply have to look at the scripture and see what things you hope for that you have not yet seen.

As a Christian, you know that Christ is preparing a place for you in heaven. You have not seen heaven, yet you believe there is a heaven. Christ also promised that HE would return. There are multiple promises by God throughout scripture that have yet to be fulfilled. While you may not fully understand all that God is going to do, you cannot demonstrate any doubt in the promises of God. Instead, you have an obligation to simply trust God and allow HIM to fully understand the mysteries of gospel in due time.

The word of God is very deep. The more you dig into scripture, the more God is able to reveal to you about HIS plan for your life and for HIS church. You must be diligent to learn what God has for you to understand. You cannot sit back and pretend to know what you are talking about if you have not taken the time to study the scriptures. If you desire to be used of God to touch the lives of others, then you must take hold of the promises of God and demonstrate your wiliness to believe even though you do not see.

There is always going to be things in scripture that you are just going to have to accept by faith. God desires to see you living by faith and as such, this is one of the many requirements of a leader. A leader must learn to live by faith and be an example to others of how they are to live by faith. Living by faith requires that you do things that do not always make sense. Living by faith requires that you trust God first and that you will allow HIM to make your paths clear later. Living by faith requires that you take the scriptures for what they say and you do not attempt to add or subtract from them.

I Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Starting in I Timothy 2:9, Paul is instructing women how they are to abide in the church. Paul instructs women to be modest, to learn in silence, and then not to teach or usurp authority over man. To explain this last instruction, Paul details how it was Eve who first transgressed in the Garden of Eden. The first half of this verse is relating back to verse 14 that is referring to one woman, Eve. Because of Eve�s sin, it became necessary for a Savior. God sent that Savior not through man, but through a woman. If Eve had never had children, there never would have been a Savior.

Paul had been talking about one woman, Eve, when he mentioned that woman was saved by childbearing. However, once he is finished with his explanation as to why women are not to usurp authority over the man, then he transitions back into a general commandment to all women. Paul then instructs women to live in faith, charity and holiness with sobriety.

This final general commandment is no different then what he had instructed all Christians in various passages. The commandment to Christians is that they are to live their life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This is no different for the women. Paul probably finishes this discussion with the general commandment so as to ensure that there is no confusion that the specific instruction does not violate the general commandment. In fact, the specific instruction is designed to enable women to better understand how they are to fulfill the general commandment.

Paul understood that it was important to give instruction to both the men and the women as to what was proper conduct for them during the worship of God. Paul took his teaching and went back to the basic foundation that Christians whether they are male or female have a duty to live in faith, love, purity with self control. However, because these terms are sometimes construed so broadly, Paul gave specific examples at how a woman can live her life pleasing to the Lord and still abide by these principles. This entire passage is similar to Jesus� teaching on adultery. Jesus took the general commandment of one not committing adultery and further explained that principle by stating that if one lusted in their heart, they were guilty of adultery.

You have a duty to live your life in faith, love, and purity with self-control. This sometimes means that you are required to do things out of deference for others. Yes, you may feel qualified to do something, but in order to live your life pleasing to God, you must defer to others. A Christian needs to understand that they are not living their lives for themselves, but they are living their life for the glory of God.

Living by faith is understanding God�s will for your life and living it. Sometimes you will have to do things that seem contrary to society today and even the belief of other Christians. However, you live by a higher standard. You must live your life by God�s standards, not by man�s standards. Just because others are doing it, it does not make their actions right in the eyes of God. You must be careful to live your life for God, live your life with self-control, putting God�s will first.

I Timothy 2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

God had separated Paul out to preach the gospel unto the Gentiles. God called Paul and Paul heeded God�s voice and obeyed. Paul understood that Christ was truth and as such, Paul could not lie to those he was called to minister too. It would do Paul no good to preach the gospel of Christ and misrepresent to others who Christ really is. If Paul lied, Satan would be quick to expose the lie and Paul�s ministry for Christ would be diminished. Paul desired to be used of God and as such, the truth was an important part of his ministry to the Gentiles.

