Series: Guard the Treasure
Title: What are you pursuing most?
Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:3-10; Matthew 6:19-34 NIV
Bottom line: What we pursue most tells us what we really treasure in life. But true contentment is only found in pursuing/treasuring Christ and his community on mission.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
OUTLINES
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
INTRODUCTION
Treasure principle
Working for this life instead of the next
“When John D Rockefeller died, his aide was asked how much he left behind. The man wisely answered, ‘He left it all behind.’”
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE (influenced by Willmington)
PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE (6:1-10): Paul addresses four types of individuals.
A. The workers (6:1-2): Paul urges Christian servants to render faithful service to their masters, lest the name of God be slandered.
B. The wicked (6:3-5)
1. They deny the faith (6:3-4a).
2. They are conceited and argumentative (6:4b).
3. They cause confusion, envy, and friction (6:4c).
4. They use spiritual things for financial gain (6:5).
C. The wise (6:6-8): They realize that godliness with contentment is great gain.
D. The wealthy (6:9-10)
1. The desire (6:10): "The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil."
2. The destruction (6:9): This kind of greed, if unchecked, will result in ruin and destruction.
CONCLUSION
“…the story of a king who was suffering from a persistent malady and was advised by his wise men that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man were brought for him to wear. The search began for a contented man, but none could be found. So emissaries were sent to the edge of the realm, and after a long search a man was found who was truly content. But he had no shirt!“ -Kent Hughes, pp. 157-8
“Contentment is a constant feast, He's richest who requires the least.“ -Barnes
The “treasure principal” says that you can’t take it with you but you can send it ahead. This is Randy Alcorn‘s take on Matthew six versus 19 through 24.
Bottom line: What we pursue most tells us what we really treasure in life. But true contentment is only found in pursuing/treasuring Christ and his community on mission.
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Pray
NOTES
Let’s ask some summary questions:
Q. What do I want them to know?
A.
Q. Why do I want them to know it?
A.
Q. What do I want them to do about it?
A.
Q. Why do I want them to do it?
A.
Q. How can they begin to do this?
A.
OUTLINES
Outline Bible (Willmington)
SECTION OUTLINE SIX (1 TIMOTHY 6)
Paul addresses the workers, the wicked, the wise, and the wealthy.
He closes his letter with some final instructions for Timothy.
I. PAUL'S WORDS TO THE PEOPLE (6:1-10): Paul addresses four types of individuals.
A. The workers (6:1-2): Paul urges Christian servants to render faithful service to their masters, lest the name of God be slandered.
B. The wicked (6:3-5)
1. They deny the faith (6:3-4a).
2. They are conceited and argumentative (6:4b).
3. They cause confusion, envy, and friction (6:4c).
4. They use spiritual things for financial gain (6:5).
C. The wise (6:6-8): They realize that godliness with contentment is great gain.
D. The wealthy (6:9-10)
1. The desire (6:10): "The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil."
2. The destruction (6:9): This kind of greed, if unchecked, will result in ruin and destruction.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process:
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really God’s word, what changes would I have to make in my life?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions: Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I get to do? (In light of who I am)
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“1 - 2 Timothy,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
“1 & 2 Timothy” by John Stott
Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus, David Platt, Daniel Akin, Tony Merida
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner (VW)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
Willmington’s Bible Handbook, D Willmington (WBH)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion app (BIOY)
ChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt
“The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn
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