Godliness and generosity

Discipleship in the church
Godliness and generosity-outline
1 Timothy 6:11-21
Pursue godliness, take hold of eternal life, be generous and guard the truth

1) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, 6:11.
Paul exhorts Timothy to keep fleeing the things that led to the false teachers from perverting and abandoning the faith. Why is it important that Christians keep fleeing worldly attitudes and desires and keep pursuing godliness, faith, endurance, etc.?

2) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses, 6:12.
What is Paul calling Timothy (and us) to do when he tells him to “fight the good fight of the faith, and take hold of eternal life”? How does Paul’s reminder of Timothy’s “good confession” (at his baptism) serve to motivate him/us to “fight” and “take hold”?

3) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—6:13-15a.
Paul commands Timothy to keep the commandment (to stop false teachers, to teach gospel-centered godliness) unstained and free from reproach until Jesus comes. How does what he says about God and about Christ making the good confession before Pilate (John 18:37) encourage Timothy to persevere?

4) he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen, 6:15b-16.
How do Paul’s words of exalting God further encourage Timothy (and us) to persevere?

5) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy, 6:17.
What does Paul say about the nature of earthly riches? What does he say are the hazards of riches? How do we avoid the hazards of riches? Are riches inherently bad?

6) They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life, 6:18-19.
How should the rich invest in the future? How does doing these things enable them to take hold of what is truly life (eternal life, 6:12)?

7) O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you, 6:20-21.
What is the deposit entrusted to Timothy? How should he (and we) guard it? What are Timothy and we to avoid? Examples of what to avoid? Why is grace a needful way to end?