Embracing Godliness: The Heart of Church Leadership
Summary
Growing in godliness is a profound journey that begins with understanding the privilege and responsibility of leadership within the church. The church belongs to Jesus Christ, who purchased it with His blood, and aspiring to lead within it is a noble task. However, leaders can either do great good or cause significant harm, which is why Paul urges Timothy to prioritize watching his life, doctrine, and stirring up his gifts. This session focuses on the first priority: watching your life, which begins with the pursuit of godliness.
Godliness is more than mere behavior; it is about being God's man or woman. Psalm 4:3 reminds us that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. The essence of godliness is the life of Jesus Christ within us, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jerry Bridges describes godliness as an attitude towards God that encompasses fear, love, and desire for Him. This means fearing to grieve the Holy Spirit, loving God deeply, and hungering for more of Him. Many Christians may be talented or successful in ministry but lack true godliness because they are not devoted to God Himself.
The New Testament, particularly in Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus, emphasizes the importance of godliness, especially for leaders. Godliness is not only a calling for all believers but is of supreme importance for those who lead. Peter's letters also highlight that God has given us everything we need to pursue godliness, and we are called to make every effort to cultivate it. This involves setting an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Growing in godliness requires proactive engagement. Paul uses language like "train yourself," "toil," "strive," and "immerse yourself" to describe the pursuit of godliness. While justification is by faith alone, sanctification involves our active participation. The energy for this pursuit comes from our hope in the living God, who is at work within us. This is not about achieving perfection but making visible progress that encourages others.
Ultimately, the heart of godliness is walking with God and being His man or woman. The church desperately needs godly leaders, and the pursuit of godliness is a path of joy and privilege. As we grow in godliness, we set an example for others, encouraging them to do the same.
Key Takeaways:
- The Essence of Godliness: Godliness is more than behavior; it is about being God's man or woman, with the life of Jesus Christ within us. This involves a deep fear, love, and desire for God, where we strive not to grieve the Holy Spirit and live in devotion to Him. [02:26]
- Godliness Over Talent: True godliness surpasses talents, ministry success, or reputation. It is possible to be more devoted to a vision or ministry than to God Himself. Our primary devotion must be to God, which is more important than any apparent success. [04:41]
- Proactive Pursuit: Growing in godliness requires active engagement, as seen in Paul's exhortations to train, toil, and strive. This pursuit is not about achieving perfection but making progress that others can see, encouraging them to grow as well. [12:54]
- Hope in God: The energy for pursuing godliness comes from our hope in the living God, who is at work within us. This hope motivates us to strive and toil, knowing that God is our savior and is actively involved in our growth. [14:16]
- Visible Progress: The pursuit of godliness is about making progress, not achieving perfection. As we grow in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, others will see our progress and be encouraged to pursue godliness themselves. [15:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Leadership in the Church
- [00:27] - The Noble Task of Leadership
- [00:44] - Priorities for Leaders
- [00:59] - Understanding Godliness
- [01:16] - Being God's Man or Woman
- [01:39] - The Heart of Godliness
- [02:26] - The Mystery of Godliness
- [03:21] - Elements of Godliness
- [04:06] - Devotion to God
- [05:31] - New Testament on Godliness
- [06:48] - Cultivating Godliness
- [08:00] - God's Provision for Godliness
- [09:10] - Living as God's People
- [09:44] - Setting an Example
- [12:05] - Proactive Language of Godliness
- [14:00] - Hope and Motivation
- [15:08] - Progress, Not Perfection
- [16:14] - Encouragement for Leaders
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Growing in Godliness
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 4:3 - "Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him."
2. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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."
3. 2 Peter 1:3 - "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to the sermon, what is the first priority for leaders in the church, and why is it important? [00:44]
2. How does the sermon describe the essence of godliness, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in it? [02:26]
3. What are the three elements of godliness as described by Jerry Bridges in the sermon? [03:21]
4. How does the sermon differentiate between godliness and mere ministry success or talent? [04:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be "God's man or woman," and how does this identity influence one's pursuit of godliness? [01:16]
2. How does the sermon suggest that leaders can set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity? [09:44]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the pursuit of godliness is a proactive engagement? [12:54]
4. How does the hope in the living God provide energy and motivation for pursuing godliness according to the sermon? [14:16]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. In what ways are you actively pursuing godliness, and where do you see room for growth? [12:54]
2. Consider the areas of speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Which area do you feel most challenged in, and what steps can you take to improve? [09:44]
3. How can you ensure that your devotion is primarily to God rather than to a vision, ministry, or reputation? [04:41]
4. Identify a specific way you can "train yourself for godliness" this week. What practical steps will you take to make this a reality? [12:24]
5. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by the pursuit of godliness. How can the hope in the living God encourage you in those moments? [14:16]
6. How can you encourage others in your community to pursue godliness by setting an example in your own life? [15:41]
7. Reflect on the concept of "visible progress" in your spiritual life. What is one area where you have seen growth, and how can you continue to build on that progress? [15:08]
Devotional
Day 1: The Essence of Godliness
Godliness is not merely about outward behavior but about embodying the life of Jesus Christ within us. It involves a deep-seated fear, love, and desire for God, where we strive not to grieve the Holy Spirit and live in devotion to Him. This essence of godliness is about being set apart for God, as Psalm 4:3 reminds us, and is characterized by an attitude that encompasses reverence, affection, and a longing for more of God. Many Christians may excel in ministry or possess great talents, yet true godliness is marked by a heart fully devoted to God Himself, beyond any external success or reputation. [02:26]
Psalm 4:3 (ESV): "But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper fear, love, and desire for God in your daily life, ensuring that your devotion to Him surpasses any other pursuit or success?
