1 Timothy 1:1–2
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Focused Thinking:
Who is Timothy?
My true child in the faith.
What is Paul’s heart toward Timothy?
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Do you feel the level of respect and love that Paul has for Timothy?
- Paul has invested his life in many people but not many people have respond as faithfully as Timothy.
- I can’t think of a stronger expression of respect and love than “my true child in the faith.”
What will parents do for their children?
- Anything!
- That was Paul’s level of commitment to Timothy.
- First and Second Timothy are an expression of Paul’s love, respect, and commitment to Timothy.
- Paul lived for Christ and and He lived for Timothy and others to live for Christ.
Personal Application:
Who are my true children in the faith?
I’ve had people before Highpoint, but I think my true children in the faith have and will continue to come through Highpoint since I believe it will be my life-long ministry. There are people that I hope and pray that I will influence for a lifetime. There are people that I’ve mentored formally and there are others I’ve mentored informally, but I need to be more diligent and specific to develop young men. I need to write my priority time curriculum and develop young men in the Word and in leadership.
- Andy Savage and Jason Long are Timothys who’ve become peers.
- Byron Dowdell and Jeff Rosenblum are informal Timothys. I should do something more structured with them.
- I need to put more time and energy into Bob Willumsen, Erick Martin and Josh Maze as a Timothys.
- I need to put more time and energy into Chris Harris as a Timothy.
There are others but for the sake of time I must stop here.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, I feel this the most when I see a “Going Public” story. Please cause the seed of all these Timothys to fall on good soil. Please give us the ability to mentor and disciple many of the fatherless children at Highpoint. Please give us the leaders, resources and community to help these kids persevere through adversity and to come out leaders on the other side. Father, use their stories today to ignite a movement of outreach and discipleship. Use their stories today to bring others to Christ. Father, cause the wind of your Holy Spirit to blow throughout our church. Father, grow our church and give us the ability to truly change this city. We want to see you be the God of this city. Please give us the vision and the faith to obey that vision. Father, glorify yourself through this church.
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