This Sunday, we will be finishing our study of 1 Timothy by looking at the final words Paul includes in his letter. Paul has been writing to Timothy, who is leading a struggling church in Ephesus, offering encouragement, correction, and guidance. As we come to the end of this letter, we will look at the final instructions Paul wants Timothy to remember.

Why do you think the final words of a letter or conversation often carry special importance? What might that tell us about what Paul wants Timothy to take away from his instruction?

I think about when my kids are getting out of the car to go to school. I often shout, “I love you!” because I want to make sure they hear those words before we part for the day. Now, they may not always want their friends to hear their mom shouting her love for them, but that’s beside the point…

In these final verses, Paul gives Timothy clear instructions to run away from certain things and pursue others. The original Greek emphasizes just how strongly Paul feels about these directions. He wants Timothy to flee from these things as if he were being chased by a hungry lion.

What are some things we need to run away from in our own lives? What does it look like to actively pursue the things God calls us toward?

To understand exactly what Paul wants Timothy to flee from, take a look back at our previous study in 1 Timothy from two weeks ago, which can be found here.

We hope you will join us this Sunday at 10 AM as we finish our study of 1 Timothy and learn together!