“Know who you are”

“Recognise and resist wrong ideas”

“Guidance on homosexuality”

“Encourage Prayer”

“Fight the battle”

“God wants all to be saved”

“Character of a leader”

“The Value of Women”

“Godliness from Jesus”

“Overcoming fear in faith”

“Setting an example”

“Scripture and gifting”

“Care for other generations”

“Dealing with Gossip”“Issues facing the Church”“Contentment”

“Pursuing”

How do we find contentment in a discontent society?

Contentment1 Timothy 6

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Pursuing

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Leaving behind and running actively after

Goal - not a starting point

Pursuing

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

What are we leaving behind?

What are we running after?

How do we pursue?

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12

Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Righteousness: living rightly - without sinloving God with all our heart

Controlled or inspired by nothing else

Seeking God’s presence

Desiring God’s happiness above all

Willingly serving

Valuing the reputation of God

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Righteousness: living rightly - without sin loving God with all our heart

loving neighbour as self

Speaking kindly

Sharing generously

Forgiving graciously

Caring proactively

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Righteousness: living rightly - without sin loving God with all our heart

God as an optional extra

God as the one to please us

Selective Christianity

What are we leaving behind?

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Righteousness: living rightly - without sin loving God with all our heart

What are we leaving behind?

How do we pursue?

God as an optional extra

Recognise

Repent

Commit

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Godliness: living the character of God Demonstrating God

MercyCompassionStrengtheningSearchingBinding upSetting freeHealing

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Godliness: living the character of GodDemonstrating God

What are we leaving behind? Self-centredness

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Godliness: living the character of GodDemonstrating God

What are we leaving behind?

How do we pursue?

Self-centredness

Prayer

MeditationStudy

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Faith: the action of trustChoosing ...Obedience

Hope

Thankfulness

Sacrifice

Despite ... DoubtFear

OppositionFeelings

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Faith: the action of trust

What are we leaving behind?

Double-mindedness

Inertia

Captivity to moods

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Faith: the action of trust

What are we leaving behind?

How do we pursue?

Choices

Captivity to moods

FellowshipWorship

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Love: the well being of others

Not a feeling but a choiceNot based on liking

but on God’s perspective

Not friendship or attractionbut care

Not naive trust but wise reality

Not appeasement but what’s best

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Love: the well being of others

What are we leaving behind?

Judging

Retaliating

Ignoring

Unkindness

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Love: the well being of others

What are we leaving behind?

How do we pursue?

Commitment to pray

Unkindness

and listen

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Endurance: not giving up ...trustingworshippingserving

praying

despite ... opposition

difficulty

disappointmentdoubt

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Endurance: not giving up

What are we leaving behind?

Believing when it suits us

Comfortable lukewarm Christianity

Meaningless faith

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Endurance: not giving up

What are we leaving behind?

How do we pursue?

Believing when it suits us

Commitment Commitment to small group

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Gentleness: Nurturing

Treating kindly

What are we leaving behind?

Force

Manipulation

Impatience

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Gentleness: Nurturing

Treating kindly

What are we leaving behind?

Force

Manipulation

Impatience

1 Timothy 611 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith

Pursuing

What are we running after?

Gentleness: Nurturing

Treating kindly

What are we leaving behind?

Force

How do we pursue?

Make it our ambitionPray