Church is Messy: 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 5:1-16

While the first half of 1 Timothy 5 is often viewed as a tutorial on caring for widows, this week Rick and Svea discuss what may be surprising themes this section is dripping with: leadership in challenging situations and what confrontation in the way of Jesus looks like.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Intro.
• 01:03 Svea: I’ve always read the chapter from a widow’s perspective.
• 04:39 Surprised by the biblical confrontation and leadership themes in 1 Timothy 5.
• 08:49 What kind of disposition will help us to navigate and engage with change in our lives?
• 10:00 The goal of confrontation is to save a relationship not to sever a relationship.
• 13:11 What might it look like to truly live out seeing others as our mothers and fathers or brothers and sisters (as in the opening verses of chapter 5) - especially in conflict?
• 18:37 Don’t view others as a burden but care for them and see the far-reaching impact of that decision: safety in community.
• 23:19 In the way of Jesus are we easy to confront and hard to offend? Being defined by Jesus, not our ideas and performance.
• 27:08 How might we have encouraged Timothy if we had been a part of the Ephesian church?

In this episode, Pastors Rick Henderson and Svea Merry discuss 1 Timothy 4 and the issues of church leadership, reliance on the Spirit vs our conscience, understanding spiritual growth, and primary and second issues of Christianity. 

• 00:27 Intro - Recap of the series, intro to 1 Timothy 4, and transitioning from 1 Timothy 3
• 01:28 If people watch us progress in our faith, relationships, or leadership, they will see us changing from one way to another. 
• 03:26 1 Timothy 3 has qualifications for church leaders, but how do we handle growth while balancing minimum requirements for leadership? 
• 08:31 If no one is perfect and every leader is still progressing, like Timothy, then how can we determine when someone is ready to lead? 
• 10:57 Some studies show that, statistically, men apply for jobs that they expect to grow into, while women often don't apply if they don't meet every single qualifications. 
• 17:26 Timothy was called to leadership and empowered by the Spirit, not his own qualifications. Similarly, we should rely on God to support us in all we do as we invest ourselves.
• 21:50 Discussion of the difference between our conscience and the Spirit, and the role of Scripture, prayer, and community in these things.
• 25:20 We have some older code in us that doesn't check out. Ref. Start Wars: Return of the Jedi scene. How do we recognize and deal with old code in us?
• 29:36 Q&A time: answering listeners' questions: 1 Corinthians 11, female head coverings, avoiding instruments, etc. 
• 30:44 What are the differences between Orthodoxy and salvation? What about primary issues or secondary issues? And, Rick refers to a clip from Alistair Begg on "The Man on the Middle Cross"
• 35:57 Discussion of the desire for certainty instead of clarity and the problems it can cause. 
• 40:54 Ending with prayer that God will make us more like Jesus as our church addresses these topics in 1 Timothy. 

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 3

In this discussion on 1 Timothy 3, Rick and Svea answer your questions about our attitudes toward leaders who taught us something we now disagree with, the interpretation that is inherently connected to Bible translation, specific words and phrases in 1 Timothy 3, and leaning into our own shortcomings as we look at the qualifications of leaders.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Intro.
• 01:33 Rick's most interesting things from 1 Timothy in order: understanding the gospel, studying the Bible for all it's worth, and then men and women in leadership
• 03:18 How can we handle the pastors and leaders who taught us the Gospel and the Word if we now disagree with them? 
• 09:08 What's the difference between false teachers and people who get something wrong about Scripture? If a pastor is wrong about something in Scripture are they a false teacher?
• 11:32 Fear-mongering with Scriptural perspectives: many of us were instilled with fear of any disagreement over Scripture.
• 14:09 What do we do with Bible translation committees who provide translations with a specific doctrine in mind? 
• 16:36 Bible translation and interpretation are inherently connected.
• 18:37 How do we pick a Bible translation? First, pick one you can read and understand. 
• 22:30 Different benefits of paraphrase, thought-for-thought, and word-for-word translations. The goal is to "discern the meaning rather than the equivalent word."
• 23:37 How do we interpret the usage of "wife" and "woman" in 1 Timothy 3.
• 26:30 Is there a chance that 1 Timothy intended to politely address a specific scenario where church leaders' wives were disrupting the church's ministry?
• 28:36 Pastor Rick discusses the context of home life in the context of 1 Timothy. 
• 34:38 Discussion of "one-women man," divorce, widows, and singleness.
• 41:27 Leaning into our shortcomings and shortcomings in following Jesus: authority, identity, and activity.

