The following are suggested answers to stimulate your thinking as your work through the Message Based Discussion Questions for the message presented on May 11, 2014. Please use them to understand and then dig deeper, not to discontinue thinking.

How do you prepare leadership?

1) Train them to know who they are in the Jesus 4:11-12

2) Train them to know His Word by His Spirit 4:13-14

3) Train them to absorb God’s Word for transformation 4:15

4) Train them by training yourself 4:16

• Jer. 17:9-10

Jesus is our Leader and Lord!!!

Train yourself to Jesus, so you can disciple others for transformation!

• Discipleship does not happen by osmosis. Anything spiritually good is going to take concentration and effort 2 Tim. 2:15
• The Lordship of Jesus will drive the committed Christian to seek discipleship and the privilege of discipling others. Not everyone can be a mother, but everyone can disciple others.

Message Based Discussion Questions

1) What kind of influence did your mother have on your leadership?

• My mother gave a list of chore and expected us to get them done. She taught us responsibility and accountability in the process. She also made us each responsible for our rooms etc. and to be maintained well.
• We knew we were part of the family, because we had our personal assignments, yet she also gave us freedom of when to get them done and how to get them done in many cases.
• She was a good example as she helped out in cub scouts and ladies’ functions at church.

Digging Deeper:

2) In 1 Timothy 4:15, “meditate” and “continue in them” seem like there is effort involved in accomplishing what Paul has written. Did Paul imply that the Christian life was easy or difficult? _It required plenty of work_ In what way? What other verses would you use to support your answer?

• Paul said, “give yourself entirely” to them. These were strong commands to Timothy who was a humble disciple of Paul.
• Paul used language that described how hard he worked in life 1 Tim. 4:7-8; Col. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:1-8, 15.

3) How well do babies evaluate themselves? _They don’t, but they judge everyone around them, because they complain about everything not being just right__ What might that say about adults who do or don’t evaluate themselves? What do people often do when they do not evaluate themselves? What Scriptures would you use to support your answer?

• They are spiritual infants or children, who like to blame others for their problems.
• They blame others, they point out the weaknesses of others and they don’t examine themselves.
• 2 Cor. 12:11-15; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Tit. 1:10-16

4) Paul has used this phrase “be saved” back in 1 Timothy 2:15 and similarly in 1 Timothy 4:16. Is Paul talking about salvation from sin? _no__ How so and how would you support your answer?

• Timothy was already a believer as Paul called him “my son” 1 Tim. 1:2
• Paul commends Timothy for following Truth 1 Tim. 4:6

Making Application of the Message to life:

5) How do you make your “progress” evident to all? What kinds of things can you do in order to be transformed to the image of Jesus?

• Faithfully stick with the word and live it out.
  • Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in the midst of trials
  • Show love and kindness to contrarian people
  • Listen to people, even when they are against you
  • Manifest the love of Jesus as more important than the troubles of life
• Read, study, memorize and meditate on Scripture
  • Live out Rom. 8:28 by trusting Jesus
  • Make decisions that demonstrate trust in Jesus rather than isolate in fear and worry Phil 4:6-7
  • Steel your thinking so that you are not moved by love instead of by emotions 2 Tim. 1:6-7
  • Be stabilized in doctrine instead of the changing winds of man Eph. 4:12-14
  • Speak the truth in love rather than personal agendas Eph. 4:15

6) Paul admonished Timothy to deal with the pressures of his ministry. How do you deal with the pressures of life in order to continue pressing forward in God’s ministry through you?

• Cut out the stuff of the world that does not matter
• Simplify life so that you don’t have expectations of getting things done that don’t matter
• Clarify your life around people and God’s Word rather than tasks and things
• Orient to Jesus’ authority rather than personal ambitions
• Dump the junk at Jesus’ feet and let Him carry the burdens

7) How do you balance “taking heed to yourself” and having a self-centered approach to life? What is the difference? How would you disciple someone else on what that looks like?

• Balance it by being open to change.
  • Examine self for repentance and change, not personal admiration or satisfaction
  • Self-centeredness only lifts up self, instead of Jesus
• Self-examination does it for Jesus, self-centeredness does it for self. Mirrors can cause a person to focus on self for selfish reasons, the Word does not.
• Reach his heart
  • Help him see he examines self to be like Jesus Rom. 8:29
  • Examination is not for guilt or superiority, but humility sake.
  • Examine self in transparency, so that he can see what it looks like