Warning Against False Teachers of the Law—1 Timothy 1:1–11
Topics: Adultery, Basics of the Faith, Beliefs, Believers, Church, Devotion, Disobedience, Doctrine, Encouragement, Faith, God, Gospel, Heart, Jesus Christ, Law, Love, Lying, Motives, Obedience, Religion, Sin, Teaching, Truth
Open It
1. Which would you rather receive from a good friend: a letter, or a phone call? Why?
2. *What are some laws that you benefit from directly?
Explore It
1. Who wrote this letter? (1:1)
2. To whom was this letter written? (1:2)
3. Why did Paul want Timothy to stay in Ephesus? (1:3–4)
4. What did Paul say about myths and genealogies? (1:4)
5. What was the goal of the command Paul urged Timothy to enforce? (1:5)
6. In what way had some believers been misguided? (1:6)
7. *How did Paul assess those who wanted to be teachers of the law? (1:7)
8. *When is the Law good? (1:8)
9. *For whom was the Law made? (1:9–11)
10. What did God entrust to Paul? (1:11)
Get It
1. When was the last time you wrote someone a letter of encouragement or received such a letter?
2. With whom do you have a relationship of mutual discipleship?
3. What false doctrines still plague many churches today?
4. What sort of doctrines promote controversy in the church?
5. What goals motivate the leaders you respect in your church?
6. What goals motivate your service in the church?
7. *In what way should we use God’s law today?
8. What impact does or should God’s law have on your life?
9. *How should we determine what is and isn’t sound doctrine?
10. With what unique task has God entrusted you?
Apply It
1. Who is someone to whom you can write a letter of encouragement this week?
2. *What steps can you take to make sure your motives are from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith?
The Lord’s Grace to Paul—1 Timothy 1:12–20
Topics: Atonement, Basics of the Faith, Beliefs, Believers, Blasphemy, Call, Consequences, Disobedience, Doctrine, Example, Failure, Faith, Glory, God, Gospel, Grace, Jesus Christ, Mercy, Obedience, Salvation, Serving, Sin
Open It
1. *Who are some people you know whose lives were dramatically changed at some point? How?
2. What sort of people try your patience the most?
Explore It
1. Why did Paul thank Jesus? (1:12)
2. What did Paul say he once was? (1:13)
3. *Why was Paul shown mercy? (1:13)
4. What was poured out on Paul? (1:14)
5. Why did Jesus come into the world? (1:15)
6. *How was Paul “the worst”? (1:15)
7. Why was Paul shown mercy? (1:16)
8. *How does a person receive eternal life? (1:16)
9. What qualities did Paul ascribe to God? (1:17)
10. Why did Paul give Timothy his instructions? (1:18)
11. What did Paul say some have done with their faith? (1:19)
12. Why did Paul hand Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan? (1:20)
Get It
1. To what service has God appointed you?
2. *How and when has God shown you mercy?
3. *In what way has God used you as an example so that others might believe?
4. How do God’s attributes of being eternal, immortal, and invisible encourage you?
5. In what way is God the King of your life?
6. What does it mean to fight the good fight?
7. What do you fight in your life as a Christian?
8. How and why do people shipwreck their faith?
9. What distractions draw Christians away from their proper course?
Apply It
1. What steps can you take today to ensure that your faith is on the proper course and not in danger of being shipwrecked?
2. *For what grace and mercy that God has shown you do you want to thank Him today?
3. What events or experiences in your life can you use to encourage others to believe?
Instructions on Worship—1 Timothy 2:1–15
Topics: Appearance, Atonement, Authority, Basics of the Faith, Church, Dignity, Ego, Faith, God, Jesus Christ, Knowledge, Life-style, Mediator, Ministry, Peace, Prayer, Salvation, Sex, Sin, Society, Sovereignty, Submission, Teaching, Truth, Words, Work, World
Open It
1. What are some of today’s controversial issues?
2. What do you like or dislike about the worship of the church you attend?
3. *How would you characterize the worship of the church you attend?
