The Personal and Corporate Integrity of the Church.

Carbon fiber is ten times as strong as steel and one third the weight. Because of these properties, the airplane industry is using it to make more lightweight, durable jets. Likewise, the church is much stronger and can move forward with much less burden when it is well-taught and holds to proper doctrine. The Christian life can be hard, but it would be much more difficult if we didn't preach a proper Gospel.

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1 Timothy was written from one individual to another for a specific purpose. 1 Timothy 3:15 gives a theme verse and the purpose for the whole book. Paul instructs Timothy on how Christians should behave in the household of faith. Here is a preview of the many areas that Paul addresses:

• Prayers for civil leadership (1 Tim. 2:1-5)
• Orderliness of church and worship (1 Tim. 2:7-15)
• Character and disposition of church leadership (chapters 3-4)
• Proper treatment of the elderly in the church (1 Tim. 5:1-16)
• Character and welfare of pastors (1 Tim. 5:17-25)
• The believer's work life and integrity (chapter 6)
• How to remain content in a materialistic world (chapter 6)

The most important doctrine to safeguard is the doctrine of salvation. If the content of the Gospel is perverted, we have no way to live with integrity in the local church. The first two verses of Paul's letter show that understanding the nature and character of God our Savior and Christ Jesus give us hope and tells us how to live (1 Tim. 1:1-2).

We will be studying the books of 1 and 2 Timothy at a slower pace than we studied Genesis. Different genres of literature in the Bible are treated differently. We examine the Law, prophecy, History books and Gospels to extract biblical principles. These books can be studied in larger sections without any fear of missing some truth in them. Letters contain many direct commands, so we take them more slowly, line by line and verse by verse.

Application Points

• Read the book of 1 Timothy in preparation for our in-depth study.

Tools for Further Study

A Hymn to Encourage: "Calvary Covers It All"

Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message that came to my heart
How that Jesus alone for sin did atone
And Calvary covers it all.

Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My gilt and despair Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore
Told His mercy and love evermore.
And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name,
And Calvary covers it all.

How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face
Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord
My redemption complete I then found at His feet
And Calvary covers it all.

How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought,
Shall be His in the glory on high
Where with gladness and song I'll be one of the throng,
And Calvary covers it all.