[오늘의 말씀 포인트] 핵심 주제
1. 예수님이 오셨을 때의 세상:로마제국 치하의 ‘절망, 혼돈, 공허’
2. 태초에 창조 이전의 세상:(창 1:1)
3, 하나님이 창조하신 일

1) 빛
    2) 나눔
    3) 채움
4. 예수님께을 마음에 모시면 일어나는 일:

[결단의 기도]  
1. 어둡고 복잡하고 허무했던 제 마음에 빛과 진리로 임하여 주옵소서!
2. 이미 예수님을 마음에 모시고 살지만, 여전히 무기력한 우리 심령 위에 오늘 충만한 은혜로 임하여 주옵소서!

English Translation (by Jane Kim)

 (1 Timothy 4:7-16, ESV)

 

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 

Praise

Onnuri Elders

 

Special Video

2021 in Pictures

 

What Will I Devote Myself To? (1 Timothy 4:7-13)

 

Today is the last Sunday Service of 2021. I am especially grateful that our English-Speaking Congregation (ESC) have joined their parents and are worshiping here with us.

How have you lived during this past year? Many thought that Covid-19 would be over in a couple of months, but we are now approaching living in its midst for the third year. Wearing masks was so inconvenient at first, but now we wear it so much that we don’t even notice it. And some women say it's been comfortable because they only have to put on eye makeup.

Online services were so awkward and uncomfortable at first, but now we have become used to them, and some students prefer to take online classes at home instead of physically going to school. Homeschooling has said to have doubled during the pandemic because many families have switched over to it. On the other hand, time spent playing online games has also increased by 71% during the pandemic. Please keep an eye on your children to make sure they are not playing games while doing online school.

What kind of worldview and what kind of spiritual view should we have while we are adapting to the new-normal? In order to find the answer to this question, we should look at today's text, which is Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy, a young spiritual leader.

 

 (Verse 7) Having nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.

 

 (Verse 13) … devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

 

What does it mean to ‘have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths’ in verse 7? The word devote is found in 1 Timothy 1 as well.

 

 (1 Timothy 1:4) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

 

 “Don’t dwell on vain myths, but focus on the Word of God!”

 

The same Greek word for devote is dwell and focus. The verb devote is ‘to be absorbed’ in the HRV version, and it’s “to pay attention to” in the RNKSV. The Greek word devote is ‘prosecco’ which means ‘to hold onto something’. Therefore, the verse is addressing where one should put his heart in, where he should immerse himself, and what he should focus on.

Where did you spend most of your time during this past year? Some people could have been preoccupied with investing in stocks, some in real estate, some in running their business, some in improving their health, some in sports, some in games, some in their children, and the list goes on. On the other hand, some people may have been devoted to helping the spiritual lives of others, building up the community, and learning the Word. Then, why do some people spend their lives immersing themselves more in the affairs of the world than in the kingdom of God?

There is a secret in the word ‘myth’ in 1 Timothy 1:4 and 1 Timothy 4:7. The Greek word mythos is the origin of the English word myth. In the RNKSV, it is translated as 'vulgar and vain fiction'.

The biggest myth in the 21st century is probably about success. The myth about that is that if you make a lot of money, you will be satisfied. But this is a vain narrative invented by the devil.

 

(Ecclesiastes 5:10) He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

 

This story says that if one is successful, he will be able to marry a wonderful wife and be happy. But that too is a lie made up by the devil, and it is a vain myth.

 

(1 Timothy 6:9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

 

And this success story has been deceiving churches and church leaders for a long time. With the ongoing pandemic, when pastors gather, we discuss where the future direction of the church is going. And we talk about how to do ministry during these changing times.

There are many people who are concerned that the church is going to get rid of gatherings for good and will gradually close its doors. Or new ways of doing ministry are being suggested. Since we’re living in the age of the internet, there are some people who say we need to grab a hold of the young people with innovative technology.

But this is what I personally think. Rather than investing in any new technology or other methods, I believe it is time to restore the Gospel’s power and the essence of the church. It is not the essence of the kingdom of God and the church that has been damaged by the virus. The idols and myths we have built up over the years have just been destroyed.

So, instead of looking to follow another success narrative just because one success myth is destroyed, the answer is to restore pure faith and the essence of the church since the idols and the myths have been proven false.

270 million people have been infected with Covid-19, and 5.4 million have died from it. It can be said to be one of the greatest tragedies of the 21st century. However, in history, the greatest time of the outpouring of God's grace so people’s faith could be restored was after the age of disaster. Because only through suffering can human pride be broken.

Liberal theology that emerged at the end of the 19th century came about under the influence of humanism and materialism. Since then, faith has declined. Humanity was engulfed in pride and optimism. Then World War I and World War II broke out. In 1918, 20 million people died during World War I. In 1919 the Spanish flu killed 70 million, and about 60 million died during World War II.

Conceit and optimism toward humanism, science, and industrialism were destroyed, and then, neo-orthodox theology, evangelicalism, and the Pentecostal movement emerged, resulting in a revival of the church. In other words, I believe that we should pray for the revival of faith through this great calamity.

 

So what should churches and spiritual leaders do?

 

1) We must set our heart on others’ souls and not on success.

 

(Proverbs 27:23) Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,

 

We need to focus on people and not on work.

 

2) We must devote ourselves to the pure Gospel of God.

 

(1 Timothy 4:13) Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

 

(1 Timothy 6:3) If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,

 

In other versions, 1 Timothy 4:13 is translated to 'devote yourself to the word of the Gospel'. After the pandemic is over, various technological developments will be necessary, but I believe that the church cannot be restored through such a method alone. In such a crisis situation, we should rather focus on godliness and teaching and learning the Word at church.

 

(1 Timothy 4:11-12) Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

 

I especially want the younger generation like Timothy to learn the Word of God and put it into practice in their lives. So, I pray that all of you here will see progress in faith in 2022 compared to 2021. With that in mind, we will conclude by reading verse 15 of today's text together.

 

(1 Timothy 4:15) Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

 

 (Prayer)

 

-Let’s not be fooled by the myth that worldly success and money will give us eternal happiness and satisfaction!

 

-Let’s not look for new idols and myths just because the times are difficult!

 

-May 2022 be the year when we will not be focused on the vain things of this world but be devoted to the well-being of our souls and the Word of God!