July 19, 2026

BUILT TO LAST: WHAT THEN MUST THE CHURCH DO?

July 19, 2026

Senior Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Today we continue in First Timothy, as Paul writes to his young protégé concerning the functions of the church. God is a god of order, not only within a marriage or within a family, but also within the church. Everyone and everything has a place of order in God’s kingdom. Paul wanted Timothy to be the best he could be. Is that your goal for your own life? You should be growing every single month, or year. In fact, what you should find true is that the more you love Jesus Christ, the more you want to talk to Him and know Him by reading His Word, and the more you want to see others saved for eternity. Today’s sermon on Chapters Two and Three offer models which can be used in your life to increase your prayer life, your walk in humility, your longing to lead others to the Lord, and grow your desire to live a holy life while you’re on this earth. We all need this!

Focal Passage: 1 Timothy 2 and 3.

A Commitment to Prayer:

  • Read 1 Tim. 2:1-7. Where was Timothy when Paul wrote this letter? What type of problems was Timothy encountering in Ephesus? Why is Paul so concerned that Timothy knows how to carry through as he tried to run the church in an orderly manner?
  • In verse 1, why does Paul give four different types of prayers that believers should be praying? What does the word supplication mean?
  • Read James 5:16b and Col. 4:12. Do you think the word fervent might be a form of ‘begging’? If a child is sick, do parents ‘beg’ or have a sense of urgency for the child’s life? Why? Are you appealing to the only One who can restore the health? Can you imagine asking for your child’s health apathetically?
  • What are some reasons that God desires your conversation? Read Heb. 4:16. Do you go boldly in prayer to God? Why is it difficult to see oneself as having the ‘right’ to approach God with urgency?
  • What is intercession? Does anything prevent you from praying for someone else (the ‘intercessory’ prayer)? How does it make you feel if someone tells you they are praying for you? Why would your prayers for someone bolster your testimony? Why should you give thanks for all men? What does that mean? Who does Paul tell us to pray for explicitly?
  • What is the end result of such a vast prayer life? Read vv. 3-7. Will your life be changed by talking to God on such a level?

A Walk of Humility:

  • Read 1 Tim. 2:8-15. It is important to recall the division in Ephesus at this time, and the culture Timothy was encountering. Why did Paul need to remind Timothy of the hierarchy God had established in the church, so that there was not discord?
  • What did he present as to the first level of authority within the church? Why is it important the men lead with ‘no wrath or doubting’? Why is a man’s anger so devastating to a woman? Why does God showcase modesty for the women? Why is this a critical area in today’s culture? Does any female lack the awareness that their clothing is immodest? Why do they choose to wear outfits so that men can imagine all sorts of sin? Whose responsibility is it to teach the girls what modesty means? What is the ripple effect that can result from a female’s inappropriate dress at church?
  • Why is it necessary for God to establish authority such as we see in vv. 11-13? Women are excellent teachers, which is why they are considered to be the one who brings up the children; how would this apply to the mission field?

A Longing to Lead:

  • Read 1 Tim. 3:1-13. When we mentioned at the beginning that God expects order in every relationship, how does that include the Trinity? If Jesus Christ submits to God the Father, why should you stiffen at fulfilling a different function in your life than someone else?
  • What are the interchangeable words which all describe a pastor of a church? According to God’s Word, is the gender of a pastor (bishop, elder, shepherd, overseer, presbyter, steward), considered to be anything but ‘he’? Read Rev. 22:19. Does that promise include these verses?
  • What are some reasons a female would desire to become a pastor? Are any of those reasons valid when confronted with God’s word? Is this God’s revealed will? Has God’s revealed will changed over the millennium since He breathed it? Do we have a right to eliminate this because of cultural changes?

Living in Holiness:

  • Read vv. 14-16. Paul has a father-son relationship with Timothy, but still desires that the young man know why he is so fervent in his writing. What is the burden of Paul’s mindset that this message gets to Timothy in case Paul is held up from visiting ‘shortly’? Do you have a burden like that for anyone in your family or your ‘world’?
  • What are some reasons that we desire to live a holy life? Is that God’s expectation for all believers? Read Leviticus 20:26 and Ephesians 1:4. Can you acknowledge that believers are to be holy, based on what God has said? Does that set a goal for you?

CLOSE:

There was so much to unpack in today’s Scripture! As with all Biblical subjects, it is necessary to go to other Scriptures to validate the thought of those we might not understand fully. Today’s sermon, though perhaps causing consternation in some, is clear. God has order in humans, in our activities, in our churches, and in most of life. We all are made equal in person, though not equal in our roles—just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are equal, but differing in function. In the church, there should be order. The office of pastor/overseer is always a male. Not because females are less capable, but few things except pride would cause a female to desire to preach. Women should be modest, not self-seeking, not given to flaunting their body. There is no Scripture that can be dismissed or eliminated, according to Rev. 22:19. Hard rules? Yes. But they create holy individuals who plan to spend eternity with God in Heaven.

Sandy Day
July 19, 2026

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