4. What examples show that people in our society are obsessed with their physical appearance?
Explore It
1. *What did Paul urge first of all? (2:1–2)
2. What did Paul hope would be the result of the church’s prayers? (2:2)
3. What pleases God? (2:2–3)
4. What does God want? (2:4)
5. For whom is Jesus Christ a mediator? (2:5)
6. For whom did Jesus give Himself? Why? (2:6)
7. Why did Paul insist he was not lying? (2:7)
8. *What did Paul want people everywhere to do? (2:8)
9. How should women dress? (2:9–10)
10. What instructions did Paul give women? (2:9–12)
11. How did Paul instruct women to learn? (2:11)
12. *What didn’t Paul permit women to do? (2:11)
13. What explanation did Paul give for not allowing women to teach or have authority over men? (2:12–14)
14. In what way did Paul say that women would be saved? (2:15)
Get It
1. For what authorities or leaders should we pray?
2. *What sort of prayers should we make on behalf of our leaders?
3. If God wants all people to be saved, why then aren’t all people saved?
4. When have you ever served as a mediator between two people?
5. In what way is Jesus a mediator between us and God?
6. To what task would you say God has appointed you?
7. What does it mean to dress modestly?
8. *How does your church understand and apply Paul’s restrictions on women?
9. In what way might a woman be saved through childbearing?
Apply It
1. For what national and international leaders can you pray this week?
2. *How can you focus your attention on Christian service and worship of God over outward appearance?
Overseers and Deacons—1 Timothy 3:1–16
Topics: Abilities, Accountability, Administration, Ambition, Anger, Authority, Character, Children, Church, Drinking, Effectiveness, Ego, Family, Gentleness, Greed, Home, Hospitality, Impulsiveness, Initiative, Integrity, Leadership, Management, Marriage, Maturity, Money, Morality, Pastors, People, Power, Pride, Quarrels, Reputation, Respect, Responsibility, Teaching
Open It
1. *What were some of the qualifications you had to meet for your job?
2. What important qualities should managers possess?
Explore It
1. What did Paul say about the person who wants to be an overseer? (3:1)
2. *What qualities must an overseer possess? (3:2–7)
3. Why is good family management a qualification for being an overseer? (3:4–5)
4. *Why shouldn’t the overseer be a new convert? (3:6)
5. Why must an overseer have a good reputation? (3:7)
6. *What qualities must a deacon possess? (3:8–10, 12)
7. What is required before someone can serve as a deacon? (3:10)
8. What sort of person must the wife of a deacon be? (3:11)
9. What do those who serve well gain? (3:13)
10. What benefit is there in serving well? (3:13)
11. Why did Paul write these instructions? (3:14–15)
12. What is said about Jesus in the hymn Paul quoted? (3:16)
Get It
1. What role do you desire in your church?
2. To what noble tasks have you aspired?
3. *Which of the character qualities needed by both overseers and deacons do you think is the most important for a church leader to possess?
4. *If you applied the lists of qualifications for these positions to yourself, how would you measure up?
5. What is the common ingredient in the lists of qualifications for leaders in the church?
6. What hymn or praise chorus that you know centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ?
Apply It
1. *What quality from the lists in 1 Timothy 3 do you want to improve in your life? How could you start?
2. In what way can you serve in your church?
3. What hymn or song could you include in your devotions this week?
Instructions to Timothy—1 Timothy 4:1–16
Topics: Abandon, Abilities, Believe, Bible, Conscience, Demons, Devotion, Doctrine, Example, Faith, Gifts, God, Holy Spirit, Hypocrisy, Jesus Christ, Last Days, Legalism, Life, Life-style, Love, Ministry, Reading, Salvation, Teaching
Open It
1. Why do you think there is such emphasis on physical fitness in our society?
2. *What qualities do you look for in a pastor or minister?
