Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon from 1 Timothy 4:1-10.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon from 1 Timothy 4:1-10.
Bobby: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Bobby Gilles, and I’m joined by Lindsey Blair. This past Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached from 1 Timothy 4:1-10.
Lindsey: Pastor Jonah said that creeds are guardrails for the soul which carry us through all of life. If you’ve forgotten or you missed the sermon, you’ve come to the right place - the Midweek Checkup.
Bobby: Jonah began by noting that Despite our social media obsession, we are lonelier than ever. Despite our self-expression, we are more confused than ever. What could creeds about a Middle Eastern Jewish Carpenter possibly have to say to this? God himself has said something to us in no uncertain terms. Explicitly. Emphatically. He has told us something...and what is it? First Timothy four, verse one: In the last times some will turn away from the true faith. "Last days" are the time between Messiah's appearance and second coming. That's now. That's today. Why do some people turn away from the faith? They will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.” If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad...unless it comes from demons.
Lindsey: Paul is writing these words to a young pastor named Timothy at a new church. And it would appear that there were two big issues where deception was happening: “They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods.” The problem at this young church was people were saying this is what you need to be happy. Yes, you have the Jesus stuff, but also try this.
Bobby: Just consider: has God EVER said we shouldn't get married? Absolutely not. Jesus went to great lengths, to the point of shedding his own blood, to free us from ceremonially laws. He explicitly said it's not what you put in your mouth that makes you unclean, but out of the overflow of the HEART the mouth speaks.
Lindsey: This issue of deception, of adding to the gospel of Jesus, comes immediately after Paul shares a CREED with Timothy.
Listen to First Timothy three verse sixteen: This is the great mystery of our faith:Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.
Bobby: Here is our faith Timothy. Now be ON GUARD, because people will lead you astray. If you want roots that go down deep, roots that endure temptation and deception, continually return to the creeds. This is why, week after week, we recite an ancient Creed together. We are cultivating the soil of our souls with the fertilizing truth of God. Every week, we leave this place and enter into a world of temptation. Voices will tell you what you must do to be holy, to be loved by God, to have a successful life.
Lindsey: We gather, every Sunday, to remember that we have all we need already. In Christ, we are declared both LOVED and LOVELY. In Christ, we are declared to be SAFE both now and forever. The creeds are guardrails for the soul that carry us through all of life.
Bobby: What happens to a plan that is well-nourished? It's roots grow deep. And so it is with us. We love the creeds, because they nourish us by the message of faith. We follow the creeds, because they are guardrails for the soul that carry us through all of life. We follow the creeds, because they lead us to Jesus.
Lindsey: Next Sunday, we’ll begin our series called Mosaic: Searching the Scriptures with Wisdom. And in Bible Fellowship, we’ll continue discussing Paul’s letter to Romans chapter Six. Join us and bring a friend.