GETTING TO KNOW PAUL

Text- 1 Timothy 1:1-2

INTRODUCTION

A certain church found itself without a pastor and a committee was formed to search for a new man. After several inquiries they received a letter from a preacher applying for the position. It stated:

"Gentlemen: understanding that your pulpit is vacant, I would like to submit my application. I am generally considered to be a good preacher. I have been a leader in most of the places I have served. I have also found time to do some writing on the side. I am over 50 years old, and while my health is not the best, I still manage to get enough work done so as to please my church. As for references, I am somewhat handicapped. I have never preached in any place for more than 3 years. And the churches I have preached in have generally been pretty small, even though they were located in large cities. In some places I had to leave because my ministry caused riots and disturbances. Even where I stayed, I did not get along with other religious leaders in town, which may influence the kind of references these places will send you. I have also been threatened several times and even physically attacked. Three or four times I have gone to jail for witnessing to others concerning my convictions. Still, I feel sure that I can bring vitality to your church even though I am not particularly good at keeping records. I have to admit I don't even remember all those whom I have baptized. However, if you can use me, I would be pleased to be considered."

Hearing the letter read aloud, the pulpit committee members were shocked. How could anyone think that a church like theirs would consider a man who was nothing but a troublemaking, absentminded, ex-jail-bird? Out of curiosity however, one of the members asked, "what was the preacher's name?" To which the chairman of the committee responded, "well, the letter is simply signed... Paul."

This morning I am going to begin a new series of messages that I will be preaching on Sunday mornings from the books of 1st and 2nd timothy as well as the book of Titus.

These three books are referred to by many as the "pastoral epistles" because they were written by the apostle Paul to men who were his traveling companions and also served as pastors.

One of these pastors was named timothy which literally means, "one who honors God."

Acts 16:1-5, "and he came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a greek, [2] and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. [3] Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a greek. [4] now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering the decrees, which had been decided upon by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem, for them to observe. [5] so the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily."

This morning by way of introduction, I would like us to consider 1 Timothy 1:1-2.

As we begin our study within the book of 1st Timothy we find that the general theme evolves around the local church that Timothy pastored.

Most scholars believe that Paul wrote this book to timothy either sometime during or after his first roman imprisonment in A.D. 62 or 63.

In general the book of First Timothy is a manual for ministry, given by Paul to guide Timothy as a leader. In the greeting or introduction of this book we find three things revealed to us about Paul.