Explore It
1. What did the Spirit say some would do in the later time? (4:1)
2. What did Paul say about the consciences of hypocritical liars? (4:2)
3. What did the liars whom Paul attacked forbid people to do? (4:3)
4. What is true about all that God created? (4:4)
5. Why should anything received with thanksgiving not be rejected? (4:4–5)
6. *Under what circumstances would Timothy be a good minister? (4:6)
7. What did Paul instruct Timothy to do? (4:7)
8. How did Paul contrast physical training with godliness? (4:8)
9. What saying is trustworthy? (4:9–10)
10. What should young people strive for? (4:12)
11. What kind of example did Paul want Timothy to set? (4:12)
12. *To what was Timothy to devote himself? (4:13)
13. What was Timothy not to neglect? (4:14)
14. *What did Paul want others to see? (4:15)
15. What could Timothy do to save himself and his hearers? (4:16)
Get It
1. For what reasons do people today abandon their faith?
2. From what good things have people persuaded you to abstain?
3. *How can we be good ministers of Jesus Christ?
4. What does your use of time show about how much you value training for godliness?
5. In what ways can you be an example to other believers?
6. What importance does your church assign to the public reading of Scripture?
7. What gift has God given to you that you should not neglect?
8. *How will watching your life and doctrine save you?
Apply It
1. *What specific actions can you schedule into your daily routine to nurture your godliness?
2. For what other Christians can you set an example in speech, life-style, love, faith, or purity? How?
3. How can you keep watch over your life and doctrine this week?
Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves—1 Timothy 5:1–6:2
Topics: Caring, Children, Church, Culture, Drinking, Family, Favoritism, God, Gossip, Help, Holiness, Husbands, Jesus Christ, Life-style, Marriage, Ministry, Neglect, Parents, Pastors, Resources, Satan, Serving, Singleness, Teaching, Temptation, World
Open It
1. What groups of people are treated with special favor in our society today?
2. *Whose responsibility is it to care for the needy?
3. How much money do you think a pastor should make? Why?
4. What adjectives would you use to describe our society’s morality?
Explore It
1. How should believers treat older men, younger men, older women, and younger women? (5:1–2)
2. To whom did Paul tell Timothy to give proper recognition? (5:3)
3. *What should the children and grandchildren of a widow do? (5:4)
4. What does the widow who is really in need and left alone do? (5:5)
5. What is true about the widow who lives for pleasure? (5:6)
6. Why did Paul tell Timothy to give these instructions? (5:7)
7. Why is it important to provide for your family? (5:8)
8. *When should the church go out of its way to care for widows? (5:9–10)
9. Why should younger widows not be put on the “list of widows”? (5:11)
10. How do younger widows bring judgment upon themselves? (5:12)
11. To what habits may younger widows fall prey? (5:13)
12. *What was Paul’s advice to younger widows? (5:14)
13. What had some of the younger widows already done? (5:15)
14. Why did Paul encourage Christian women to care for the widows in their families? (5:16)
15. Of what is the elder who directs the affairs of the church worthy? (5:17)
16. Why should elders be paid? (5:18)
17. How should accusations against an elder be handled? (5:19)
18. Why should those who sin be rebuked publicly? (5:20)
19. How did Paul encourage Timothy to keep these instructions? (5:21)
20. What did Paul encourage Timothy to do and not to do? (5:22)
21. Why did Paul encourage Timothy to use a little wine? (5:23)
22. What is the impact of a person’s sins and good deeds? (5:24–25)
23. Why should slaves consider their masters worthy of respect? (6:1)
24. How should slaves treat masters who are believers? (6:2)
Get It
1. How should we treat fellow Christians?
2. *What plan does your church have for caring for the needs of the widows in your church?
3. What sort of people besides widows are tempted to misuse their idle time?
4. *What does it mean to care properly for needy family members?
5. Which of your family members need your active care?
6. Are the pastors in your church properly provided for?
7. How do you think a pastor’s salary should be determined? Why?
8. When and how have you learned from the mistakes of others?
9. In what negative ways does favoritism affect how we treat others?
10. How can we keep ourselves pure in a society that does not support God’s ideals?
11. In what way might our sins and good deeds precede us and follow us in life?
Apply It
1. In what area of your life do you need to depend on God to help you keep yourself pure?
2. *How can you assist your church in the care of widows or others in need?