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 2:11-15

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:11-15. Rick and Svea dive into the differences of interpretation, a brief history that brought us to this discussion, and a recognition that men and women are different.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Intro.
• 01:43 Context: 1 Timothy 2:11-15.
• 03:47 Navigating differences of interpretation.
• 10:19 The Bible IS clear on the essentials we must agree on.
• 13:08 Do research.
• 18:20 Punched in the brain the "The Question."
• 20:23 How has this issue become so enmeshed with liberalism and feminism?
• 23:05 A brief history: complementarianism.
• 24:27 A brief history: soldiers coming home after WWII - America and Europe diverged.
• 27:15 A brief history: 50s, 60s, & 70s: youth culture, a major cultural shakeup.
• 29:56 A brief history: mainline Protestants, Fundamentalists, and Neo Evangelicals.
• 36:28 A brief history: merging of ideas and becoming too simplistic - liberal and conservative.
• 39:39 Holding up Scripture and being more like Jesus.
• 44:51 A First-century problem: the gospel's reputation was on the line.
• 48:00 There IS a difference between men and women.
• 50:48 Titus: Men and women are not interchangeable, but both are indispensable.

1 Timothy Message Series

1 Timothy Chapter 2:1-10

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 2:1-10. Rick and Svea tackle embracing humility and mutual submission and the far-reaching implications of the gospel for men and women.

Additional Resources
https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Welcome and Introduction.
• 01:00 The challenge and conviction about not praying for those in authority.
• 03:10 How does praying for those in authority play out?
• 04:37 Embracing humility and submission "resets" and recalibrates us.
• 06:31 What does it look like to pray with thanksgiving for those who are trying to do away with a godly way of life?
• 09:55 Practical ways to model humility and submission.
• 10:31 Our conscience and the Holy Spirit are not the same.
• 20:38 Gospel Fluency.
• 22:56 The implications of the gospel: Men and women in 1 Timothy 2:8-10
• 29:52 Using verses 1-10 as a mirror of self-examination as we move into verses 11 and following.

1 Timothy Message Series
1 Timothy Chapter 1

Join us for an in-depth discussion on 1 Timothy 1. Rick and Svea dig into living the gospel, dealing with false teaching, and our tendencies to add to or subtract from Scripture.

Additional Resources
https://autumnridge.church/1-timothy/

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 00:00 Welcome and introduction.
• 01:56 1 Timothy Series and the thesis: "We teach what we know but reproduce who we are."
• 03:15 Purpose and context of 1 Timothy and its overarching message of living the gospel.
• 06:56 What is the ice cream, ketchup, and mustard gospel?
• 09:34 Paul instructed Timothy on standing up to false teachers in Ephesus. How does this apply to us?
• 14:12 Does calling out false teachers apply to situations outside the Church?
• 17:03 We are "pilgrims" and we are responsible TO others, not responsible FOR others, like ambassadors.
• 18:23 Tendencies and vulnerabilities of adding or removing commands from Scripture.
• 19:56 How to collaborate on self-awareness and gospel accuracy.
• 23:12 Discussion of "I'll never be more disappointed in you than I am in myself," and humility, shame, or self-condemnation. 
• 31:30 Should we just overlook sin instead of addressing it? Why not?

Today Rick and Svea share the studio with Pastor Otis Hall. In the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:1-9), they discuss shifting the focus to looking for the desired result: a good harvest,  not just from the perspective of sowing the seed.

NOTE: This is the last episode of 2023. Rick and Svea will be back behind the microphones in January 2024 for a new series, Devoted.