Paul became a teacher to the Gentiles by simply following God�s direction for his life. God instructed Paul to teach and Paul did the will of God. Paul�s obedience to the will of God demonstrates Paul�s faith and trust in God. As Paul learned to hear God�s voice and obey, his ministry grew and Paul saw the Lord using him in ways that were beyond his comprehension. Paul became a teacher to the Gentiles because of his faith in God and because the truth needed to be shared with the Gentiles.

God allowed Paul to see the importance of the Gentiles being saved. Because of this truth that was revealed to Paul, Paul centered his ministry on the truth that God had given him. Paul also desired that he preach the truth of the gospel to the Jews but while Paul had that burden, it was not the door that God opened for Paul. Peter on the other hand while he understood that the Gentiles needed to receive the gospel, he was not burdened with the truth of preaching to the Gentiles. Peter instead was burdened to preach to the Jews. Both Peter and Paul were used of the Lord and they both followed the faith and did as God requested them. However, they had two different ministries because of the difference of the burden of truth that was laid upon their lives.

God does not give each Christian the same burden of truth. God does not give to each Christian the same burden of ministry. If God gave everyone a burden to be missionaries to one particular country, then who would be around to support all the missionaries, who would preach to the other tribes and nations, who would disciples believers in the local church. God gives different burdens of truth to each Christian. Paul�s burden was the truth that the Gentiles needed to hear the gospel of Christ.

What is the burden that God has laid on your heart? It is this burden that is designed to assist you in following God�s will for your life. By fulfilling your burden, you will find true peace. However, just because you are following God�s will and fulfilling your burden as given to you by God, it does not mean that life will be easy. Paul still faced persecution as he preached the gospel with the Gentiles. However, Paul had an inward peace because HE knew what God was requiring of HIM.

God has laid a burden upon your life. Seek HIM for ways that you can fulfill that burden. Allow HIM to lead you and guide you because you understand that if you do not fulfill that burden, you will lack the inward peace that passeth all understanding. God desires to use you, will you allow your faith to grow as you look unto HIM and do HIS will. Do the will of God in all faith and all truth.

I Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck;

You believe in God and have placed your trust in HIM. You listen to HIS voice and you seek to please HIM. However, you must be careful because your faith is constantly at war with the evil one. Satan does not want you to maintain your relationship with God and as such, he is doing all that he can to destroy your relationship with God.

Just because you believe in God, it does not mean that you are entitled to a life of smooth seas. In fact, because you have accepted Christ as the Master of your vessel, you can about guarantee that your faith will be tried and tested. The seas of life may be tumultuous but having a mutiny on board the ship of your life in the middle of the storm will not result in smoother sailing.

The Master understands the tumult and HE understands your abilities. HE has proven HIS ability to calm the storm and to keep you safe from yourself. You must stay in the boat and learn to hear the Master�s voice over the tumult should you desire to escape the trial you are facing. By listening to the Master, HE will guide you in the way you are to go so that you can safely navigate the seas of life and reach safely your final port, heaven.

When the storms of life hit you, do not yield to the temptation to abandon your faith and take control of your life. Mutiny in your life will result in shipwreck. Yes, you may be in control of your life, but what joy is there in being in control if you do not reach your destination and you destroy your life?

The Master of your life is wise and understands the seas. HE has faced these storms and safely navigated. You must trust the Master and listen to HIM. You cannot afford not to be listening to HIS voice during the storm. It is during the storm that so many attempt to take control and do it their own way because they cannot hear the Master. However, the storm needs to drive you closer to HIM and cause you to learn to hear the Master�s voice in spite of the storm.

Faith is not something that is easy to comprehend. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Having believed, it is just as important to continue to believe, as it was to make that initial commitment. Having made the commitment to put Christ as the Master of your life, you must be resolved to follow HIM and to not allow anything to distract you from your relationship with HIM. When you hold fast to the faith and maintain a good conscience before God and man, your life will be a dynamic testimony for HIM. Abandoning your faith will destroy you.

