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1 Timothy 6:6-19
Proper 21C
Robert Frost entitled his arguably most well-known poem “The Road Not Taken.” It begins, famously, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” That phrase likely, in turn, helped inspire M. Scott Peck’s arguably most famous book’s title: The Road…
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Proper 20C
Most preachers are at least familiar with variations on some Christians’ refrain of “Prime Minister (or President) So-and-So is a turkey.” Or “Congressman (or Member of Parliament) Such-and-Such is trying to ruin our country.” I’m always a bit tempted to respond to such assertions by asking the complainant, “Do you pray for that leader as…
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Proper 19C
At first glance, 1 Timothy 1:17 may seem like a strange place to put such a stirring doxology. After all, while we profess the Spirit inspired its placement, it’s only a relative handful of verses into Paul’s letter to his “true son in the faith” (1). While there are, of course, exceptions, we generally find…
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Proper 21C
Few virtues are, arguably, rarer in the twenty-first century than “contentment.” Relatively few people seem deeply satisfied with their situation in life. A variety of things fuels this dissatisfaction. Many citizens of what we sometimes call the “first world” live in a conspicuously consumptive society and time. What’s more, the media that has such a…
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Proper 20C
Paul packs this Sunday’s Epistolary Lesson with “all’s.” In fact, he uses a form of the Greek word panta no less than five times in its seven verses. But while the apostle loads this text with “all,” nearly every use of the word carries with it both some mystery and the seed of controversy. So…
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Proper 19C
21st century culture is not, by and large, a patient one. It easily becomes impatient with the slowness of its electronic devices. Its citizens avoid friends who take too long to warm up, and politicians who take too long to enact legislation. It’s not just the 21st century’s oatmeal that we want to be “instant.”…
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Proper 21C
“Take hold of the life that really is life.” What a catching phrase. It’s one of those that you can feel the truth of deep in your bones, but whose truth you can’t simply explain in a few words. What is “the life that really is life?” We’re at the close of Paul’s first letter…
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Proper 20C
Concerned about the divisions, the dissension from doctrine, and the deplorable way their inner congregational conflict looked to nonbelievers, Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to try to make things better in the church. Back in chapter 1 verse 3, Paul reminded Timothy what he charged Timothy to do when he left: “instruct certain people not…
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Proper 19C
We’re heading into a number of weeks reading Paul’s advice and encouragement to his partner in ministry, Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s closest companion in ministry, his trusted confidante, his mentee, someone he trusted to do the important work of guiding the church. Paul trusted Timothy so much that he left Timothy with the embattled Ephesus…
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Proper 21C
Perhaps the single most striking feature of these closing verses of 1 Timothy is the glorious doxology that fairly erupts from Paul right in the middle of his advice related to riches and money and such. It’s as though Paul’s spirit had suddenly soared into the throne room of Almighty God himself and what Paul…
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