Elevating Christ: Faithfulness in a Hostile Culture

In the bustling, chaotic city of Ephesus—where the worship of Artemis permeated every corner—Paul and Timothy sought to plant something radically new: a community shaped by the love and freedom found in Jesus. Rather than waging war against the culture by attacking its idols directly, Paul’s approach was to elevate Christ, letting the beauty and truth of the gospel speak for itself. This method is as relevant today as it was then. In our own time, we see the influence of Christian values receding, and many are tempted to simply call for a return to old principles. But the real call is to elevate Jesus himself, not just the ethics that once shaped our society.

Timothy’s assignment in Ephesus was daunting. He was left to shepherd a fragile, young church in a hostile environment, surrounded by competing stories and myths—both religious and cultural. Paul’s charge to Timothy was not just to defend doctrine, but to guard the treasure of the gospel: a love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. This Christ-shaped love is not sentimental or passive; it is powerful, generative, and transformative. It is the very thing that brings the kingdom of God into the world, one small oasis at a time.

We, too, are called to this kind of faithfulness in our own context. It’s easy to feel stuck or to long for easier assignments, but God often calls us to be faithful right where we are, even when it feels fruitless or difficult. The myths of our age—progress, comfort, self-sufficiency—can subtly draw us away from dependence on Christ. We must be vigilant, examining the stories we live by and ensuring our allegiance is to Jesus above all else.

True allegiance to Christ must show up in every sphere of our lives, not just in our beliefs but in our actions, relationships, and priorities. We are called to reject the divisive, prideful, and outrage-driven narratives of our culture, and instead to embody a love that is shaped by Christ. This is the only way the church will remain rooted, healthy, and able to offer the world a genuine encounter with Jesus. As we do this, we prepare ourselves for renewal and revival, trusting that God will use our faithfulness to bring about his kingdom in our midst.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Elevating Jesus, Not Just Principles It is not enough to simply call for a return to Christian values or ethics; we must actively elevate Jesus himself. The transformation of culture and hearts comes not by attacking what is wrong, but by lifting up what is true and beautiful in Christ. When Jesus is at the center, everything else finds its proper place. [03:18]
• 2. Faithfulness in Difficult Places God often calls us to remain and serve in places that feel hard, fruitless, or even hostile. Like Timothy in Ephesus, we may feel overwhelmed or unqualified, but our calling is not about comfort or ease—it’s about being faithful where God has planted us. Fruitfulness comes from embracing our assignment with trust and dependence on Christ. [11:39]
• 3. Guarding the Gospel with Christ-Shaped Love The core of our charge is to guard the gospel, not just as a set of doctrines, but as a love that is shaped by Jesus—pure, sincere, and generative. This love is not one virtue among many; it is the defining mark of God’s people. When we stray from this, we risk empty discussions, division, and a loss of witness. [19:13]
• 4. Discerning and Rejecting Cultural Myths Every age is shaped by powerful myths—stories about progress, comfort, or self-sufficiency—that can subtly become idols. We must critically examine the narratives that shape our priorities and loyalties, ensuring that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ and his kingdom, not to the promises of culture. [30:28]
• 5. Authentic Allegiance in Every Sphere of Life Our faith in Jesus must move beyond head knowledge to shape our hearts, relationships, and daily actions. Authentic allegiance means putting everything on the table for Christ, allowing his love to transform us and flow through us into our workplaces, homes, and communities. This is how the church remains healthy and the world encounters the living Christ. [25:27]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:48] - Ephesus: A City of Chaos and Idolatry
• [03:18] - Elevating Jesus vs. Attacking Culture
• [05:27] - Paul’s Courage and Timothy’s Calling
• [07:14] - Timothy’s Background and the Ephesus Riot
• [08:41] - The Cost of Witness and the Seed of the Church
• [10:42] - Guarding the Gospel in Hostile Territory
• [11:39] - Faithfulness in Unwanted Assignments
• [13:26] - The Temptation of Easy Wins
• [14:56] - Paul’s Command and Timothy’s Charge
• [19:13] - Christ-Shaped Love: The Aim of Our Charge
• [20:24] - Living the Kingdom Without the King
• [23:47] - Identity as Children of God
• [25:27] - Living Out Allegiance in Daily Life
• [26:27] - False Teachings and the Health of the Church
• [28:26] - Myths, Stories, and the Power of Narrative
• [30:28] - The Myth of Progress and Its Dangers
• [38:22] - Generative Love and Heart Change
• [39:38] - Vain Discussions and the Line of Evil
• [41:54] - Outrage Culture and the Call to Forgiveness
• [43:43] - The Risk of Love and Rejecting False Loyalties
• [45:21] - Embracing the Burden and Preparing for Renewal
• [46:16] - A Call to Repentance and Dependence on God
• [47:35] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV) — Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul in 1 Timothy 1:5, what is the “aim of our charge”? What three qualities does this love come from?
2. What kinds of things does Paul warn Timothy to watch out for in the church at Ephesus? (see 1 Timothy 1:3-4)
3. In the sermon, what was the main difference between Paul’s approach to the culture of Ephesus and the way we might be tempted to respond to our own culture? [[03:18]]
4. What are some examples of “myths” or “stories” that the sermon says can shape our priorities and loyalties today? [[30:28]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize that love must come from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith? What happens when we lose sight of this kind of love? [[19:13]]
2. The sermon says that Timothy’s assignment in Ephesus was “daunting” and that he may have felt overwhelmed or unqualified. Why do you think God sometimes calls people to serve in hard or uncomfortable places? [[11:39]]
3. The sermon talks about “guarding the gospel” not just as a set of doctrines, but as a love shaped by Jesus. What does it mean for the gospel to be “guarded” in this way? [[19:13]]
4. How can the “myths” of progress, comfort, or self-sufficiency become idols in our lives, according to the sermon? [[30:28]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “It is not enough to simply call for a return to Christian values or ethics; we must actively elevate Jesus himself.” In your daily life, what does it look like to elevate Jesus rather than just Christian principles? Can you think of a recent situation where you focused on rules or values instead of pointing to Jesus? [[03:18]]
2. Timothy was called to stay and serve in a difficult place, even when it felt fruitless. Is there a place or situation in your life right now where you feel “stuck” or wish you could leave? How might God be calling you to faithfulness right where you are? [[11:39]]
3. The sermon warns about “myths” like progress, comfort, or self-sufficiency. Which of these (or others) do you find most tempting in your own life? How do these stories compete with your dependence on Christ? [[30:28]]
4. Paul says the aim is “love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” Is there an area of your life where your love has become passive, sentimental, or even absent? What would it look like to let Christ shape your love in that area? [[19:13]]
5. The sermon challenges us to let our allegiance to Jesus show up in every sphere of life—not just beliefs, but actions, relationships, and priorities. Where is your allegiance to Jesus most visible? Where is it least visible? What is one step you could take this week to make your faith more visible in a specific area? [[25:27]]
6. The sermon mentions the risk of love—that loving others in a Christ-shaped way can be costly or even painful. Can you share a time when loving someone cost you something? How did God meet you in that experience? [[45:21]]
7. The pastor called the church to “repentance and dependence on God.” Is there a story, myth, or idol you need to turn from in order to depend more fully on Jesus? What would repentance look like for you this week? [[46:16]]