Behavior in His House

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces a new sermon series, 'Living Together in the Father's House,' based on a book title, and outlines his introductory plan: two questions, an observation, an…

Martin references the book 'Life in the Father's House' by Wayne Mack and David Swavely, using its title as inspiration for his sermon series title, 'Living Together in the Father's House'.

First Timothy 3, 14. These things write I unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly. But if I tarry long, that you may know how men, or how you, Timothy, ought to behave yourself or men behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Several years ago, a book was written by Wayne Mack and David Swavely, and it was published by PNR with this title,

0:40 - 1:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that Paul wrote 1 Timothy because he hoped to return to Ephesus shortly but might be delayed, making the letter a substitute for his personal presence. He notes…

Martin uses Paul's desire to return to Ephesus, which was providentially delayed, and his imprisonment, which led to the prison epistles, as examples of God using disappointed human expectations to produce greater good for the church.

but, if I do not come, I am deeply concerned about behavior in God's house, and so I'm writing this letter. Now, the only word of application I would give under this heading is simply to note that we should be exceedingly thankful for God's providence which disappointed Paul's fond expectation. Where would we be without 1 Timothy? In a similar way, where would we be without the prison epistles?

17:17 - 17:45 Read in full sermon

The point: This is not their house. Their will is not to govern. Their preferences and prejudices are not to stand in the way of apostolic directives. They are not so to sin in their relationships to God and one another that they g…

Martin draws an analogy between a person's concern for dignity and respectability in their own home (unruly children, untidy house) and God's much greater concern for behavior in His house, the church.

in the midst of his people no wonder the Apostle is concerned about behavior in the church Anyone here who wants to maintain any sense of dignity and respectability among his fellow men is concerned about behavior in his house. If you've got unruly children, it's an embarrassment to you. If you have an unkempt house that is dirty and untidy, and food is served up in a way that is not healthful and attractive, you're embarrassed when behavior in your house goes to pot. You're embarrassed.

36:00 - 36:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains the church's strategic function as 'the pillar and ground of the truth,' defining 'pillar' as vertical support and 'ground' as foundation. He clarifies that the…

The story of Samson pushing down the pillars of the house of Dagon is used to illustrate the function of a 'pillar' as a vertical support system that, when removed, causes the whole structure to collapse.

Samson, when he goes into the house of the God of Dagon, he puts his hands on two of the main support pillars, cries to God for strength that in his death he might magnify God, and he pushes those two support pillars. The whole structure comes crashing down, and Samson slays more in his death than in his life. The pillar, that which supports the roof, the vertical structures that hold up the roof. He says the church in its function is pillar. Secondly, it's foundation. Adrioma, only time

49:49 - 50:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains the church's strategic function as 'the pillar and ground of the truth,' defining 'pillar' as vertical support and 'ground' as foundation. He clarifies that the…

An analogy of building a deck, digging footings, and placing vertical support posts is used to explain the relationship between 'ground' (foundation) and 'pillar' in supporting a structure, applying it to the church's function in upholding truth.

found in the New Testament. And it either means a buttress that strengthens the pillar, or more likely, it's the concept of the foundation that's underneath the pillar. Some of you home handymen, you're building a deck, and you're going to dig your footings to put in your supports. Why? Because you know that the vertical support post will only be as stable as

50:26 - 50:46 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The pillar and the basement of the truth, it is a test we have to deal with as well as a claim to consider. For the truth is not of the church's making, but of God's revealing. She has it not of her own, but from above, …

Martin quotes Fairbairn's commentary on 'pillar and basement of the truth' to emphasize that the church receives truth as a stewardship, not creating it, and forfeits its identity if it corrupts or loses hold of the truth.

And here I want to quote what to me has been a most helpful, helpful insight from one of God's servants from another generation. I don't like to give long quotes in the sermon, but he has said something so much more perceptively and accurately and succinctly than I could. Commenting on this, Fairbairn writes,

54:11 - 54:41 Read in full sermon

The point: If we love the God and the Christ who have established the church, then we with Timothy will have an apostolic concern to make sure that by the grace of God, our behavior in God's house, the church of the living God, the…

B.B. Warfield's analogy of a typewriter and the manuscript it produces is used to argue that the church's organization and worship are not indifferent matters, but essential for its proper function in producing the 'manuscript' of the gospel.

of the gospel, then he argues to the importance of the gospel, and then he argues to the importance of the gospel, and then he argues to the importance of the gospel. He takes his start from the of the church which has been established in the world as the organ of the gospel, the pillar and buttress on which its purity and its completeness rests. And then he amplifies that, and then he uses the illustration. He said, imagine someone telling you, one might as well say it makes no difference how a machine is put together, how, for example, a typewriter is disposed in its several parts, because i...

61:26 - 61:57 Read in full sermon