The storms of life will come if you are not facing them right now. Hold fast and stay committed to the journey that you begun. The same faith that caused you to start the journey needs to grow strong in order to enable you to maintain the course and finish the race set before you. Hold fast, your spiritual life depends upon it. Remember that the Master will not guide the ship into any storm that HE knows you are unable to handle. This storm can be sailed through and you will overcome by maintaining your course and listening to the Master. Head HIS voice, listen to HIM, and you shall reach your port.

I Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Paul attributes your ability to love and your ability to demonstrate your faith to Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ, it would be harder to demonstrate our love and our faith. The reason it would not be impossible is because God gave to us in the book of Hebrews, several individuals who demonstrated their faith prior to Jesus� life here on this earth.

God gave HIS only Son so that you might have faith and live your life for HIS purposes. God demonstrated ultimate love by sending Jesus to die for you. Jesus demonstrated ultimate love by laying down HIS life for your sin. Jesus died so that you might live your life full of faith and love. This is what is expected of you since the death of Jesus Christ.

God�s grace is abundant. In the next verse, Paul tells you that he was chief among sinners but that Christ forgave him and still used him. Your sins are a hindrance for you to live your life for God. Satan loves to remind you of your sins so that you become reluctant to demonstrate for faith and love to God. However, this is why Jesus came, so that you might have freedom from the bondage of Satan if you simply confess your sins before God and allow HIM to forgive you of all unrighteousness.

God desires that you live a blameless life just like HIS� Son. However, God knows that because of the sin of Adam and Eve, it is impossible for you to never sin; this is why God created a way that you can have freedom over Satan. Jesus demonstrated HIS faith and HIS love for us; now it is your obligation to God to demonstrate your appreciation for HIS grace by living your life according to HIS purposes.

God has given you the tools that you need to exercise your faith and to demonstrate your love. The question for you today is whether you are obeying HIS voice and doing HIS will. Are you living your life full of faith in such a matter that God is glorified by your actions? You have an obligation to live your life for HIM. God has given you so much, and yet all HE requires of you is to do HIS will for your life. If you had a loving boss who paid you a salary in six figures that asked you to do something simple during your normal working hours, you would not question HIS authority but would do as he requested. So to, God has given so much to you, you should be listening to HIS voice and be looking for opportunities to do HIS will.

God�s grace is sufficient for your life. Why don�t you demonstrate your love for the Lord by spending time with HIM in the Bible, in prayer, and in serving HIM? A young couple in love will demonstrate their love one for another by spending time with each other and by seeking out opportunities to please their partner. So to, you must demonstrate your love to God by spending time with HIS so that you know HIS will and can obey it.

God does not ask too much of you. Satan is going to do everything in his power to ensure that you do not do the will of God. You need to take the time to ensure that you understand God�s purpose for your life and that you live your life according to that purpose. God has done too much for you for you to just do what you want when you want. God�s grace is abundant; now use your second change for the glory of God.

I Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Paul ministered unto God not because he was such a great guy, but because the Lord opened the doors for Paul to minister. Paul could have attempted to minister unto God but if the Lord�s hand was not with him, he would quickly become discouraged and his ministry would have been fruitless.

Paul understood that it was God who enabled him to minister. Paul thanked God for allowing him to minister to others. Paul understood that in order for him to maximize his effectiveness for God, he had to hear God�s voice and follow HIS instruction. Paul desired to minister in Corinth, but for a period of time, he listened to God and simply mended tents with Aquila and Priscilla. When the time was right, God told Paul he could minister and the Lord opened the doors and blessed his ministry.

You cannot minister to God and enjoy success absent God�s direction and blessing. If you desire to be used of God in a mighty way, then you need to first demonstrate your faithfulness in small maters. As you demonstrate your faithfulness, God can continue to bless you and guide you into greater ministry. In addition to your faithfulness, you need to also demonstrate your recognition that it is God who opens the doors for you and not you yourself. Give credit to whom credit is due; all credit is due to God.

