1 Timothy - How You Ought to Behave Yourself in Church

Chapters

1 "...The law is not made for a righteous man..." (v9)
2 Prayer is first of all.
3 Supervisors and errand boys must be blameless.
4 Don't pay attention to old wives tales.
5 Treat each other like a family.
6 Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Summary

We hear about how we ought to behave in the Church. We hear about good and bad teaching, and about the purpose of the law. We hear how prayer should be "first of all". We hear how women should be in subjection, and how men should supervise and run errands. We hear how to treat each other like a family, and how to take care of widows. We're warned to flee the love of money.

So how does this stuff practically apply to your lives today? Maybe more than you think. What does "in the house of God" mean? I don't think it's just about the "Pastors" and "staff" for a couple of hours on Sunday morning in a special building. We're all called to participate everywhere, 24/7, because we are the house of God!

Meaning

Chapter 2 sticks out, especially verse 8.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

In the Lord's house, of course prayer is supposed to be first of all, because the Lord's house is supposed to be a house of prayer for all people.

But you might ask where we ought to worship. Your parents might have worshipped the Lord in certain places, and Bible teachers might say a different special place is where men ought to worship. What does the Lord say? Where is the Church!? Well, to find where the Church is, let's remember what the Church is. Is it a hand-made building in this world?

Isn't it ourselves, God's Spiritual house? So where should we pray? "I will therefore that men pray every where..." (en pas topos.) Now that's awesome.

Application

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;

I usually pray before I go out and preach the gospel. One time I didn't. I wondered why it seemed to be going so badly. When I read this verse, I finally decided to go back and pray, and then come out and preach the gospel again. I'm going to make prayer first.