1 Timothy 3:14-15: Application

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:16, Martin explains that this sermon will focus on the reproof, correction, and training in righteousness derived from 1 Timothy 3:14-15, rather than…

Martin describes his internal debate about whether to start with positive or negative applications, fearing being perceived as 'soft' or 'harsh,' illustrating the challenge of sermon structure.

Some were negative, some were positive. Then I wrestled with how shall I lay them out in the sermon. If I give the positive first, some will surely conclude, poor Pastor Martin, in his old age, he's getting soft. And so he's starting with the positive, fearful to plow in and dig up with the negative.

4:57 - 5:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:16, Martin explains that this sermon will focus on the reproof, correction, and training in righteousness derived from 1 Timothy 3:14-15, rather than…

He uses Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:8, 12 as examples of Scripture's mixed pattern of negative and positive admonitions, justifying his chosen sermon structure.

So I said, well, Lord, what shall I do? And my mind went back to the pattern of the hortatory sections in Scripture. And there is a definite mixed pattern in Scripture. Sometimes you have the negative first followed by the positive.

5:38 - 5:54 Read in full sermon

The point: If your standard is valid and there is no true church to which you can commit yourself with a good conscience, then perhaps God is calling you to move from the area in which you presently find yourself.

Martin highlights how people readily move for career advancement or climate/health reasons, contrasting this with their unwillingness to move for the sake of finding a true church, to challenge their priorities.

I answer, secondly, if your standard is valid and there is no true church to which you can commit yourself with a good conscience, then perhaps God is calling you to move from the area in which you presently find yourself. Do people move from one geographical area to another for economic reasons? All the time. People have an opportunity in their career for advancement.

17:04 - 17:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The text stands as an indictment against para-church organizations that usurp the distinctive, biblically defined tasks of the church while being insensitive to biblical norms…

He uses the examples of para-legal assistance and para-medics to define 'para-church' as organizations that work alongside or assist the church, setting up his critique.

The text stands as an indictment against the vast majority of para-church organizations and institutions. Now, for some to whom the term para-church may convey no intelligent meaning, let me just define what I mean by the terminology. A para-church organization is an organization that claims to be an arm of the church, an organization and institution of structure called alongside to help the church, an organization and institution of structure called alongside to help the church, an organization and institution of structure called alongside to help the church, in its functions. You hear the te...

20:34 - 21:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The text stands as an indictment against para-church organizations that usurp the distinctive, biblically defined tasks of the church while being insensitive to biblical norms…

Martin quotes extensively from Thornwell's writings on ecclesiastical matters, specifically his debate with Hodge about church boards, to provide historical and theological backing for his indictment of para-church organizations.

Among our Presbyterian brethren, and I commend to every preacher present the section in volume four of Thornwell dealing with ecclesiastical matters, particularly his essays dealing with church boards. And here was the great debate between Thornwell and the leader on the other side, one of the Hodges, as to whether or not the church needed any of these things. And I commend to every preacher present the section in volume four

28:10 - 28:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The text trumpets a clarion call for meticulous adherence to the revealed norms for the church's government, worship, and ministry. Martin argues against the prevailing mentality…

He illustrates how a small church praying for world leaders like Reagan and Thatcher demonstrates the truth of God's sovereignty, challenging the perception that such prayers are 'crazy' and highlighting the church's role as a pillar of truth.

Well, the church is to reflect that truth in the pressure and burden of its prayers. People come into a little group of people, 30 people, and they hear them crying to God to govern and rule and turn the hearts of the Reagans, the President Reagans, of the Mrs. Thatchers, of the great leaders of the earth. And they say, these people are crazy.

42:25 - 42:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The text trumpets a clarion call for meticulous adherence to the revealed norms for the church's government, worship, and ministry. Martin argues against the prevailing mentality…

Martin uses the humorous example of public prayers dominated by minor ailments (Sister Jones' pinky, another sister's itchy ear) to show how such prayers can give an erroneous view of God, failing to reflect His sovereignty and delight in mercy.

The heart of kings is in His hand. And that glorious truth of His absolute sovereignty is a truth of which the church is pillar and foundation. So its prayers better be occupied with something more than dear old Sister Jones who's 98 and on her way to glory and happens to have a little bit of a twitch in her left pinky.

43:12 - 43:32 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The text trumpets a clarion call for meticulous adherence to the revealed norms for the church's government, worship, and ministry. Martin argues against the prevailing mentality…

He illustrates how a church reflecting God's established role orders, with sensitive male leadership and joyful, un-cowered women, would strike outsiders as embodying a truth about identity and order not found elsewhere.

Has God from creation established role orders? Yes, He has. So Paul says, may it be evident in the life of the churches at Ephesus they are a pillar and ground of the truth. Someone stepping in should sense, yes, there is sensitive, loving, but authoritative, responsible, godly male leadership in this place and coming out of a society that has no concept of assigned roles, they should be struck immediately with the sense of order and safety and blessedness.

44:31 - 45:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Repent if you are undermining the peace or purity of God's house through gossip, slander, or undermining respect for overseers.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is used to illustrate God's severe judgment on those who lie and tamper with the holiness of His temple, the church.

I say that is a trumpet warning in our ears, lest by carelessness with speech, carnality of attitude, by a plotting, scheming disposition to have our own way, we should in any way unnecessarily disrupt the peace, the unity and the purity, of any true church of Jesus Christ. God wanted to make that message very, very clear in the early church. When there was a man and a woman who thought they could lie with impunity, God killed them. He said, my temple is holy

50:31 - 51:15 Read in full sermon