Paul demonstrated his faith and was faithful to do the will of God and he saw his ministry grow. Paul knew that his ministry on this earth was in the hands of God and that God could take it away at any time. Paul understanding where HIS ministry came from was quick to give credit to God and thank God for allowing him to serve HIM. Just because Paul was grateful, it does not mean his ministry prospered. Nonetheless, because Paul was grateful, he demonstrated his reliance upon God.

Do you desire to do more for God? Do you constantly ask the Lord to use you and enable you to do more for HIM? Do you look at individuals who are serving the Lord in a ministry similar to what you desire to do and envy what they are doing? Remember, God is in control. HE was the One who gave you the desires of your heart. God knows your desires and HE knows the perfect timing by which HE will release you to serve HIM.

You have an obligation to listen to God and to discern HIS direction for your life. Your demonstration of faith in listening and obeying will allow God to enable you to do even more for HIM. God is looking for those individuals who will be faithful. Is God going to use you? Have you demonstrated your faithfulness so that HE can use you?

To desire to do the will of God should be every Christian�s goal. To be faithful and fulfill the will of God should be evident in every believer. To see gratefulness in the heart of every believer for the work that God enables them to do should be evident among the brethren. Your faith is on trial for the entire world to see. Paul passed the test and was used mightily for the Lord. Paul did not possess any special gift other then the relentless desire to please God by fulfilling HIS will for his life. You too should be looking for opportunities to serve God and upon seeing those opportunities, give thanks to God.

I Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

Paul is reminding Timothy that if he trace the law to it root, he would find love as the foundation. Jesus told us when asked what the greatest commandment was that we are to love the Lord with all our heart and the second commandment is to love our neighbor as ourself. We learn from John 3:16 that the whole foundation of the salvation message begins with God�s love for us.

Timothy had served with Paul and thus was pretty knowledgeable on Paul�s teaching of the importance of love in the church. In this passage in addition to love, there are two other things other then love that are a purpose of the law. The second purpose of the law is so that we can maintain a good conscience and the third purpose is so that our faith is not compromised.

As for a good conscience, as we obey the law, this enables us to worship God and have fellowship one with another not fearing the consequences of our actions. When one sins, they have a guilty heart and they are not free to openly fellowship with others because sin has a way of destroying not only your fellowship with God but with other Christians. When you violate the law, the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin and Satan is working on you to try to cover up your violation so that no one knows of your wrong.

The law is also designed to ensure that your faith is not compromised. No one likes a hypocrite. In fact, the world is watching you to see if there are any areas of your life that do not match up to the high standards that you propound. The world does not mind if someone who does not hold high standards does not live up to high standards, but it does have a problem when someone purports to live by a higher standard and then fails to live up to that high standard.

When you live according to the law, you are living your life pleasing to the Lord. Your testimony is uncompromised, you have a clear conscience, and you are demonstrating to the world the love of God. You cannot afford to be a fake Christian. In the world that you live in today, they are quick to pick up if you can only talk the talk but not walk the walk. It does not matter if you have been going to church your entire life and you know the meaning of all theological terms if your life is not a demonstration of the power of God in your life. The world sees your love for them and the world sees the demonstrations of your faith.

Just as one of the purposes of the church is edify the members, so also the purpose of the law is to demonstrate to the world the love of God and their need for a savior. The law is not only designed for the sinner but also for the saint. The law is your guide to maintaining a good conscience before both God and man. The law is your tool to ensure that when the world looks at you, there is nothing that they can see that hinders your testimony or the power of your faith. You should live your life pleasing to the Lord. God is placing people in your life that you can touch. However, you have a duty to God to follow HIS law so that your faith is uncompromised and so that when the world looks at you they do not see anything that causes them to reject the truth that you demonstrate.

I Timothy 1:3-4 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Timothy was given a charge by Paul to work with the church at Ephesus. Timothy had several responsibilities but one task that he was assigned was to ensure that no other doctrine was preached. Timothy was to be vigilant in watching that the gospel was preserved and that no strange doctrine crept into the church.

Timothy was also to watch to ensure that truth was taught rather then fables. While legends make good stories, Timothy was to ensure that these legends were not grasped as truth by the church. It appears that the church also was very concerned with who their ancestors were. However, what was important for the church to understand was that they had a new life in Christ Jesus and who their great-great-great-grandmother twice removed was has no impact upon their destination for eternity. Paul saw that the genealogy topic simply created more questions then it brought answers.