Day 2: Godliness Over Talent
True godliness surpasses talents, ministry success, or reputation. It is possible to be more devoted to a vision or ministry than to God Himself. Our primary devotion must be to God, which is more important than any apparent success. This means that while talents and achievements are valuable, they should never overshadow our relationship with God. The heart of godliness is about prioritizing our devotion to God above all else, ensuring that our talents and successes are used to glorify Him rather than ourselves. [04:41]
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where your talents or successes have taken precedence over your devotion to God? How can you realign your priorities to ensure God remains at the center?
Day 3: Proactive Pursuit
Growing in godliness requires active engagement, as seen in Paul's exhortations to train, toil, and strive. This pursuit is not about achieving perfection but making progress that others can see, encouraging them to grow as well. The journey of godliness involves a proactive approach, where believers are called to immerse themselves in practices that foster spiritual growth. This means being intentional about spiritual disciplines and seeking to make visible progress in our walk with God, which in turn inspires others to pursue godliness. [12:54]
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 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."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to actively engage in your pursuit of godliness, ensuring that your progress is visible and encouraging to others?
Day 4: Hope in God
The energy for pursuing godliness comes from our hope in the living God, who is at work within us. This hope motivates us to strive and toil, knowing that God is our savior and is actively involved in our growth. The pursuit of godliness is not a solitary endeavor but is fueled by the assurance that God is with us, empowering us to grow in His likeness. This hope in God provides the strength and motivation needed to continue striving for godliness, even when the journey becomes challenging. [14:16]
2 Peter 1:3 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence."
Reflection: How does your hope in God influence your daily pursuit of godliness? In what ways can you rely more on His strength and power in your spiritual journey?
Day 5: Visible Progress
The pursuit of godliness is about making progress, not achieving perfection. As we grow in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, others will see our progress and be encouraged to pursue godliness themselves. This visible progress is a testament to the transformative work of God in our lives and serves as an inspiration to those around us. By setting an example in our daily lives, we can encourage others to embark on their own journey of growing in godliness, fostering a community of believers who are committed to living out their faith. [15:41]
Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: In what areas of your life can you strive to make visible progress in godliness, and how can this progress serve as an encouragement to those around you?
Quotes
The heart of godliness is that you are God's man or God's woman. Psalm 4 and verse three know that the Lord has set apart The Godly for himself. God has set apart certain people for himself they're to be his holy his and they're described as The Godly because to be Godly means you're God's man you're God's woman. [00:01:12]
Godliness is more than Behavior your God's man you're God's woman and what that means is that the life of Jesus Christ is actually In You by the power of the Holy Spirit you see this in 1 Timothy and chapter 3 and verse 16 great indeed we confess is the mystery of godliness. [00:02:24]
Jerry Bridges says that godliness is an attitude towards God that has three elements the fear of God love for God and desire for God think about that that you fear him that you love him that you hunger and thirst for more of him fear Him of course means that you would hate nothing more than to wound him to grieve the Holy Spirit. [00:03:17]
It is sad that many Christians do not have this Aura of godliness about them they may be very talented personable or very busy in the Lord's work or even apparently successful in some Avenues of Christian service and still not godly and he asked the question now why is that because he says they are not devoted to God. [00:04:06]
Godliness is more important than your talents more important in Ministry than your personality however bright that may be it's more important than your commitment and it's more important than any apparent success that you may seem to have and here's the danger it's possible Jerry Bridges is saying to be more devoted to your vision than you are to God himself. [00:04:44]
God has given us everything that we need in order to pursue it then Peter says for this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge and knowledge with self-control and self-control with steadfastness and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection With Love. [00:07:47]
Notice that he identifies five areas is the first of these is speech let your speech always be gracious that's Colossians chapter 4 in verse 6 let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths but only that which is good for building up that it may give Grace to those who hear and then conduct conduct is the way that you behave. [00:09:41]
Here's what godliness looks like you set an example to other believers and you do it in speech you you do it in conduct you do it in love you do it in faith and you do it in Purity your speech reflects what God says because his word is in you and comes out of you your conduct reflects the grace that you've received. [00:11:24]
Now notice the proactive language you've got to train yourself in godliness and in the rest of 1 Timothy in chapter 4 you find similar language toil and strive devote yourself practice these things immerse yourself in them watch yourself persist in these things you see all of that language is saying you're actively engaged in the pursuit of godliness. [00:12:29]
The energy comes from this that you have living hope that you're going to grow in godliness and the reason you have Living Hope is that God God is your savior and he's at work in you this is what I like to call gospel motivation here's the wonderful truth the pursuit of godliness is not a massive effort for you to try and be something that you're not. [00:14:21]
I love that word progress see we're not talking here about perfection we're talking about a path in which you're able to move forward we're talking about your pursuit of godliness we're talking about how you can grow setting an example in speech and conduct and love and faith and Purity it doesn't mean that you'll never fail no one in this world is ever perfect but you can make progress. [00:15:15]
Think about it there could be no greater privilege and No Greater Joy because the heart of godliness is that you walk with God and that you're God's man that you're God's woman friend the Church of Jesus Christ Christ desperately needs leaders who are Godly so I hope that through this module you'll be encouraged to say freshly today I want to be God's man. [00:16:11]
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