Timothy - You Are a Spiritual Athlete (1 Timothy Chapter 4)

The lie we too often believe. The truth we too often forget.

Icebreaker:
What sport(s) do you most enjoy watching or playing? Why?

Introduction:
Timothy faces the challenge of his life as he works to remove the influence of false teachers on the church in Ephesus and tries to get the church to re-focus on the good news of Jesus. In this chapter, Paul instructs Timothy to teach the church to avoid a particularly extreme form of legalism that they have fallen for and counsels Timothy to train his life in godliness so he can lead well in the midst of challenges.

Where Is It Written:
Read 1 Timothy 4:1-6
It seems that some in the church had given into excesses and abuses of food, drink, and sex to the degree that now that they were trying to follow Christ, they not only avoided the excesses, they also avoided every good aspect of these gifts.

How were these false teachers like consciences seared with a "hot iron?"
How is "thanksgiving" the solution to this problem?
How do you see this problem reappearing today?

Read 1 Timothy 4:7-16
How is following Jesus like being a spiritual athlete?
What are some essential aspects of training? (What is listed here?)
How is training ourselves in godliness different than legalism?

How Goes Your Walk:
How do you train in godliness?
What aspects of training do you find the most difficult?
Verse 16 tells us to "watch your life and doctrine closely." What kind of person are you becoming? What attributes are you developing? How is your thought life (doctrine) part of that?
What lies are you prone to believe? How can you anchor your heart in God's truth to combat those lies?