1 Timothy Series

1 Timothy 6:11–21 By Pastor John Thompson The Christian life is not an easy one, though it is certainly a joyous one. Jesus calls us to die to ourselves and our own desires, to take up our cross, and to follow Him. Yet if we are honest, there are times when we feel the desire to put that cross down and pick our old selves back up. We know where we want to go, but we also know how easily our hearts can wander. One of my favorite hymns is Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, and

1 Timothy 6:1–10 Py Pastor John Thompson I love movies. The creativity involved in telling a great story can be amazing—the characters, the scenes, the laughter, the joy, and even the tears. At the same time, I find that many movies are fairly predictable. Once you recognize certain patterns, you begin to know where the story is headed long before you reach the ending. One of those patterns goes something like this: the main character desperately wants something. Maybe it is

1 Timothy 5:17–25 By Pastor John Thompson Most of us naturally want to see others succeed. We celebrate when our children reach an important milestone, when a friend receives a promotion, or when the underdog wins the championship. Their success brings us joy because we care about them. Sometimes another person's success benefits us directly. When the company you work for thrives, your own future often becomes more secure. When your supervisor succeeds, the entire team usuall

1 Timothy 5:1–16 By Pastor John Thompson Jesus once told His disciples, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Those words remind us that the way Christians treat one another is one of the strongest testimonies we have to a watching world. When I was growing up, I often heard people say, "Someone is always watching you." As the youngest in my family, I wasn't entirely convinced. Who would be watching me? But as I got older,

1 Timothy 4:6–16 By Pastor John Thompson Every four years, millions of people around the world watch the World Cup. Whether you're cheering for your favorite team or simply enjoying the competition, one thing is impossible to ignore: the incredible discipline of the athletes on the field. These players do not arrive at the highest level of competition by accident. Years of training, countless hours of practice, strict nutrition, conditioning, and perseverance have prepared th

1 Timothy 3:14–4:5 By Pastor John Thompson Not long ago, I had a problem with our van. We rely on that van constantly, so it wasn't something I could ignore for very long. The check engine light came on and started flashing—a clear sign that something serious needed attention. I plugged in a small code reader and discovered the problem was the crankshaft position sensor. Normally, I would have taken it to our mechanic, but his shop was closed several days for Fourth of July a

1 Timothy 2:8–15; 3:8–13 By Pastor John Thompson One of my favorite parts of pastoral ministry is premarital counseling. I enjoy it far more than marriage counseling—not because I don't enjoy helping struggling couples, but because premarital counseling is preventative. It allows a couple to build a strong biblical foundation before difficulties arise. If more couples invested time preparing for marriage, many would avoid problems that eventually lead them to seek marriage co

1 Timothy 3:1–7 By Pastor John Thompson Becoming a father was both exciting and intimidating for me. It wasn't because I lacked experience around children. I had helped care for my sister's children since I was eleven years old. It wasn't because I doubted whether I would enjoy being a father. I had wanted children for as long as I could remember. My concern was something deeper. I wondered whether I could be the kind of godly man who would lead a wife and children well. I di

1 Timothy 2:1–8 By Pastor John Thompson I have a confession to make: I am not a car guy. Cars have never been my passion, and while I can handle a few basic repairs, I am far from a mechanic. Most of the time, if I fix something successfully, there is probably a YouTube video involved. Several years ago, Helen and I were living in Newport News. One morning I woke up running a fever of about 104 degrees. Feeling absolutely miserable, we decided I needed to visit an urgent care

1 Timothy 1:12–20 By Pastor John Thompson In Mark 2, the religious leaders were scandalized by the people Jesus chose to spend time with. Tax collectors, outcasts, and notorious sinners seemed to follow Him wherever He went. When questioned about it, Jesus responded with words that still echo today: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” That statement gets to the very heart of the gospel. Jesus

Shepherds protect the flock with love from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith. Holding scripture as the standard and the godpel as our foundation.