3. In what specific ways do you need to treat older men, younger men, older women, or younger women?
Love of Money—1 Timothy 6:3–10
Topics: Attitude, Contentment, Desires, Doctrine, Evil, Faith, Foolishness, Greed, Jesus Christ, Love, Materialism, Money, Quarrels, Teaching, Temptation, Truth, Weaknesses, Words, World
Open It
1. What evidence do you see of a love for money among your friends or coworkers?
2. *Why do you think most people are or aren’t content with what they have?
Explore It
1. What do false teachers ignore? (6:3)
2. What harsh words did Paul have for those who teach false doctrines? (6:3–4)
3. In what did the false teachers of Paul’s day have an unhealthy interest? (6:4)
4. What was the result of the false teachers’ unhealthy interests? (6:4–5)
5. What did the false teachers of Paul’s day really want? (6:5)
6. *What brings us great gain? (6:6)
7. What do we bring into the world? (6:7)
8. What will we take out of the world? (6:7)
9. *With what should we be content? (6:8)
10. What often happens to people who want to get rich? (6:9)
11. What is a root of all kinds of evil? (6:10)
12. *What price do some people eager for money pay? (6:10)
Get It
1. What controversial false doctrines have been an issue in your church?
2. *How could someone think that godliness was a means to financial gain?
3. How do people attempt to use Christianity for their own profit?
4. *Why is it hard to be content?
5. What would it take to make you content right now?
6. What get-rich-quick schemes (big or small) have you fallen for?
7. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being very important), how important is money to you?
8. Why do you think that money is important or not very important?
9. How can you guard against placing too much stock in your personal possessions?
Apply It
1. *About what situation in life will you ask God to help you be more content each day this week?
2. How can you help a fellow believer keep a proper perspective on money and possessions?
Paul’s Charge to Timothy—1 Timothy 6:11–21
Topics: Caring, Confession, Eternal Life, Faith, Gentleness, God, Heaven, Jesus Christ, Joy, Knowledge, Love, Money, Righteousness, Truth, Words
Open It
1. *What well-known people or historical figures are known to you as fighters?
2. What sort of goals do people in your profession tend to pursue?
3. What goals do TV commercials and print ads encourage us to pursue?
Explore It
1. *What did Paul tell Timothy to pursue? (6:11)
2. *What was Timothy urged to fight? (6:12)
3. What did Paul tell Timothy to take hold of? (6:12)
4. Before whom did Timothy make a confession? What kind? (6:12–13)
5. When did Jesus make “the good confession”? (6:13)
6. *How long was Timothy supposed to keep Paul’s command? (6:14–15)
7. When will Christ return? (6:14–15)
8. What titles and attributes did Paul ascribe to God? (6:15–16)
9. Why should those who are rich not be arrogant or put their hope in wealth? (6:17)
10. What command is given to those who are rich? (6:18)
11. Why would someone want to lay up treasure for themselves? (6:19)
12. What was Timothy to guard? (6:20)
13. What was Timothy to turn away from? (6:20)
14. How had some wandered away from the truth? (6:20–21)
Get It
1. *In what way is the Christian life a fight?
2. How are we to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness?
3. *What does it mean to “fight the good fight”?
4. Before whom have you made a confession of your faith?
5. How do God’s attributes influence your worship of Him?
6. Why is it so easy for us to trust in our possessions, accomplishments, or abilities?
7. In what ways do people place their treasure here on earth?
8. How can a person lay up treasure in heaven?
9. How is it possible for someone to wander away from the faith?
10. What actions can you take that will store treasure in heaven for you?
Apply It
1. In what way can you pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, or gentleness in your life this week?
2. *How can you fight the good fight of faith each day?
3. What preventive measure can you take each day to be sure that you don’t wander from the faith?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. 1 Ti 1:1–6:21.