Author Archives: Fred

Titus 1:1-16 [An overseer must] … be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. (v. 9b) I find that I am able to “preach the gospel” (when the occasion arises), but I’ve never been good at responding to negative responses. I’ve heard that the best testimony that we …

Continue reading “November 9 / Titus 1:1-16”

I Timothy 6:1-21 In Ben’s first sermon at St. Andrew’s he said something like “Jesus is so much more than anything we can imagine.” Paul is saying the same thing here: [Jesus] is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, …

Continue reading “November 8 / I Timothy 6:1-21”

I Timothy 5:1-25 I have learned to share Jesus in small ways as often as it is reasonable. One such time is when someone performs a service for me/us, like a plumber or a mechanic. For those folks it’s reasonable to offer a tip – an add-on to a bill or a $5 or a …

Continue reading “November 7 / I Timothy 5:1-25”

I Timothy 4:1-16 Keep a close watch on yourself…(v. 16a). I think Paul is talking here about responsibility and accountability. We are responsible to ourselves to keep that “close watch”, which is, in effect, our self-control. One way to keep that close watch on ourselves is to allow ourselves to be accountable to another individual …

Continue reading “November 6 / I Timothy 4:1-16”

I Timothy 3:1-16 There are a couple of items that stand out for me in Paul’s qualifications for the office of overseer. First, He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive… (v. 4b) This …keeping his children submissive… I remember that when I was growing up I learned the …

Continue reading “November 5 / I Timothy 3:1-16”

I Timothy 2:1-15 Although the second paragraph in today’s reading (vv. 8-15) is mostly about women, I was struck by verse 8: I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… I wondered what it was about Ephesus (Timothy’s church at that time) that made for …

Continue reading “November 4 / I Timothy 2:1-15”

I Timothy 1:1-20 Paul often refers to himself (specifically or in general terms) as an “apostle to the Gentiles”. But in the following verse I see him very much as an apostle to the Jews also. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me … Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as …

Continue reading “November 3 / I Timothy 1:1-20”

Ephesians 6:1-24 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling … [and] … render service, as to the Lord, and not to people, (vv. 5, 7) Kathy H. gave me a book to read a few weeks back, Jesus and the Disinherited, by Howard Thurman. The …

Continue reading “November 2 / Ephesians 6:1-24”

Ephesians 5:1-33 …and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (v. 10) I left this verse as a question last year and still have it as a question this year: How to discern what is pleasing to the Lord? I think we all have it as a basic question in our lives. We …

Continue reading “November 1 / Ephesians 5:1-33”