HOW TO LIVE IN GOD’S FAMILY
1 Timothy #1
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
How to Live Together as God’s Family, the Church
(1 Timothy 3:15, NLT) “If I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
“Serve Christ; back Him; let His cause be your cause; give not an hair-breadth of truth away, for it is not yours but God’s.” –Samuel Rutherford
Guard the Gospel and Love Christ’s Church
(1 Timothy 1:1–11, NLT) “This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope. I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently. We know that the law is good when used correctly. For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.”
Biblical Preaching is Anchored Love
(1 Timothy 1:5–6a, NLT) “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point.”
1. Love from a pure heart
2. Love from a clear conscience
3. Love from a genuine faith
(Luke 7:47, NLT) “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
(Song of Solomon 8:6, NKJV) “For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.”
(Romans 13:10, NLT) “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”
(Galatians 2:20, NLT) “I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
1. Encourage one another
2. Expect from others what you expect of yourself
3. Be patient as you disciple and mentor
4. Be aware of how circumstances can change expectations
5. Be clear and concise
6. Acknowledge what others accomplish
False Teachers will corrupt the Scriptures to make them Culturally Correct
1. Teach what is wrong
(1 Timothy 1:3, NLT) “Stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth.”
2. Engage in trivial but destructive and divisive teachings
(1 Timothy 1:4, NLT) “Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees.”
3. Are more interested in controversy than the Gospel
(1 Timothy 1:4, NLT) “These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.”
4. Turn away from the presence of God to meaningless talk
(1 Timothy 1:6, NLT) “They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions.”
5. Desire position and prestige but have nothing of value to teach
(1 Timothy 1:7, NLT) “They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.”
6. Set the Law and the Gospel against each other
(1 Timothy 1:8–11, NLT) “We know that the law is good when used correctly. For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.”
The Bible’s urgency here is pastoral care and protection of God’s family
When truth is abandoned, confusion will fill the vacuum
“Moral collapse follows upon spiritual collapse.” –C.S. Lewis
God will use my life story
(1 Timothy 1:12–17, NLT) “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”
1. Grace rewrites our past
“God had mercy on me…” (verse 13)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” and I am the worst of them all.” (verse 15)
“God had mercy on me.” (verse 16)
2. Grace reshapes our present
“Christ Jesus our Lord,, who has given me strength to do his work.” (verse 12)
“Our Lord … filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.” (verse 14)
3. Grace redirects our future
“He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people.” (verses 12-13)
4. We glorify God when we share His grace
“Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.” (verse 14)
“So that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (verse 16)
My Life Should be Lived in Constant Praise of God!
(1 Timothy 1:17, NLT) “All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”
1. He is the eternal King
2. He transcends time
3. He cannot die
4. He is invisible
5. He alone is God
O Worship the King All Glorious Above
And Gratefully Sing His Power and Love
Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in Splendor and Girded with Praise
A passionate follower of Christ has a passion not for safety, but for souls.
“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” –C.T Studd
(1 Timothy 1:18–20, NLT) “Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.”
1. A pastor is not combative, but his ministry includes combat, or spiritual warfare
2. Faith and a clear conscience are a pastor’s armor
3. A pastor must be faithful to discipline those who deliberately depart from the truth of Gospel for the sake of those who depart from the faith and the Church