In 1 Timothy 6.20-21, Paul gives Timothy one final charge. He exhorts Timothy to guard the gospel and avoid false teaching. This is something he’s done throughout this letter but as he wraps up he wants to make sure Timothy does not forgot why he’s in Ephesus. In a similar way, every true church and every true christian has been entrusted with the gospel and also must take the responsibility to guard it very seriously. In this sermon we contemplate two big ideas: 1) the Preservation of the Gospel (20-21) and 2) the provision of Grace (21).

In 1 Timothy 6.17-19, we are warned against abusing the good gifts of God and are exhorted to worship the giver and not the gifts. In verse 17, we find two ways to avoid worshiping our wealth: 1) by not becoming proud about our wealth and 2) by not setting our hope in our wealth. Then in verses 18-19, we find four ways to worship God with our wealth: 1) enjoying our wealth as a gift, 2) prioritizing true wealth, 3) sharing our wealth, and 4) storing up heavenly wealth.

The gospel is meant to radically change everything about us. In Titus 2.11-15, Kenny Komatsu helps us understand seven ways the gospel changes people: 1) it saves us, 2) it trains us, 3) it makes us wait eagerly, 4) it redeems us, 5) it purifies us, 6) it motivates us, and lastly 7) it makes us proclaimers.

In Luke 2.8-20, we see that the good news of Jesus’ arrival is a gospel of great joy. it’s meant to lead us to rejoicing that overflows into every area of our lives, including in our relationships with unbelievers. In this sermon there are two main ideas that we highlight: 1) Good News (8-12) and 2) Great Joy (13-20).

In 1 Timothy 3.14-16 we see the glory of the Church (the church is where God's presence dwells, the church is God's family, the church is the guardians and proclaimers of God's truth) and the glory of the gospel. In light of these realities, both the church and the gospel needs to be central in our lives.

Paul shares his story about how Jesus radically reoriented his life and called him into gospel-ministry. In this text, we find 3 encouragements to keep telling the world about Jesus: 1) Jesus provides mercy for sinners, 2) Jesus displays patience towards sinners, and 3) Jesus creates worship in sinners. Then we close by considering two reflections: 1) No sinner is too sinful for Jesus, 2) Every Chrsitian has a story that must be told.

God's law is good because it points you to God's gospel. And if we're going to be faithful in gospel-ministry, we need both the law and the gospel. So, in this sermon we consider 1) the goodness of God's law and 2) the glory of God's gospel.