A Christian Approach to Material Possessions (preaching resource for 9/25/22)
This post exegetes 1 Timothy 6:3-19 ( the RCL Epistles reading for Sept. 25, 2022) drawing on multiple sources including commentary from John Stott. "St. Paul Writing His Epistles" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) In 1 Timothy 6:3-19, the apostle Paul instructs Timothy concerning how Christ-followers should relate to material possessions. The instruction addresses several groups within the church at Ephesus: covetous teachers (vv3-5), Christian poor (vv6-10), Timothy himself (vv11-16), and Christian rich (vv17-19). Instruction to covetous teachers (6:3-5) 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness ...