Sermon Title: The Servant's Checklist Part 2
Sermon Text: 1 Timothy 4:6-10
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to model the qualities of a good servant of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 qualities of a good servant of Jesus Christ.
6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:6-10 (NKJV)
The good servant of Jesus Christ is a diligent servant. v.6
They are diligent as noble servants of Jesus Christ. v.6a
They are diligent as nourished servants of Jesus Christ. v.6b
Nourished as they meditate on the Word of God. (Joshua 1:8-10; 2 Timothy 2:2)
Nourished as they master the Word of God. (Titus 1:9)
Nourished as they model the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17)
"J. Oswald Sanders wrote, 'Spiritual ends can be acheived only by spiritual men who employ spiritual methods' (Spiritual Leadership 40)." [MacArthur, John; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Timothy, Moody Bible Institute, 1995, pp. 163]
The good servant of Jesus Christ is a dedicated servant. v.7
They reject all forms of false doctrine. (1 John 2:14; Ezekiel 3:17-21)
They reject all forms of worldiness. (2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14)
They reject all forms of self-righteousness. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 2:3-5)
"Spurgeon described in the following words the minister who lacking godliness in his own life, would seek to lead others to it:
A graceless pastor is a blind man elected to a professorship of optics, philosophizing upon light and vision, discoursing upon and distinguishing to others the nice shades and delicate blendings of the prismatic colours, while he himself is absolutely in the dark! He is a dumb man elevated to the chair of music; a deaf man fluent upon symphonies and harmonies! He is a mole professing to educate eagles; a limpet elected to preside over angels. (Lectures to My Students, first series [reprint; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980], 4)" [MacArthur, John; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Timothy, Moody Bible Institute, 1995, pp. 163-164]
The good servant of Jesus Christ is a disciplined servant. v.8-9
They prioritize the spiritual dimensions of life. (Matthew 6:33; Galations 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:12-16)
They prioritize the mental dimensions of life. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
They prioritize the emotional dimensions of life. (Colossians 3:1-4; Philippians 4:8)
The good servant of Jesus Christ is a dependable servant. v.10
The dependable servant labors to the point of exhaustion..
The dependable servant labors to the point of agony..
Because they trust in the living God.
Because they trust in the Savior of all men.
Because they trust in the Savior of all who believe. (Psalm 36:6)
"J. Oswald Sanders wrote, 'If he is unwilling to pay the price of fatigue for his leadership, it will always be mediocre.... True leadership always exacts a heavy toll on the whole man, and the more effective the leadership is, the higher the price to be paid' (Spiritual Leadership, 175, 169)." [MacArthur, John; The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Timothy, Moody Bible Institute, 1995, pp. 166]