Guard What You Pass On

The Gospel Must Be Guarded Intentionally

• As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine 1 Timothy 1:3 CSB

• I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Men will rise up even from your own number and distort the truth to lure the disciples into following them.  Acts 20:29–30 CSB

• Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write, appealing to you to contend for the faith  that was delivered  to the saints once for all. Jude 1:3 CSB

Truth Is Lost When Faith Is Replaced with Speculation

• or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 1 Timothy 1:4 CSB

• But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 CSB

• Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.  Colossians 2:8 CSB

The Goal of Sound Doctrine Is Transformed Lives

• Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.  1 Timothy 1:5 CSB

• He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” Matthew 22:37–40 CSB

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,  kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  The law is not against such things. Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

Fruitless Teaching Flows from Misguided Hearts

• Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 1 Timothy 1:6–7 CSB

• You’ll recognize them by their fruit.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?   In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.   So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. Matthew 7:16–20 CSB

• Now about food sacrificed to idols:  We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up,  but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 CSB

The Gospel Is a Sacred Trust for the Next Generation

• Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.  1 Timothy 6:20 CSB

• Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 1:13–14 CSB