Paul understood that the gospel has a simple truth. Paul encouraged Timothy to keep the churches focus on godly edification that is a result of their faith. Timothy�s job was to help the church remember its purpose and not to be distracted by false teaching, legends, and things that no longer were applicable.

Give a small child a task to clean their bedroom and the child if not closely supervised will be easily distracted. Yes, they may get a few toys put away, but soon they will come to a toy and all they will be able to think about is playing with that particular toy. However, if the task is to clean the room, then someone needs to stay with the small child and keep reminding them of what their responsibilities are so that they can stay on task and please their parents.

In a way, Timothy was pulling babysitting duties. He was watching over a baby church that had shown a tendency to be easily distracted. However, while Timothy may have been in a position of watching and correcting the church of Ephesus, it was a job that needed to be done so as to assist the church in establishing itself in its new life for God. This was not a position that Timothy had to hold for a long period of time, but was a job he was assigned so that Paul could be free to preach the gospel around the world. It was Timothy�s job to ensure that the newborn church was not distracted from their faith.

Satan is cleaver and has many fancy ways of distracting the believers. You need to be vigilant to ensure that Satan does not distract you from the truth with partial truths that sound good to the ears but in the end leads to destruction.

One of the purposes of the church is to edify the believers in the faith. As a Christian, you have a responsibility before God to encourage others in the truth and to increase in the faith. This means that you need to be watchful to ensure that Satan is not able to distract you from the faith by presenting false doctrines that while they sound true, have no basis in scripture. Focus on the truth and preserve your faith.

I Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Timothy was not Paul�s biological son but Paul treated him as a son. Paul treated Timothy as a son because through Paul�s ministry, he led Timothy to the Lord. Paul did not simply lead Timothy to the Lord and then go on his way, but instead, Paul invested time and energy into the life of Timothy, disciplining him to enable Timothy to draw closer to God.

As Timothy drew closer to the Lord, his faith grew and Timothy was able to minister for God apart from Paul. Paul had properly trained Timothy in the faith so that when Timothy matured, he did not depart from the faith. Paul led many to the Lord but he did not treat them all the same way he treated Timothy. Paul saw something special in Timothy and he thus cultivated a father son relationship with him so as to be in the position to work with Timothy.

Just as a parent is responsible for the development and maturing of their child, so to did Paul take spiritual responsibility for the development of Timothy. Paul had no obligation other then the prompting of the Holy Spirit to spiritually adopt Timothy, but once Paul did take Timothy under his wings, Paul had an obligation to work with Timothy to spiritually train him so that he would be prepared to serve the Lord long after he departed from the presence of Paul.

A good parent understands that their children do not live with them the rest of their life. They understand that there is going to come a day when they will release their child into the world to fulfill their own purpose in life. A parent�s duty is to train up that child so that when the child is released, the child will have the capabilities of fulfilling their purpose. Paul did not take Timothy as a spiritual son to keep as a helper for his ministry for the rest of his life. Paul did receive some benefit in having Timothy as a fellow laborer but Paul�s purpose was to train Timothy to eventually release HIM.

Paul was always looking for individuals that he could disciple so that they could continue the work. Aquila and Priscilla are another good example of Paul disciplining someone and preparing them for future ministry. Paul spent a period of time mending tents with Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. We know from scripture that Aquila and Priscilla continued to serve the Lord for many years and that they not only hosted the Church in their house but that they also had an active part in disciplining other believers.

The body of Christ has many parts. Some are commissioned by God to bring many to salvation; others are responsible for taking the newborn Christians and working with them to assist them in their spiritual walk so that they can become productive members of the body of Christ.

You have a duty to God to fulfill HIS purpose for your life. However, while you are fulfilling your purpose in life, part of your responsibility to God is to help develop the next spiritual generation. You need to be looking for opportunities to work with others so that the church will grow and your freedom to worship God will not be lost.