Join us in this enriching Bible study session as we discuss Paul’s letter to Timothy and the profound impact of maintaining a well-balanced life through the teachings of the gospel. Jeff Archie provides valuable lessons on how self-discipline and commitment to doctrine shape our spiritual journeys. Discover the historical significance of ‘sheet lessons’ and how they have paved the way for modern study tools. Be inspired to deepen your faith and understanding as we offer valuable resources for your spiritual growth.
From 1 Timothy 4.16, the Bible says, Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. One self and God’s doctrine. Well, friends, that’s our study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, greetings, everyone. Great having you with us once again for our studies from the International Gospel Hour. We are always appreciative for the good words of our J-Web, our blessed announcer. Again, thank you for being with us, and today we are turning back the clock. for an old-fashioned sheet lesson titled, A Well-Balanced Life. Now, for those not familiar with the term sheet lesson, these are lessons that preachers either printed or had painted on bed sheets. This happened many years ago, folks, and what they would do is they would hang them on a wire there on the pulpit and would just simply preach from there. Now, we affectionately call it a forerunner of PowerPoint. You could see the entire lesson on this sheet. Now, what is so neat in this day and age is that you can follow along and see these sheet lessons. They are available in picture form on our social media pages, on Facebook, Instagram, and ex-formerly Twitter. So if you’re a Facebooker, go to International Gospel Hour, follow us there. Also, if you’re into Instagram, go to International Gospel Hour. You can follow us there. Now, if you are following us on X, formerly Twitter, this is what you need to put in. H-O-U-R underscore gospel. Our underscore gospel. And you can follow us there. And you can see the lesson today, A Well-Balanced Life. Now, our lesson text for this study is 1 Timothy 4, 16, as we mentioned earlier. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Our study is coming up, A Well-Balanced Life. But first, a few words from our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
You can now not only hear the International Gospel Hour, but you can also see the International Gospel Hour on our YouTube channel. Go to YouTube, put International Gospel Hour in the search engine, and subscribe to the channel. Then click on the bell and you’ll be notified each time a program is uploaded. It is free. Subscribe to YouTube today. It’s the number one streaming service for television and the International Gospel Hour channel is there.
SPEAKER 01 :
A well-balanced life. Now, our text says, take heed unto yourself. Paul is writing to the young Christian Timothy. Timothy was obedient through, of course, hearing the gospel and believing it, repenting of his sins, confessing his faith, and was baptized into Christ and was added to the church. Now, there are some reminders for Timothy to take heed unto himself and to the doctrine. And there are lessons for us as well. For example, when we take heed to ourselves, that was nothing new in the text. Did not Peter say in Acts 2 in verse 40, to those that had assembled on Pentecost, save yourselves from this perverted generation? In other words, you need to make a decision. In Matthew 16, 24, Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, Take up his cross and follow me. In Luke 18 verses 9 and 10, Jesus spoke a parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. And that’s where he taught of the two men that went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. It was the Pharisee that exalted himself. Well, when we take heed to ourselves, we don’t need to exalt ourselves, but have the attitude of that tax collector, God be merciful to me, a sinner. We’re also not to be deceived. For example, John said in 1 John 1 in verse 8, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. And that’s not taking heed to ourselves and to the doctrine. Listen to 1 Corinthians 9, 27. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Paul said, I need to make certain my life is in control, being controlled of God. I take heed to myself and the doctrine of which I apply. What about James 1 and verse 27? Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. When we take heed to ourselves and unto the doctrine, then we will keep ourselves unspotted from the world. And in 1 Timothy 3 and verse 15, Paul told Timothy, If I, Terry Long, that you ought to know how to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. So as he told Timothy later to take heed to himself, he had already told Timothy to behave and how to live. Friends, we can have a well-balanced life when we take heed unto ourselves and take heed unto the doctrine of Christ that instructs us how we need to live. Friends, that’s what makes great Bible study so important. That’s why not only through our broadcast here that we hope that you’re able to learn and to grow, but while we offer a number of free materials, all of them always free, by mail or online. I’m going to pause here with one of those free study courses, and here is our J-Web with the details of how you can receive your Bible study course by mail.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our well-received Bible study course by mail is available to everyone absolutely free. Would you like to try it? All you do is call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. That’s all you have to do. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the Contact tab and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. At your own pace, you can study the Bible in your own home. Again, it’s free. Give it a try. And it’s from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, friends, one continues to be well-balanced by embracing the doctrine. Now, remember, Paul told Timothy, Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them. So let’s talk about taking heed unto the doctrine that we apply to ourselves. In Titus 2 and verse 7, In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility. So show yourself to be a pattern of good works and to do so in doctrine. Now friends, let’s note something here. Works are not what an individual does to be saved. Works is what that faithful individual does because they are saved. We’re also taught concerning the doctrine of to not to add to nor take away the things that God has given. This principle and commandment is brought forth in Revelation 22, 18 and 19. In Romans 6 and verse 17, But God be thanked, you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. The form of doctrine is, the belief in the gospel message, Romans 1.16, to be baptized into Jesus Christ, Romans 6.4-6. They understood that. They knew that they were not to be ashamed of the gospel or the doctrine of Christ, Romans 1 and verse 16. When we think about doctrine, sometimes, friends, we say, well, doctrine doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t matter what you believe. But you know, Jesus never said that. Neither did Paul, Peter, or any of the apostles, or any of the writers of the New Testament. that we must always make certain that we are abiding in the doctrine of Jesus Christ, what He taught and what He said. In 2 John 9, we are warned that if we do not continue in the doctrine of Christ, that we are to not even bid God’s speed or encouragement to such an individual who would tell us otherwise. As we’ve noted already through our offerings of studies, We need to study the Word of God, the doctrine of Christ. Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. To be able to give diligence to understand and to study the Word of God as we offer through our broadcast, and also study tools that you can use as well, and matter of fact, one that you can find this very lesson through our social media. And in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 2, Jesus told Timothy that the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same you commit to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. Faithful men who take heed unto themselves and unto the doctrine. I suppose you could say they have a well-balanced life. Now once again, 1 Timothy 4, 16. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. I would say if we continue in them, we indeed will save ourselves and the ones that will hear us. We must take heed unto ourselves, make certain that we have obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then take heed unto the doctrine of that we may grow thereby. 2 Peter 3.18 And yes, you don’t see that on the chart or the sheet lesson, but that’s an extra bonus. Friends, may we all have a well-balanced life by taking heed unto ourselves, doing what we are to do in obedience to God’s will, and taking heed unto the doctrine that will instruct us as we press onward. We hope we will help you, and we hope we can help you, rather, in your study of the Word of God, whether online at our YouTube channel or our free Bible course by mail. And also, we’ll continue this at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour broadcast. I’m Jeff Archie, and as always, friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
