We continue our break to focus on suffering during this unprecedented season in our community here on Maui. Two weeks ago, in Romans 5, we considered what God is doing through our sufferings to make us more like Christ. A week ago, in Psalm 13, we considered what it looked like to process our suffering experientially through lament. In this sermon, we consider the comfort of God in our suffering and how God intends us to share that same comfort others with others. We also considered two very practical ways we can bring comfort to others: 1) sharing the comfort of lament, and 2) sharing the comfort of the gospel.

We continue our break from 1 Timothy to spend a couple weeks thinking about suffering. In this sermon, we consider David’s lament in Psalm 13. Mark Vroegop has helpfully defined lament as “A prayer in pain that leads to trust.” In Psalm 13, we find three aspects of David lament: 1) David’s Pain, 2) David’s Prayer, and 3) David’s Praise. There are two practical response in light of these things: 1) We must lament, and 2) We must lament together.

We take a break from 1 Timothy as one of our partners, Pastor Evan Calvin from Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky preaches from Romans 5.1-6. In this text we find two fountainheads of joy and hope for your soul: 1) the fountain head of our Secure Standing, 2) the fountain head of our Suffering.

There are many who walk away from the faith. Apostasy isn’t anything new, in fact it’s actually been promised. The church must be aware of and guard against. If we’re going to do that there are three ideas in 1 Timothy 4.1-5 that we must understand: 1) dangerous departures, 2) demonic doctrines, 3) defiant denials.

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.

In 1 Timothy 3.8-13, we are called to celebrate deacons as a gift from Christ. In order to do that we must understand three ideas in the text: 1) the deacon's role, 2) the deacon's qualifications, and 3) the deacon's reward.

As we continue our break from 1 Timothy, Mike Komatsu preaches from Titus 2.3-5 on the role of older women in the church.

As we take a break from 1 Timothy, Kenny Komatsu preaches from Titus 1.10-2.1.

Everyone knows that qualifications matter. If you’re flying, you want qualified pilots, if you’re getting surgery, you want qualified surgeons, if you’re getting your house rewired, you want qualified electricians. It’s no different in the church, the church must have qualified pastors. In this sermon we continue considering the qualifications for pastors in 1 Timothy 3.1-7. Overall, the pastor must be above reproach. But then Paul fleshes that out with 13 qualities that must characterize every pastor.

Qualifications matter. They matter in the world and in the church it's no different. In 1 Timothy 3.1-2, the church is called to value and uphold the pastorate and the qualifications of those who fill it.

In these verses we consider two realities: 1) The Office and 2) The Man. In light of these realities we should respond by: 1) Striving for these qualities, 2) Praying for qualified men, and 3) praying for our pastors.

God calls women to embrace and celebrate biblical womanhood. If women are going to do that, there are two truths in 1 Timothy 2.11-15 they need to understand: 1) God's Order in the Church and 2) God's Order in Creation. This text also implies a need for strong men and for faithful women in the church.

We took a break from our 1 Timothy series as Josh Lockhart preaches from Titus 2.2. Here, Paul commands the older men in Crete to be examples for the church in four specific ways: 1) sober-minded, 2) dignified, 3) self-controlled, and 4) sound in faith, love, and steadfastness. In response, older men must embrace the gift they are to the body and the body must be careful not to squander this gift.

**** e kala mai: we've continued to have recording issues. Only the last third of the sermon was recorded. ****

Extravagance and sensuality are two common temptations facing women when it comes to the way we dress. In this text, God calls women to adorn themselves in dignity. And to do that, women must put away worldliness and put on godliness. There are also four considerations that will help sisters discern what is appropriate and dignifying clothing: 1) consider your cultural-context, 2) consider your community, 3) consider your conscience, and 4) consider your Christ.

***e kala mai the first third of this sermon was erased ***

Distinctions between men and women are inconceivable for many within our culture. Yet, God created men and women differently to fulfill complementary roles in society, in our families, and in the church. Over the next several weeks, we'll consider how all this works itself out in the context of the local church. 1 Timothy 2.8 focuses on God's call for the men to lead spiritually. And there are two characteristics that must be formed in men, if they're going to accomplish this: 1) we must be praying men, and 2) we must be holy men.

We live in a pluralistic society where most believe that all spiritual paths essentially lead to the same destination. But in 1 Timothy 2.5-7 we are taught that there is only one God, one mediator, one ransom, one testimony, and one hope for all people. And this is the one hope that every Christian must hold fast to and proclaim to the world.

E kala mai, majority of the sermon was recorded but we had repeated issues with the sound and recording. In this sermon, Mike Komatsu helps us consider four aspects of the qualifications of elders: 1) his reputation, 2) his home, 3) his character, and 4) his doctrine.

We can often view prayer as ineffective, unproductive, and burdensome. But in 1 Timothy 2.1-4 we find that God uses the prayers of the church to accomplish his purposes for salvation in the world. In this text, the church is called to prayer. And there are three aspects of this call: 1) its priority, 2) its results, and 3) its motivation.

Paul once again charges Timothy with gospel-stewardship in Ephesus. Like Timothy, every Christian has been entrusted by God as a steward of the gospel. And if we are going to be faithful stewards there are two things from our text that we must do: 1) we must wage spiritual warfare and 2) we must avoid spiritual wreckage.

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.

Pastor Todd Morikawa (Kailua Baptist Church) preaches on the corporate nature of the Christian faith. We see three ways to corporately respond to the gospel: 1) let us continually go to God, 2) let us continually believe the gospel, and 3) let us continually consider one another.