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Oct 27, 2024

Reformation Sunday

Reformation Sunday

Passage: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: General Topic

We are familiar with the so-called “humblebrag”--the subtle attempt to prop oneself up by appealing to one’s ostensible lowliness. We are too well attuned to that move and find it galling. What Paul will say in this passage is his most self-effacing statement. But what we know of his life leads us to believe he is airing his weakness not insincerely but to bring glory to His Lord who gave Him mercy. He walks with a limp; he knows himself to be a formidable sinner. But he takes comfort in what is greater than both and is unafraid to acknowledge his sin if only to awaken others to the greatness of God’s mercy.

CENTRAL TEXT: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

PRE SERVICE TEXT: Mark 9:23-24

 

PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: Romans 12:1-2

LEADER:    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The Word of the Lord

ALL:   Thanks be to God.

 

CONFESSION OF SIN:  

LEADER:  Beloved, let us confess our sin to God.
ALL:  Father of mercies, none of our sin is novel. Nothing is new under the sun. It all has its origin in our ingratitude to your grace. But while it isn’t new, it is still real. And it holds us. But your grip is stronger than our strongest attraction to folly. And your forgiveness is deeper than our most grievous sin. Help us to see where we have found an unstable alternative to trusting you. Help us to believe that your mercy in Christ is more.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:  

LEADER:  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. . .
ALL: … of whom I am the foremost. Thanks be to God for His mercy.

 

BENEDICTION: 1 Timothy 1:17

LEADER: To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES

  • Romans 8:31-32; 37
  • 1 Corinthians 12:3

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Name an injury or affliction you’ve suffered that still affects, even slightly, the way you function. What is harder to do now than if it never occurred?
  2. Recount together what you can about Paul’s story. Why would he have committed those errors he mentions in the passage as, to him, an act of righteousness? 
  3. Why might Paul speak of himself as the foremost of sinners–and in a present tense fashion?
  4. In the sermon, we appealed to the metaphor of a “formula” as a strategy we use as a substitute for trusting Jesus when different circumstances force a choice upon us. We described it as an approach that offers us some lesser but compromised good, but which will do damage whether to ourselves or others. So…if you had to take a stab at what you are inclined to do as an alternative to trusting Christ, what might be your version of a “formula”? (Be patient with yourself on this as you consider it. Reflection and prayer–and even the loving comment of others–might be required) 
  5. How does this passage succinctly summarize the gospel? One line of evidence for our formula is what we fear. How does the gospel offer responses to those things we fear, and which lead us to opt for our formula?
  6. The comfort of the gospel comes from God; we cannot conjure or contrive it. But what can we do to become receptive to that comfort?

 

Illustrations

 

Quotes

  • Scripture. Faith. Grace. Christ, Glory of God. Smart man says nothing is a miracle. I say everything is.
    - Norm Macdonald
  • According to the Reformation insight and discovery...the gospel, rightly spoken, involves no ifs, ands, buts, or maybes of any sort. It does not say, “If you do your best to live a good life, God will fulfill that life,” or, “If you fight on the right side of the great issues of your time …,” or, “If you repent …,” or, “If you believe….” It does not even say, “If you want to do good/repent/believe …,” or, “If you are sorry for not wanting to do good/repent/believe….” The gospel says, “Because the Crucified lives as Lord, your destiny is good.”
    - Robert Jensen

 

BOOKS / DOCS