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Question: ‘What does my life attract people to?’

2 Keys to Becoming More Attractive – For the sake of the gospel.

1. (Vs. 1) We must know the truth and be committed to teaching the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

• ‘Sound doctrine’ = healthy doctrine. Truth that produces spiritual results in accordance with scripture (e.g. Gal. 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit).
  
  
• Doctrine = the set of beliefs that defines what we believe, shapes how we live, shows what we ought to love and separates truth from what is false.
  
  
• We must apply ourselves to knowing and sharing the truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

2. (Vs. 2-10) We must be people who are committed to living lives according to the truth.

• Vs. 2, ‘older men’ (40 yrs. and up) are to be – temperate (prudent, level headed), worthy of respect (dignified, reverent towards God and live honorably amongst others), self-controlled (James 1:19) AND sound in faith (healthy spiritually and faithful), in love (the ‘Christian virtue’, charitable/thoughtful) and in endurance (steadfast).
  
  
• Vs. 3, 4 ‘older women’ (40 yrs. and up) are to be – reverent in the way they live (support their testimony of being a follower of Christ through their demeanor, appearance and actions). They are to display the godly virtues they want others to follow. THEN, they can urge (remind through encouragement) the younger women of how they ought to live.

1st Domino effect – SO THAT we don’t bring any criticism to the word of God through our behaviour.

• Vs. 6-8, ‘younger men’ (40 and under) are to be – self-controlled. They are to learn through watching the living example of older me

2nd Domino effect – SO THAT those who oppose us will have nothing bad to say about us.

• “It’s not just what we taught, but it’s also what people caught, from watching us.”
• Vs. 9-10, ‘Christian workers’ are to be subject to the authority over them and through both our words and deeds “show that we can be fully trusted.” (Eph. 6:5-8).

3rd Domino effect – “SO THAT in every way WE WILL MAKE THE TEACHING ABOUT GOD OUR SAVIOUR ATTRACTIVE.”

• “The gospel will only be as attractive to the world as the behaviour of those who profess it.”
  
  
• So, what should my life attract people to? The teaching about God my Saviour!

We must become people who know and teach the truth and live godly lives in accordance with the truth, then people will be attracted to “taste and see that the LORD is good…” Ps. 34:8.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

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