Small Group Guide

“The Doctrine of the Church”

1 Timothy 1:1-11

Message Summary

This sermon series in 1 Timothy will examine what it looks like for members of the local church to walk through life together as the church. Paul’s introduction in his letter to Timothy prioritizes solid, biblical doctrine as the marker of a healthy church. Timothy, leading the church at Ephesus, faced false teachers (likely elders of the church) who were enamored with picking apart passages of Scripture to find “hidden truths” or meanings that disregard the centrality of the gospel and that God never intended in His Word.These false teachings were leading the church at Ephesus to an unhealthy place. Within a church that is doctrinally healthy, the gospel is central and prioritized, and knowing the teaching of Scripture is not simply for head knowledge but for living for God’s glory.

Discussion & Application Questions

After briefly reviewing the message summary, use these questions to further examine the sermon and to discuss how these truths apply to daily life, so we can “be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (Jas. 1:22). Based on your knowledge of the people in your small group, select the questions that will best help you frame the group’s discussion of this sermon and sermon text.

WHY THIS SERIES

  1. Read 1 Timothy 1:3-4. What was the church at Ephesus experiencing? How were their speculations about inconsequential matters poorly stewarding the gospel of Christ? Why would this not only hinder discipleship within the church but also the stewardship of the gospel outside the church?
  2. Read Paul’s warning regarding Ephesus in Acts 20:28-30. Why was Paul’s urging to Timothy to stop these teachers imperative to the mission of the church?
  3. Why must we guard our solid standing on biblical doctrine within our small group and within our church?

TRAITS OF A DOCTRINALLY HEALTHY CHURCH

  1. The false teachers at Ephesus were circumventing the gospel to focus on meaningless pursuits in Scripture. Looking at verse 5-7, although they were studying Scripture, how was their motivation and purpose far from God’s intent of His revealed Word? What was the consequence for those they were teaching?
  2. Application: Read verse seven again. Knowing that we will never know everything, what can we, as elders, small group leaders, parents, friends, etc. do to ensure that we are growing in solid knowledge of the Word so that we are no “without understanding” of it as we teach, speak, and converse with one another?
  3. In what ways do we, in our culture, often shirk our responsibilities to the gospel by promoting or focusing on false and inconsequential matters of doctrines? What examples can you give of this?
  4. Application: How can we prioritize a knowledge of solid doctrine in our small group?
  5. Although false doctrine has no place in the church, how can we balance a focus on the gospel while also not undermining the importance of all biblical doctrine? How do we determine what is essential and what is secondary with regards to doctrine, especially as it relates to unity with other Christians?
  6. Application: How can we prioritize an applicationof solid doctrine in our small group?
  7. Paul acknowledges that teaching the law is good, if it is taught correctly. Read verses 8-11. For what purpose does Paul say that the law is good? How does it point toward God’s redemption plan?
  8. In teaching what they did not understand, they were now allowing the law of God to take heart in their listeners, thus leaving them with little or no need for a Savior.How do we often soften or disregard the brutality of the law in favor of a “loving” God, leaving those we are talking to without a need for a Savior?
  9. Read verse 5. Why should love be the result of sound doctrine? How does sound doctrine result in loving others?
  10. Application: In what way(s), can you intentionally demonstrate love to those around you this week (family members, friends, co-workers, classmates, small group members, etc.)? How and when will you do this?
  11. Application: If we make the claim that doctrine matters, but we also claim that the true test of one who understands doctrine is how he/she acts, how do we disciple others away from moralism? What is one thing we can change this week about the way we parent/work/speak to others/expect from others regarding a marrying of our beliefs about doctrine and behavior?

SO BROOK HILLS…STUDY GOD’S CHARACTER & ABIDE BIBLICALLY

  1. Why is it important to study God’s character? How does studying and knowing God’s character drive us to want to know Him more?
  2. Application: How can you intentionally study and remind yourself of God’s character this week?
  3. Application: How will you abide biblically this week? What will it look like for you to read and study God’s Word each day this week?

Things to Consider

If you have people in your group who did not hear the sermon, read the sermon text (1 Timothy 1:1-11) together and briefly summarize the main points of the sermon. Recapping the sermon text and sermon outline can also be a helpful way to start the group, even if everyone did hear the sermon.

The background of 1Timothy 1:1-11 concerns false teachers who detracted from the message of the gospel. Their teachings were fruitless because there is no fruit to be found apart from the gospel, despite the fact that they were attempting to talk about God’s Word. They were using God’s Word ineptly and intentionally leading others astray from God’s purpose and revealed character in the Word.

In the group, ask: Why does correct doctrine matter? Lead members to discuss the importance of solid, biblical doctrine when it comes to knowing and understanding God. Then, invite members to discuss when it’s most important to have a solid formation of doctrine in one’s life. Are we ever more susceptible to false doctrine in certain circumstances over others?Discuss how doctrine matters how we interact with both times of prosperity and times of suffering in our lives. Particularly, though, why is it important to have a solid doctrinal foundation before times of intense suffering come in our lives?

Admit that while false teaching happens often in our world today, we can also have fruitless conversations about correct biblical doctrine in our own groups.Firmly state that doctrine matters, and we should not have a flippant attitude toward it. However, how can we discuss doctrine in a way that causes our conversations about God’s Word to deviate from the power of the gospel and to disrupt unity among fellow believers? Similarly, how can we passionately discuss or stand up for important matters, such as the value of all human beings, without dishonoring the gospel or God?

Weekly Prayer Focus

Pray for Our Church:

  • Praise God for the gift of His Word.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and insight as we study the Word together and that our lives will be transformed by it.
  • Pray for God’s protection from false teachers and false teaching as we strive to keep the gospel central.

Pray for Our City:

  • Pray for Brook Hills Students who are beginning a new school year.
  • Pray for parents, teachers, administrators, mentors, and spiritual leaders as they also shepherd students this school year.
  • Pray for Mountaintop Community Church and for Pastor Doug Ferguson.

Pray for Our World:

  • Pray for Brook Hills Church planters, JD and JJ, as they serve among a people group of over 10 million people in North Africawho have less than .01% evangelical Christians among them.

The Church at Brook Hills “The Doctrine of the Church,” August 20, 2017| Page 1