Small Group Guide

“The Pursuit of the Church”

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Message Summary

Throughout the book of 1 Timothy, Paul admonishes Timothy to ensure that sound doctrine is taught at the church at Ephesus. The lack of sound doctrine was not only theologically dangerous; it was dangerous for gospel clarity to the surrounding community since the behavior among believers did not reflect godliness. Because the church was disengaged from the Word of God, a lack of peace erupted, causing strife in relationship. Furthermore, the church’s lack of contentment in material possessions drove them to love money, sending people into idolatry and chasing after that which could never satisfy but only destroy.

Discussion & Application Questions

After briefly reviewing the message summary, use these questions to further examine the sermon and to discuss how these truths apply to daily life, so we can “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Based on your knowledge of the people in your small group, select the questions that will best help you frame the group’s discussion of this sermon and sermon text.

Abiding in God’s Word, we pursue peace. (v. 2b-5a)

  1. Looking at verses 3-4, what was the root cause of not teaching sound doctrine? How does pride disregard the authority of Christ and His Word in our lives?
  2. In what ways do we assert our own authority over the Lord’s authority? How does that practically play out in our daily lives?
  3. Application: Ask God to reveal any areas of your life in which you aren’t demonstrating His authority. Practically, what do you need to do to better know and accept sound doctrine in your life?
  4. In the church at Ephesus, the lack of sound doctrine was disrupting relationships. How was this evidence of a lack of gospel teaching?
  5. How is pride often the root of problems among relationships? How have you seen this to be true in your own life?
  6. As a Christian, if the gospel is not affecting your relationships, what would be reasons for that disconnect? How could take steps to bridge that disconnect between what you know and how you interact with others.
  7. Application: Look at the list of relational issues in verse 4-5. Consider how you interact with others, especially on social media. Do you maintain a habit of craving controversy (trolling others); having arguments for the sake of making yourself known; envying others for what you don’t have; commenting negatively about others (vaguely or specifically) for the sake of personal attention or gain; or always assuming the worst of others? With whom do you need to see forgiveness this week?

Abiding in God’s Word, we pursue contentment. (v. 5b-10)

  1. What did Paul note in verse 10 as the root of all kinds of evil? Did he say anything was inherently evil about money or about the way we treat it? How does that inform the way we view money?
  2. Can we have contentment but still work toward more financial stability? What is the difference in the motivation between greed and wanting to responsibly care for your family or be generous toward others?
  3. In the sermon, Pastor Matt mentioned that “man does not live by bread alone, but we need bread.” How can we use this idea as a truth to help us find balance in our decisions?
  4. Application: Begin going through your home this week and getting rid of things you don’t use. Then, go through and look at a few items that are enslaving you because of materialism, such as a car payment, vacations, gift-giving, hobbies, etc. Talk with your family or a trusted friend about how you can begin to find freedom from these chains.
  5. In verse 8, Paul addressed a sense of poverty, noting that having our basic physical needs met should bring contentment. However, how did his mention of basic needs call the church to act on behalf of the physical needs of others and not just their spiritual needs?
  6. How does the desire and constant striving to be wealthy bring temptation into our relationship with the Lord? How can greed prevent us from being used by God?
  7. Application: In what ways have your discontentment or financial irresponsibility hindered you from serving God in obedience? Working too much? Being in too much debt? An unwillingness to work for a lesser salary? Examine your situation this week and make a plan to financially prepare yourself to be used wherever and however God wants.

Now what, Brook Hills?

  1. What do we complain about the most? What does that say about the posture of our hearts toward money and contentment?
  2. Application: Pick one day this week and make a list of all that you complain or rejoice about. At the end of the day, evaluate what these complaints or praises communicate about the source of your contentment.
  3. Application: Pray and seek God’s guidance about something that has been causing stress, discontentment, or false confidence. Select a length of time to fast from those items and tell a friend to check in with you often about them.
  4. Why must our motivation for contentment be godliness motivated by grace and not an attempt to check boxes to earn approval from others or from God? How can we remind each other about grace in this area?

Things to Consider

If you have people in your group who did not hear the sermon, read the sermon text (1 Timothy 6:3-10) together and briefly summarize the main points of the sermon. Recapping the sermon text and sermon outline can also be a helpful way to start the group, even if everyone did hear the sermon.

Look at 1 Timothy 6:5, especially the phrase “imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” The false teachers in Ephesus were partly teaching that following God would result in material blessings. There are many people who continue this false teaching today. Ask: Why is this teaching a false doctrine? Explain that nowhere in the Bible does God promise material gain from following Him; in fact, Jesus’ disciples, not to mention Jesus Himself, were persecuted to death or imprisoned. Read just a few selections of passages that actually confirm hardship in the life of a believer: John 15:20; John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, 12:10; Luke 9:57-62.

Explain that, even in the Old Testament, the story of Job clearly undercuts any assertion that poverty or hardship is connected to faith. Ask: Why is this teaching so dangerous, particularly in nations in which poverty is great? Why is this dangerous to us?

Furthermore, this false teaching minimizes the grace of the gospel in transforming hearts. Ask: How is it as dangerous to the motivation of salvation as simply seeking Christ to “get into heaven?”

Emphasize that God’s blessings are everything we have, whether little or lots, and He calls us to use those to bring others to Himself, not simply to use them for our own enjoyment.

Weekly Prayer Focus

Pray for Our Church:

  • Pray for God to guide our understanding of His Word and keep us from false doctrine.
  • Ask God to grow us in unity as a faith family and for us to be known for our generosity and giving.
  • Pray for us to abound in love for God and one another over money or possessions.

Pray for Our City:

  • Pray for King’s Home in Shelby County as they minister to youth, women, and children who are seeking refuge, hope, and help from abuse, neglect, abandonment, homelessness, and impoverished conditions.
  • Pray for Liberty Baptist Church, Chelsea, and for Pastor Tim Cox.

Pray for Our World:

  • Pray for the Rohingya people of Myanmar, an unreached Muslim people group who have been mistreated by their government and driven out of their country by extreme violence.

The Church at Brook Hills “The Pursuit of the Church,October 22, 2017| Page 1