LUKE 8:9-10, 16-18

1. WHO is God?
2. WHAT was God’s purpose in creating us?
3. WHY is there suffering in the world?
4. HOW do we determine truth?

Truth is found by submitting all things to the interpretation and judgment of God’s written Word, the Bible.

5. HAPPINESS: WHEN are we most happy?

We are most happy when we are seeking to know God, gain His glory and advance His kingdom through trust and obedience to His design, gospel and written Word, the Bible.

1 Timothy 4:7-11

1. GOD

WHO is God?

God is the only eternal and perfectly just, faithful, loving, wise and all-powerful Creator, Sustainer, Judge and savior of everything that exists, Who has made Himself obvious through what He has created and what he has written in his word, the Bible.

2. Purpose

WHAT was God’s purpose in creating us?

We exist to know God, gain His glory and advance His kingdom through trust and obedience to His design, gospel and written Word, the Bible.

3. Problems

Why is there suffering in the world?

All suffering is the result of our failure to know God, gain his glory and advance his kingdom through trusting and obeying his design, gospel or written word, the bible.

4. truth

How do we determine truth?

Truth is determined by submitting all things to the interpretation and judgment of god’s written word, the bible.

1 Timothy 4:7-11

1. GOD

WHO is God?

God is the eternal and perfectly just, faithful, loving, wise and all-powerful Creator, Sustainer, Judge and savior of everything that exists, Who has made Himself obvious through what He has created and what he has written in his word, the Bible.

2. Purpose

WHAT was God’s purpose in creating us?

We exist to know god, gain His glory and advance His kingdom through trust and obedience to His design, gospel and written Word, the Bible.

3. Problems

Why is there suffering in the world?

All suffering is the result of our failure to know god, gain his glory and advance his kingdom through trusting and obeying his design, gospel or written word, the bible.

1 Timothy 4:7-11

1. GOD

Q – WHO is God?

A – He is the perfectly just, faithful, loving, wise and all-powerful Creator, Sustainer, King and Judge of everything that exists, Who has made Himself obvious through what He has created and what He has written, the Bible.

2. Purpose

Q – WHAT was God’s purpose in creating us?

A – To gain His glory and advance His kingdom through trust and obedience to His design, gospel and written Word, the Bible.

1. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
2. THE EUSEBIAN METHOD

(7-8) – “godliness” = eusebian

2.1. Why “true religion” is a better translation of the word (eusebian):

2.1.1. This is how the word was understood in ancient times.

2.1.2. “Godliness” (literally, behavior that is like God) is too vague.

2.1.3. This translation is more consistent with Paul’s primary purpose for writing the pastorals (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus) which is catechizing people in truth/sound doctrine/correct religious confession.

2.1.4. This translation makes other passages in the pastorals (where we find this word) clearer as to their meaning.

2.2. E-Method versus B-Modification

1 Timothy 4:7-11

1. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION

Desirable behavior created through focusing on what to do (and what NOT to do) coupled with positive and negative reinforcement (e.g. rules resulting in reward and punishment depending on our response).

1.1. Why we can be confident that what Paul is talking about when he uses the phrase “bodily training” is indeed behavior modification (versus) some form of physical fitness:

1.1.1. Physical fitness IS NOT a component/factor of spiritual fitness (Col 2:20-23).

1.1.2. Spiritual fitness is Paul’s concern in our verses.

1.2. SIGNS THAT YOU HAVE MADE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION your primary training  in living the Christian life:

1.2.1. you think LIFE is just a giant maze built on conformity.

1.2.2. your parenting creates the idea that life is nothing more than a giant maze of conformity.

1.2.3.  YOU are driven by experience

1.2.4. you have a hard time staying the course.

1.3. What this means/does NOT mean:

1.3.1. It does NOT mean that if you have spent time teaching/reinforcing god’s rules to yourself/your children, you have failed/should stop.

1.3.2. It does mean that if you have made behavior modification your primary focus in training yourself or your children, then you and them are most likely at risk (spiritually).