Message Scripture Passages:
Mathew 9:35-38; Mathew 13:1-9; Mathew 13:18-23

Topics Discussed Today:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:14 Otis’s background in plant science and molecular genetics--pre-ministry
• 02:04 Otis’s long-term experience of being called into ministry
• 03:16 Background of Otis’s sermon, Matthew 9 and Jesus’s prayer for “workers” for the harvest, and Matthew 13 with the parable of the sower.
• 09:41 How did Jesus model addressing people’s needs prior to sharing the Gospel?
• 10:46 What about sharing the Gospel apart from loving service? Or, “Just share the Word.”
• 14:53 How to practically incorporate service and love while sharing the Gospel?
• 28:03 So what do we actually do? How can members of our congregation engage?

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it. 

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.    

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.  

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

• A church may be strongest when it’s weak.
• It’s possible for a church to be physically rich but spiritually bankrupt.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:14-22

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:48 Lukewarm coffee and lukewarm churches.
• 02:26 What does "lukewarm" mean in the letter to Laodicea? 
• 06:15 History of Laodicea with hot springs, cold water streams, and financial wealth.
• 07:46 What does this context and history suggest about Jesus's message here?
• 14:27 Svea's story of trusting Jesus when learning to ski as a kid.
• 18:51 Self-reliance and competency in spiritual matters.
• 20:08 Discussion of Jesus's pace in dealing with people--efficient, quick, slow, or something else?
• 25:52 How could Autumn Ridge Church learn from and apply the messages in this and the other letters to churches in Revelation?

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it. 

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.    

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.  

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

• A church may be strongest when it's weak.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:7-13

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:53 Additional discussion from last episode on Sardis: how do we know if our church is alive?
• 04:31 God is committed to making us more like Jesus. What are the signs of the Spirit in us?
• 09:36 Is it good for churches to have non-believers among them?
• 12:50 Responding to these letters individually and collectively. 
• 14:14 Engaging in serving others individually and collectively.
• 18:11 Pastoral moment on not just knowing the truth but also submitting to it.
• 20:14 Rick's experience of gaining social standing in the community and the challenges it brought in his own life.
• 23:38 What do we do when our own perspectives get in the way of success in following Jesus?
• 28:22 Looking at love, purpose, and unity as key themes in Jesus's seven letters.
• 30:22 Testing of character and gaining clarity on our spiritual health is a gift of Jesus.
• 34:51 Jesus' description of himself in letter to Philadelphia, he claims to be God but then also talks about "his God". How do we understand these ideas?
• 39:31 Our goal is for people to say, "Look at what God did in and through this church."

So far in this series, we’ve looked at the unexpected messages to four churches in modern-day Turkey.

UNEXPECTED MESSAGE:

• It’s better to have no church than an unloving church.

• It’s better to let a church suffer than to prevent it. 

• It’s possible for a church to stand up for Jesus while standing against Jesus.    

• It’s possible for a church to wrongly value staying together over staying faithful.  

• It’s possible for everyone but Jesus to be convinced that a church is alive and well.

Message Scripture Passage:
Revelation 3:1-6

Series Thesis:
KNOWING the truth doesn’t change anything. SUBMITTING to the truth changes everything.

Topics Discussed Today:

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:00 Overview of the church in Sardis: unnoticed, irrelevant.
• 01:45 The church in Sardis started strong but might have become routine.
• 03:37 What does it take to avoid lukewarm faith.
• 05:31 Usage of “woke” in Scripture compared to current cultural usage.
• 11:38 What is Jesus looking for in a healthy church?
• 13:42 What is the heartbeat of believers and the Church?
• 15:17 Adoption, repentance, and the certainty of salvation in Jesus.
• 18:56 Jesus knew us and our future even before we believed in him.
• 21:40 God is gentle and kind to believers, even in discipline and rebuke.
• 25:04 Is the Church for believers or non-believers? Or someone else?
• 28:27 “The gravitational pull to be for ourselves is so strong.” Read 2 Corinthians 5 for the fix.
• 30:30 What are three markers of a healthy church?