Scripture: I Timothy 3:14-15

C.I.:, God's Family and Its Members

I Timothy was written so that we might learn how to “do church” God's way (Scripture Reading). - In the first chapter we learned about our message. – Today we will look at some of the responsibilities of our members

I. Responsibilities of Godly Men & Women God's Family, (I Timothy 2)

A. Godly Men and Prayer, (vs. 1-8)

1.V alue & varieties of prayer, ( v. 1 ), “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties & prayers, petitions & thanksgivings be made.”
a. VALUE: Prayer must be a priority for the household of God.
1) As Jesus said, ( Lk. 19:46 ) , “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer.”
2) God commands us to make prayer a priority – ( quote I Thess. 5:17 ), “Pray without ceasing.”
3) How much of a priority is prayer in our/your life?! – Why not start today!!!

b. VARIETY: “Prayer” = a general word for any conversation with God.
1) “Entreaties” = to beg/plead, ( Matt. 6:11 ), “Give us this day our daily bread.”
2) “Petitions” = submitting a request to a king – ( Matt. 26:39 ), “My Father, if possible, let this….”
3 ) “Thanksgivings” = gratitude for everything coming from God, ( Rom. 8:28, Jms. 1:2-4 ).

2. The people & purpose of prayer, ( vs. 1c-7 ).
a. People of prayer, “…be made on behalf of all men, for kings and for all who are in authority….”
1) “All men” = God loves all men ( Jn. 3:16 ) – and He is Lord over all, ( Matt. 28:18 ).
2) “Kings & all in authority” = While these have no spiritual authority – they do have physical.
1) ( Rom. 13:1 ), “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. – For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist are established by God.”
2) Its why Jesus said to Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me…,” ( Jn. 19:11 ).
3) So today, God wants us to pray for everyone .

b. Purpose of prayer.
1) For Ourselves, “…in order that we may lead a tranquil & quiet life in all godliness & dignity,” ( v. 2 ).
a) “Tranquil” = the presence of an inner calm (due to a right relationship with God)..
b) “Quiet” = The absence of any outer disturbance (i.e., why we pray for our leaders).
3) For Others, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, - who desires all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth,” ( vs. 3-4 ).
a) God wants “all to be saved” ( v. 4 ) – since Jesus is “a ransom for all,” ( v. 6 ).
b) Thus we must pray for… “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore
entreat [beg…] the Lord of harvest to send out laborers into His harvest,” ( Lk. 10:2 ).
c) Prayer must first change us – i.e., we become the answer, ( Matt. 28:19a, 20 ).

3. Attitude of prayer, ( v. 8 )
a. “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension,” ( v. 8 ).
1) “Men” = anqropos (anthropos = mankind, vs. 1, 4 ), aner (aner = males, v. 8 ); = men pray!
2) “Holy hands” = right with God ( Jms. 4:8 ); “ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. –
Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts.”
3) “Without wrath or dissension” = right w/others, ( I Pt. 3:7 ), “Husbands…, grant your wives
honor as a fellow… that your prayers may not be hindered.”

B. Godly Women, (vs. 9-15)

1. Her responsibilities , ( vs. 9-11 )
a. In external matters, ( vs. 9-10 ), “I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly &
discreetly, not with braided hair gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by good works, as befits a woman
making a claim to godliness.”
1) God is not forbidding the wearing of jewelry or nice clothes, ( I Pt. 3:3-4 ), “Do not let your
adornment be merely external, braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses , but let it
be the hidden person of the heart, - with the imperishable quality of a gentle & quiet spirit….”
2) But the use of external beauty as a substitute for internal beauty (i.e., godliness ) – is wrong.
3) Don't let the only thing that people notice about you – be the way that you dress!!!

b. In internal matters, ( v. 11 ), “Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness .”
1) “Submission” (from within); “Subjection” (from without), ( Eph. 5:22 ), “Be subject to one
another in the fear of Christ.”
2) For in matters of salvation, all are equal, ( Gal. 3:28 ), “There is neither Jew nor Gentile….”

2. Her restrictions , ( vs. 12-14 )
a. The Rule, ( v. 12 ), “I do not all a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
1) He is not saying this is a “cultural-thing,” i.e., “Women of that day were treated as chattel.”
a) ( Acts 16:14-15 ), “…Lydia, a seller of purple from Thyatira… stay at my house.”
b) ( Acts 17:4 ), “…some were persuaded to join Paul and Silas, - along with a large number of
God-fearing Greeks, and a number of the leading women .”
c) Remember, this is talking about God's people together. – He is not saying a woman
can't be a leader in business, or politics (i.e., in the secular realm).

b. The Reasons, ( vs. 12-14 )
1) The fact of the original creation, ( v. 13 ), “For it was Adam who was created first, then Eve .”
a) God could have created men & women simultaneously – but He chose not to.
b) Like water-rights along the Colorado River, “First in time is first in line!”
2) The fact of the original corruption, ( v. 14 ), “It was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman
being quite deceived, fell into transgression.”- i.e., when the woman took a leadership role.
a) This is a consequence of the woman taking the lead – in dealing with Satan.
b) So as a consequence of the sin in the Garden – God no longer allows co-leadership!

3. Her Redemption , ( v. 15 )
a. “Women shall be preserved through the bearing of children – if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with
self-restraint.”
1) Therefore, women have a vital role which a man simply cannot usurp (rearing children!!!).
2) “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”
3) Even with this responsibility – she must still “continue” in qualities God wants in His family!

CONCLUSION:

1. Review main points
2. Remember, God wants everyone saved (but on His terms). – Quote Matt. 28:19-20