Passages: 1 Timothy
Big Idea: How to behave in God’s household. (1 Timothy 3:15)
Ages: 5-7
Nine lessons exploring the letter 1 Timothy.
Paul first met Timothy in the city of Lystra on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). Paul saw that Timothy was a devoted follower of Jesus and mentored him, eventually sending him off on various missions.
In Acts 19 we read how Paul planted the church in Ephesus and then for two years had nurtured the church. In Acts 20:28 Paul charged the elders of the church of Ephesus to watch over the church. To be good shepherds of God’s people and guard against false teachers who sought to distort the truth and draw people away.
Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus when he heard that people were teaching false doctrines and dividing the church.
Paul begins and ends his letter with a charge to Timothy to guard God’s truth against false teachers (1 Timothy 1:2-4, 1 Timothy 6:3-4). People who distort the truth or distract people with talk of myths and genealogies. In chapter 6 Paul exposes their motives - they were out for financial gain in return for their misleading teaching. Timothy is charged to guard the gospel - to keep it central in everything. Because salvation is only possible through Jesus (1 Timothy 1:15-17).
Paul then addresses issues within the church, caused by these false teachers. Men and women behaving badly. He charges them as the people of God to pray for peace. Jesus came to bring peace between us and God. He is the one mediator. Only he has paid the ransom that brings about this peace for the Jews first and also to the Gentiles..
Paul addresses anger in the men and modesty in the women. He sets out the qualifications of a good leader - they begin and end with character - character that is consistent with the teachings of Jesus. Integrity in God’s church is critical.
Paul also counteracts the false teachers by declaring everything in creation is given by God and is to be received with joy as a good gift from God. The church is also to be characterised by its concern for the powerless and vulnerable.
1 Timothy can be summed up as Paul’s instruction to Timothy on how the people are to conduct themselves in the household of God. What a church believes will be played in how they live. God’s church should be known for its integrity and its devotion to serve others. To ensure that all glory is given to the risen King Jesus.
The unit comes complete with stories, pictures, suggested songs/memory verses, games, drama activities, crafts, large and small group activities. A resource pack full of crafts and worksheets is also included.