The task of leading a congregation is intense. It reauires having our theology AND our practice connected and coherent.

1. Resetting the Dislocated Doctrine
1 Tim 1:3-11

2. Introduction
• Spiritual health is a combination of additions
and subtractions:
+ speaking truth – lying
+ giving – stealing
+ living by faith – living by sight or control
+ divine nature – corruption from sinful desire
+ faith + virtue + knowledge + self-control +
steadfastness + godliness + bro. affection + love
= HEALTH!

3. Introduction
• Spiritual health is a combination of additions
and subtractions:
+ sound doctrine – distracting, damaging ‘junk’
= HEALTH!
= BLAMELESS – ‘without reproach’

4. Introduction
• Leaders must be
concerned for spiritual
FITNESS for everyone.
• Healthy churches
are more interested
in correcting error
CORRECTLY than they
are about being
CORRECT.

5. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them personally (vv3-4)
• “Charging” is ‘personal
direction’ not organizational
rulings
• Paul urged Timothy to stay at
the hard work of discipleship

6. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them personally (vv3-4)
• Discipleship is a development of
one’s personal practical
theology
• Heterodoxical hares and hobby
horses must be released
• Restorative ministry allows
people to find answers and
work hard

7. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them carefully (vv5-7)
• The purpose of “charging” is
love for your brother
– John 3:16
– Romans 5:5
– 1 Corinthians 13
• Careful handling of the
Word of Truth requires
careful self-exam

8. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them carefully (vv5-7)
• Loving confrontation of
doctrinal error comes from
– A PURE HEART
– A GOOD CONSCIENCE
– A SINCERE FAITH

9. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them carefully (vv5-7)
• Correction without love
misses the target
• Correction without love
causes greater damage
• Restorative ministry helps
people share what they
believe with credibility

10. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them accurately (vv8-11)
• The law is beautiful when it is
applied correctly.
– IT IS NOT AN INSTRUMENT OF ABUSE
– IT IS NOT A MANIPULATION TOOL
– IT IS NOT A WEAPON OF PREJUDICE
– IT IS A STANDARD OF HOLINESS
• The law is beautiful when it is
partnered with the gospel.

11. Restorative Ministry
• Challenge them accurately (vv8-11)
• The proclamation of the
gospel is the responsibility of
each believer.
• Restorative ministry calls
people (and enables them) to
glorify and enjoy God.

12. Conclusions
• Correct doctrine is vitally important to being
BLAMELESS.
• Quick, caring correction to doctrinal errors is
vitally important to being BLAMELESS.
• BLAMELESS churches offer truth with healthy
doses of grace and compassion.
• This practice of the GOSPEL glorifies God.
(1:11)